The Most Important Road Project in Your State

[Max Rockatansky]

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.

I stand by what I said about AZ 260 having lived there for about half my life in Arizona.  US 93 was only really a problem before the current expressway was built.  Aside from the Joshua Tree forest north of Wikenburg there isn't much justification for an Interstate aside from sheer population between Phoenix and Las Vegas, truck numbers really aren't there as much as people would think.  The issues on AZ 85 were largely solved with the current design being recently built in the last couple years in Gila Bend. 

As for as AZ 260 goes, things are in much better shape from Payson east to the top of the Mogollon Rim since it's become almost a full divided highway.  The road through there was completely brutal when it went through Christopher Creek.  On the top of the rim is where most of the elk and deer are roaming around and there is a heavy influx of seasonal traffic in the Summer.  AZ 260 is still a way better designed road than US 60 through Salt River Canyon, Globe, westward to Superior.  Granted US 60 between Globe and Superior is being improved, there is little hope given the terrain in Salt River Canyon.  Personally I'd like to see AZ 260 become the new alignment of US 60 along with AZ 87 and have US 70 shifted to I-10. 

But then again...subjective, I've hit a couple those stupid elk on AZ 260.  I figure it was going to play better to throw out something there that most people wouldn't even know was a problem route than rehash I-11.  Anyways...just my opinion.

Also...water rights, Arizona does have access to the entire Salt River Project as well as the Gila River. 

[Buffaboy]

The Tappan Zee bridge has tied up the budget big time. When that's done, I don't know what the next project will be.

[02 Park Ave]

Here in NJ it is the Direct Connction/Missing Links project.

[Revive 755]

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

Nebraska could really use the Highway 2 portion of the Lincoln Beltway completed.

As for Iowa, there's a few sections of interstates that could use to go from four to six lanes, such as I-35 between Ames and the Ankeny area, and I-380 between I-80 and Cedar Rapids, but I don't use either enough to say which one warrants being a higher priority.

[mvak36]

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

Nebraska could really use the Highway 2 portion of the Lincoln Beltway completed.

As for Iowa, there's a few sections of interstates that could use to go from four to six lanes, such as I-35 between Ames and the Ankeny area, and I-380 between I-80 and Cedar Rapids, but I don't use either enough to say which one warrants being a higher priority.

I think the I-35 widening is supposed to happen in the near future up from Ankeny to Ames. http://www.amestrib.com/news/iowa-dot-looks-expand-i-35-six-lanes-between-ames-ankeny

I would think 380 wouldn't be far behind. They're going to be reconstructing the I-80/I-380 interchange in a couple of years. They'll widen I-380 till a little before exit 4 according to the plans from the meeting.
http://www.news.iowadot.gov/pim/2015/09/i-80i-380us-218-iowa-27-interchange-johnson-county-sept-29-2015.html
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/property-owners-get-details-on-80380-interchange-project-20150930

[Rothman]

The Tappan Zee bridge has tied up the budget big time. When that's done, I don't know what the next project will be.

Not as much as you'd think.  Received a lot of special funding that didn't affect NYSDOT's capital program much.

(personal opinion expressed)

[MNHighwayMan]

I think the I-35 widening is supposed to happen in the near future up from Ankeny to Ames. http://www.amestrib.com/news/iowa-dot-looks-expand-i-35-six-lanes-between-ames-ankeny

Wow, the Ames Tribune website gave me cancer–it's awful. "Buy my subscription for a ridiculous price per month!" lolno

But yeah, the six-lane expansion of I-35 needs to happen. I've driven that section many times and every time I come back from the Twin Cities, traffic levels spike when I get to Ames. It's ridiculous.

[bandit957]

I don't know about Kentucky overall, but if you're just talking about northern Kentucky, the most important might be the proposed greenway from Ludlow to Dayton.

[mvak36]

I think the I-35 widening is supposed to happen in the near future up from Ankeny to Ames. http://www.amestrib.com/news/iowa-dot-looks-expand-i-35-six-lanes-between-ames-ankeny

Wow, the Ames Tribune website gave me cancer–it's awful. "Buy my subscription for a ridiculous price per month!" lolno

But yeah, the six-lane expansion of I-35 needs to happen. I've driven that section many times and every time I come back from the Twin Cities, traffic levels spike when I get to Ames. It's ridiculous.

I was able to read it fine. I just had to close the part where it was asking for a subscription.

[MNHighwayMan]

I think the I-35 widening is supposed to happen in the near future up from Ankeny to Ames. http://www.amestrib.com/news/iowa-dot-looks-expand-i-35-six-lanes-between-ames-ankeny

Wow, the Ames Tribune website gave me cancer–it's awful. "Buy my subscription for a ridiculous price per month!" lolno

But yeah, the six-lane expansion of I-35 needs to happen. I've driven that section many times and every time I come back from the Twin Cities, traffic levels spike when I get to Ames. It's ridiculous.

I was able to read it fine. I just had to close the part where it was asking for a subscription.

That's what I mean. It asked me twice before I could actually read the article.

[jeffandnicole]

Here in NJ it is the Direct Connction/Missing Links project.

Agreed for South Jersey that's the most important project, but statewide I didn't initially include it.

[mgk920]

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.

Also, the soon to start complete re-engineering of the I-39/90/I-43 Beloit interchange.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin
- I agree on upgrading I-90/94 northwest of the I-39 split (Cascade interchange) to six lanes, but all the way to the I-90/94 split (Tomah interchange).  Also, upgrade the I-39/90/94 corridor from the Cascade interchange to the Beltline interchange in Madison to eight through lanes, including a complete re-engineering of the Beltline interchange.

- Upgrade I-41 from WI 15 in the Appleton area to Scheuring Rd in De Pere to six lanes.

- Complete the US 10 freeway from Amherst Junction to I-39 in Stevens Point.

- Completely re-engineer the I-94/US 53 Eau Claire interchange.

- Reroute US 10 between WI 441 in Appleton and Forest Junction.

Mike

[slorydn1]

For NC I would say the most pressing need is to get the I-40/I-240/I-26 clusterf&^% straightened out in Asheville. That's far more important than any of the new planned Interstates on my side of the state, imo.

[roadman]

For NC I would say the most pressing need is to get the I-40/I-240/I-26 clusterf&^% straightened out in Asheville. That's far more important than any of the new planned Interstates on my side of the state, imo.

Drove through there a few times when I was in the Asheville area for my niece's wedding in 2013.  Couldn't agree with you more about that location being a huge cluster that needs to be corrected.

[hbelkins]

For NC I would say the most pressing need is to get the I-40/I-240/I-26 clusterf&^% straightened out in Asheville. That's far more important than any of the new planned Interstates on my side of the state, imo.

Drove through there a few times when I was in the Asheville area for my niece's wedding in 2013.  Couldn't agree with you more about that location being a huge cluster that needs to be corrected.

I guess I've been lucky enough to have never driven through that interchange during peak travel times. Most of my experience has been I-26 eastbound, but my most recent trip was I-240 west to I-26 west (US 23 north).

[WhitePoleRD]

I think the I-35 widening is supposed to happen in the near future up from Ankeny to Ames. http://www.amestrib.com/news/iowa-dot-looks-expand-i-35-six-lanes-between-ames-ankeny

Wow, the Ames Tribune website gave me cancer–it's awful. "Buy my subscription for a ridiculous price per month!" lolno

But yeah, the six-lane expansion of I-35 needs to happen. I've driven that section many times and every time I come back from the Twin Cities, traffic levels spike when I get to Ames. It's ridiculous.

Even the traffic from US 20 to Ames is surprisingly high. Ames to Ankeny is a must but Ames to 20 could be added as well and it'd be well warranted. Currently, IaDOT is working on the shoulders of I-80 between Colfax and Mitchellville but I think they should be making it six-lanes between Altoona and Newton (and again between WDM and 169, but I've mentioned that before).

[roadfro]

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).

Maybe... The part of CC 215 at the northern US 95 interchange (the "Centennial Bowl") has phases under construction currently, so I don't know if that would count. (Granted, it's only the first phase of a five phase project.) And the sections along the northeastern segment really don't have so much traffic that conversion to full freeway is vital at this point in time.

I would argue that NDOT examining reconstruction/widening of I-515 east of downtown would be more important (especially if they decided to route I-11 through downtown). The viaduct is aging and sagging, there's no room for expansion on the current structure, and some of those interchanges have minimal merging room. It's the only bit of freeway in the Vegas area's urban core that hasn't seen any real upgrades since original construction (except for I-15 between Sahara and US 95, but Project Neon is underway to correct that). NDOT was studying this in the mid 2000s, but the project seems to have been shelved in favor of projects on I-15.


Looking at Northern Nevada, I would say an important project would be upgrades to US 395 north of I-80. Much of that is original construction also, and the amount of housing and industrial expanding into the North Valleys and Stead, the freeway north of the North McCarran/Clear Acre interchange could use additional capacity now. The capacity will definitely be needed when the proposed Pyramid Hwy/395 connector freeway gets constructed in the not-too-distant future.

Another project for Northern Nevada, which NDOT has just begun taking a look at, is enhancements and/or reconstruction of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl. There are some capacity issues and substandard weaving issues in that complex, most of which has seen no major modification since original construction in the late 1960s/early 1970s.

[roadfro]

I would argue that NDOT examining reconstruction/widening of I-515 east of downtown would be more important (especially if they decided to route I-11 through downtown). The viaduct is aging and sagging, there's no room for expansion on the current structure, and some of those interchanges have minimal merging room. It's the only bit of freeway in the Vegas area's urban core that hasn't seen any real upgrades since original construction (except for I-15 between Sahara and US 95, but Project Neon is underway to correct that). NDOT was studying this in the mid 2000s, but the project seems to have been shelved in favor of projects on I-15.

Turns out this is next... Started a thread in Pacific Southwest: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19341.0

[Bruce]

Washington's top five:

Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel and waterfront highway in Seattle, SR 520 Floating Bridge replacement and other improvements in Seattle and on the Eastside, I-90 improvements through Snoqualmie Pass, the North Spokane Corridor, and the new SR 167/SR 509 connection in southern King County.

[epzik8]

I said I-270 widening in Frederick County, Maryland, but actually I think it's the conversion of Route 404 to a divided highway, with it being a major Eastern Shore thoroughfare and its history of deadly accidents.

[Howpper]

Washington's top five:

Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel and waterfront highway in Seattle, SR 520 Floating Bridge replacement and other improvements in Seattle and on the Eastside, I-90 improvements through Snoqualmie Pass, the North Spokane Corridor, and the new SR 167/SR 509 connection in southern King County.

I live in the Tri-Cities in Washington, and I would say, for the amount of traffic it will get, the North Spokane Corridor is the most important. They have been trying to build it since the 60s (you can imagine how much traffic has increased since then), and the state failed to fund it. It finally got federal funding because it was needed so bad. I feel like the state kind of neglects the east side of the state.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Aside from 35W/494, in my estimation here are other big ones for Minnesota:
-I-35W/I-94
-I-35W/I-694
-I-94/I-394

-MN 62/MN 77
-Generally widening I-494 to eight through lanes between MN 100 and the MN 5 airport exit.

I also really think something needs to be done about the 394-Shelard-55 mess on US 169. Way too many interchanges in too short a space and it's absolute misery at rush hour.

[mgk920]

Is there any foreseeable future possibility for a complete rebuild of the I-94/494/694 (east) interchange?  That cloverleaf is NASTY!

Mike

[J Route Z]

Here in NJ it is the Direct Connction/Missing Links project.

Agreed, or the Goethals Bridge replacement (wait that may count as 2 states!)

[kurumi]

Is there any foreseeable future possibility for a complete rebuild of the I-94/494/694 (east) interchange?  That cloverleaf is NASTY!

Mike

The Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area looks really cloverleafy from above -- I counted 16 freeway-to-freeway cloverleaf interchanges. This is comparing apples to oranges, but MSP has more of these than San Diego, LA, and the Bay Area combined, and just might be #1 in the US for this.