Most substandard on- or off-ramp on an Interstate

[J N Winkler]

I knew the interchange plan has been in the works for a while.  I was just so disappointed to see the 47th St rework tackled before 235/54 or 135/254.

Preliminary engineering for I-235/US 54 was proposed for the last comprehensive highway program (which was developed in the late 1990's) in a Systems Enhancement funding category.  It lost out to an interchange rebuild in Kansas City (I think what eventually became the I-435/US 69 revamp).  In general, we in Wichita tend to lose out to Kansas City in competition for KDOT statewide funds because (1) we have one-third the metropolitan area population, (2) we have no peak-hour spreading, and (3) as a city expands, the increment of added capacity per new driver that is necessary to maintain a given level of regional mobility increases.

I had no enthusiasm for the 47th Street project, which removed a number of free-flow movements and whose regional interest I feel has been grossly overstated.  However, it was an element of a composite public-private redevelopment scheme whose major private-sector element is an attempt to turn the interchange area into a retail destination.  As such, it had a lot of local political juice behind it.  It is also in south Wichita, which has traditionally been neglected in transportation investment compared to other areas of the city because the main thing that would help there--conversion of the Turnpike between I-135 and Kellogg into an untolled local-service facility, or construction of untolled local lanes--is a complete nonstarter since KTA has no interest in being involved in the operation of an urban freeway.

The 47th Street bridge over I-135 needed to be replaced anyway (it was structurally deficient), so the 47th Street rebuild was not just a sop to be thrown to the underserved.

[SSOWorld]

The Speers exit (Pa 88) on I-70 in SW Pa.

There are lots of sub-standard interchanges on I-70 in SW Pennsylvania - They have Stop signs because there is no merge room.

[achilles765]

This is just one example of a hard, sharp off-ramp in Texas..this is Exit 877 heading Westbound on IH 10

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=30.121336,-93.746359&spn=0.004742,0.009645&t=h&z=17

[rarnold]

Here is another Kansas City gem. This in the Northland, Southbound I-35 at Vivion Road. No deceleration lane and it goes sharply uphill immediately. I remember when the you could continue right on the ramp, or turn a sharp left onto Brighton Place, which with a recent upgrade is now a dead end. This was a shortcut over to Brighton, thus avoiding the stoplight.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Northeast+Vivion+Road,+Kansas+City,+MO&hl=en&ll=39.187654,-94.517143&spn=0.001961,0.00327&sll=38.498779,-98.320078&sspn=5.733907,13.392334&oq=Vivion+Road&t=k&hnear=NE+Vivion+Rd,+Kansas+City,+Missouri&z=19

[agentsteel53]

No deceleration lane and it goes sharply uphill immediately.

did they design it with the assumption that the uphill would provide sufficient deceleration?

I don't mind acceleration lanes going downhill, and deceleration lanes going uphill.  it's the opposite that I find troublesome - especially needing to accelerate uphill when traffic is doing 80.

[rarnold]

did they design it with the assumption that the uphill would provide sufficient deceleration?

I don't mind acceleration lanes going downhill, and deceleration lanes going uphill.  it's the opposite that I find troublesome - especially needing to accelerate uphill when traffic is doing 80.

You are right, going uphill is not a problem, it is the sharpness of the ramp and the fact you immediately have to go uphill. I don't know why they didn't exit onto Oak Ridge Dr, instead of putting the ramp there. A ramp was needed, because there is not one at Brighton for SB I-35 and the next is at Chouteau Trfwy.

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[jwolfer]

No deceleration lane and it goes sharply uphill immediately.

did they design it with the assumption that the uphill would provide sufficient deceleration?

I don't mind acceleration lanes going downhill, and deceleration lanes going uphill.  it's the opposite that I find troublesome - especially needing to accelerate uphill when traffic is doing 80.

one of the worst I have come across with uphill accelleration lane is from US 301 to I-10 east in Jacksonville FL. I know Florida doesnt have hills but thisone there is an overpass going over railroad and heavy truck traffic... lots of wrecks there.. a couple times a year there is someone going 70+ MPH on I 10 east who slams into the back of a truck