The Most Vital Highway to your State

[WashuOtaku]

Funding-wise, I-81 doesn't go through any of the districts that VDOT considers to be its top priorities (Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads).  VDOT has allocated a significant portion of funding specifically for those two districts that the other districts lack (not even the Richmond district).  Money talks, and this is a sign that VDOT considers I-64 to be more important than I-81 because I-64 serves one of VDOT's highest priority districts.

Of course VDOT is going to throw money at Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.  It's the two most populated areas of the state.  Doesn't mean that 64 or 95 or any of the multitude of state routes is any better as a result (I'd argue that 64 is even worse, having been stationed there twice as recently as this past May).

But the OP was looking at more than just population or traffic...he also specifically mentioned economic impact.  And I'd argue that 81 provides more economic impact to the state than 64.  If not for 81 and the industries along it, "RoVA" (rest of Virginia) would be leeching even more off of NoVA (Northern Virginia) than they already are...

As an economic driver for the state, I would also agree I-64 leads here. It connects to a major seaport to Richmond and onto Washington DC (via I-95).  It is such an important corridor for the state, they want to build a high-speed rail along the same route (which will likely never be built).  I-64 is also one of two interstates that links with the western half of the state.

Though I-81 is formidable with its heavy truck freight use, it's more transit.  The gas/food/lodging locations along the route are doing well, but with only Roanoke and Bristol as major cities, there isn't much else than great views.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

For Indiana (especially the Northern area), the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) is extremely vital since these interstates are the only ones that feed into Northern Ohio. If the highway shuts down for any reason, the only viable alternatives are US 20 or US 6 (I-94 pushes too far up north into Michigan once east of Michigan City to serve as an alternate route). US 20 is serviceable from Chicago to Elkhart, but east of there is only two lanes. Until maybe Cleveland (Youngstown definitely), it's THE fast route from Chicago to New York City.

The same argument can be said for I-65. It's the major link from Chicago to Indianapolis and major cities of the Southeast (Louisville, Nashville, and Montgomery. If this highway gets crippled north of Indy, you either have to find a route to cut across from I-57 to US 41 (a big reason for the Illiana), or use the original footprint of US 41 and 52.

[DTComposer]

I wasn't thinking this way at first, but I'm going to argue for I-15 for California:

I-5 doesn't connect many cities of import that aren't already connected by other freeway or multi-lane divided routes (CA-99 for the Central Valley, US-101 to connect L.A. and the Bay Area, I-15 as an slight detour between L.A. and San Diego), and the far northern state is rural enough that very few people would be affected.

I-15 is the route that gets trucks coming from the ports of L.A. and Long Beach connected to I-40, I-70 and I-80, and therefore gets goods to the rest of the country (excepting Oregon and Washington). Without hard facts, I'd opine that losing I-15 would have a huge impact on commerce for much of the country.

[sandiaman]

Definitely I-10 in Arizona, since it connects Arizona's two largest metro areas (Phoenix and Tucson), plus connecting Phoenix to its growing exurbs.

For New Mexico, I would say I-25 since it connects Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe (the three largest metro areas in the state).

I  understand  I-25   since it does  indeed connect the three largest cities, but I feel I -40  might be the most vital  since it connects Albuquerque  with the rest of the country  and  has the highest traffic volumne

[Pink Jazz]

Definitely I-10 in Arizona, since it connects Arizona's two largest metro areas (Phoenix and Tucson), plus connecting Phoenix to its growing exurbs.

For New Mexico, I would say I-25 since it connects Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe (the three largest metro areas in the state).

I  understand  I-25   since it does  indeed connect the three largest cities, but I feel I -40  might be the most vital  since it connects Albuquerque  with the rest of the country  and  has the highest traffic volumne

Of course, on a national scale, I do believe I-10 is busier than I-40 since it serves more major metro areas, but the only metro area that I-10 serves in New Mexico is Las Cruces, which isn't that large.  I think I-10 is the second busiest east-west Interstate in the nation, behind I-80.

[Billy F 1988]

Montana I think you have to go I-90.

Don't forget I-15 and 94.

I'd add US 12 and 93 and MT 200 because they're the most important highways connecting several rural communities. There are a plethora of Montana highways connecting communities on the east side and they're important.

[Revive 755]

Illinois has LOTS of vital highways. Any, seriously ANY interstate that goes into Chicago is a vital route as Chicago is an economic hub so that puts 94 (to Milwaukee), 90 (to Rockford, Madison), 80 (to Iowa), 55 (To St Louis) and 57 (beyond StL) around the horn onto the map (along with 80/94 into Indiana (but not so much the Skyway due to the tolls).  Sorry 88, but I-80 does essentially what you do - for free.

I-90 between Rockford and Chicagoland might carry a decent amount of traffic, but I'm not sure I would call it equally vital as I-94.  If I-90 had to be closed between I-39 and around Elgin, I-88 is available as an alternate.

Outside Chicago the most vital highway I would say is - ironically - I-39 - as it gives Wisconsin freight and travelers shortcuts to St Louis and points beyond on a freeway without Chicago in the way.

If I-39 had been built to go south of Bloomington-Normal and tie into I-57 near Salem, I would agree.  However, since I-39 doesn't go that far south, I'd go with I-55 since it connects the two largest metro areas in the state, serves the state capital, ties into I-39 and ties into I-44 in Missouri ( a major freight corridor).  I was strongly considering I-57, but on many of the freight flow maps (found via this site)  I-55 seems to carry more trucks than I-57.

[WashuOtaku]

Montana I think you have to go I-90.

Don't forget I-15 and 94.

I'd add US 12 and 93 and MT 200 because they're the most important highways connecting several rural communities. There are a plethora of Montana highways connecting communities on the east side and they're important.

But the question is "the most vital highway to your state?"  Of course each highway is vital in its own way, but what is the highway that stands out from them all, which if it was to shutdown, would screw the pooch. 

[Zzonkmiles]

I would assume this would be easy to identify as it would likely be an interstate that interacts with most major cities in area.

For South Carolina --> I-26, it links Charleston (port), Columbia (capital) and Greenville/Spartanburg area.

Interesting. I would argue that I-85 may be more important than I-26 in SC because I-85 links Atlanta and Charlotte. In addition, the Greenville-Spartanburg metro is more important to the state economy than the Columbia economy is. Plus, I-26 parallels US 176 for much of its route in the state, so the Charleston-Columbia-Upstate traffic would have another option should I-26 not exist.

[WashuOtaku]

I would assume this would be easy to identify as it would likely be an interstate that interacts with most major cities in area.

For South Carolina --> I-26, it links Charleston (port), Columbia (capital) and Greenville/Spartanburg area.

Interesting. I would argue that I-85 may be more important than I-26 in SC because I-85 links Atlanta and Charlotte. In addition, the Greenville-Spartanburg metro is more important to the state economy than the Columbia economy is. Plus, I-26 parallels US 176 for much of its route in the state, so the Charleston-Columbia-Upstate traffic would have another option should I-26 not exist.

Those parts and raw materials for the BMW plant and tire plants in the Upstate typically come from the ports, not from Atlanta or Charlotte.  Also, all the interstates in South Carolina parallel with a US Highway:  I-20 = US 1 (mostly), I-77 = US 21, I-85 = US 29 and I-95 = US 301. 

[Gnutella]

Hierarchy of Interstates in Pennsylvania


1. I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike)
Serves Pennsylvania's two largest metropolitan areas and its state capital/fifth-largest metropolitan area

2. I-476 (Northeast Extension)
Serves three of Pennsylvania's four largest metropolitan areas

3. I-95
Serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and functions as the primary corridor for the most heavily populated region of the United States

4. I-81
Serves two of Pennsylvania's five largest metropolitan areas and its state capital, and functions as an international trade corridor between the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Lawrence Seaway

5. I-78
Serves two of Pennsylvania's five largest metropolitan areas and its state capital, and functions as a direct route between the New York metropolitan area and the interior of Pennsylvania

6. I-79
Serves the Pittsburgh and Erie metropolitan areas, and functions as an emerging international trade corridor between the Carolinas and Canada's "Golden Horseshoe"

7. I-84
Serves the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, and functions as a direct route between Pennsylvania and New England

8. I-80
Indirectly serves the State College, Williamsport and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan areas, and functions as an express corridor between the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas

9. I-83
Serves the Harrisburg and York metropolitan areas, and functions as a direct route from the interior of Pennsylvania to Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay

10. I-99
Serves the Altoona, State College and Williamsport metropolitan areas, and functions as a necessary north/south corridor in central Pennsylvania

11. I-376
Serves the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and functions as a connection to the industrial towns in the Beaver, Mahoning and Shenango River Valleys

12. I-90
Serves the Erie metropolitan area, and functions as a connection to other Great Lakes metropolitan areas

13. I-180
Serves the Williamsport metropolitan area, and functions as a segment of an international trade corridor between the Chesapeake Bay/Hampton Roads and Canada's "Golden Horseshoe"

14. I-380
Serves the Scranton/Wilkes Barre metropolitan area and the Pocono Mountains, and functions as a direct route between western New York and the New York metropolitan area.

15. I-176/I-276/I-279/I-283/I-579/I-676 (tie)
Serves local traffic in various Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.

21. I-86
Serves the southern tier of upstate New York.

[roadman65]

Just look at the traffic counts.

In Florida both I-95 and I-75 are most vital to tourists and commerce hence why they are being widened from their original 4 lane status (minus 6 lane I-75 in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties which was originally built as that in the 1980's after the boom).   I-4 is a local vital link for Central Florida and a glorified spur of I-95 to Orlando for tourists and Tampa for truckers.  I-10 is just a regional link but not too much port or industrialized use for long distance haulers.

Edit: I-10 might have some importance for truckers originating at the Ports of Jacksonville linking commerce to Atlanta via I-75 and some regional commerce between Jax, Mobile, New Orleans, and Houston.  However still not as vital as I-95 and I-75 and even I-4.

[US 41]

Call me crazy, but US 27 might be the most important in Florida. It travels from Miami to Tallahasee and runs through the middle of the state and is 4 lanes most of the way. Plus it is a free alternative to the FL Turnpike. It runs just west of Orlando and goes through Ocala. Really anywhere in Florida could be accessed fairly easily from US 27. The same cant be said about 95, 75, or the Turnpike that only access certain parts of the state.

[Zzonkmiles]

Hierarchy of Interstates in Pennsylvania

Seems like an awesome topic for a new thread. I'd love to see how others rank the interstates in their states.

[JakeFromNewEngland]

It's hard to choose for Connecticut. I would have to go with I-91 for CT considering it connects Hartford and New Haven. As for a US route, probably US 1. For a state route, I would choose CT 15 (Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways) which basically connects the whole western and central parts of the state to NYC via the Hutchinson.

[empirestate]

What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system?  One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.

Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!

On the other hand...the GWB was closed last night and nobody seems to have noticed, so perhaps I'm wrong...

[clong]

I-65 was someone's choice for Alabama. Pros for it would be getting traffic to the Gulf for tourism dollars and connecting Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile - the 4 biggest areas in the state. Hyundai plant is on I-65 as well.

I-20 would also bear some consideration mostly for commercial traffic and its connections out of state - Atlanta to the east and DFW to the west. Mercedes and Honda plants are on I-20.

So I would probably agree that I-65 is the winner, but a close second is I-20.

[roadman65]

Call me crazy, but US 27 might be the most important in Florida. It travels from Miami to Tallahasee and runs through the middle of the state and is 4 lanes most of the way. Plus it is a free alternative to the FL Turnpike. It runs just west of Orlando and goes through Ocala. Really anywhere in Florida could be accessed fairly easily from US 27. The same cant be said about 95, 75, or the Turnpike that only access certain parts of the state.

Yes it is a route for Shunpikers and yes travels the middle of the state.  However from Lake Wales to Ocala now it is an arterial mostly with the 65 mph speed limits lowered in some areas to 45 mph.  In Polk, Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties US 27 is not what is used to be anymore. Sprawl all the way with stop lights almost every half mile in many places.

[cl94]

What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system?  One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.

Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!

Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.

I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.

Edit: remove duplication

[hotdogPi]

What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system?  One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.

Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!

Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.

I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.

I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether.

I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether.

[Zzonkmiles]

I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee.  Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).

I thought I-75 in Florida had the highest mile marker east of the Mississippi. Interesting stat.

As for North Carolina, the obvious answer is I-40, which links Wilmington, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Asheville. I wanted to give my vote to I-85, but north of Durham, there's not much going on there at all. And I-95 is mostly out-of-state traffic and the road passes no cities of any significance other than maybe Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids.

For Georgia, it's really hard to choose between I-75 and I-85, both of which outrank I-20.

[cl94]

I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee.  Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).

Incorrect because of a technicality. I-90 has a MM 496 in New York at the Pennsylvania line. While this is Thruway mileage, it is located on I-90, which does not have its own set of mile markers (except for a short section in/near Albany).

[empirestate]

What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system?  One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.

Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!

Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.

I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.

Edit: remove duplication

The Thruway is the obvious other choice, if that counts as a "highway" (as opposed to I-90 throughout the state, or I-87 likewise). What's hard to know is, if one highway really did disappear, how well would its alternates hold up under the added strain? Without the Thruway, could I-86, I-88, I-390, and any number of non-freeway routes (US 20, notably) serve the state well enough such that it can't be said to be "crippled"? I don't know that there have been enough real-world tests of this to know, because when the Thruway has been closed, the alternates typically have as well, and besides the entire length has never been closed, to my knowledge.

But what I see with I-95 is that, even when it isn't closed it's effectively non-functional a lot of the time, and yet people still seem to rely on it. I-95's primary role in the state system is mostly for through-routed, trans-Hudson commercial traffic, which couldn't be well-sustained by either of the alternates (the Verazzano or Tappan Zee routes). I can certainly say that the effects of I-95's disappearance would be national in scope, whereas the Thruway's would be more directly local to the state. But, a national disruption on that scale would certainly cascade down onto the state as well and cause more than its fair share of crippling.

[froggie]

From an economic perspective, I'd argue that 87 or 90 hold much higher value in New York than 95.

[RoadWarrior56]

For Georgia, no contest - I-75.