The Most Important Road Project in Your State

[ChiMilNet]

Illinois:
-Widening of I-55 from at least US-6 to US-41 Lake Shore Drive from 3 to 4 lanes.

-Widening of I-80: 4 lanes from I-294 to I-55, 3 lanes from I-55 to the Quad Cities.

I'm sure there's plenty more but those two seem like no brainers to me

Agreed, and to add to that for IL:
-Widening I-290 to 4 lanes each way between Hillside and Chicago City Limits and removing the idiotic left hand exits in Oak Park.
-I-90 (Kennedy Expressway) between I-294 and I-94 Junction, widen to at least 4 lanes each way (EB only 4 lane expansion to Harlem will only move holdup farther East, like I-290 in Hillside did, and this does nothing to address the WB tie up between Milwaukee and Harlem that always occurs).
-I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) between Junction and Circle Interchange, remove the antiquated express lanes, add an additional travel lane each way, and then use the extra additional ROW to put a HOT lane each way (6 total lanes each way, 5 standard, 1 HOT).
-Widening I-294 to 5-6 lanes each way between I-90 and I-88/290 (possibly to I-55).
-Building IL 53 into Lake County as a 6 lane tollway (no parkway nonsense).
-Complete IL 390 and I-490 around O'Hare, I actually think this would really alleviate traffic a fair deal at the I-90/294/190 interchange area.
-Widening I-55 to 3 lanes each way through Springfield and modernizing the interchanges.
-Widening I-270 between I-255 and MO State Line to 3 lanes each way (twin and rehab Chain of Rocks Bridge).

[ChiMilNet]

Yes, Missouri's I-70 is awful. That section through Columbia is such a mess. I didn't realize they were widening it for its entirety, so that's great.

Actually, they aren't widening it yet. They don't have any funding for it. But, I think if they get the funding, they might do the whole stretch at once instead of doing it piece by piece.

At the VERY least, the section through Columbia needs to be widened. It is ridiculous that a busy Interstate Highway through a city of over 100,000 still only has 2 lanes, and narrow shoulders. The other section would probably be the section East of Blue Springs and then through Warren County.

Other than that, the MO portion of the I-49 Bella Vista Bypass, and removing the stoplights on US 71 in KC and widening this stretch to 3 lanes each way (also, in effect, completing I-49 to I-70/670/35 in Downtown KC).

[mvak36]

Yes, Missouri's I-70 is awful. That section through Columbia is such a mess. I didn't realize they were widening it for its entirety, so that's great.

Actually, they aren't widening it yet. They don't have any funding for it. But, I think if they get the funding, they might do the whole stretch at once instead of doing it piece by piece.

At the VERY least, the section through Columbia needs to be widened. It is ridiculous that a busy Interstate Highway through a city of over 100,000 still only has 2 lanes, and narrow shoulders. The other section would probably be the section East of Blue Springs and then through Warren County.

Other than that, the MO portion of the I-49 Bella Vista Bypass, and removing the stoplights on US 71 in KC and widening this stretch to 3 lanes each way (also, in effect, completing I-49 to I-70/670/35 in Downtown KC).

For some reason, I think they're waiting to widen 70 all at once instead of doing it in bits and pieces. Maybe it's a traffic nightmare if they do it piecemeal.

Unless people in that area change their minds about the stoplights, I don't see it happening anytime soon


iPhone

[sparker]

Some on my short list would be the Westside Parkway/CA 58 which is in the works along with a huge WANT with Kramer Junction also getting bypassed....also CA 58.  Granted I know there is probably more more pressing concerns like fixing 99 or some urban wriggamoral.

On a purely statewide level, I'd have to concur with Max regarding the necessity of this project; the commercial value of the CA 58 corridor cannot be overstated.  On a more "micro" level, finishing the CA 71 freeway through Pomona is probably the most important project in LA metro;  up here in the northern part of the state I'd have to cite the pending 80/680/12 interchange revamping in Cordelia as the most important actually on the near-term agenda, while getting 152 done between 101 and Casa De Fruta as at least a divided expressway is high on the old wish list!

[roadman]

Long overdue for Massachusetts is the re-do of the I-95 (MA 128) and I-93 interchange in Woburn/Reading/Stoneham, which has been stuck in the NIMBY geopolitical quagmire nearly forever.  At least MassDOT seems to be progressing on the re-do of the counterpart interchange in Canton.

[BrianP]

Expanding I-270 from Frederick to Clarksburg, Maryland.

That's needed but the American Legion Bridge and Beltway expansion is needed more.  The HOT lanes need to be extended from VA up to the I-270 exit would be a start. 

[Revive 755]

Illinois:
-Widening of I-55 from at least US-6 to US-41 Lake Shore Drive from 3 to 4 lanes.

Would be nice to get 4 general purpose lanes each way on I-55, but instead IDOT is pursuing managed lanes between I-355 and I-90/I-94:  Link.  One of the Will County transportation documents (can't recall which at the moment) indicated these lanes may go west of I-355 someday.

-Widening of I-80: 4 lanes from I-294 to I-55, 3 lanes from I-55 to the Quad Cities.

Six lanes from La Salle - Peru eastward would be nice, but I have my doubts that this should be more important than other stretches of interstate in Illinois.  West of La Salle - Peru to I-280/I-74 can wait for now IMHO.

I'm sure there's plenty more but those two seem like no brainers to me[[/quote]

How about:
* Six lane I-55 from south of IL 104 to IL 157
* Replace the Des Plaines river bridges on I-55 before the next time it requires any sort of maintenance involving lane closures lasting more than one day.
* Reconfigure the western I-39/US 20 interchange
* Fill the gap in the US 67 expressway between Godfrey and Manchester
* Finish the US 51 expressway from north of Pana down to I-70 at Vandalia
* Reconfigure the I-90/I-290/IL 53 interchange - after the Circle rebuild gets done this would be my nomination for top project in Illinois.

[lordsutch]

In Georgia, I suppose that the I-285- GA 400 interchange would be the obvious answer. That said, I think it'll be of limited impact until more capacity is added across top end 285, so... the 285 HOT lanes would be the most important project.

If I was picking something other than an I-285 project, it'd probably be upgrading GA 316 fully to a freeway or reviving the Northern Arc.

[SP Cook]

West Virginia:

1B -- Finishing Corridor H
2A -- Finishing US 35

Kentucky:

Finishing the London-to-Ashland corridor

I would flip those two in WV.  H will be a great road that will bring new traffic into that area, traffic that today is not there.  The 12 mile deathstrip of 2 lane 35 is currently getting traffic and people are being killed due to the overburdening of what was built to be a local use farm country road.

Then I would add that the six lane upgrade of 64 is badly needed.  The road is simply over-capacity.  Unfortunatly, they struck toxic waste and the next section (the bridge between Nitro and St. Albans) is now at least one year behind schedule (Fall 21 at best). 

As to the Commonwealth, I have never heard of a London-Ashland Corridor.  Is not the current super-2 Daniel Boone/Hal Rogers Parkway and 4-lane KY 80 and US 23 adequate?   

Inter-state projects, but when Kentucky and Virginia finish Corridor Q (US 460) it will really open up a very isolated part of the country, much like Corridor H.  Also inter-state, but this east end bridge that will allow a bypass of Louisville seems really important.  It is rediculious that through traffic has to go through Louisville. 

[Doctor Whom]

In DC, the streetcar project includes a proposal to replace the left turn from westbound K St NW to southbound 27 St NW with a loop ramp. The ramp would use ROW that DDOT already owns and underpass space that already exists and would join the off-ramp from 66 at a new traffic signal. I think that this should be built whether or not the streetcars ever make it to K St, since it should be an easy way to improve what is now a horrifically difficult merge.

[hbelkins]

West Virginia:

1B -- Finishing Corridor H
2A -- Finishing US 35

Kentucky:

Finishing the London-to-Ashland corridor

I would flip those two in WV.  H will be a great road that will bring new traffic into that area, traffic that today is not there.  The 12 mile deathstrip of 2 lane 35 is currently getting traffic and people are being killed due to the overburdening of what was built to be a local use farm country road.

I had them listed as 1B and 2A, meaning that I ranked them equally. I couldn't select just one.

As to the Commonwealth, I have never heard of a London-Ashland Corridor.  Is not the current super-2 Daniel Boone/Hal Rogers Parkway and 4-lane KY 80 and US 23 adequate?   

This is a new corridor designed to open up some of Kentucky's most economically-depressed counties to development. It would also be a shortcut for thru traffic instead of having to go all the way north to Lexington on I-75 and then east on I-64. It follows KY 30, KY 11 and KY 715 to the Mountain Parkway. Then after a 17-mile run on the parkway, it follows KY 205, US 460 and KY 7 to Grayson.

A section of KY 7 in Elliott County just opened to traffic, and five miles of KY 30 in Owsley County will be finished next spring. Already built are a 20-mile section of KY 30 in Laurel and Jackson, a 10-mile segment of 11 in Lee, the Mountain Parkway in Wolfe, 205 and 460 from the parkway to West Liberty, two short segments of KY 7 in Morgan, and now all of 7 from Sandy Hook to Grayson.

Inter-state projects, but when Kentucky and Virginia finish Corridor Q (US 460) it will really open up a very isolated part of the country, much like Corridor H.  Also inter-state, but this east end bridge that will allow a bypass of Louisville seems really important.  It is rediculious that through traffic has to go through Louisville.

The east end bridge is supposed to open by the end of the year.

[nexus73]

Oregon's biggest projects right now are on state routes.  99W has the Dundee Bypass project while 62 is getting a bypass in Medford.

US 20 Eddyville's hardest sections have been completed.  A bit of work on the SR 569 Beltline Road/I-5 interchange is going on.  There are articles I have seen saying something is happening with the Sellwood Bridge in PDX.  A few miles of I-5 south of the interchange with SR-38 is getting repaved and 3-lane uphill sections being put in place. 

All in all the times are slow for Big Deals in Oregon at this time it seems.

Rick

[thenetwork]

Based on my travels this year:

COLORADO:  6-laning I-70 from Vail to Golden.

MISSOURI, ILLINOIS & INDIANA:  6-laning I-70 (I would much rather follow I-64 to Louisville, then I-71 into Ohio from now on).

OHIO:  6-laning I-70 west of Dayton.

As far as the farm states (NE/KS/IA), I never had any inconveniences.

[Roadsguy]

For Pennsylvania, probably widening I-81 to six lanes from the MD state line to I-78, though AFAIK this is in very early study phase if it's even being done at all (though it was certainly at least considered at one point).

As far as more active projects go, probably the widening of the Turnpike from Valley Forge out ultimately to I-176, or the completion of the gap in US 322 between Potters Mills and State College.

[triplemultiplex]

Wisconsin is working on the Zoo Interchange and expanding I-39/90 to six lanes.  So I think statewide, the most important project that is needed is an I-43 modernization and expansion from Silver Spring Dr to Port Washington.

Honorable mention to six lanes on 90/94 to the Dells and converting Verona Rd into a full freeway with system connection to the Beltline.

[ColossalBlocks]

Yes, Missouri's I-70 is awful. That section through Columbia is such a mess. I didn't realize they were widening it for its entirety, so that's great.

In my opinion, I-70 from Wright City to Kingdom City is awful, not just by the way the road was built, but the people. Rednecks as far as the eye can see, and cops who have nothing else to do but pull you over for going 1 mile over the limit.

[JMoses24]

MISSOURI, ILLINOIS & INDIANA:  6-laning I-70 (I would much rather follow I-64 to Louisville, then I-71 into Ohio from now on).

OHIO:  6-laning I-70 west of Dayton.

Disagree on I-70 in Ohio for the time being. Our biggest issue is the Brent Spence Bridge on I-75/71. It's a bridge carrying way more traffic than designed to with no emergency shoulders whatsoever, and major accidents on the bridge can (and DO) snarl traffic for much of the workday.

[Chris19001]

As far as more active projects go, probably the widening of the Turnpike from Valley Forge out ultimately to I-176

For southeastern PA, that's not even in the ballpark for most important active projects.  The PA Turnpike-I95 connector, and the I-95 revive project within the Philly city lines dwarfs the traffic from Morgantown to Valley Forge.  Even widening US22 in Allentown would probably rate higher due to its high level of daily commuter delays.  (I acknowledge this is all subjective though)

[jwolfer]

For Florida i would say the trans4mation.. Widing i4 and adding rxpress lanes thru Orlando

LGMS428

[inkyatari]

I once suggested wideining I-80 in illinois to 3 lane minimum from border to border, and they all laughed at me!


My pick forthe most important project is the IL-53 north extension (again, no parkway BS, and I'd have it continue as I-355. End 290 at the 290/355 junction)

3 lane 55 through Springfield

Widen IL 47 to 2 lanes from I-80 to I-55, then 3 lanes from I-80 to I-90, with a Morris Bypass along the Brisbin Rd. corridor, and a bypass of Yorkville to the west.

[LM117]

I-81 desperately needs widened in VA.

[Max Rockatansky]

For Florida i would say the trans4mation.. Widing i4 and adding rxpress lanes thru Orlando

LGMS428

I thought they were calling that "I-4 Ultimate?"

[jwolfer]

For Florida i would say the trans4mation.. Widing i4 and adding rxpress lanes thru Orlando

LGMS428

I thought they were calling that "I-4 Ultimate?"

You are right.. An old name was trans4mation

LGMS428

[MikeTheActuary]

In Connecticut, there are way too many to choose from, but I would put high on the list:

* Replacement of the I-84 viaduct in Hartford
* Any project improving capacity and flow on I-95
* Updates to I-84 from east of Waterbury to Danbury

[dfwmapper]

Nevada:

-  The Boulder City Bypass which would be a huge obstacle to get I-11 really going.

Already under construction for more than a year. If we're looking at projects that haven't started, then I'd argue that the remaining portions of CC 215 are more important (northeast end near I-15 and the remaining parts around the US 95 interchange).

Arizona

-  Building a total four-lane expressway from Show Low to Payon on AZ 260.  This might not be the cliche pick but in my opinion is probably the most dangerous stretch of highway in the state with the largely two-lane configuration.  There is a lot of elk and a surprisingly high amount of traffic bogged down by 55 MPH speed limits.  I think most people would pick I-17 truck lanes if not I-11.

4-laning the remaining 2/3 lane portions of US 93 has to be top of the list. Truck lanes on I-17 would be a good idea. Bypassing Beale St and building a stack interchange between I-40 and US 93 in Kingman. Finishing the AZ 85 expressway south to I-8 with a good interchange. Wickenburg bypass for US 93. AZ 260 seems fairly adequate in its current configuration of 4 lanes between Payson and the lakes and 2 lanes with frequent passing lanes east of that. I-11 is a waste of money. Arizona will run out of water before there's a need for full access control along there.

Texas
Widening I-35 through Austin would be top of my list. Second place would be improving US 287 between Fort Worth and Amarillo to 4 lanes divided the entire way with access-controlled bypasses of the towns and grade separations at major crossroads.