The Most Hated Freeway in America

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

We've tackled the most hated freeways in each city, now let's expand it: What do you believe to be the most hated freeway in America?

[Max Rockatansky]

Interstate 238 is probably a strong contender for the title in the roadgeek world.  I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see from the comments from normals on Facebook groups.  There is FAR worse than the 405 reality through.

[HighwayStar]

How does one even measure this? Conceptually its difficult.

If we simply count the number of people that vote for it being their least favorite the title will go to some congested item in the largest city that drives, ie. disqualifying NYC, Los Angeles.

But that is really a meaningless title since it simply has a very small plurality of votes by people who really don't have a clue about the subject.

A more informed opinion would take into account the number of motorists it impacts but also the nature and avoid-ability of those impacts.

I-95 would have been my vote a decade ago, with it having at least 2 serious gaps and many other choke-points and compromises. The elimination of one of those gaps helps matters, but it is still, as a whole, probabally the most badly overtaxed interstate route.

[jeffandnicole]

How does one even measure this? Conceptually its difficult.

If we simply count the number of people that vote for it being their least favorite the title will go to some congested item in the largest city that drives, ie. disqualifying NYC, Los Angeles.

But that is really a meaningless title since it simply has a very small plurality of votes by people who really don't have a clue about the subject.

A more informed opinion would take into account the number of motorists it impacts but also the nature and avoid-ability of those impacts.

I-95 would have been my vote a decade ago, with it having at least 2 serious gaps and many other choke-points and compromises. The elimination of one of those gaps helps matters, but it is still, as a whole, probabally the most badly overtaxed interstate route.

It's opinion based. Not science based.

[HighwayStar]

How does one even measure this? Conceptually its difficult.

If we simply count the number of people that vote for it being their least favorite the title will go to some congested item in the largest city that drives, ie. disqualifying NYC, Los Angeles.

But that is really a meaningless title since it simply has a very small plurality of votes by people who really don't have a clue about the subject.

A more informed opinion would take into account the number of motorists it impacts but also the nature and avoid-ability of those impacts.

I-95 would have been my vote a decade ago, with it having at least 2 serious gaps and many other choke-points and compromises. The elimination of one of those gaps helps matters, but it is still, as a whole, probabally the most badly overtaxed interstate route.

It's opinion based. Not science based.

Being opinion based does not alleviate the need for some sort of framework on understanding the scope/interpretation of the question.

[thspfc]

Has to be I-95 because of the sheer number of people who drive it. I imagine most of them hate it.

[M3100]

I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see

Yep. Comments like 'you'll go 4 or 5 mph while driving it' and 'it'll take 4 or 5 hours to get to your destination'...the section near the I-10/I-405 interchange is the worst in my experience...

Meanwhile, I've driven segments of I-95 from time to time but not in the more congested regions. 

[Max Rockatansky]

I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see

Yep. Comments like 'you'll go 4 or 5 mph while driving it' and 'it'll take 4 or 5 hours to get to your destination'...the section near the I-10/I-405 interchange is the worst in my experience...

Meanwhile, I've driven segments of I-95 from time to time but not in the more congested regions.

A lot of the California road groups are convinced they have the worst freeway congestion in the country.  There isn't a single freeway in California that truly can approach the worst levels of traffic jams seen back east.  Even just a tiny sample of the Miami-Dade area this last month brought back a lot of memories of when I lived there.  It certainly made me appreciate some of the less loved west coast freeways a little more. 

[SkyPesos]

I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see

Yep. Comments like 'you'll go 4 or 5 mph while driving it' and 'it'll take 4 or 5 hours to get to your destination'...the section near the I-10/I-405 interchange is the worst in my experience...

Meanwhile, I've driven segments of I-95 from time to time but not in the more congested regions. 

495: 405's worse best friend with about the same ego in the east.

[Flint1979]

I-405 in LA
I-95 in NYC
I-76 in Philly

[fillup420]

another vote for 95. In NC its old, boring, narrow, and bumpy in spots. Also full of long-haul traffic bound the FL or the northeast.

[jeffandnicole]

The PA Turnpike, for its expense.

[sprjus4]

another vote for 95. In NC its old, boring, narrow, and bumpy in spots. Also full of long-haul traffic bound the FL or the northeast.

Within a half-decade, at least 50 miles of that will finally be 8 lanes. Will be a nice relief from hundreds of miles of 4 lanes.

[Rothman]

I-95 or the Borman.

[SSR_317]

How about the WORTHLESS Chicago Skyway, the most expensive (per mile) toll road in the USA? If it didn't connect to the western end of the Indiana Toll Road, this monstrosity would've likely been torn down decades ago!

[Max Rockatansky]

How about the WORTHLESS Chicago Skyway, the most expensive (per mile) toll road in the USA? If it didn't connect to the western end of the Indiana Toll Road, this monstrosity would've likely been torn down decades ago!

It's still better than shuffling along I-94 during rush hour.  Besides, I like how the backdrop of South Chicago and Gary give me Sonic 2 Oil Ocean vibes.

[Roadgeekteen]

I-95, I-5 for the west coast

[jp the roadgeek]

I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see

Yep. Comments like 'you'll go 4 or 5 mph while driving it' and 'it'll take 4 or 5 hours to get to your destination'...the section near the I-10/I-405 interchange is the worst in my experience...

Meanwhile, I've driven segments of I-95 from time to time but not in the more congested regions. 

495: 405's worse best friend with about the same ego in the east.

Which 495?  I'm assuming you mean the DC Beltway or the LIE. 

[SkyPesos]

I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see

Yep. Comments like 'you'll go 4 or 5 mph while driving it' and 'it'll take 4 or 5 hours to get to your destination'...the section near the I-10/I-405 interchange is the worst in my experience...

Meanwhile, I've driven segments of I-95 from time to time but not in the more congested regions. 

495: 405's worse best friend with about the same ego in the east.

Which 495?  I'm assuming you mean the DC Beltway or the LIE.

Either works. Like how there's both LA and Seattle for 405.

[LilianaUwU]

Interstate 238 is probably a strong contender for the title in the roadgeek world.  I would probably say Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway from the comments I see from the comments from normals on Facebook groups.  There is FAR worse than the 405 reality through.

Another two contenders for the roadgeek world: I-180 in either Wyoming or Illinois. The former needs to be a freeway and the latter doesn't!

[Roadgeekteen]

I don't think that this thread is talking about the roadgeek world.

[Love2drive]

Atlanta's Downtown Connector

[keithvh]

I-95 or the Borman.

Oh Dear God --- the Borman.  Honestly, I think that's the winner in terms of (1) pure misery and (2) the number of Americans who have been exposed to it.

At least with something like I-95, there are some users of it who love it.  It's not bad for it's ENTIRE 1,908 mile length.  Parts of the route through Maine, for instance, are downright deserted. 

Similar for most other roads.  Even the 405 has its utility and isn't that bad if you're simply driving it to cross the Valley or drive Redondo Beach to Huntingdon Beach or something like that.

--------------

But the Borman.  I can't imagine there is ANY American who has journeyed that freeway that enjoys it at all.

It is 12 miles of misery, the entire length from the Illinois state line to the I-65 split.  For 12 miles, all the traffic from the northeast to Chicago, from the southeast to Chicago, from the southern Lakes to the Great Plains --- it all has to get together on the Borman. 

And for that 12 miles, it's wall-to-wall semis!  And all of the lane weavers!  Even when they aren't lane weaving, 40%+ of the folk aren't in the correct lanes anyway, particularly the trucks that like to line up left to right across 5 lanes at a time!  Then the I-65 interchange when traveling from the west, the traffic stacks up rather dangerously there!  Oh yeah, the speed limit is only 55!  Although the actual range of speeds on that road ranges from 5 to 90!  Nothing dangerous about that! 

I imagine that in hell, Satan has 100% arranged it such that any commute must take a road that is like the Borman.

[Roadgeekteen]

I-90 and I-80 have to be up there.

[Great Lakes Roads]

I-95 or the Borman.

Oh Dear God --- the Borman.  Honestly, I think that's the winner in terms of (1) pure misery and (2) the number of Americans who have been exposed to it.

At least with something like I-95, there are some users of it who love it.  It's not bad for it's ENTIRE 1,908 mile length.  Parts of the route through Maine, for instance, are downright deserted. 

Similar for most other roads.  Even the 405 has its utility and isn't that bad if you're simply driving it to cross the Valley or drive Redondo Beach to Huntingdon Beach or something like that.

--------------

But the Borman.  I can't imagine there is ANY American who has journeyed that freeway that enjoys it at all.

It is 12 miles of misery, the entire length from the Illinois state line to the I-65 split.  For 12 miles, all the traffic from the northeast to Chicago, from the southeast to Chicago, from the southern Lakes to the Great Plains --- it all has to get together on the Borman. 

And for that 12 miles, it's wall-to-wall semis!  And all of the lane weavers!  Even when they aren't lane weaving, 40%+ of the folk aren't in the correct lanes anyway, particularly the trucks that like to line up left to right across 5 lanes at a time!  Then the I-65 interchange when traveling from the west, the traffic stacks up rather dangerously there!  Oh yeah, the speed limit is only 55!  Although the actual range of speeds on that road ranges from 5 to 90!  Nothing dangerous about that! 

I imagine that in hell, Satan has 100% arranged it such that any commute must take a road that is like the Borman.

For me, it's the Borman as well! Is there was any way that we could avoid the mess of the Borman, especially right now with all of the darn construction? Oh wait, the Illiana Expressway should've been built by now to relieve that traffic...