“Straight Line” Bypasses

[jmacswimmer]

Not necessarily a bypass, but I-895 is slightly shorter passing thru Baltimore than I-95.

I-12 is a "straight line" that bypasses the U-shaped I-10 corridor that dips south to serve the New Orleans metropolitan area.
...

And within New Orleans itself, I-610 is the "straight-line" bypass while I-10 bends southward to serve downtown.

[paulthemapguy]

Not completely straight, but IL-145 is a straighter alternative to US45, which bows out to the west in southern Illinois.
Nearby, KY-286 is much straighter than US62's roundabout path in far western Kentucky.

Also has anyone mentioned US141 versus US41?

[1995hoo]

Not sure whether I-664 in Virginia fits what the OP has in mind. The distance from either end of said route to its other end is far shorter via I-664 than it is by going around the long way on I-64.

[JREwing78]

Would M-35 from Escanaba to Wisconsin count as a bypass rather than staying on US-41?

Yes, as would M-35 north of Gladstone to Negaunee, and US-141 between Covington and Abrams, WI. I-43 also qualifies as a bypass of I-41/US-41 between Green Bay and Milwaukee (about 15 miles shorter).

Moral of the story: US-41 is anything but a direct route, at least north of Milwaukee.

[hobsini2]

Another couple of "bypasses" in Wisconsin.
One is WIS 129 as a bypass of Lancaster while US 61 goes through Downtown.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8420545,-90.7130921,13.75z?hl=en

The other is Hwy A between Fox Lake and east of Beaver Dam while WIS 33 goes directly into Beaver Dam. ALWAYS take A. Saves you 10 min at least.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4988517,-88.8259795,12.5z?hl=en

[STLmapboy]

When traveling from, say, KC to Indianapolis, going 70-370-270-70 along the north side of the metro is quicker than following 70 as it arches south through downtown.