future interstates

[xzmattzx]

are there any places in the united states that need an interstate? any places that should have an interstate? any places where it doesn't make any sense that there isn't an interstate? is there any place that could use any type of limited access highway, interstate or not?

one place i know could really use an interstate is california. route 99 should be an interstate. if i'm correct, fresno is the largest city without an interstate. bakersfield would also be inluded in this plan. fresno is a pretty big city, but many people think it's just a small town because there isn't any freeway with national merit that goes through the city.

another place that could benefit is lancaster, pennsylvania. i believe that they were originally going to get an interstate, because there is a state route numbered as 283 that starts at the end of i-283 in harrisburg. sr 283 was probably going to be a continuation of i-283, but must not have met interstate standards (and it wasn't the best freeway that could be built, although major construction in the last few years is making it much better).

delaware could use an interstate, or at least a freeway, to the beaches in sussex county. we currently have state route 1, which goes down to ocean city, maryland, but it is only an expressway until just south of dover. then it becomes a major divided highway. while there aren't many traffic lights or businesses along the highway until you get near the ocean (mostly farmland from dover to the beach communities), any type of cross-traffic can be extremely dangerous, or inconvenient at the least. traffic to the beaches from northern delaware and southeast pennsylvania is very heavy on friday afternoons and sunday nights, and stopping for the occasional traffic light can really screw things up. it is really bad for people who live down there, though, who might have to cross over the highway during the extreme traffic in order to get somewhere on the other side of the highway. you can literally wait for an hour to cross the highway, because traffic is almost at a standstill and the traffic jam can back up for 10 or 15 miles.

the situation on route 1 is apparently the situation west of dover on route 50 and other routes. i have never needed to use those roads to get to the beach, so i wouldn't really know about it as much, but i know many people in washington dc and baltimore that complain about the traffic when driving to the delaware beaches. there has been talk of extending i-595 (the hidden interstate that goes from washington, through bowie, to annapolis) over the bay, and crossing into delaware and connecting with route 1 in dover, or possibly going towards salisbury, maryland.

[HoustonTexas]

I - 69***

New York City - Los Angeles
New York City - Houston
Houston - Chicago
Chicago - Miami
Houston - Minneapolis

[VansTripp]

are there any places in the united states that need an interstate? any places that should have an interstate? any places where it doesn't make any sense that there isn't an interstate? is there any place that could use any type of limited access highway, interstate or not?

one place i know could really use an interstate is california. route 99 should be an interstate. if i'm correct, fresno is the largest city without an interstate. bakersfield would also be inluded in this plan. fresno is a pretty big city, but many people think it's just a small town because there isn't any freeway with national merit that goes through the city.

another place that could benefit is lancaster, pennsylvania. i believe that they were originally going to get an interstate, because there is a state route numbered as 283 that starts at the end of i-283 in harrisburg. sr 283 was probably going to be a continuation of i-283, but must not have met interstate standards (and it wasn't the best freeway that could be built, although major construction in the last few years is making it much better).

delaware could use an interstate, or at least a freeway, to the beaches in sussex county. we currently have state route 1, which goes down to ocean city, maryland, but it is only an expressway until just south of dover. then it becomes a major divided highway. while there aren't many traffic lights or businesses along the highway until you get near the ocean (mostly farmland from dover to the beach communities), any type of cross-traffic can be extremely dangerous, or inconvenient at the least. traffic to the beaches from northern delaware and southeast pennsylvania is very heavy on friday afternoons and sunday nights, and stopping for the occasional traffic light can really screw things up. it is really bad for people who live down there, though, who might have to cross over the highway during the extreme traffic in order to get somewhere on the other side of the highway. you can literally wait for an hour to cross the highway, because traffic is almost at a standstill and the traffic jam can back up for 10 or 15 miles.

the situation on route 1 is apparently the situation west of dover on route 50 and other routes. i have never needed to use those roads to get to the beach, so i wouldn't really know about it as much, but i know many people in washington dc and baltimore that complain about the traffic when driving to the delaware beaches. there has been talk of extending i-595 (the hidden interstate that goes from washington, through bowie, to annapolis) over the bay, and crossing into delaware and connecting with route 1 in dover, or possibly going towards salisbury, maryland.

Yeah. Fresno is largest urban sprawl so it can be hits million in later decade.

[TexasBoi]

^New York City - Los Angeles
New York City - Houston
Houston - Chicago
Chicago - Miami
Houston - Minneapolis

^ we dont need any of those interstates imo. thats just too much road for no reason.

[SChristopher]

I think pretty much all interstate routes that we need are in place, there are way too many as it is.

[texasboy]

I think pretty much all interstate routes that we need are in place, there are way too many as it is.

thank you. and they are expensive as hell.

[CincoRanchHoustonRes]

Well, Interstate 69, is already in progress. It iss already from Detroit, to Indy. It is being extended to Laredo, Texas, at the Mexican border; passing up cities like Memphis, Little Rock, Shrevport, and Houston.

[jmancuso]

well in texas I-69 is mostly I-59

[HoustonTexas]

Well Straight north of us is Minneapolis. like almost on the same longittudel ine.

[texasboy]

well in texas I-69 is mostly I-59

but I think it is changing isn't it. Plus for some reason 59 is not an interstate, but US 59, but I guess it is the same thing.

[marathon]

US-2 could be made an interstate from I-75 at Sault Sainte Marie, MI to I-15 at Shelby, MT

[HoustonTexas]

but I think it is changing isn't it. Plus for some reason 59 is not an interstate, but US 59, but I guess it is the same thing.
Arn't they just doing it, so theres no "stopping" ?

Because, thats the differnce between Interstates, and Highways...

I-10 If you had an infanite tank of gas, you could go all the way from Jacksonville to LA without stopping... (but then theres the Katy freeway ;))

So, maybe the traffic flow has increased over US 59, and "the stopping" hasn't helped!

[lammius]

Interstate 99 or 97 (re-number the little 99 or 97 exisiting to a 3-digit interstate) and make the new one an expressway between Wilmington Delaware and Raleigh, NC via the DelMarVa and Hampton Roads. The infrastructure would already be in place along many stretches.

[Rural King]

Well, Interstate 69, is already in progress. It iss already from Detroit, to Indy. It is being extended to Laredo, Texas, at the Mexican border; passing up cities like Memphis, Little Rock, Shrevport, and Houston.

Passing up Memphis? No its not. Its passing right through the eastern section of the city. Memphis doesn't have any interstates running through its central area, they all run around it, which is a good thing. I-40 actually terminates in downtown Memphis and restarts east of the city, the only place it actually has a break.

[bigboyz2004]

Well, Interstate 69, is already in progress. It iss already from Detroit, to Indy. It is being extended to Laredo, Texas, at the Mexican border; passing up cities like Memphis, Little Rock, Shrevport, and Houston.
I 69 will not pass up Shreveport. As a matter of fact, I 69 will form a loop around the southern part of town.

[Jasonhouse]

In the Tampa area, there are a couple segments very much needed to finish off the system and smooth out some serious kinks in traffic.

And, right after Jeb Bush corrupted his way into killing the $2.2B HSR project from Tampa to Orlando, the state DOT (Bush is in charge of) almost immediately announced that at the behest of Jebbie, they were looking into a plan to build a huuuuge 150+ mile long "beltway" which would parallel I-75 all through west central florida. Now, Bush whined and cried that the cost of HSR was so great, it would bankrupt the state back into the Stone Age... yet the first thing he does next is announces a massive road project costing billions more? Expressways are definitely one of the best vehicles for corruption ever invented. :ohno:

[SChristopher]

I think the whole Beltway plan is really obsolete and even now the ones that were built dont work for their original pupose and they create rediculous problems in the long run. It really surprises me whenever new belts are in the works or when some cities even have theirs still under construction.

Anyways in CincoRanch's defense I think he meant that the I-69 would pass through those towns and not passing up. Otherwise he probably could have mentioned numerous cities it would 'pass up'.

I think that if we were going to make new Interstates it would be best to use roads that are in place already like US Highways, or even state highways. I still stand by what I said earlier that there really doesnt need to be anymore road construction in the form of Interstates as most everywhere of high traffic is pretty well connected and areas of low traffic (small towns etc.) are all connected already as well. I think we have a pretty decent road system right now, there really isnt anywhere unreachable by car or with too much of a rediculous out of the way trip.

[cwilson758]

There are plans to upgrade US 31 here in Indy (Hamilton County) to limited access. Granted, I agree that an express/freeway of sorts is needed, but haven't transportation planners learned from the mistakes of the '50's and '60's that cutting highways through established urban areas is a "no-no!"

[e2ksj3]

2 that come to mind for me are:

- An interstate connection from Las Vegas to Phoenix

- This one could make a good candidate for a toll road or turnpike for NC, but a road, connecting Charlotte to Fayetteville (and I-95) to Norfolk-Hampton Roads (and Elizabeth City) area, essentially going from SW to NE.

[Furiine]

Interesting. Well I think the next interstate in Maryland needs to be Route 50. If anybody lives along the Annapolis-DC corridor, you probably know how awful traffic can be. In Annapolis, they're adding a new lane for a short stretch of the highway. The Bay Bridge also has horrendous traffic during the summer. Seriously, almost everyday in summer, people are going to or coming from the beach and Route 50 is blocked up for miles. The Bay Bridge is a gateway to the northeast as an alternative to I-95. Freight trucks use I-50 all the time to take goods to/from the DC/Baltimore area without having to first drive through Baltimore via I-95.

[edsg25]

This is the skyscraper forum. we dream big and we think big.
definitely: LA to Honolulu!

[CincoRanchHoustonRes]

Passing up Memphis? No its not. Its passing right through the eastern section of the city. Memphis doesn't have any interstates running through its central area, they all run around it, which is a good thing. I-40 actually terminates in downtown Memphis and restarts east of the city, the only place it actually has a break.

When I said passing up, I ment passing through it. Sorry if you misunderstood me. Same goes for you BigBoyz2004.

[Rural King]

^ No prob. You mentioned Little Rock too...so it seemed like you were making a really unfounded statement that needed correcting.

[Liger Zero]

Interstate 99 or 97 (re-number the little 99 or 97 exisiting to a 3-digit interstate) and make the new one an expressway between Wilmington Delaware and Raleigh, NC via the DelMarVa and Hampton Roads. The infrastructure would already be in place along many stretches.

My proposal has an interstate running between Hampton Roads through Raleigh/Durham to Charlotte. It doesnt make sense to have to travel US 58 to get to I-95 or I-85.

Now that I think about it, an interstate through the DelMarVA peninsula wouldnt be a bad idea, but it would probably devastate the economy of Virginia's Eastern Shore. It is already one of the more overlooked areas in VA and running an interstate through there would make matters worse in my opinion.

[hmorgan]

I believe that US 431 from Huntsville to I-20 and then to Dothan in Alabama should have a sister route that should be an interstate. While most of the road is already 4 lane-divided, it's not limited access, which would reroute alot of truckers. And I mean ALOT. Then perhaps a continuation of I-85 from Montgomery to I-20/59 south of Tuscaloosa.

[sleepy]

When I said passing up, I ment passing through it. Sorry if you misunderstood me. Same goes for you BigBoyz2004.

I-69 will be passing up Little Rock however. Coming from Memphis it will cross the Mississippi around Helena AR and pass through AR somewhere in the vicinity of El Dorado in the southern part of the state.

[CincoRanchHoustonRes]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[ExYankee]

I-73/74 from Ohio to Mrytle Beach via Greensboro

[Justadude]

I think the whole Beltway plan is really obsolete and even now the ones that were built dont work for their original pupose and they create rediculous problems in the long run. It really surprises me whenever new belts are in the works or when some cities even have theirs still under construction.

I'm curious to know what you mean by that. I know beltways can cause some problems, but they don't seem obsolete at all to me. In fact, it's hard to imagine travelling around some cities without beltways. Atlanta would take hours and hours to drive through if it didn't have a loop.

The example I'm most familiar with is I-485 in Charlotte. It's been opened in segments, and just recently they opened a large strip connecting east and north Charlotte. Now, I frequently have to drive from the north to the south end of the city, and just opening that one section of interstate has turned a 90 minute drive into a 30 minute drive.

I'm sure there'll be problems to arise, but on the whole beltways seem to work quite well for decreasing congestion on secondary roads and moving people around the city more efficiently.

[Nick in Atlanta]

The US highway being completed from Memphis to Birmingham was at one point going to be an interstate. There needs to be one between those two major cities. It would also allow a quicker drive from Atlanta to Memphis.

A interstate from Augusta to Macon to Columbus and on to Montgomery, Alabama would be good for connecting central Georgia cities to each other and to I-20. I believe that Georgia's two Senators are going to push for this in the US congress. (Oink...oink!!)

[SChristopher]

I guess they can be fine right when they are first built it just seems like people build and build clusters of garbage all along them and then they get soo congested, and then in the case of places like Cincinnati the belt is so long that using it as a by-pass would be idiotic. Then in Louisville, they have more of an Arc I guess, not the 264 inner but the 265 is so wide that it would have been smarter to make it a straight shot, you have to go all out of your way, that it is quicker to take the inner belt and jet out on a radial. I guess alot of cities could be different because I do find the belt in Indianapolis somewhat helpful at night when no one is on it, same with columbus.

[Nick in Atlanta]

The belt around Cincinnati is weird. It stretches so far to the west just to get in an exit in Indiana. Okay, now you're a true Tri-State belt highway!

[sargeantcm]

"Continental One" - Buffalo-Miami. Or more appropriately Toronto-Miami. Mostly complete with the exception of large stretches of US-219 between Buffalo and Washington-area. One of the higher-priority corridors on the national level.

[lowrider]

Boise ID to Reno NV to Las Vegas NV to Phoenix AZ.

[MattSal]

They need to build one between Augusta and Savannah (GA of course).
That would be great for us vacationers. :okay:

[sleepy]

The US highway being completed from Memphis to Birmingham was at one point going to be an interstate. There needs to be one between those two major cities. It would also allow a quicker drive from Atlanta to Memphis.

It was designated Interstate 22 in 2004.

[Joe84323]

Wilmington needs a freeway and a freeway extention. 141 needs to become express totally from New Castle around the city to 202 and Phila. Pike. Hockessin needs some sort of freeway if they intend to continue to sprawl out into PA. They're already widening 95 10 years too late.

[Azn_chi_boi]

I think Illinois should have more interstates..(lol.. it have too much already, so many useless interchanges in the suburbs)

one should be connecting Joliet to Elgin, a real one not the 355 one.
This should be call 555. when it gets to the Aurora-Naperville area, the interstate should split into 555W and 555E like it was the twin cities of Illinois. the West one go through Aurora, the west one go through Naperville. Now people could could by pass chicago, and 555 is not that far like I-39, and Chicago could SPRAWL pass Elgin/ Aurora/ Joliet!!!

555 could go north of Elgin and hit I-43 in Wisconsin, near Burlington(mid way between Millaukee and Beliot), following that river that go to Downtown Elgin and Aurora. lol... crazy though!!

I could draw a map for visual aid.

We could extend I-96 to hook up wtih I-94 in Wisconsin. Extend I-96, crossing Lake Michigan at Grand Rapids/Millwukee(i never knew they were almost exactly across the lake from each other). Now people in Milukee if they want to go to Detriot/ Canada/ Grand Rapids, they dont have to drive all the way to Chicago.

lol...... again crazy thoughts but the bridge might happen if they are many people driving.. when the "American Horseshoe of Lake Michigan is form" From Grand Rapids to Millwaukee (or even to green bay)

[Azn_chi_boi]

Aurora (http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/42417daa_b461/bc/Mail+Attachments/Aurora.bmp?bf8JYQCBA3Gd7WcM)

Michigan bridge (http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/42417daa_b461/bc/Mail+Attachments/michigan_bridge.bmp?bf8JYQCBXw0cuv8A)

does it work or not??

lol.. I used paint to make this pic, I kno its crappy. Miluakee bridge (paint) (http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/42417daa_b461/bc/Mail+Attachments/bridge_milwukee.bmp?bfscYQCBXNITtuvY)

Its horrible, but I did this in 5 min. 3 of the minutes I used to find a pic of Miluakee..

Chicago pic!

Chicago bridge (http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/42417daa_b461/bc/Mail+Attachments/chicago_bridge.bmp?bfscYQCBvbq2bPuv)


I am sorry if this doesnt work, other image hosters wont let me save these things from paint!

Can I email someone, and get these pics hosted.. please.. because I dont think the Url is working and I cant...... seem to post it on the internet.

or maybe someone with a prenuim account?

[dwrecker]

Southern Texas needs an interstate in the Brownsville-McAllen-Harlingen area. I would say to connect one from there to Laredo, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Houston :-)

[Rail Claimore]

There are very few interestates that need to be built these days, especially in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. The South could use a few more though to have a network that's as extensive and overlaying as the North, and that's where most of the interstate construction from here on out will be, or at least limited access highway construction.

Nationally, I-69 is needed and it will be done. Getting to Houston from northeast is a bit of a hassle as it is about the only big metro that's underserved in terms of easy links to other cities.

[STR]

I am sorry if this doesnt work, other image hosters wont let me save these things from paint!

In Paint, go to File->Save As
In the box that pops up, go to the drop menu next to "Save as file type"
Pick "JPEG" or "GIF"
name the file
click the "Save" button

All hosting sites accept either of these file formats.

[Sean in New Orleans]

I-49 is going to go from New Orleans to Kansas City. They are gettin ready to build it from New Orleans through Houma, LA to Lafayette, LA. It's already built from Lafayette, LA through Alexandria, LA to Shreveport, LA. They are also very close to construction from Shreveport, LA to the Arkansas state line.

[Azn_chi_boi]

In Paint, go to File->Save As
In the box that pops up, go to the drop menu next to "Save as file type"
Pick "JPEG" or "GIF"
name the file
click the "Save" button

All hosting sites accept either of these file formats.

Thank you so much. WHat a life saver... anyways here are the pics

Aurora-Naperville(The twin cities of IL to me)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/puiko/Aurora.gif

Bridge from Across the lake would look like in my fansty- did this in 2 minutes. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/puiko/chicagobridge.gif

Old map that I made. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/puiko/michiganbridge.gif

and also the Milwuakee Bridge pic that I made for the map above. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/puiko/bridgemilwukee.gif


Yep= Crappy.

Once again, Thank you STR

[raqoff25]

There are two proposed Interstates in Kentucky. First is I-66 aka "Trans America Coridor." If completed, it would connect San Diego to Norfolk/Hampton Roads Virginia. The interstate would pass through California, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia (I know I missed a few states). I-66 would also link Western KY with Eastern KY.
Proposed Route:
http://www.thinkwestkentucky.com/roads/thebigmap.jpg
Also, I-69 is proposed to come south from Evansville, IN through Kentucky and Paducah.
Proposed Route:
http://www.thinkwestkentucky.com/roads/images/i69map-wky.jpg

[bigboyz2004]

I-49 is going to go from New Orleans to Kansas City. They are gettin ready to build it from New Orleans through Houma, LA to Lafayette, LA. It's already built from Lafayette, LA through Alexandria, LA to Shreveport, LA. They are also very close to construction from Shreveport, LA to the Arkansas state line.
The section from Shreveport to the Arkansas stateline hasn't begun yet. The section from Texarkana to the Louisiana stateline is almost complete.