Cities Under-Served/Over-Served by the Interstate system

[Scott5114]

Northwest Arkansas metro.  Only a single Interstate, partially completed, while home to over half a million residents and home to the largest private trucking fleet as well as the largest public trucking company.

1956 was fifteen years before Sam Walton went public.  Not that I disagree with you; my parents retired to northwest Arkansas, so I'm quite familiar with how one gets around there.  But to where would you connect?  Tulsa to the west.  To the east:  Memphis?  Little Rock?

A connection to the US-65 corridor would make for easier access to Springfield/Branson.

[thspfc]

For those underserved, Albuquerque comes to mind. And maybe Orlando, although it has plenty of freeways and tollways to complement its one blue shield.


iPhone

Albuquerque is not undeserved at all. Many cities its size don't have multiple 2dis. As for the beltway that everyone seems to want, that's their own problem, not the Interstate system's problem.

[Henry]

New Orleans is one for the underserved pile, because only I-10 goes through it. Although I-55 (to the west) and I-59 (to the east) are the two closest north-south 2dis to it, they are too far away to actually serve it.

As for overserved, the Piedmont Triad would be one because I-40 and I-85 are already enough. The inane additions of I-73 and I-74 (to two already adequate freeway routes carrying US 220 and US 52, respectively) have ruined the area, not to mention the national grid.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

Underserved: Fresno, Seattle, Portland OR, Charleston SC

Overserved: All of Appalachia

Yep. Charleston is underserved. One 2 digit interstate, basically the lifeblood of our area (I-26), with the rest of the area connected by a web of bridges. 60+ mile drive down 17 to get to I-95 South. 17 was a 2 lane road through most of this till about 2010 or so. Major deadly accidents at least once or twice a year on that stretch.

526 has been "under construction"  for 30 years. Should have been completed to James Island long ago, but NIMBYs have stopped it so many times. We might be headed toward that being built though.

Let's hope I-99 remedies that.

[sprjus4]

New Orleans is one for the underserved pile, because only I-10 goes through it. Although I-55 (to the west) and I-59 (to the east) are the two closest north-south 2dis to it, they are too far away to actually serve it.

They still provide adequate outlets from the area via I-10 to the north and northeast respectively.

As for overserved, the Piedmont Triad would be one because I-40 and I-85 are already enough. The inane additions of I-73 and I-74 (to two already adequate freeway routes carrying US 220 and US 52, respectively) have ruined the area, not to mention the national grid.

I don't think any of the additions have "ruined the area" . Sure, the I-74 number makes zero sense, but the actual freeways themselves (many segments of which were built for I-73 / I-74 after the 1990s) provide good connections.

I personally have never had an issue with the I-73 number just because of grid location. Unlike I-74, it's a logical and continuous planned corridor from Myrtle Beach to Roanoke.

I-74 should be deleted and given separate numbers -
- I-x73 or I-x77 from I-77 to I-73
- I-3x from I-26 to Wilmington

I think ultimately outside of roadgeeks, nobody could care or less what or how the numbers fit into the grid. I-74 does provide confusion otherwise, and is a pointless single routing. The southern corridor is logically used as an east-west connector from Asheville and Charlotte to Wilmington, not a north jog from Wilmington to Greensboro and Winston-Salem that's already served by I-40. The northern segment from I-73 to I-77 provides a connection from the I-73 corridor to High Point and Winston-Salem, and from High Point, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Raleigh to I-77 North.

I-73 is off-grid, but is still a logical single routing even if it won't go beyond Virginia.

[sprjus4]

Let's hope I-99 remedies that.

There's no "I-99"  planned or that's getting built.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

New Orleans is one for the underserved pile, because only I-10 goes through it. Although I-55 (to the west) and I-59 (to the east) are the two closest north-south 2dis to it, they are too far away to actually serve it.

They still provide adequate outlets from the area via I-10 to the north and northeast respectively.

I-49 will maybe be added soon.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

Buffalo only has I-90 and three of its children. I-90 leads to Cleveland, the Northern Cities, and Boston, and I-190 leads to Niagara Falls.

[Roadgeekteen]

Buffalo only has I-90 and three of its children. I-90 leads to Cleveland, the Northern Cities, and Boston, and I-190 leads to Niagara Falls.

Spoke sorely missing on the US 219 corridor.

[sprjus4]

Buffalo only has I-90 and three of its children. I-90 leads to Cleveland, the Northern Cities, and Boston, and I-190 leads to Niagara Falls.

Spoke sorely missing on the US 219 corridor.

A ~30 mile interstate highway along the NY-63 corridor between I-90 and I-390 would provide an adequate connection between Buffalo (via I-90 East) and I-390 South providing enhanced access to the Mid-Atlantic region. Once the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project is completed extending I-180 south of Selinsgrove, the only major gap in completing a freeway corridor would be along a 32 mile segment of US-15 between Selinsgrove and Duncannon, which is currently 4-lane divided highway. South of Harrisburg, I-83 does provide an interstate highway connection south to Baltimore than ultimately to I-95 South, though the other more direct routing, US-15 to I-270, still has another 37 mile gap that needs to be complete, though the majority of that already has limited access right of way, just needs interchanges and overpasses constructed.

My opinion is that the 32 mile US-15 segment north of Harrisburg should eventually be upgraded largely to close a small gap on a mostly all-freeway corridor. As for the US-15 segment south of Harrisburg, debatable as you could easily say I-83 provides a southerly interstate connection, but US-15 should eventually be upgraded south of Harrisburg and in Maryland at some point in the future.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

Buffalo only has I-90 and three of its children. I-90 leads to Cleveland, the Northern Cities, and Boston, and I-190 leads to Niagara Falls.

Spoke sorely missing on the US 219 corridor.

A ~30 mile interstate highway along the NY-63 corridor between I-90 and I-390 would provide an adequate connection between Buffalo (via I-90 East) and I-390 South providing enhanced access to the Mid-Atlantic region. Once the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project is completed extending I-180 south of Selinsgrove, the only major gap in completing a freeway corridor would be along a 32 mile segment of US-15 between Selinsgrove and Duncannon, which is currently 4-lane divided highway. South of Harrisburg, I-83 does provide an interstate highway connection south to Baltimore than ultimately to I-95 South, though the other more direct routing, US-15 to I-270, still has another 37 mile gap that needs to be complete, though the majority of that already has limited access right of way, just needs interchanges and overpasses constructed.

My opinion is that the 32 mile US-15 segment north of Harrisburg should eventually be upgraded largely to close a small gap on a mostly all-freeway corridor. As for the US-15 segment south of Harrisburg, debatable as you could easily say I-83 provides a southerly interstate connection, but US-15 should eventually be upgraded south of Harrisburg and in Maryland at some point in the future.

Yes. But I do not know what number the unified Washington-Frederick-Harrisburg corridor would have, were it to get any. And how would they handle the at-grade left turn at I-^PA581?

[jmacswimmer]

...Once the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project is completed extending I-180 south of Selinsgrove...

I-180 isn't being extended, is it? I was under the impression that the CSVT would simply use US 15/PA 147 designations. Either way, that freeway segment will be a welcome addition for bypassing Shamokin Dam & Lewisburg.

...As for the US-15 segment south of Harrisburg, debatable as you could easily say I-83 provides a southerly interstate connection, but US-15 should eventually be upgraded south of Harrisburg and in Maryland at some point in the future.

If the 4 traffic signals on 15 near Dillsburg were eliminated, that would at least allow for unimpeded traffic flow.  Although I imagine there's safety concerns with the unsignalized intersections between the PA 94 interchange and Dillsburg, and throughout the Maryland stretch.
The most dangerous intersection on 15 in Maryland, with Hayward Road near Frederick, was finally closed permanently in 2018 and replaced with a diamond interchange just to the north (exit 18 for Monocacy Blvd/Christophers Crossing).

[sprjus4]

Yes. But I do not know what number the unified Washington-Frederick-Harrisburg corridor would have, were it to get any.

Likely just an extension of I-83 up to Future I-99 at Williamsport, replacing I-180.

If you wanted to get more fictional, delete Future I-99 north of Williamsport and most of I-390, and route I-83 up Future I-99, I-86, and most of I-390, then route it along that ~30 mile spur I mentioned previously to I-90 near Batavia. The section of I-390 not included in this I-83 concept would remain I-390.

I-83 would then run from Baltimore to outside of Buffalo.

I-180 isn't being extended, is it? I was under the impression that the CSVT would simply use US 15/PA 147 designations. Either way, that freeway segment will be a welcome addition for bypassing Shamokin Dam & Lewisburg.

I should've worded that better, by extended I was referring extending the freeway itself. I don't think there's any plans to extend the actual designation though would be logical.

[webny99]

A ~30 mile interstate highway along the NY-63 corridor between I-90 and I-390 would provide an adequate connection between Buffalo (via I-90 East) and I-390 South providing enhanced access to the Mid-Atlantic region.

NY 63 could work, but IMO the US 20A corridor makes more sense. It cuts a more substantial corner, lines up better with the Peace Bridge for traffic to/from Canada, and you've already got NY 400 as far as East Aurora.

[roadman65]

Orlando, FL has no spur routes of I-4 which should be in place over the toll road system there.  SR 528 should be I-104 and SR 417 should be I-204 and I-404 used for SR 429.  Some have suggested SR 408 to join the I--4 family as well.

However, it does have a freeway system regardless of designation, but in this sense it is definitely under-served.

[sprjus4]

A ~30 mile interstate highway along the NY-63 corridor between I-90 and I-390 would provide an adequate connection between Buffalo (via I-90 East) and I-390 South providing enhanced access to the Mid-Atlantic region.

NY 63 could work, but IMO the US 20A corridor makes more sense. It cuts a more substantial corner, lines up better with the Peace Bridge for traffic to/from Canada, and you've already got NY 400 as far as East Aurora.

Could work, though would require 12-15 miles of additional construction.

Would keep that traffic off of I-90 and would provide a toll free option.

NYSDOT should evaluate options for either route. The route from Buffalo to I-390 needs to be enhanced.

[MikieTimT]

Northwest Arkansas metro.  Only a single Interstate, partially completed, while home to over half a million residents and home to the largest private trucking fleet as well as the largest public trucking company.

1956 was fifteen years before Sam Walton went public.  Not that I disagree with you; my parents retired to northwest Arkansas, so I'm quite familiar with how one gets around there.  But to where would you connect?  Tulsa to the west.  To the east:  Memphis?  Little Rock?

Tulsa to the west for starters.  Most of the route is already 4-laned expressway, although at grade crossings and no access roads, although they missed the window around Siloam Springs a few years back.  The only route to make Little Rock quicker would be US-412/US-65, but there are substantial sections of that route that are still 2-lane.  Memphis would likely take a US-412 upgrade as well as I-22 extension across the river on the north side of the beltway and up I-555/US-63, but that's likely getting well into Fictional territory.  I don't see anything other than the Tulsa routing in my lifetime, regardless.

[MikieTimT]

Northwest Arkansas metro.  Only a single Interstate, partially completed, while home to over half a million residents and home to the largest private trucking fleet as well as the largest public trucking company.

1956 was fifteen years before Sam Walton went public.  Not that I disagree with you; my parents retired to northwest Arkansas, so I'm quite familiar with how one gets around there.  But to where would you connect?  Tulsa to the west.  To the east:  Memphis?  Little Rock?

A connection to the US-65 corridor would make for easier access to Springfield/Branson.

That would be the next logical upgrade of US-412.  Lots of new terrain routing through the mountains between Huntsville and Alpena (or just bypassing Alpena to the south makes more sense) remains, but what with all of the at-grade crossing on the 4-lane portions, it would take a lot of access roads and overpasses to convert to an Interstate.  I would think this section would be a longer shot.  I could see the section of US-412 west of I-49 and east of I-44 as a 3DI as not very far-fetched or too distant into the future.  Shame that they went with 6-laning US-412 through Siloam Springs rather than bypassing to the north.  They're eventually going to have to anyway, and it'll be much more developed and expensive when it happens.

[ChiMilNet]

Under-Served Big Cities:
- Chicago Northern Suburbs (i.e. Lake County, IL) - One Interstate in a county of around 700,000 people. *This would have been remedied had Long Grove and Hawthorn Woods not killed off the IL 53 Extension, which probably would have been either new I-594 or an extended I-355.
- Austin, TX - Nearly 1 million people in the city alone and just one Interstate (and an inadequate one to boot)
- Washington, DC proper - There really is no way to get through the area without being forced onto the nightmare that is the I-495 Beltway.
- Philadelphia, PA proper - The Schuylkill Expressway alone makes it deserving of this, but when you look at the city and see its overall lack of Interstate connections in the city proper, I feel there is a case to be made here.
- Pittsburgh, PA - Overall, lack of Interstates/Freeways especially South of the city

Under-Served Midsized and/or Fast-Growing Cities:
- Columbia, MO - 120,000 people and fast growing, I'm saying this more as an indictment on the condition of I-70 that runs through it, and the fact that the US 63 freeway on the Eastern end of the city does not even have a direct connection to I-70 (Breezewood situation). Also desperately needs a Northern or Southern Bypass (I-870).
- Jefferson City, MO - 40,000 people and the State Capital, no interstate connection.
- Bakersfield and Fresno, CA - Just for good measure, they have CA 99, but it's not an Interstate yet.
- Albuquerque, NM - Needs a beltway/bypass!!!
- Colorado Springs, CO - Also needs a bypass!
- St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL - Just one Interstate through a rapidly growing and quite developed area.

Over-Served:
- Hennepin, IL - I-180... WHY???