Can non-driveable sections of road be signed as state routes?

[Quillz]

The technically closed sections of CA-144 and CA-173 (mainly due to landslide damages) got me thinking about this. Could a state route be officially signed over a non-driveable section, say, something like a ferry or boat connection? I know some US Routes have water connections through this method, but I've not yet seen any state route anywhere do something like this.

[NE2]

M-185 can be biked but not motored by the public. It's signed.

[Quillz]

Ah, that would be a great example, then.

Wonder why they would maintain a section of road like that if it's not intended for motor vehicles.

[NE2]

States do maintain multi-use trails. Most are not part of the state highway system, however. (M-185 is more like an actual road that's closed to traffic than a trail.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-185_%28Michigan_highway%29 is a "featured article" so it should be better than the average forum post.

[Scott5114]

I remember seeing an old photo of a ferry somewhere in Arkansas that had a reassurance shield literally on the ferry.

[briantroutman]

Not exactly the same thing, but Knoebels Blvd. at Knoebels Amusement Resort near Elysburg, PA used to be open to vehicular traffic (it was the main road through the park, leading to the parking area), but it was closed to vehicles about 15 years ago to prevent conflicts with pedestrians in the park. Anyway, I don't know if the entire length of Knoebels Blvd. was ever a state route (it could easily have been an old PA 487 alignment), but it included a bridge over Roaring Creek that was built by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways. As I recall seeing it last, the bridge still had small SR markers posted at each end. The bridge is cataloged at BridgeMapper (http://bit.ly/10snb7k).

Not far away, I noticed that the bypass of the compromised section of PA 61 in Centralia is actually not SR 61 but instead SR 2002. So I suppose that would mean PennDOT still considers the closed section to be officially SR 61–though it isn't open to automotive traffic.

[Quillz]

I remember seeing an old photo of a ferry somewhere in Arkansas that had a reassurance shield literally on the ferry.

Reminds me a bit of the TCH segment from Nanaimo to Vancouver. The ferry that connects the two routes is officially part of the system, although I don't remember it carrying any actual signage as such.

[Pete from Boston]

The technically closed sections of CA-144 and CA-173 (mainly due to landslide damages)

Don't forget CA-140!

[Brandon]

M-185 can be biked but not motored by the public. It's signed.

Technically, though, it can be driven as it is all signed and paved.  It is driven; however, by emergency vehicles only - ambulance, fire truck, etc.

I think the former "Impassable" section of M-35 in the UP would qualify better under the criteria.  It was signed up to the "Impassable" points, and it was marked on state maps for decades before Michigan gave up on it.

[NE2]

It can be driven by bike too.

[1995hoo]

The Hatteras—Ocracoke and Ocracoke—Cedar Island ferries are considered part of NC-12's route, although the ferries don't bear route shields. The ferries are the only connection (unless you fly or take a private boat) between Ocracoke and the rest of the state.

The same road occasionally uses an emergency ferry service further north when a hurricane washes out the road.

If you were to count roads that are driveable but closed to the general public, you could get into situations like state roads closed for "security" reasons, such as VA-318, which requires a permit because it's on the Virginia State Capitol grounds in Richmond.

[dgolub]

The technically closed sections of CA-144 and CA-173 (mainly due to landslide damages) got me thinking about this. Could a state route be officially signed over a non-driveable section, say, something like a ferry or boat connection? I know some US Routes have water connections through this method, but I've not yet seen any state route anywhere do something like this.

Yes, as long as you consider an auto ferry to be non-driveable.  NY 114 passes through Shelter Island, which has no bridges connecting it to anywhere else.  There are two ferries, one at each end of the section on the island.  Also, CT 148 and CT 160 have ferries that cross the Connecticut River, although they only operate at certain times of year, meaning that at other times motorists must detour through an alternate route where there's a bridge.

[Kacie Jane]

The technically closed sections of CA-144 and CA-173 (mainly due to landslide damages) got me thinking about this. Could a state route be officially signed over a non-driveable section, say, something like a ferry or boat connection? I know some US Routes have water connections through this method, but I've not yet seen any state route anywhere do something like this.

Many state routes do.  Especially in the state of Washington.

[The Great Zo]

Michigan has a legitimate ferry example: M-134. It crosses Lake Huron's De Tour Passage near De Tour Village on a ferry, serving Drummond Island to the east. The Ferries are run by Eastern Upper Peninsula Transport Authority, which I believe is a government entity.

There is almost another example in southeast Michigan, with a very short ferry crossing to Harsens Island from the main land in Clay Township (St. Clair County). The ferry connects M-29 on the main land with M-154 on Harsens Island, but I'm pretty sure the actual crossing is not designated with either of those routes. I do know that ferry is privately operated.

[Thing 342]

The Hatteras—Ocracoke and Ocracoke—Cedar Island ferries are considered part of NC-12's route, although the ferries don't bear route shields. The ferries are the only connection (unless you fly or take a private boat) between Ocracoke and the rest of the state.

I believe NC 45 uses the Ocracoke-Swan Quarter ferry. Also, NC 615 uses the Currituck-Knotts Island Ferry. Neither have shields on the boats.

[froggie]

I believe the (now-former) segment of PA 82 washed out by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 would qualify under this.

Also, technically, those segments of the US Bike Route system (USBR) that follow paths instead of streets/roads would qualify as well.

[Mapmikey]

VA 125 probably qualifies...signed and maintained on both sides of the removed Nanesmond River Bridge.  A posted detour was up for a while but no longer so.

VA 92 could eventually be the same.  Roanoke River Bridge is permanently closed but still standing.  So far a posted detour is up for VA 92.

US 60 briefly had a segment like this when the original Rudee Inlet Bridge was closed in 1961.

Virginia also has parts of state facility routes that are maintained but not drivable by the public.  The VA 318 example cited above is one.  Also nearby VA 315 I think has a segment assigned that is now a paved walk/bike path.  Neither is signed.

Some of VA 329's mileage is behind the gates to the prison. VA 346 has a closed off portion on the eastern side of Fairy Stone State Park.  I cannot say if these closed portions have any signage.  The accessible part of 329 is NOT signed while 346 is well signed.

Mapmikey

[corco]

US 87 in Wyoming is also signed over a washed out roadway- there's no detour signed and there's no reason to rebuild it with I-25 and WYO 193 in close proximity.

Not sure why they don't just reroute 87 over 193, but that's that.

[TEG24601]

Aside from all ferries of the Washington State Ferries (including the passenger only ferries, when they existed) being part of the State Route System, there are also bike trails in a few areas that I've seen signed, aside from Mackinaw Island.  IIRC, unless the highway has been replaced on Hawaii (the Island) that was destroyed by lava, it would technically be a signed, but non-driveable, section of highway.

[NE2]

US 87 in Wyoming is also signed over a washed out roadway- there's no detour signed and there's no reason to rebuild it with I-25 and WYO 193 in close proximity.

Not sure why they don't just reroute 87 over 193, but that's that.

Forgot about this (it's actually covered by a landslide, not washed out, IIRC).
ASSHTOLE refused because they wanted either the deficiencies on WY 193 corrected or US 87 moved to I-90: http://route.transportation.org/Documents/2001_USRN_Cmte.pdf

[corco]

Yeah, it's a landslide

[ChoralScholar]

I saw in an old Arkansas highways book, a picture of a ferry crossing a river, and on the ferry was a road sign with a single digit state route.  I think 9, although I can't imagine where the ferry would have been.

[ChoralScholar]

I remember seeing an old photo of a ferry somewhere in Arkansas that had a reassurance shield literally on the ferry.

Wow, I just posted the exact same thing before I read down the thread.  I saw that same picture in a book.  Do you remember which route it was?  I'm pretty sure it's single digit.

[JREwing78]

Merrimac Ferry near Madison, WI, carrying WI-113: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimac_Ferry

[Brandon]

Merrimac Ferry near Madison, WI, carrying WI-113: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimac_Ferry

In that case, then there's also the Kampville Ferry, Kampville, IL carrying IL-108.