Worst stretch of Interstate

[Duke87]

I'll nominate I-84 in West Hartford/Hartford (CT)

I-91, too, to a lesser degree. Or better yet, the pile of ramps that passes for an interchange between the two.

Now which is worse, that interchange or the one between 84 and 8 in Waterbury? Hmm....

[shadyjay]

I'll nominate I-84 in West Hartford/Hartford (CT)

I-91, too, to a lesser degree. Or better yet, the pile of ramps that passes for an interchange between the two.

Now which is worse, that interchange or the one between 84 and 8 in Waterbury? Hmm....

Regarding I-91, its nothing compared to how it was in the early 90s.  2 narrow lanes each way, in the dark.  Construction everywhere which greatly improved things.  Though they did take down the ramps/lighting that would've been the soutwestern quadrant start of I-291.

On to the I-91/I-84 and the I-84/CT 8 interchange.... hmmmm.... that's a tough one.  Back in the late 80s, the I-84/I-91 interchange was considered the worst in the country due to lack of many crucial  ramps between the two interstates.  A trek from I-84EB to I-91NB was not as seemless as it is today, and involved a romp down local streets and entering on the left side of 91NB while traffic is trying to exit to 84WB to enter more city streets.  So when the 84EB->91NB flyover opened, it was BIG news.  Traffic moves pretty good on 91NB through the interchange now, and SB is bad at rush hour but other times its ok.   Now the I-84/CT 8 interchange isn't a traffic nightmare per say, but more of a logistical nightmare, with its plethora of left exits and entrances coupled with 2 double decked roadways (and local exits in there too).  Any replacement of that interchange would be quite the undertaking.  How 'bout replacing it with a big "stack"?

[Revive 755]

Honestly, I have nothing against left-exits. Sure, if you're not expecting them and if they're not obviously well, they can be disconcerting, but other than that, they can be useful if well designed. Exits 299B on I-5 and 1A and 3 on I-405 spring to mind -- all are obvious and well signed; and I-405s became better signed with the new MUTCD requirements.

You sound like you have never had the joy of getting on an interstate and having to weave over to the far side of the highway to take a left hand exit in about a mile in heavy traffic.  Case in point is the exit in the St. Louis area from WB I-70 to SB I-170 if one is entering I-70 from Hanley or New Florrissant Roads)

- Go down and access I-170 via MO 115 instead?  That takes one through the intersection where a few years ago the city of Bel Ridge was deliberately tampering with the stoplight to generate red light tickets by changing the light to red when it was too late for motorist to stop.

[Bickendan]

Honestly, I have nothing against left-exits. Sure, if you're not expecting them and if they're not obviously well, they can be disconcerting, but other than that, they can be useful if well designed. Exits 299B on I-5 and 1A and 3 on I-405 spring to mind -- all are obvious and well signed; and I-405s became better signed with the new MUTCD requirements.

You sound like you have never had the joy of getting on an interstate and having to weave over to the far side of the highway to take a left hand exit in about a mile in heavy traffic.  Case in point is the exit in the St. Louis area from WB I-70 to SB I-170 if one is entering I-70 from Hanley or New Florrissant Roads)

- Go down and access I-170 via MO 115 instead?  That takes one through the intersection where a few years ago the city of Bel Ridge was deliberately tampering with the stoplight to generate red light tickets by changing the light to red when it was too late for motorist to stop.

I'd argue then that those exits are poorly spaced. While I haven't been to that part of Missouri, there is a similar instance on I-35W in Minneapolis, where it's forbidden during rush hour to make said manoeuver from Diamond Lake Road (exit 12B) to eastbound MN 62 (exit 11B), making it tough to get to the airport.

Anyone challenge Bel Ridge on their red light ticket shenanigans?

[sandiaman]

Hey Agent Steel, what was wrong with Sunny Union County?

[Revive 755]

Anyone challenge Bel Ridge on their red light ticket shenanigans?

Haven't heard anything more about it for years, but MoDOT supposedly locked the city out of the signal cabinet.

[Scott5114]

That's hilarious. I love MoDOT.

[iwishiwascanadian]

I nominate I-84 from Hartford CT to Danbury CT.  What a mismash of curves and bends.

I agree, the left hand exits are a pain, the number of exits are a pain, the pavement in Waterbury is a disaster, and the road needs to be widened from Waterbury to Danbury. 

[Mergingtraffic]

I'll nominate I-84 in West Hartford/Hartford (CT)

I-91, too, to a lesser degree. Or better yet, the pile of ramps that passes for an interchange between the two.

Now which is worse, that interchange or the one between 84 and 8 in Waterbury? Hmm....

Regarding I-91, its nothing compared to how it was in the early 90s.  2 narrow lanes each way, in the dark.  Construction everywhere which greatly improved things.  Though they did take down the ramps/lighting that would've been the soutwestern quadrant start of I-291.

On to the I-91/I-84 and the I-84/CT 8 interchange.... hmmmm.... that's a tough one.  Back in the late 80s, the I-84/I-91 interchange was considered the worst in the country due to lack of many crucial  ramps between the two interstates.  A trek from I-84EB to I-91NB was not as seemless as it is today, and involved a romp down local streets and entering on the left side of 91NB while traffic is trying to exit to 84WB to enter more city streets.  So when the 84EB->91NB flyover opened, it was BIG news.  Traffic moves pretty good on 91NB through the interchange now, and SB is bad at rush hour but other times its ok.   Now the I-84/CT 8 interchange isn't a traffic nightmare per say, but more of a logistical nightmare, with its plethora of left exits and entrances coupled with 2 double decked roadways (and local exits in there too).  Any replacement of that interchange would be quite the undertaking.  How 'bout replacing it with a big "stack"?

Actually, the state DOT has a plan to replace the I-84/CT-8 interchange with a 4-level stack, but funding is the issue here.  Waterbury is for it too!  There were plans on the www.i84wins.com website but that has been taken down I believe.

The plans include:
A) 4-level stack leaving CT-8 where it is on the left of the river
or
B) 4-level stack moving CT-8 on the right of the river.

Both plans include widening I-84 by at least a lane and one of the plans even proposed 2-lane connections between the highways.

[74/171FAN]

For awhile in VA I would have nominated I-295 SB(or EB) northwest of Richmond but that is slowly but surely being resurfaced

[WillWeaverRVA]

For awhile in VA I would have nominated I-295 SB(or EB) northwest of Richmond but that is slowly but surely being resurfaced

Now that honor goes to I-95 southbound in Richmond.

[deathtopumpkins]

The remaining concrete pavement is absolute hell on that stretch... almost compares to I-64 between I-564 and the HRBT in Norfolk. The new asphalt on 295 is NICE though!

[froggie]

I always thought the pavement on 64 was worse south of 564 than north of 564.

[agentsteel53]

Hey Agent Steel, what was wrong with Sunny Union County?

is there anything wrong with sunny Union County?  If so, I do not know about it.

[golden eagle]

A couple of us mentioned I-55 in Memphis earlier. Really, the stretch of I-55 from I-240 to the I-40/55 split at West Memphis is bad, though you can blame the construction work for that.

[deathtopumpkins]

I always thought the pavement on 64 was worse south of 564 than north of 564.

I know it's bad south of it, but it might be worse and I've just only ever gotten a close look at the pavement north of it while sitting in traffic

[njroadhorse]

I always thought the pavement on 64 was worse south of 564 than north of 564.

I know it's bad south of it, but it might be worse and I've just only ever gotten a close look at the pavement north of it while sitting in traffic

Especially around Norwood Ave, the pavement below I-564 is god awful, ridden with potholes that rival craters, IIRC.