It's 2014 and I still can't believe that.....

Started by Mergingtraffic, September 29, 2014, 04:13:57 PM

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DevalDragon

84) There is still a gap between I-196 and US 31 in Benton Harbor, MI


TEG24601

Quote from: 1995hoo on October 06, 2014, 05:13:53 PM
Quote from: NE2 on October 06, 2014, 02:36:40 AM
Quote from: oscar on October 05, 2014, 05:14:08 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 05, 2014, 04:57:01 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on October 05, 2014, 03:08:00 PM
76) There are still drawbridge sections of the Interstate Highway System.
Since I live about six miles from one of those (the Woodrow Wilson Bridge), it doesn't surprise me at all. A higher-level bridge would have been hugely impractical there because avoiding steep grades would have required starting the bridge too far inland on each side; it also would have been aesthetically unacceptable and might have raised FAA issues due to the airport a short distance north. A tunnel would have been too expensive and, on the Maryland side, would have been difficult due to the topography (notable slope on that side).
Another option would've been to use a fixed span with the same clearance as the new drawbridge.  Corps of Engineers issues with cutting off access by tall ships to the Alexandria and D.C. waterfronts.  It also didn't help that such ships hauled newsprint for the Washington Post to a terminal north of the bridge.

Another option: two parallel bridges half the width of the current one, normally both in use but with ramps that allow all traffic to be sent to one or the other. Ships wait between the bridges for the other one to clear. This would be similar to the portion of the Victoria Bridge over the canal in Montreal, but there only one roadway/railway is in use at a time.

Yeah, I've been over the Pont Victoria a few times. I doubt that idea would have succeeded with the Wilson Bridge, had it been proposed at all, for a couple of practical reasons–they had to demolish one apartment building as it was, there's parkland on the Virginia shore with an historic site (the Jones Point Lighthouse), and there were endangered species issues on the Maryland side due to a bald eagle habitat. The Pont Victoria system is a good one for that particular location, though. The ramps would surely need a very different configuration on an Interstate.


I was actually thinking a Tunnel would be a better option given the uses of the river there.  Although I was really making reference to the Interstate Bridge(s) between Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR.
They said take a left at the fork in the road.  I didn't think they literally meant a fork, until plain as day, there was a fork sticking out of the road at a junction.

tradephoric

It's 2014 and drivers still ram into each other like pin balls when it gets foggy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzdatOgJkIg

jakeroot

Quote from: tradephoric on November 20, 2014, 01:09:20 AM
It's 2014 and drivers still ram into each other like pin balls when it gets foggy. 

Holy shit...150 cars? Good lord.

english si

We had something similar last year on a bridge - 150 cars (though some of them were merely stuck between crashes), no fatalities, but 8 serious injuries. IIRC, two vehicles collided, and spun so you couldn't see the lights, and then more cars hit them. Cars then avoided hitting the pile up, but as visibility was low, there were some more minor prangs as drivers didn't notice until too late that the car in front was breaking. There was another bigger collision nearer the back, meaning many cars were stuck. Thankfully a lorry passing on the other carriageway had seen it and then blocked the roadway to stop more cars joining in on the other side.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/05/car-pileup-sheppey-bridge-kent (I know the article says 120, but later ones say 150).

About 30 drivers had enough evidence for prosecution (mostly for fairly minor charges like "driving without due care and attention"), but the main culprit was ruled to be the very thick fog.

And to think, this is roughly where the 'new London megahub airport' campaigners want the airport (though there's also the additional problem of birds at that site). OK, the bridge has additional issues with fog as its tall enough for shipping to pass under, but...

kkt

The valleys inland in California get those huge pileups in the fog too.  Some people slow down, others continue at the speed limit and assume everyone else will too.

myosh_tino

Quote from: kkt on November 20, 2014, 10:38:43 AM
The valleys inland in California get those huge pileups in the fog too.  Some people slow down, others continue at the speed limit and assume everyone else will too.

That tule fog in the Sacramento/San Joaquin valley can be a real bitch to drive through.  I've done it once and I hope I will never have to do it again.  It was pretty much a white-knuckle drive from Los Banos to Bakersfield.

Here's a list of the larger tule fog related pileups in California...
* 1997, I-5 @ Elk Grove - 25 cars & 12 big rigs
* 2002, CA-99 near Kingsburg - 80+ cars & big rigs
* 2007, CA-99 near Fresno - 108 cars & 18 big rigs

We also have a dust problem in that region too.  In 1991, a huge dust storm caused a 93 car, 11 big rig pileup on I-5 near Coalinga that killed 14 people and injured 114 others.
Quote from: golden eagle
If I owned a dam and decided to donate it to charity, would I be giving a dam? I'm sure that might be a first because no one really gives a dam.

mgk920

Quote from: myosh_tino on November 20, 2014, 01:16:49 PM
Quote from: kkt on November 20, 2014, 10:38:43 AM
The valleys inland in California get those huge pileups in the fog too.  Some people slow down, others continue at the speed limit and assume everyone else will too.

That tule fog in the Sacramento/San Joaquin valley can be a real bitch to drive through.  I've done it once and I hope I will never have to do it again.  It was pretty much a white-knuckle drive from Los Banos to Bakersfield.

Here's a list of the larger tule fog related pileups in California...
* 1997, I-5 @ Elk Grove - 25 cars & 12 big rigs
* 2002, CA-99 near Kingsburg - 80+ cars & big rigs
* 2007, CA-99 near Fresno - 108 cars & 18 big rigs

We also have a dust problem in that region too.  In 1991, a huge dust storm caused a 93 car, 11 big rig pileup on I-5 near Coalinga that killed 14 people and injured 114 others.

Doesn't the CHP use their cruisers as 'pace cars' when the fog is in there?

Mike

bing101

I-710 Never Connected to I-210. in Pasadena.

myosh_tino

Quote from: mgk920 on November 25, 2014, 09:36:56 PM
Quote from: myosh_tino on November 20, 2014, 01:16:49 PM
That tule fog in the Sacramento/San Joaquin valley can be a real bitch to drive through.  I've done it once and I hope I will never have to do it again.  It was pretty much a white-knuckle drive from Los Banos to Bakersfield.

Here's a list of the larger tule fog related pileups in California...
* 1997, I-5 @ Elk Grove - 25 cars & 12 big rigs
* 2002, CA-99 near Kingsburg - 80+ cars & big rigs
* 2007, CA-99 near Fresno - 108 cars & 18 big rigs

We also have a dust problem in that region too.  In 1991, a huge dust storm caused a 93 car, 11 big rig pileup on I-5 near Coalinga that killed 14 people and injured 114 others.

Doesn't the CHP use their cruisers as 'pace cars' when the fog is in there?

Mike

Not that I know of.

During the winter months, dense fog can hang around for a considerable distance (10+ miles).  It doesn't make sense for the CHP to escort traffic for that long a distance.
Quote from: golden eagle
If I owned a dam and decided to donate it to charity, would I be giving a dam? I'm sure that might be a first because no one really gives a dam.

apjung

The Pan American Highway at the Darien Gap is still not completed.

hubcity

Quote from: apjung on December 16, 2014, 03:48:22 PM
The Pan American Highway at the Darien Gap is still not completed.

If only they could get that through traffic off the local streets...  :spin:

mjb2002

#112
85. Street name signs that are all caps with 2 inch high letters are still being installed, even though sections 2D.05 and 2D.06 require that all new street name sign installments to have a combination of six inch initial uppercase AND 4.5 inch lowercase lettering.

86. There is still no highway that connects Barnwell County, S.C. and Burke County, Ga.

87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

88. WILLISTON RD (US Route 278) from New Ellenton to Beech Island, S.C. is still two lanes.

89. ATOMIC RD (S.C. Route 125) from Jackson to the JEFFERSON DAVIS HY interchange in Belvedere still has a speed limit of 55 mph.

90. LED signs have not been secure from hackers with criminal intent.

91. The Fall Line Freeway from Wrens to Sandersville, Ga. still have stoplights along the highway.

jakeroot

Quote from: mjb2002 on December 20, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

Interesting. I didn't think new rail crossings were allowed to be installed without crossing gates.

cjk374

Quote from: jakeroot on December 20, 2014, 02:58:19 PM
Quote from: mjb2002 on December 20, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

Interesting. I didn't think new rail crossings were allowed to be installed without crossing gates.

That is to be determined by state DOTs based on traffic counts, etc.  After all, no one is going all out on new private crossing installs. 

Also, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.  Look at section 8B.04, paragraphs 5 & 6 explains why.
Runnin' roads and polishin' rails.

cl94

Quote from: cjk374 on December 20, 2014, 05:35:14 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 20, 2014, 02:58:19 PM
Quote from: mjb2002 on December 20, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

Interesting. I didn't think new rail crossings were allowed to be installed without crossing gates.

That is to be determined by state DOTs based on traffic counts, etc.  After all, no one is going all out on new private crossing installs. 

Also, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.  Look at section 8B.04, paragraphs 5 & 6 explains why.

Older installations might not have been retrofitted, but every sign replacement/new passive crossing I've seen out here has a yield sign
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

cjk374

Quote from: cl94 on December 20, 2014, 06:36:30 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on December 20, 2014, 05:35:14 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 20, 2014, 02:58:19 PM
Quote from: mjb2002 on December 20, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

Interesting. I didn't think new rail crossings were allowed to be installed without crossing gates.

That is to be determined by state DOTs based on traffic counts, etc.  After all, no one is going all out on new private crossing installs. 

Also, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.  Look at section 8B.04, paragraphs 5 & 6 explains why.

Older installations might not have been retrofitted, but every sign replacement/new passive crossing I've seen out here has a yield sign

Louisiana gave out grant $$ so the railroads would upgrade all signage at passive grade crossings.  The upgrades include new crossbucks, yield/stop signs (where appropriate) & new DOT crossing info signs all mounted on metal break-away poles.
Runnin' roads and polishin' rails.

myosh_tino

Quote from: cjk374 on December 20, 2014, 05:35:14 PM
Also, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.  Look at section 8B.04, paragraphs 5 & 6 explains why.

Isn't that redundant?  Only a suicidal driver would not yield to a train.
Quote from: golden eagle
If I owned a dam and decided to donate it to charity, would I be giving a dam? I'm sure that might be a first because no one really gives a dam.

Brian556

QuoteAlso, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.

This is because the crossbuck only tells drivers that there is a crossing. it does not tell them what they need to do. Yes, of course they should know what to do, but they often don't.

Keep in mind that a lot of drivers aren't as sharp as most of us on this board probably are.
Considering how often accidents occur at unsignalized crossings, the stop and yield signs are a relatively cheap safety measure.

Henry

92. I-69 has yet to be constructed north of Memphis to the KY line or south past Shreveport to the TX line
93. I-269 will be completed before I-69 ever will
94. I-2 now exists
95. The three I-69 splits in TX now exist
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

adventurernumber1


mjb2002

Quote from: cjk374 on December 20, 2014, 05:35:14 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 20, 2014, 02:58:19 PM
Quote from: mjb2002 on December 20, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
87. Railroad crossing signals without either a STOP/YIELD sign or a crossing gate continue to be installed.

Interesting. I didn't think new rail crossings were allowed to be installed without crossing gates.

That is to be determined by state DOTs based on traffic counts, etc.  After all, no one is going all out on new private crossing installs. 

Also, the MUTCD requires that YIELD signs be installed under the crossbucks of passive crossings.  Look at section 8B.04, paragraphs 5 & 6 explains why.

YIELDs are only the default TCD for passive grade crossings. STOP signs can also be used at passive grade crossings. Passive grade crossings are those that lack crossing gates and lights, plain and simple.

There's new installations of a crossing behind AGY in Aiken, S.C. (on CHARLESTON HY) that has no crossing gate, no YIELD sign or no STOP sign. This was installed in March.

ekt8750

97. I-676 East still runs on a block of 6th St in Philly
98. The Blue Route portion of I-476 isn't 6 lanes from head to toe
99. The DRPA still hasn't been dissolved
100. I-76 still doesn't start in Atlantic City

Pink Jazz

101. The Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway hasn't been built yet.

hotdogPi

102. This thread will be dead in a few days.
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