Rural Freeways That Need Six Lanes

[sprjus4]

1A. Christiansburg to Roanoke
1B. Strasburg (Corridor H) to I-66
2. Lexington to Staunton (I-64 overlap)
3. I-77 to Christiansburg
4. Staunton to Harrisonburg
5. Harrisonburg to Strasburg
6. Roanoke to Lexington
7. I-66 to WV line
8. Bristol to Wytheville

Both 1A and 1B are under construction / will be under construction in the next couple of years. The I-64 overlap has some widening projects planned, although not the whole length.

And other small spot widenings / truck lanes mixed in throughout are planned / underway. Staunton, Harrisonburg, and Winchester are all getting urban widenings for a few miles each. The biggest though is Roanoke to Christiansburg (Exit 150 to Exit 118).

[Beltway]

I don't think it too optimistic to go from beginning of EIS/location studies to a completed highway in 10 years -- especially when widening within existing R/W.

I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg, I-70 across Missouri (200+ miles!), all of the I-81 segments underway or soon to be... 10 years is not unreasonable at all. It's funding that is the holdup for everything.

Even if 10 years is a bit optimistic, it is still a reasonable goal and taking a few years longer would not be any lack.

The biggest though is Roanoke to Christiansburg (Exit 150 to Exit 118).

Christiansburg to Troutville is all programmed for 6-lane widening. About $1.7 billion total.

The Christiansburg–Roanoke–Troutville corridor carries roughly double the traffic volumes compared to much of the rest of I‑81 in Virginia. In the 55,000 to 70,000 volume range. So it deserves the highest priority.

Even so, per the SYIP we are looking at 2032 for full completion albeit considerable mileage by 2028.

[Rothman]

I don't think it too optimistic to go from beginning of EIS/location studies to a completed highway in 10 years -- especially when widening within existing R/W.

I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg, I-70 across Missouri (200+ miles!), all of the I-81 segments underway or soon to be... 10 years is not unreasonable at all. It's funding that is the holdup for everything.

You'd be surprised how much in-house and consultant design capacity can be a hindrance as well.  Heck, there are even signs of contractors meeting a workload limit on a regional level.

[kkt]

There would be enough national federal aid funding to do up to 20 routes in the next 10 years. Funding mechanisms beyond what currently exist would be developed for this.

Is that 10 years from conceiving the project to construction completion or to construction starting, with another 10 to finish construction?  Either way feels very aggressive (just look at the controversy surrounding widening NY 17), but the former seems downright impossible.

It would put it back on par with the original Interstate Highway System.

Many of the corridors were rolled out within 10 years or so.

Not 30 or 40 years.

This time we are not talking about new highways -- but the widening of existing.

The parts of the original interstates that were built that quickly were the easiest, in several different ways.  High need, right of way publicly owned, often needing nothing but adding two lanes of roadway for the opposite direction or at times needing just taking down US signs and putting up Interstate signs.  Public debate was much more limited.

[webny99]

The biggest though is Roanoke to Christiansburg (Exit 150 to Exit 118).

As it should be. That is great progress, and will provide a substantial break from the four lane slogs. Even so, I think Christiansburg south to I-77 (Exit 81) should be a very high priority as well. I'd be interested in the traffic splits on I-77 northbound at I-81. I wouldn't be surprised if it's close to 50/50 between NB I-81 and NB I-77 (SB I-81).

Christiansburg to Troutville is all programmed for 6-lane widening.

Exit 150 is 2 miles south of Troutville, so I think you're saying the same thing.

[sprjus4]

As it should be. That is great progress, and will provide a substantial break from the four lane slogs. Even so, I think Christiansburg south to I-77 (Exit 81) should be a very high priority as well. I'd be interested in the traffic splits on I-77 northbound at I-81. I wouldn't be surprised if it's close to 50/50 between NB I-81 and NB I-77 (SB I-81).

I-81 south of US-460 isn't as big of a priority, in my experience it flows significantly better than north of US-460, primarily due to the terrain.

Truck climbing lanes are being proposed on I-81 in both directions near the New River crossing, but that is it for now.

I think truck climbing lanes should be used in more locations on I-81 where immediate 6 lane widening isn't happening anytime soon - lots of bottlenecks caused in random uphill areas just because of trucks that could be avoided.

[SSOWorld]

I-94 Cottage Grove to Waukesha
I-65 Gary to Indy
Indiana Toll Road and Ohio Turnpike remaining 4-lane segments

[Avalanchez71]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

[sprjus4]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

When the speed limit is 70 mph, and there is are six trucks in the left lane all crawling past the trucks in the right lane at 61 mph for 10 miles, and then constantly fluctuating speed because of terrain (all well below the speed limit)... and there is a mini bottleneck being formed behind them, abrupt braking, etc...

yeah having a third left lane with no trucks usually eliminates most of those issues.

See... I-81 in VA where it's six lanes vs. four lanes.

[Scott5114]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

You are a jokester, yes?

[hotdogPi]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

You are a jokester, yes?

A jokester that actually has power somehow.

^^^^ you're just now starting to think that!?!! Lololol.. it took my about seeing 5-6 of his posts to come to that conclusion. I'm almost certain he is. I wonder what his opinion on the billion dollar I-69 project in Texas is? Or I am VERY interested to know what he thinks about the Port to Plains Corridor.

Way back in his posting history I seem to remember seeing that he identified as a former Tennessee politician, so I always just assumed that the fiscal-pants-crapping song-and-dance was a holdover from that and a terminal failure to recognize that a road forum isn't going to eat his performance up the way his constituents used to. But some of his recent behavior (like posting the same shtick in the FritzOwl thread of all places) is making me second-guess that assumption.

I was a former Tennessee politician.  I was duly elected by the people and I did save the taxpayers money whilst in office.  I am actually considering another run next cycle.

[Rothman]

Heh. An anonymous politician is quite the oxymoron.

[Beltway]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

When the speed limit is 70 mph, and there is are six trucks in the left lane all crawling past the trucks in the right lane at 61 mph for 10 miles, and then constantly fluctuating speed because of terrain (all well below the speed limit)... and there is a mini bottleneck being formed behind them, abrupt braking, etc...
yeah having a third left lane with no trucks usually eliminates most of those issues.
See... I-81 in VA where it's six lanes vs. four lanes.

Even worse on fairly level highways like I-70 in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

Sometimes mile after mile of micro-passing trucks.

[Rick Powell]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

This inspires visions of a 12-lane I-70 through Utah with an ADT of 200,000, attracting cars and trucks from all over the world that would otherwise be traveling somewhere else.

[JayhawkCO]

[wriddle082]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

You are a jokester, yes?

A jokester that actually has power somehow.

^^^^ you're just now starting to think that!?!! Lololol.. it took my about seeing 5-6 of his posts to come to that conclusion. I'm almost certain he is. I wonder what his opinion on the billion dollar I-69 project in Texas is? Or I am VERY interested to know what he thinks about the Port to Plains Corridor.

Way back in his posting history I seem to remember seeing that he identified as a former Tennessee politician, so I always just assumed that the fiscal-pants-crapping song-and-dance was a holdover from that and a terminal failure to recognize that a road forum isn't going to eat his performance up the way his constituents used to. But some of his recent behavior (like posting the same shtick in the FritzOwl thread of all places) is making me second-guess that assumption.

I was a former Tennessee politician.  I was duly elected by the people and I did save the taxpayers money whilst in office.  I am actually considering another run next cycle.

"Former" being the key word here.  I wonder if he voluntarily chose not to seek another term in office or if he simply lost his last reelection bid...

Sure, citizens want the government to save money, but Tennessee has always had pretty good roads that, while at times too narrow, are most always smooth (potholes are only an issue with OGFC asphalt), and are generally built without any sort of debt service.  If the state has the money to add lanes, and the citizens want them, then they should add lanes.  In Tennesssee's case, the lanes generally do not "induce" additional traffic.  The traffic is simply growing along with the state's already explosive growth, and any additional lanes will allow that traffic to safely maintain the speed limit in areas where it's often no longer possible.

Tennessee does not need politicians who say no to everything, unless it's an elected dog catcher who says no to stray dogs (Maybe that's the elected office he should run for next time!).  They need thoughtful politicians who don't jump the gun one way or the other and listen to their constituents, and ONLY their constituents.  Right now, most all of their constituents want to be able to make it to work safely and on time, and ensure their children make it to school safely and on time.  Transit is not the answer for most people.  Don't even bring it up!  Not everybody works downtown in an office building.  Many people work at suburban office parks or offices near airports or in industrial parks.  Their opinions matter, oftentimes even moreso than the ones who live/work/eat/play/fornicate only in an urban setting.

[Avalanchez71]

The largest problem upon personal observation with driving on the Interstate is speed.  If folks just drove the speed limit, they would come upon other folks as much as they do now.  That is a major reason for asking for the additional lanes.  Just drive the speed limit and stay-in-your-lane.

[Scott5114]

A jokester that actually has power somehow.

Are you implying being a politician and being a jokester are mutually exclusive?

[ChiMilNet]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

Three words... truck lane restrictions!

[GaryV]

The largest problem upon personal observation with driving on the Interstate is speed.  If folks just drove the speed limit, they would come upon other folks as much as they do now.  That is a major reason for asking for the additional lanes.  Just drive the speed limit and stay-in-your-lane.

And if everyone took the train, we wouldn't need highways at all. It's simple, I wonder why no one else thought of it. /s

[Rothman]

The largest problem upon personal observation with driving on the Interstate is speed.  If folks just drove the speed limit, they would come upon other folks as much as they do now.  That is a major reason for asking for the additional lanes.  Just drive the speed limit and stay-in-your-lane.

And if everyone took the train, we wouldn't need highways at all. It's simple, I wonder why no one else thought of it. /s

If people are starving in Africa, they should move to France.

[pderocco]

Here's some GSV for that road in Burma:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EpSvnxoNhdLRmzgb6
It shows the abject failure of the "build it and they'll come" concept. That should be a 2-lane road.

[JayhawkCO]

Here's some GSV for that road in Burma:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EpSvnxoNhdLRmzgb6
It shows the abject failure of the "build it and they'll come" concept. That should be a 2-lane road.

I haven't been on that road, but I've been to the city. It's just as sleepy.

[vdeane]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

When the speed limit is 70 mph, and there is are six trucks in the left lane all crawling past the trucks in the right lane at 61 mph for 10 miles, and then constantly fluctuating speed because of terrain (all well below the speed limit)... and there is a mini bottleneck being formed behind them, abrupt braking, etc...

yeah having a third left lane with no trucks usually eliminates most of those issues.

See... I-81 in VA where it's six lanes vs. four lanes.

Honestly, given his prior (and subsequent) posts, I think he considers stuff like that to be a feature rather than a bug.  I have heard traffic being used as a safety justification for road diets (as it limits a person's speed to the speed of the car in front of them), though he's the first I've seen openly apply it to freeways like that.

[Buster Cannon]

What advantage does one receive traversing a six-laned highway versus a four-laned highway?  Seems to me that the more capacity, the more traffic.

When the speed limit is 70 mph, and there is are six trucks in the left lane all crawling past the trucks in the right lane at 61 mph for 10 miles, and then constantly fluctuating speed because of terrain (all well below the speed limit)... and there is a mini bottleneck being formed behind them, abrupt braking, etc...

yeah having a third left lane with no trucks usually eliminates most of those issues.

See... I-81 in VA where it's six lanes vs. four lanes.

Seconding I-81 in VA, we were just up there last week. Flow is mostly okay, but every so often you'll get a wall of trucks that you can't pass by unless the stars align and one of them merges over. They've started construction in some spots already; that stretch north of Harrisonburg will be a lot smoother with another passing lane.

Sidenote: They opened up a Buccees on I-81, and good lord that's the most insane gas station I've ever seen.