Any roads closed due to COVID-19?

[RobbieL2415]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

But that would require you not listen to your GPS or app...the horror.

Just to be clear, I only dislike the checkpoints.  People know that they should practice social distancing.  It will be our own damn faults if we don't do that.

[Max Rockatansky]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

But that would require you not listen to your GPS or app...the horror.

Just to be clear, I only dislike the checkpoints.  People know that they should practice social distancing.  It will be our own damn faults if we don't do that.

I despise them, but as a former Floridian I know damn well that there are a lot of ways into the state aside I-10, I-75, and I-95.  Even out in California I could real off a list of bypasses of Agricultural Inspection Stations which likely will be handy very soon. 

[sprjus4]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

I had been thinking about this... and this seems like a simple way to bypass them. Exit the interstate at the last exit, and re-enter the interstate at the first exit on the other side, almost like bypassing a toll. Is the state cracking down on this?

[mgk920]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

I had been thinking about this... and this seems like a simple way to bypass them. Exit the interstate at the last exit, and re-enter the interstate at the first exit on the other side, almost like bypassing a toll. Is the state cracking down on this?

Apparently, US 17 is closed at the FL-GA state line.

Mike

[RobbieL2415]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

I had been thinking about this... and this seems like a simple way to bypass them. Exit the interstate at the last exit, and re-enter the interstate at the first exit on the other side, almost like bypassing a toll. Is the state cracking down on this?

Apparently, US 17 is closed at the FL-GA state line.

Mike

Then get off at GA 40 and go down US 301.

[sprjus4]

Apparently, US 17 is closed at the FL-GA state line.

Mike

From what I heard, the first exit in Florida to US-17 was closed, but not the road itself.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently, US 17 is closed at the FL-GA state line.

Mike

From what I heard, the first exit in Florida to US-17 was closed, but not the road itself.

Even if US 17 was closed it is pretty easy to find a way around the obstruction by going out of your way to almost every surface highway to the west.  Even if they ended up with checkpoints I would imagine that they would be infinitely more tame than trying to enter on an Interstate.  The freight will likely most stick to the Interstates and normal drivers can't read a map to save their lives...or get out of a long line.

[sprjus4]

The freight will likely most stick to the Interstates and normal drivers can't read a map to save their lives...or get out of a long line.

Trucks are allowed to "bypass" the checkpoint whereas cars have to go through.

[Max Rockatansky]

The freight will likely most stick to the Interstates and normal drivers can't read a map to save their lives...or get out of a long line.

Trucks are allowed to "bypass" the checkpoint whereas cars have to go through.

Yes, hence the incentive for them to stay on the main route.  Nonetheless with that volume of a back up they won't get through smooth sailing either.  I would imagine some of the more savvy truckers will make their way to surface roads also. 

[1995hoo]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

I had been thinking about this... and this seems like a simple way to bypass them. Exit the interstate at the last exit, and re-enter the interstate at the first exit on the other side, almost like bypassing a toll. Is the state cracking down on this?

Whether that's a good option depends in part on how long the backup is. Might have to exit earlier than the last exit if you don't want to get stuck in traffic. Same concept, though.

[US71]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

Provided they are open

[Max Rockatansky]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

Provided they are open

In the case of Florida they seem to be according the 511 site:

https://fl511.com/

[1995hoo]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

Provided they are open

Realistically, unless either the only routes between two states involve crossing a waterway or the border is really short, how practical is it to try to close every road? That is, you could block the crossings between Virginia and Maryland easily enough, but Virginia and North Carolina, or Maryland and Pennsylvania, would present a far more difficult conundrum. In Florida's case, it's true that there are only limited roads crossing into Georgia on the east side of the Okefenokee swamp and that going around to the west of the swamp requires going way out of your way, but there are considerably more roads crossing the state line on that side. It just doesn't seem likely to be practical to close them all because of the need for law enforcement to continue to perform other functions elsewhere.

[kphoger]

My sister and I were texting the other day about how we'd heard national parks were closed due to the virus, but a lot of state parks have remained open.  Our family, even while under state-issued home-quarantine after returning from Mexico, went hiking over the week-end at a nearby state park, for example.  Exercise such as hiking is specifically allowed under both the statewide stay-at-home order and our previously issued home-quarantine guidelines.  So we took advantage of that fact, went over to El Dorado State Park, and kicked the cabin fever in the butt a little bit.  My sister was saying she and her husband (residents of the northern suburbs of Des Moines, IA) might go hiking at Ledges State Park soon, now that they know it's still open.

So I was wondering after this conversation with her:  are the roads into any national parks closed?

[Max Rockatansky]

My sister and I were texting the other day about how we'd heard national parks were closed due to the virus, but a lot of state parks have remained open.  Our family, even while under state-issued home-quarantine after returning from Mexico, went hiking over the week-end at a nearby state park, for example.  Exercise such as hiking is specifically allowed under both the statewide stay-at-home order and our previously issued home-quarantine guidelines.  So we took advantage of that fact, went over to El Dorado State Park, and kicked the cabin fever in the butt a little bit.  My sister was saying she and her husband (residents of the northern suburbs of Des Moines, IA) might go hiking at Ledges State Park soon, now that they know it's still open.

So I was wondering after this conversation with her:  are the roads into any national parks closed?

I listed some upthread in California.  I'd imagine they've only gotten more strict by now.  Usually NPS.gov is pretty on the spot with road closures on the park pages. 

[hbelkins]

So I was wondering after this conversation with her:  are the roads into any national parks closed?

Southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which goes to Great Smoky Mountains NP. I don't know if Newfound Gap Road (the link between US 441 at Cherokee and Gatlinburg) is physically barricaded off or not. Nor for the road through Mammoth Cave that connects separate segments of KY 70.

[RobbieL2415]

I'm seeing hints on GMaps Traffic that RI may be closing side streets near the border to funnel traffic onto SRs. But the coverage is spotty because of the decline in traffic.

[SectorZ]

I'm seeing hints on GMaps Traffic that RI may be closing side streets near the border to funnel traffic onto SRs. But the coverage is spotty because of the decline in traffic.

Any examples? I could only find one closed near the CT border, and its been closed so long you can see it in Street View.

[RobbieL2415]

I'm seeing hints on GMaps Traffic that RI may be closing side streets near the border to funnel traffic onto SRs. But the coverage is spotty because of the decline in traffic.

Any examples? I could only find one closed near the CT border, and its been closed so long you can see it in Street View.

This one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7400445,-71.7859243,16.88z/data=!5m1!1e1

This one: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0152099,-71.5340758,17.5z/data=!5m1!1e1

[SectorZ]

I'm seeing hints on GMaps Traffic that RI may be closing side streets near the border to funnel traffic onto SRs. But the coverage is spotty because of the decline in traffic.

Any examples? I could only find one closed near the CT border, and its been closed so long you can see it in Street View.

This one: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7400445,-71.7859243,16.88z/data=!5m1!1e1

This one: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0152099,-71.5340758,17.5z/data=!5m1!1e1

And both are closed in the Street View pix (the first one was the one I found earlier, and its from 2012).

[ftballfan]

So I was wondering after this conversation with her:  are the roads into any national parks closed?

Southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which goes to Great Smoky Mountains NP. I don't know if Newfound Gap Road (the link between US 441 at Cherokee and Gatlinburg) is physically barricaded off or not. Nor for the road through Mammoth Cave that connects separate segments of KY 70.

There appear to be a few other roads closed in that area according to Google Maps Traffic, such as TN-165/NC-143 at the state line, US-129 near Cheoah Dam (Tail of the Dragon appears open), and US-19/US-74 between Topton and Wesser in western NC

[CoreySamson]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

Provided they are open

In the case of Florida they seem to be according the 511 site:

https://fl511.com/

Kind of off-topic but that 511 site looks awesome. In my opinion, every state needs something like that.

[Max Rockatansky]

Life pro tip to avoid these checkpoints: enter the state from a surface road.

Provided they are open

In the case of Florida they seem to be according the 511 site:

https://fl511.com/

Kind of off-topic but that 511 site looks awesome. In my opinion, every state needs something like that.

Florida has a pretty good one, I like their phone system also.  California also has an excellent QuickMap service but I've found the phone system to not really have up to date information.

[vdeane]

Interestingly, Florida's 511 site looks nearly identical to NY's: https://511ny.org/

[Rothman]

Interestingly, Florida's 511 site looks nearly identical to NY's: https://511ny.org/

Why interesting?  Traffic.com was probably the consultant for both.