What is your opinion of them? We were discussing them in class today. I think they are pretty innovative idea. Charging a user to bypass traffic congestion. The lanes pay for themselves through toll revenue. They get the maximum use out of a HOV lane, which can coexist with the HOT lane traffic. One example of this is in Houston. The HOV restriction is for 3 or more people, however you can pay a toll and need only 2 people. HOV to HOT conversion is relatively inexpensive. The San Diego I-15 HOT lane conversion was only $1.5 Million, which is pretty cheap for a highway project.
Some people are opposed to them, calling them "Lexus Lanes", because it would give wealthier people an advantage over others.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/EIHD/images/91exp.jpg

bad bad bad bad bad. Sucks. What's next, separate lanes by ethnicity?

HEY, Azazel.
Is it not the name of a devil?
:devil:
that makes me afraid to click on your avatar...brrr, maybe I meet face to face Lucifer...... Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah

What are HOV lanes?
You have to have a minimum number of persons on a car to travel on them?!

I use them every day on the way to work because I'm in a carpool. They are going to start charging people though. Ish.

What are HOV lanes?
You have to have a minimum number of persons on a car to travel on them?!
HOV lane == high occupancy vehicle lane......aka car pool lane. Some HOV lanes mandate a minimum of 2 people while others mandate at least 3 people per vehicle.

I'm kinda undecided about HOT lanes or Lexus Lanes. On one hand you can argue why not? I mean rich people have bigger houses, sit in first class on airplanes, go to expensive colleges, nice restaurants, the list is almost infinite. So what's the big deal if we let them pay a little extra for their own freeway lane?

On the other hand you can argue that a public project should be equally available to all members of the public whether rich or poor.

I think HOT lanes should be allowed so long as it's 100% privately funded. However realistically speaking it's VERY difficult to fund a freeway privately.

I don't know about the whole rich people only using them idea though. Yeah rich people will use them, but rich people aren't the only one's that use a toll road. I look at it in those contexts. Who uses the NJ Turnpike or Lincoln Tunnel? Who uses the Dulles Toll Road in Virginia or the Bay Bridge in California? People that are headed in that direction. I think people who use the HOT lanes will be the same, if a mom needs to get to a daycare, she'll use the lanes or a business person needs to get to the airport, they will use it too.

My only problem real beef with the system, is that it does take away from carpoolers. I like the idea of the facility coexisting with the HOV. For example, if your carpooling with 2 or more people, you can use the facility for free, however, if your a solo driver, you must pay a toll.

I think it's a great idea. If you can't afford it, make more money.

Or you could just toll everyone, rich or poor, and allow carpoolers to split the toll amongst themselves.

The point that everybody is missing here is that everyone benefits. If somebody want to spend to get in a faster lane thats good for the people in the slow (free) lanes that get rid of another car in front of them. Both sides win, by paying, the "lexus" is actually helping the other drivers out. So long traffic moves at normal speeds on these lanes, the HOVs will be unaffected.

The point that everybody is missing here is that everyone benefits. If somebody want to spend to get in a faster lane thats good for the people in the slow (free) lanes that get rid of another car in front of them. Both sides win, by paying, the "lexus" is actually helping the other drivers out. So long traffic moves at normal speeds on these lanes, the HOVs will be unaffected.

Very true, it's a win/win situation.

Funny.

today on the cusp of 2005 we call them "Lexus lanes"

When they were built, they were refered to as the "Robin Hood Freeway" :)

I guess it depends whether a splid public transportation solution exists, czm3.

HOV (High occupancy vehicles) doesn't cost shit. There only one lane, and are open in the morning heading Downtown, and open in the afternoon, to the suburbs... They work reletivly well, and most stops are by the Metro Park and ride bus stations in the outlying communities. They work really well for the buses, and vehicles. The only reason one would not work is if there is a wreck on one, which is rare. You can get off and on them anytime you get a chance. Sometimes they have opening right on the Highway!

The Houston HOV network, which is the most advance and lengthy one in the US, is our form of mass transportation rail. Large busses carry several 1000s of people into the city in the morning and repeats it to carry out. These people are just paying for the bus ride. Also, some extremely outlying suburbs have private bus service that use these lanes. The remove loads of people that would otherwise be one person to a car from the mainlanes of our freeways.

The amount of people this system moves in Houston exceeds the passenger volume on Atlanta's MARTA rail system and Dallas' Dart rail system.

The newest incarnation will be a 4 lane bi-directional toll road that is free for people with three or more in the car that is placed in the center of the Katy Freeway reconstruction project. This freeway is the main freeway to take commuters from Downtown and Uptown to the west side of the city.

Living here in NewYork I sort of forget sometimes that most Interstates outside of the area are free.

The Houston HOV network, which is the most advance and lengthy one in the US, is our form of mass transportation rail. Large busses carry several 1000s of people into the city in the morning and repeats it to carry out. These people are just paying for the bus ride. Also, some extremely outlying suburbs have private bus service that use these lanes. The remove loads of people that would otherwise be one person to a car from the mainlanes of our freeways.

The amount of people this system moves in Houston exceeds the passenger volume on Atlanta's MARTA rail system and Dallas' Dart rail system.

The newest incarnation will be a 4 lane bi-directional toll road that is free for people with three or more in the car that is placed in the center of the Katy Freeway reconstruction project. This freeway is the main freeway to take commuters from Downtown and Uptown to the west side of the city.

I honestly think Houston has the coolest highway system in the U.S. and I'm glad to see they're gonna implement toll lanes on Interstate 10 since it's a perfect idea. This is not putting people into classes, it's giving people more options. At least in this case you can drive on Interstate 10 for free or if you want better service then pay for the toll lanes. Hell, they did that for Westpark Drive and the Westpark Tollway. I live in Austin but was in Houston earlier today and I wish I had an EZ tag for the Westpark tollway. Houston has some of the best ideas for highways yet and I'm also very glad to see their Metro Train in use.

Minneapolis opens up its first HOT lanes tommorow morning.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5404915.html
I don't like the idea of paying to drive on a road that is already paid for...

Minneapolis opens up its first HOT lanes tommorow morning.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5404915.html
I don't like the idea of paying to drive on a road that is already paid for...

They're tolling only part of the highway so as long as you stay out of the toll lanes you're not paying to drive on a road that's already paid for. I actually think of these toll lanes as a seperate highway slapped in the middle of an existing one. Hell, maybe they should apply this idea to most major urban freeways but we still need wiiiiiiider and better highways in my opinion.

So I'm fine with this idea as long as they don't take an existing free highway and slap toll plazas across all lanes of traffic. As for new tollways, go ahead and build them, we need more highways in this country, at least here in Texas but I bet it really applies to California as well.

Also a light high speed rail along all major freeways with convenient park/rides would be a great idea to complement our freeways and busy roads. I actually tried the Houston Metro and I was impressed. They need to expand it for it to work better in my opinion.

Which US state do you think has the highways in the crappiest condition????

Calfornia and Texas

alaska?

California easily

Missouri, especially outside of St. Louis

Its amazing that i hear California, especially considering how car reliant the state is...

California.

Oklahoma, Texas and California.

California? Are you guys kidding? It has some of the best roads I've seen in the U.S.

california? where is it that bad? their highways are pretty good.

arkansas has pretty bad highways.

New York because the highways are outdated.

New York because the highways are outdated.

Yup, because we pay other states to build nice ones, thanks to our lovely relationship with the federal government.

How about Illinois? :ohno: :no:

I would think it would a northern state with lots of ice and bad winter conditions. All the salt and cold and extreme heat of the mid-west throughout the year can't be good for roads.

I've been all over the US and the worst roads I've ever driven on were in NYC. It seems like their maintenance crews just can't keep up.

and about California, I don't think the roads there are bad at all. The only thing I don't like about California roads are the cement grooved freeways. I hate those because it makes the steering wheel move around in your hands and tracking difficult.

For what it's worth, Minnesota also has bad roads. Some of our lakes are actually potholes that haven't been filled yet.

Pennsylvania?

For what it's worth, Minnesota also has bad roads. Some of our lakes are actually potholes that haven't been filled yet.

the stretches of road that are comprised of completely new sections of road are excellent.

its only when they repair the roads in patches that things keep getting messed up.

How are California's freeways bad? We have bad traffic yes. But not bad freeways.

I would think it would a northern state with lots of ice and bad winter conditions.

Agreed... Cali roads are nothing compared to some places I've seen in the upper midwest, NYC, etc...

New York highways are really bad. Even Fidel Castro said the roads in Cuba are better :)

Well, MOST of California's highways are fine, but Los Angeles county's are a wreck IMO. Driving up the 5 North you can feel the difference right at the county line. Bumps, potholes, and it turns from 5-6 lanes to a measly 2 on the OC/LA border.

Birmingham's are pretty bad. I don't know about the rest of Alabama's, though.

Texas

I've been on many US highways, and I found HWY 17 (my map says 'future 86'?) in New York State to be the worst. Corners were poorly marked, driving at night was not a pleasure. Plus the roads were poorly plowed if at all...

Texas

we have some the nicest freeways and some of the worst the state is so godamn big.

NC, especially Charlotte (ever drive on I-77?). I wasn't too impresed with California freeways, but I'm sure some states are worse.

yah its probably california. the major cross-state ones are nice, bt the inter-city ones, the ones you spend the most time on, are decrepit. they are in deplorable condition. all gapped, twisted, uneven, and rough.

How about some Texas

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/downtown/images/59n_at_45_PREFERRED_8-sept-01_lres.jpg

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/downtown/images/i10_i45_merge_evening_8-sept-01_hres.jpg

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/290/images/290_at_bw8_looking_e_20-may-2001_hres.jpg

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/bw8/images/bw8_45s_6.jpg

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/photos/i35w/images/i35_i20_interchange_near_19-aug-2001_hres.jpg

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/photos/i35w/images/i35w_at_i30_stack_from_car_preferred_19-aug-2001_hres.jpg

The Interstates are impressive, its the drivers that makes it suck to drive.

Some more I-10, this time in Florida
http://www.okroads.com/121403/easterntz.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121403/i10flexit209a.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121403/i10flexit296a.JPG

In Alabama
http://www.okroads.com/121303/i10alappi65_1mi.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121303/i10alappus90_34mi.JPG

Mississippi
http://www.okroads.com/121303/i10msexit2.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121303/i10msexit46a.JPG

Louisiana
http://www.okroads.com/121702/i10laexit25.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121702/i10laexit103a.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121702/i10laexit155b.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121702/i10laexit159.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121802/i10laexit210.JPG
http://www.okroads.com/121802/i10laexit238b.JPG

http://www.okroads.com/121802/

Relax people, this is just the beginning. Wait until I reach the 80's and 90's.

The Interstates are impressive, its the drivers that makes it suck to drive.

We aren't bad drivers, are we?

I really think Interstates really suck compared to European Highways.
What do you expect? Many of these highways were built before World War 2.

Next on the list, Interstate 12, running completely in Louisiana
http://www.interstate-guide.com/images/se_la_map.gif
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_038b_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_040_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_042_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_047_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_057_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_063a_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/louisiana001/i-012_eb_exit_065_02.jpg
End of Interstate 12

Interstate 14 coming to a thread near you tomorrow.

wait are you saying many of there roads here were build before WWII. we are talking about the interstate system right, the one that Eisenhower started in the 50's or what?

The american rural interstates are really good, no doubt about that, but some of the urban ones are so old and ugly! But so are many urban highways in Europe too...

What I miss in Europe is signing the direction of the road (north, south, west, east). That's a great point the North American highways have.

All very well but a motorway is a motorway at the end of the day, the network in Western Europe is as extensive and you'll find similar roads in all developed countries.

I love the U.S.!!! :D

They look nice, but are in no ways comparable with European highways/motorways.

They're just roads, nothing special about them. They're pretty ugly, way too much concrete. Give me transrapid instead of a car anyday!

What do you expect? Many of these highways were built before World War 2.

Actually thats incorrect. The interstate highway system has been in existance since 1956 when Eisenhower signed the interstate highway act.

They look nice, but are in no ways comparable with European highways/motorways.

Are you kidding? Europe has nice roads but they are absolutely comparable to what exists in the U.S. Show me another country that has nearly as many miles of freeway that carries such high volumes of traffic. Road quality does depend on the state however, I've seen some shitty roads in the upper midwest and the northeast.

What I miss in Europe is signing the direction of the road (north, south, west, east). That's a great point the North American highways have.
True, but I don't see how that could be useful in Europe.. Just eye candy, really.

Anyway, nice pics, but I think saying that the Interstate system is the best in the world is blowing things out of proportion. It is the biggest, but not the best at all.

Everybody knows that Germany has the best highways. Their highways are amazing. Because they have been built so well, there are hardly no problems which means you can travel at silly speeds.

This is a very good thread, I will try to post some pics on Interstates from Around the Country too

they´re not the best...

i prefer german ones

The American Interstate system may be the biggest, but i doubt it is the best. When i was in the US, some parts were quite run down. On the other Hand the Highways in the city areas are really impressive.

Well the size is what makes them great really. You can't just write it off. You are talking 70,000 km of freeway.

I LOVE the Interstate system, I beleive it's the best highway network in the world. Not only do we have our Interstate system we have our older U.S. Highway system that works beside it. We have more freeway to maintian than any other country in the world and look at how good we keep it. We have at least 41,000 miles of Interstate not counting other freeways that aren't interstates like U.S. and State highways.

I love the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i like the interstates like the 3-digit newer ones, but the older ones are falling apart. example: 287 between Tarrytown and Rye, New York very good interstate. I-78 between Jersey City and I-287 needs repaving.

Here are pictures of the world's best highway system:


Funny, they all seem to be from the US instead :D

The Interstates are impressive, its the drivers that makes it suck to drive.You are bang on!

Most drivers simply aren't aware of what is happening.

Then there are the left lane hogs -- put it on cruise control and remain side-by-side to the car you are supposed to be passing on a 2-lane carriageway for 20 miles. 30 - 40 cars bunch up in the back -- and the driver is oblivious or don't care.

I prefer the European Autobahn system.

I-5 and SR73 split:

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_085a_05.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_085a_06.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_085b_02.jpg

El Toro Y: I-5 and I-405 split:

http://members.cox.net/mkpl/interchange/eltoro-y.jpg

http://members.cox.net/mkpl/interchange/5-405-2000.jpg

http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/5at55_1.jpg

http://members.cox.net/mkpl/interchange/55n-5.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_092b_01t.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_094a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_094a_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_094a_01a.jpg

I-5 and SR133


http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_094b_04.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_095_05.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_095_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_095_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_099_04.jpg


1-5 and SR55:

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_103a_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_103b_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_103c_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_103c_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_104_03t.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_104_02t.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_103c_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_104_03.jpg

I-5, SR22, and SR57 interchange:

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_105b_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_105b_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_106_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_106_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_106_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_107a_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_107a_01.jpg



From the intersection above.. old pics..:

http://members.cox.net/mkpl/interchange/5-22-57-air.jpg

http://members.cox.net/mkpl/interchange/orangecrush.jpg


Near Disneyland:

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_109_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_109_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_110_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_110_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_111_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_112_01.jpg

I-5 and SR91

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_113c_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_113c_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_114_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_115_04.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_115_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/thb/i-005_nb_exit_115_02.jpg

Im not a fan of LA-area freeways but i love I-5's isolate carpool goodness with seperate on and off ramps etc. Bay area is starting to get some carpool-only ramps but they need a lot more, and they dont have the totally seperate from traffic carpool lanes which I-5 has in some areas and is very nice

Im not a fan of LA-area freeways but i love I-5's isolate carpool goodness with seperate on and off ramps etc. Bay area is starting to get some carpool-only ramps but they need a lot more, and they dont have the totally seperate from traffic carpool lanes which I-5 has in some areas and is very nice


In Texas they call them HOV(High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes but I noticed in California they call the carpool lanes. Do people really used them for carpools? I've never met anyone that goes to work in a carpool.

I've never been to California but I love the look of their freeways. They have that authentic look to them.

Interstate 80 is quite nice toward west from Chicago. Intrastate 55 IL is sucks!!! I hate 55.
Congested almost all the time. I dealt with fucking heavy traffic on Intrastate 55 due to construction of highway many times.

Actually thats incorrect. The interstate highway system has been in existance since 1956 when Eisenhower signed the interstate highway act. If you're such an expert than you would know that the Interstate Highway system was not built entirely from scrath. It was originally comprised of existing highways.

We have at least 41,000 miles of Interstate

If that's correct it's about 135 miles (217km) per million population. It would be interesting to see how that compares to other developed countries.

If that's correct it's about 135 miles (217km) per million population. It would be interesting to see how that compares to other developed countries.
Also don't forget the US' GDP per capita is quite high compared to other developed countries..

The Netherlands have the densest highwaynetwork in the world, 2350km highway on 40.000km2 land with 16,3 million people.

Thats not really saying much considering how small the country is.

I dont see why ppl keep saying interstates sucks , They dont . US has the best highway systems in the world !!! we can drive from east coast to west coast !!! , you can go anywhere by car !!

I dont see why ppl keep saying interstates sucks , They dont . US has the best highway systems in the world !!! we can drive from east coast to west coast !!! , you can go anywhere by car !!
Not for much longer by the look of the oil situation.

Interstates are expensive to maintain. Plus, the whole bidding-process brings highway maintainance and construction in most areas of the US to a snail's pace. What the country desperately is a revitalized network of regional rail systems.

I don't understand where these car hogs get the idea that driving is fun. I hate driving! You sit in a car for hours and hours while your eyes die from looking at highway and your body cramps from sitting and sitting and sitting. At least on a train or plane you can walk around when it suits your fancy.

Edited because I have brain-to-typing-finger issues.

Interstates are expensive to maintain. Plus, the whole bidding-process brings highway maintainance and construction in most areas of the US to a snail's pace. What the country desperately is a revitalized network of regional rail systems.

I don't understand where these car hogs get the idea that driving is fun. I hate driving! You sit in a car for hours and hours while your eye die from looking a highway and your body cramps from sitting and sitting and sitting. At least on a train or plane you can walk around when it suits your fancy.

haha..........there are people who love driving like myself. I love it. I got to drive for 6 hours on Interstates 20 and 35 over the weekend and I loved every minute of it. I had my favorite relaxing music going, the A/C running cold and just took in the sights and sounds of the Interstate. One thing I love about Interstates is that you get to see alot of large trucks.

Interstates are so relaxing. I love crusing on them at 85mph. People think driving is boring but it amazing that the road could be so smooth and efficient that travelling long distance actually has a chance to be boring. Back in the horse and buggy days there was no time to be bored because there was alot of shit you had to deal with like mosquitos, mud, river crossings, attacks, nasty bugs, heat, cold and whatever else. Now we can sit in a comfortable seat with climate control, and we can cross rivers, creeks, lakes, rough terrain all the while bugs giving us trouble when they hit our windshield.

I love driving, it's so much fun. In Texas, driving on Interstates and Farm Roads are the best.

One word to describe this: amazing :)

What's the meaning of the prefix SR (like in SR55) as seen on the pics from LA above?

What's the meaning of the prefix SR (like in SR55) as seen on the pics from LA above?

SR = State Route which basically means its not an interstate, it was built and is run by the state and local transportation authorities (in this case the OCTA and CalTrans)

I dont see why ppl keep saying interstates sucks , They dont . US has the best highway systems in the world !!! we can drive from east coast to west coast !!! , you can go anywhere by car !!

Can you get into Area 51 or drive up to Point Barrow using the interstates? The US has a good road network but I don't see why you all think it's so different to that in other countries.

Gotta love those carpool lanes.

Does anyone have pics of The Harbor Freeway (I-110), with its elevated carpool lanes and kick-ass interchange with the Century Freeway (I-105)?

Here ya go Naga:


http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-105_wb_exit_007b_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-105_wb_exit_007a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-105_wb_exit_007a_02.jpg

http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/8908/1051108kh.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_014_03t.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_014_02t.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_020c_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_019_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_019_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_020a_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_020a_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_020b_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_020c_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_021_07.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/i-110_nb_exit_021_06.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_022_00.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_023b_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_07.jpg

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http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_026a_07.jpg

^^

That stuff is what makes our country great.

Wait....i think i saw a caternary pylon in the first photo which would mean.....public transportation in la??????????????wtf? Lol jk but nice photos

I find it interesting that California puts barbed wire around some of their highway signs.

The first pics of Tampa look outdated they widened and still are widening that area.

i hate outadated pics... they should update all pictures on the internet once a week :)

One thing I love about Interstates is that you get to see alot of large trucks.
there's nothing i hate more about highway driving than big trucks. especially when they try to pass each other on 4-lane highways and use the fast lane! i like driving but there are definite drawbacks.

Now we can sit in a comfortable seat with climate control, and we can cross rivers, creeks, lakes, rough terrain all the while bugs giving us trouble when they hit our windshield.
sounds like train travel to me :) north america needs some decent high speed rail systems that would make freeways look antiquated. that would kick ass.

This thread is just sad.

Highways are just ugly and monotonous pieces of concrete that takes up lots of room, heats up and pollutes the city, interferes with social interaction, and is the most fucked up and wasteful way to transport people in urban areas with millions of people.

It is even a stupid way to transport people in intercity areas within a 500 mile radius -- like the US Northeast, LA to SFO, Dallas to Austin, Chicago to Detroit / St. Louis / Indianapolis / Milwaukee corridors.

None of the shots show the reality of life on many of the highways for most people.

Ever been on the 405, I-10 or 110 at rush hour in Los Angeles? And rush hour means 3 pm - 7 pm and an equivalent morning one. Or even around Chicago -- I-88 on a Saturday afternoon going outbound towards Naperville? Or the tolls from Philadelphia to NYC on I-95 and crossing the Holland Tunnel taking 2 hours and over $15 while enshrouded in smog with signs urging you not to drive because of high ozone alert in July?

I haven't even started on the maintenance of some of the highways. They have much improved since the really miserable days of the mid-80s, particularly in locales like Buffalo and the North-East. But there are still pothole-ridden traps around everywhere.

I mean I think the US Interstate system is an impressive piece of engineering and helped the US develop.

But it causes problem as well. While it may be nice if you are a teenager and take your parent's car for a spin after school, but when you are FORCED to commute and drive in heavy traffic for hours day in and day out in the same route whether you like it or not to get to work (never mind the pollution, the costs, insurance, bad drivers, exposure to accidents).

Sorry man. Perhaps I'm just too old. I'd rather be chauffered in an efficient train or bus and walk around in my neighbourhood to meet friends.

YOU SO SMART DUDE !!!!!!!!!!

Fuck that. I love driving on interstates. Some great experiences on long trips driving on these things. I enjoyed every picture that has been posted so far especially the Socal and Texas pictures.

could one of you guys show me that tolled freeway in the LA area? i went to LA to go to laguna beach this summer and as i drove around LA i was surprised when i found a toll plaza, followed by an extremely well-maintained, beautiful stretch of motorway ;) it was smooth as glass

if anyone can post those pics I'd sincerely appreciate it

I dont see why ppl keep saying interstates sucks , They dont . US has the best highway systems in the world !!! we can drive from east coast to west coast !!! , you can go anywhere by car !!

We have one of the best systems, and certainly the largest, but in terms of quality Germany has the best. Their higways are smooth as a table, last twice as long, have automated traffic monitoring and electronic signs providing dynamic speed limits (only in certain areas or when necessary, otherwise no speed limit) and/or advance warning of congestion or fog, reflector guide posts at 50 meter intervals, emergency telephones at 2 km intervals, pre-designated detour routes to facilitate emergency closures and drivers that actually know how to drive and smart laws that make it easier to do so (not to mention Wildlife protection fencing and crossover tunnels).

ill give the US credit in that it has spanned the entire continent with motorways. a feat not easily achieved.

its just that those motorways are of poor quality. rough, ugly, outdated.

but their sheer size is very impressive nonetheless

Fuck that. I love driving on interstates. Some great experiences on long trips driving on these things. I enjoyed every picture that has been posted so far especially the Socal and Texas pictures.I don't have a problem on the occasional trip across the country or to see relatives in another state.

Overall the system is impressive. As with the engineering too -- like Glenwood Canyon in Colorado on I-70, or the clever use of topography in LA downtown interchanges, etc.

But the reality is that most of the time is spent stuck in traffic commuting along the same stretches of highways in urban areas, to buy groceries, etc. 4 times per day. 85% of it in a wasteful single driver mode. Check out the Bureau of Transport Statistics on their household trip survey. In the meantime, only 4% of the urban passenger-miles travel are by public transport.

That's where the waste is. And in urban areas, they just become ugly polluting scarring concrete monstrosities.

I don't have a problem on the occasional trip across the country or to see relatives in another state.

Overall the system is impressive. As with the engineering too -- like Glenwood Canyon in Colorado on I-70, or the clever use of topography in LA downtown interchanges, etc.

But the reality is that most of the time is spent stuck in traffic commuting along the same stretches of highways in urban areas, to buy groceries, etc. 4 times per day. 85% of it in a wasteful single driver mode. Check out the Bureau of Transport Statistics on their household trip survey. In the meantime, only 4% of the urban passenger-miles travel are by public transport.

That's where the waste is. And in urban areas, they just become ugly polluting scarring concrete monstrosities.


Well ugly is a matter of opinion. Also it depends on where you are. Some people might think Interstate 90 through Gary, Indiana is ugly (I think industrial areas are beautiful) while Interstate 89 going through Vermont is beautiful.

There's something about Interstates or freeways that make you feel like you're in a different dimension. It's a cool feeling because it seems like you're removed from the rest of the area. An Interstate can go through the worst, most violent neighborhood in a city but from the freeway it's like you're not even part of it.

I might be crazy but I drive on Interstate 35 in Austin every day and I always have this sense of appreciation and gratitude to be able to drive on a freeway every day. I mean, I can go fairly fast, exit when I want, stop if I really need to, listen to what I want to listen to, go where I want and control how fast I get there.

Freeway systems might not seem efficient to the vast majority of people but when it comes to the individual it's very efficient to travel by car. Instead of waiting for a train or bus, I'm already in my car and I can go exactly where I want to. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a high speed light rail systems grow in the United States but freeways are so much fun to drive on. It's suprising to see how so many people take roads for granted.

I was talking to a girl and she said she lived by Interstate 35 in Minnesota and I told her "oh, that's cool, so you live right across the street, I'm just on the west side of 35 and you're just on the east." Not sure how we got into talknig about that but I remember that conversation.

Freeway systems might not seem efficient to the vast majority of people but when it comes to the individual it's very efficient to travel by car. Instead of waiting for a train or bus, I'm already in my car and I can go exactly where I want to. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a high speed light rail systems grow in the United States but freeways are so much fun to drive on. It's suprising to see how so many people take roads for granted.


I respect your point of view, but people in different parts of the U.S. approach problems differently. I used to live in the South four 4.5 years (I got southern education :D), land down there is cheap, municipalities sprawl over large distances and higways seem not only the best means of transportation, but sometimes are the only means of transportation. In heavily congested and urbanized north-east megalopolis area populated by over 40 million people with New York Metro alone contributing 22 million highways are often the worst means of moving from point a to b. Hellish traffic jams oftean lead to so called "gridlock alerts" in NYC area - all electronic signs urge people to use public transit. I have a car and I often use it, but I have to say that in metro NYC the most efficient means of transit is public transit, we have 25 subway lines, metropolitan commuter trains and one high speed rail line, which already move over 12 million people daily, they decrease the amount of time it takes to get to work, pollution and country's dependency on oil reserves, not to mention environmental impact.

I think the Interstate network is generally underrated here on SSC. Sure, it has flaws, but there seems to be some misconceptions that all interstate highways are simply aweful in quality. Now I have been on some absolutely terrible interstates over the years, but generally, there quality is pretty good, and they are well built. It is a very extensive network, that generally performs its function very well.

Cheers.

We have one of the best systems, and certainly the largest, but in terms of quality Germany has the best. Their higways are smooth as a table, last twice as long, have automated traffic monitoring and electronic signs providing dynamic speed limits (only in certain areas or when necessary, otherwise no speed limit) and/or advance warning of congestion or fog, reflector guide posts at 50 meter intervals, emergency telephones at 2 km intervals, pre-designated detour routes to facilitate emergency closures and drivers that actually know how to drive and smart laws that make it easier to do so (not to mention Wildlife protection fencing and crossover tunnels).
If you think all those things are a luxury, I dread to think what kind of highways you drive on.. :S

Yes, sure, some of the solutions on German highways are not seen elsewhere and are quite good, but most are pretty much everyday solutions found in a lot of countries.. At least of the ones you posted..

Anyway, I have to agree with most on here that the Interstate system sure is impressive, I only hate the fact that concrete is more common than asphalt. Sure it has its pros, but visually and otherwise I find asphalt much more pleasing..

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_002_01.jpg

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But the reality is that most of the time is spent stuck in traffic commuting along the same stretches of highways in urban areas, to buy groceries, etc. 4 times per day.

Yes everyone uses interstates to commute to grocery stores 4 times a day. :|

Anyone got pics of Capital Beltway/95 495 around DC. probibly the closest thing to CA and west coast freeways in the North East. MD and VA do a wonderful job with Freeways and roads.They are always wide where they need to be, clean, smooth with good signage.

At the other end of the spectrum is Pennsylvania-the worst roads in the country. only a total of 4 lanes on I-76 thru Philadelphia. Unbelieveable. i cannot believe Pennsylvania neglects the roads soo much. anyway...

So, if you think your interstates are bad, they are paradise compared to PA freeways.

The worst State in the country with respect to freeways, roads and highways is Pennsylvania-it is not even close. travelling on Pennsylvania roads is like travelling back thru time. all freeways, bridges and roads need to be widened, resurfaced, repaired and or replaced.

I 76 thru philly-4 lanes, should be at least 8. ditto for pretty much every freeway in the Philadelphia metro area. i cant tell you how many back roads and small streets still have one-lane bridges. PENNDOT pay attention-improve the roads.

enough said !!

california is pretty good compared to the ones ive ridden on in the east coast, but i havent been on roads in all states so i cant compare that much.

Pics of the 8 lane scenic route that is California Interstate 280 between San Francisco and San Jose, which passes amazing scenery along the way:
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/i-280_sb_vista_point_looking_north.jpg
http://www.takemytrip.com/caldream/448_DSC00699.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/22/28654276_05013f096e.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/33/51900630_28797111be.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/31/38814833_34fe3ef0d8.jpg?v=0
Why its very hard to keep your eyes on the road here :) (these pics all take from the freeway or the "scenic view points" off to the side)
http://photo.net/photo/pcd3448/i-280-71.3.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/1/2801800_15fad59f42.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/5/6988184_38b5e38e13.jpg
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http://static.flickr.com/8/7334222_af4e3b5605.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/8/6988185_6babc7f47a.jpg

California

could one of you guys show me that tolled freeway in the LA area? i went to LA to go to laguna beach this summer and as i drove around LA i was surprised when i found a toll plaza, followed by an extremely well-maintained, beautiful stretch of motorway ;) it was smooth as glass

if anyone can post those pics I'd sincerely appreciate it


That i know of there are 4 toll freeways in Orange County, the 241, 261, 133, 73 and then theres 91 freeway FasTrak lanes... which one are you refering to?? What city was it near or w/e?

im sorry, im a NorCal ignoramus ;) really sorry.

up here there isnt a single tolled freeway. could you plz post some pics of any of these highways?

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/photos/190/190_driving_tour.shtml

Here is a tollway in North Dallas. They are kinda old pictures(2001) and the green dotted line before the start here arrow is now open. Named after the first Bush not the second..

Picture of the suburb I grew up in....
http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/photos/190/images/190_at_i35e_from_stack_ramp_preferred_19-aug-2001_hres.jpg



http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/bw8/bw8.shtml

Houston outer loop tollway.

^^ i meant from LA/OC but thx a lot anyways ;)

Hmm.. well here's the SR-73 which runs through South Western Orange County:

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http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_003_01.jpg



..and this is the SR-241, which runs through the eastern Orange County, through the Santa Ana mountains ... these pictures are pretty crappy..

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/ca-241_nb_exit_004_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/ca-241_nb_exit_007_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/ca-241_nb_scene.jpg

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http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/ca-241_nb_exit_024_02.jpg

The green ones are the toll roads, red ones are freeways and the yellow ones are highways (large/important streets)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/302/jfklae3gp.png

^^^^^^ thx a lot guys ;)

How about Illinois? :ohno: :no:
The highways in the Chicago area definetly can't handle the volume of traffic and are ALWAYS under construction, but this can probably be said of any big city. I haven't driven much outside of the area, so I wouldn't know what the roads in most other states are like.

Pennsylvania?

No

Michigan

The worst State in the country with respect to freeways, roads and highways is Pennsylvania-it is not even close. travelling on Pennsylvania roads is like travelling back thru time. all freeways, bridges and roads need to be widened, resurfaced, repaired and or replaced.

I 76 thru philly-4 lanes, should be at least 8. ditto for pretty much every freeway in the Philadelphia metro area. i cant tell you how many back roads and small streets still have one-lane bridges. PENNDOT pay attention-improve the roads.

enough said !!


I completely agree. PA has some of the worst highways. Travelling back in time? Hey i live in central PA and I can attest to the whole travelling back in time thing. And all the people screaming out texas (some of whom have probably never even been to the state or used its highways) are simply wrong. Texas has pretty good highways (houston is crazy and easy to get lost in and traffic sucks but you can't blame the highways for the city being so big and sprawling). And I'm sure california isn't so bad either...i've never been there so I can't really say.

cheers

How are the roads in Alaska?

The best freeways and highways in this country are in MD, VA and CA. although traffic is bad in CA, they have the best highway/freeway system in my opinion. They are designed well, maintained well and are very rarely in disrepair. Texas roads are also not bad. MD and VA have by far the best freeways on the East Coast. Again, all major freeways are nice and wide, with 8+ lanes in metro areas and the two states are not afraid to take initative to widen roads when it is necessary (Capital Beltway 95/495 may soon be widened to 10-12 lanes in some locations).

I live just outside of Phila, PA, and i hate travelling on the freeways here. so anybody that says CA and Texas are bad, come to Pennsylvania and get to know what "bad roads" really means. just have your car's suspension checked out prior to making the trip. Its like traveling off road!! Those states are like thousands of years ahead of PA with respect to highways.

alaska?
Yeah, I vote for Alaska!

I have to go with W. virginia.

I-80 in Illinois. It's not just the conjestion. The pavement should have been replaced a decade ago.

Neither Texas or California should be at the top of the list.

I vote....I don't know. :-P As long it's usable, and smooth...I'll be fine. I remember going on I-80 from near bay area going on way to Vallejo, that huge "hump" sure scared me and it felt like I'm flying off the freeway! I think they got it fixed recently, not sure.

The best freeways and highways in this country are in MD, VA and CA. although traffic is bad in CA, they have the best highway/freeway system in my opinion. They are designed well, maintained well and are very rarely in disrepair. Texas roads are also not bad. MD and VA have by far the best freeways on the East Coast. Again, all major freeways are nice and wide, with 8+ lanes in metro areas and the two states are not afraid to take initative to widen roads when it is necessary (Capital Beltway 95/495 may soon be widened to 10-12 lanes in some locations).

I live just outside of Phila, PA, and i hate travelling on the freeways here. so anybody that says CA and Texas are bad, come to Pennsylvania and get to know what "bad roads" really means. just have your car's suspension checked out prior to making the trip. Its like traveling off road!! Those states are like thousands of years ahead of PA with respect to highways.

Maryland maybe, but Virginia uhhh, I don't know about that one, lol. In Northern Virginia, they've always done a good job of keeping the roads maintained, but in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area, I-64 is in terrible shape.

My last visit on I-95/395 in Northern Va, I felt like I was hitting speed bumps every minute or so. And for the life of me, I don't know why VDOT hasn't at least widen I-95 to 8 lanes (not including the HOV) at least from Stafford County to the Beltway, since the road serves both commuters and out of town travelers. It can literally take 2 1/2 hours to drive from Woodbridge to Stafford (15 mile drive) on both 95 and Route 1 during holidays.

californias highways really suk

Can someone tell me what they're doing with that humongous construction crater near I-80 just south of Chicago? I was driving through this past summer and couldn't believe how big it was and couldn't figure out what it was for. It looked like those mining pits you see on TV.

Bad roads/highways: northern NJ especially Jersey City.

Michigan

^ I agree. Though Michigans highway network is pretty extensive, some of there interstates really are bone rattlers. Fortunately they seem fairly eager to to improve there networks condition.

When I get onto any freeway in LA here, and there is no traffic, then I think about how nicely built our system here is. Its when there is traffic that is really gets awful. The roads here are OK, some areas are new, and others have been revamped. There are still plenty of places that need repair though. Especially the streets and boulevards here.. If the system here had wider lanes, and more of them, it would be a lot more manageable.

Roads here tend to deteriorate real quickly, but we have the most registered cars in the Country, and thats not including the non-registered cars (which there are a lot of!)
plus all the tourists, and foreigners.. Cali had a policy for a while to give licenses to you even if you didnt have citizenship, ahem...

I've always thought Californian highways were one of the best in America...

For the highways I've driven on, they were really nice. But I heard from an uncle that I-70 in Kansas was west to east was a nightmare. I don't know from experience, but I really like I-80 (even though Nebraska goes on forever) so I don't think I'd take any other route.

Birmingham's are pretty bad. I don't know about the rest of Alabama's, though.

Alabama's are pretty bad, but being steadily improved; i've only been here about 2 1/2 years, and there's a huge difference.

Tennessee's are horrible, they're always under reconstruction.

North Carolina's are nice.

Florida's aren't too hot.

Georgia's are pretty good, but the areas around the exits are scary. CUE "DUELING BANJOS!!!"

Maryland was o.k.

-

California highways are ok at best out side of urban areas..
inside urban areas they are "Teh Suck!"

the lower midwest has problems with a lot of freezing and thawing, versus more continious freezing conditions further north and less freezing conditions in the south. id nominate MO. but everyone is bitching about their respective states. so then again...if i were to guess, i'd say probably michigan.

Are there many poorly kept roads in the US?

TRAFFIC TODAY IN PHOENIX ARIZONA! DECEMBER 22, 2005

http://www.az511.com/Images/cameraimages/cameras/camera171.jpg[/img

[IMG]http://www.az511.com/Images/cameraimages/cameras/camera179.jpg

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it's not that bad, although it is 11:30 at night.

looks like typical traffic at those hours

ya. I dont get the purpose of this thread. Lots of places have traffic like that

The poster is linking to live shots, so if you're reading this at 12 PM Phoenix time, it'll show the traffic at that moment.

Major pics, I understand all about Pheonix traffic now...

Didn't realize I was linked to real time. Oh well you should have seen the traffic yesterday!

Heres some more!!!!


http://www.az511.com/Images/cameraimages/cameras/camera001.jpg

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Heres some more!!!!


http://www.az511.com/Images/cameraimages/cameras/camera001.jpg

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Worst?

1- Ohio. The worst I had seen.
2- Indiana perhaps.
3- Michigan, Illinois or Nebraska.

I would say, West Virginia.

A whole lot of roads are basically "jeep tracks".
They say here, "You'v gotta have some mud on the tyre".

Except for the interstate, easily, WV.

Nobody said Mass yet? Driving through Boston (even now) is a nightmare! The Big Dig, the crazy interchanges, and the heavy traffic made it one of the worst for me.

In general, Highways in the Northeast are not good though, CT roads are bad also.

^^ When is the underground highway system in Boston will it be totally completed?

How about highway in Chicago?

No way TX, CA and NY have worst hightway, try LA and MS.

Why Louisiana and Mississippi? Because they are poorest states that can maintain their highways? I would think that rich states like Texas, California and New York would provide better quality highways.

Missouri from my experience, between St Louis and Columbia the surfaces were very poor.

Why Louisiana and Mississippi? Because they are poorest states that can maintain their highways? I would think that rich states like Texas, California and New York would provide better quality highways.

Texas, California, and New York have alot more highways to take care of espically Texas. Texas has some of the nicest and some of the worst in the country.

Easily PA and AL, I live in Alabama and let me tell you, the roads suck!

REGARDING PENNSYLVANIA HIGHWAYS...

http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=50570

On the International Roughness Index, in which lower numbers are better, the commonwealth scored 103, just above the national median of 99, Kirkpatrick says.

“If you’re a trucker, you’re going to end up in Pennsylvania at some point,” PennDOT’s Kirkpatrick says, adding that his state has the highest Interstate truck use in the Northeast.

Also worth considering is that Pennsylvania has more miles of state-maintained roads than any other state in the U.S. (yes, even more than Texas and California). Whenever you have to do all your resurfacing jobs by yourself, it becomes a lot harder.

Yet another thing to consider: Most of Pennsylvania's Interstates were built before 1975; in fact, four stretches of Interstate were built before there were any Interstate highways. Those stretches include the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, I-70 between Washington and New Stanton, I-279/I-376 through Pittsburgh, and I-76 between King of Prussia and Philadelphia. Each of them was built before 1956.

Since about 1995, PennDOT has not just been resurfacing their highways; they've been pulling them out of the ground and reconstructing them from the roadbed up, engineering them to modern highway standards (as opposed to 1975 highway standards). Now while this will help dramatically improve the highways' longevity, it's also a lot more expensive and time-consuming than a simple resurfacing. But with the roadbeds as old and beat-up by 18-wheelers as they are (remember, Pennsylvania has the most 18-wheeler traffic in the Northeast), simply resurfacing the highways is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. This is why a full-scale reconstruction is in order.

As for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the tolls were increased so the entire highway from state line to state line can be reconstructed, starting with the original Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg stretch which has a roadbed that dates back to 1940! The Turnpike reconstruction will involve widening the median, installing new barriers, improving drainage, thickening and reengineering the roadbed, and making it a 6-lane highway near Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

So for as much as people like to criticize Pennsylvania's highways, it's not like they aren't making improvements on them. I think a lot of this "worst highways" talk is more perception than reality. Everyone talks about the "pavement change" at the state line, but near the state lines aren't the only places where Pennsylvania has highways. Pennsylvania is reconstructing their highways piece by piece. It'll take time. Rome wasn't (re)built in a day.

New York City

New York City

That's not a state

Why Louisiana and Mississippi? Because they are poorest states that can maintain their highways? I would think that rich states like Texas, California and New York would provide better quality highways.

Texas highways are good quality but the roads and avenues arent.

Easily PA and AL, I live in Alabama and let me tell you, the roads suck!

no offence but once you enter Florida from Alabama you notice a better pavement right away.

:)

georgia: has really nice freeways urband AND rural

florida: varies - either they're state of the art or left-overs from 40 years ago

north carolina: has really nice interurban interstates but they cant seem to figure out how to build a proper urban freeway network

indiana: the tollroad between chicago and ohio is nice

pennsylvania: hopeless

new jersey: new jersey is just plain ugly and so are the freeways

maryland: comprehensive, loads of capacity and well maintained

washington state: stunning scenery and the freeways that have been updated incorporate architectural elements and public art which is awesome but I-5 through the center of the city looks like a forboding concrete pit ... because it is a forboding concrete pit

chicago (havent been anywhere else in IL): chicagoland freeways must have been the shit when built 30 or 40 years ago but are now decidedly out of date and over capacity

minnesota: excellent, rural and urban.

south carolina: yeesh, nuff said. and whatever you do, dont get off I95 to take a wizz unless youre at a rest area

louisiana: terrible ... wierd, unattractive, under capacity, poorly laid out but the state is geographically challenged so i understand.

new york: i have seen but not driven on the freeways in new york city and, that said, i will never NEVER drive on any freeway in new york city

ohio: i've seen worse and i've seen better.

west virginia: i've only been there once and the interstates were'nt bad ... none of the roads were bad actually

virginia: this is my home state so bear with me while i rant. virginia, more than any state i've lived in, seems singularly incapable of or unwilling to build the freeway AND highway infrastructure necessary to service both urban and rural areas alike. most of the state's rural interstate network is approaching gridlock ... try driving from norfolk to washington ESPECIALLY during the summer. richmond is the only metro area in the commonwealth to have the freeway network and capacity that it needs. both the NOVA and SEVA urban areas are seriously SERIOUSLY in need of help. not that the roads are overly unattractive or in especially bad shape ... there is just an amazing lack of capacity given the population of both of those areas.

alaska: there are practically no roads in alaska! beside anchorage and fairbanks, you HAVE to fly to where you're going bc the terrain and climate are so extreme they conspire to make road building virtually impossible.

thats about all i can think of right now.

I agree about SEVA, Nova though, it's really bad, bad in the areas that shouldn't be so bad like woodbridge, stafford and up to springfield, out past fairfax county, the sprawl just sucks they can screw themselves. There are some improvements coming to SEVA and Nova, and the METRO isn't done expanding as it will eventually go to Ft. Belvoir and probably Dulles. Along with more infill stations sooner or later. But the roads themselves are good.

Michigan and PA have some roads that are in terrible shape. There are places that have congestion and that's an issue, but the roads themselves aren't as bad as Michigan and PA, generally, they're older and in sub par condition. Many of them aren't congested, but it's the condition of them that just suck at places. Richmond does get favored though with infrastructure issues and the roads aren't wide enough in many places, but I think wider roads along with mass transit both need to be aggressively worked on.

I don't know if I would say California (as a state) has the worst.. I know LA has pretty bad highways. The Phoenix area highways are all nice and new. But up until a few years ago I-17 sucked when it got into downtown/south phoenix. So, yeah, I'd have to go with PA!

Judging from I-20 between Dallas and Shreveport, I-49 between Shreveport and Baton Rouge, I-10 between Shreveport and Jacksonville, and I-95 south to Miami late in 2000...

Texas: awesome.

Louisiana: Some expressway connecting I-20 with I-49 around Shreveport looked brand new and state of the art. I-49 was in great shape. I-10 has seen better days, but was generally OK.

Mississippi and Alabama: very nice, except for a 10 mile section in one of the states (don't remember which) that was being rebuilt. Apparently, the rest was done, and was was quite nice.

Florida: Absolutely, positively the worst roads of the lot. Driving across the border from Alabama to Florida was like driving into a third world country. The shoulders vanished, and the road went from smooth black asphalt to the awful seashell roadway that Florida used to think was a cool 20 years ago... giving way to cracked and heaving concrete slabs somewhere between Pensacola and Tallahassee before improving in Jacksonville. I-95? Antique and grossly inadequate. I don't think I managed to go faster than 45mph until I was about 40 miles south of Daytona. Gridlock the whole f**king way to Miami. Wait, it gets worse. I ended up at I-95 and I-595 at 4:30. TWO HOURS LATER, I was home in Coral Gables. It actually took longer to drive 30 miles from Broward to Dade than it took to drive across Mississippi AND Alabama.

Florida does have a few good roads (I-95 through Broward County, most of Orlando's new roads), and just about all the new roads built or rebuilt since 1990 have been great... but god help you if you end up stuck on one of its many outdated antique roadways desperately in need of a bulldozer, 16-laning, and a few Texas-like 6-level stacks (yeah, I got badly spoiled by Texas roads when I was out there. Texas freeways beat Florida's up, down, left, right, and diagonally.

Oh, and northern Florida also had absolutely the worst radio stations of any state I had to drive through. Thank god for Sirius... it's the only thing that makes driving more than a hundred miles from Miami bearable. I think Nebraska and Iowa have better radio stations than northern Florida does.

Some here must be smoking crack... being a military vet I had the opportunity to travel through 42 of the 50 states

Keep in mind here that we are talking about the actual highways conditions not the traffic or the network design... we talking about how often will you need to change your struts after driving in a state

california??? not even close to be the worse... I-80 is well maintained from the mountains to the bay area
I-5 is a nice drive from san diego to the northern cali border. I-10 is nice same for I-15

texas???? get REAL... I-35 even in the urban dallas ft-worth area isn't that bad... san antonio area has nice highways as well. houston also... I-20 is nice and clean..

Lousiana? I can't speak for after katrina but before, I-10 was nice.. even through baton roube and N-O... I-49 is nice too

New York state has a decent interstate system upstate, I-84, I-87 (both the northway and the thruway) I-90 (thruway) and I-81 are very well maintainted when you consider new york's climate... New York City has the WORST highway system, local roads etc.. THE WORST... take this from a new yoker who drove in boston, chicago, St-louis, LA, DC, miami, RIchmond VA, even in montreal canada and toronto canadac, Detroit, cincinnati, cleveland etc,.... and NYC has the WORST HANDS DOWN!!! but since we talking about states, Upstate roads make up for the fiasco we call road network in NYC

Pennsylvania WINS the prize.... I drove I-76 from east to west, and I-80 from ohio to the delaware water gap... and WTF... I wouldn't wanna see what your inner cities highways look like if thats the crap you have in your rural settings.. either PENNDOT is out of money or out of workers... either way, they have alot of work cut out for em!

Florida and some LA freeways from what i remember.

Florida and some LA freeways from what i remember.

florida??? really? most florida highways allow for safe high speed travel which is why the FHP is VERY present on its highway system it patrols.

you really don't know what a bad highway is if you think florida is the worse

Louisiana? not even close to worse... even the causeway sections of I-10 are well maintained

I am surprised that Michigan hasn't gotten more votes. This leaves me with a bad impression of the US highways that I haven't driven. I have posted a few photos taken from some Michigan interstates. Bare in mind, not all of there roads are as rough as this, just too many of them are.

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/6236/i69dv199east3vp.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i69dv199east3vp.jpg)

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5844/i69dv198east1bu.th.jpg (http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i69dv198east1bu.jpg)]

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9341/i94dv229rampnb8jb.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i94dv229rampnb8jb.jpg)

florida??? really? most florida highways allow for safe high speed travel which is why the FHP is VERY present on its highway system it patrols.

you really don't know what a bad highway is if you think florida is the worse

Louisiana? not even close to worse... even the causeway sections of I-10 are well maintained

I'm talking about Los Angeles.

I'm talking about Los Angeles.

los angeles is a CITY not a STATE... if it was a contest between cities, NYC would win HANDS down over ANY CITY

I am surprised that Michigan hasn't gotten more votes. This leaves me with a bad impression of the US highways that I haven't driven. I have posted a few photos taken from some Michigan interstates. Bare in mind, not all of there roads are as rough as this, just too many of them are.

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/6236/i69dv199east3vp.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i69dv199east3vp.jpg)

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5844/i69dv198east1bu.th.jpg (http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i69dv198east1bu.jpg)]

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9341/i94dv229rampnb8jb.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=i94dv229rampnb8jb.jpg)

I figured michigan would definitely be up there.. but I've never driven in or thru michigan so I couldn't personally judge

North Carolina

I would like you to post some pictures of some highways in the US that look like the asphalt highways in Europe. It will be a very interesting thread!!
Let's get it started

Judging from I-20 between Dallas and Shreveport, I-49 between Shreveport and Baton Rouge, I-10 between Shreveport and Jacksonville, and I-95 south to Miami late in 2000...

Texas: awesome.

Florida: Absolutely, positively the worst roads of the lot. Driving across the border from Alabama to Florida was like driving into a third world country. The shoulders vanished, and the road went from smooth black asphalt to the awful seashell roadway that Florida used to think was a cool 20 years ago... giving way to cracked and heaving concrete slabs somewhere between Pensacola and Tallahassee before improving in Jacksonville. I-95? Antique and grossly inadequate. I don't think I managed to go faster than 45mph until I was about 40 miles south of Daytona. Gridlock the whole f**king way to Miami. Wait, it gets worse. I ended up at I-95 and I-595 at 4:30. TWO HOURS LATER, I was home in Coral Gables. It actually took longer to drive 30 miles from Broward to Dade than it took to drive across Mississippi AND Alabama.

Florida does have a few good roads (I-95 through Broward County, most of Orlando's new roads), and just about all the new roads built or rebuilt since 1990 have been great... but god help you if you end up stuck on one of its many outdated antique roadways desperately in need of a bulldozer, 16-laning, and a few Texas-like 6-level stacks (yeah, I got badly spoiled by Texas roads when I was out there. Texas freeways beat Florida's up, down, left, right, and diagonally.

Oh, and northern Florida also had absolutely the worst radio stations of any state I had to drive through. Thank god for Sirius... it's the only thing that makes driving more than a hundred miles from Miami bearable. I think Nebraska and Iowa have better radio stations than northern Florida does.
Have you even been on I-10 in florida? i drove there in september after katrina when i was moving back to st.petersburg from dallas florida had the best roads of what we drove on. It was smooth black asphalt and the rest stops were probably the nicest and cleanest for the whole trip. I-75 was also the same nice and smooth black ashpalt and I-275 is good until you get into tampa where it is still smooth until you near downtown, traffic is bad and construction too but its changing for the better. In st.petersburg I-275 is still concrete and yet its fairly smooth too.

Ive never been on I-95 maybe its different on the east coast of florida but on the west coast the highways except for tampa are very good. I forgot to add I-4 its also nice and smooth in florida traffic is the biggest issue but road quality is very good compared to most states.

US19 these pics are kinda outdated but its all aspalt and with the new overpasses being built its also going to be very modern.
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida001/us-019_nb_app_fl-060_02.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida001/us-019_nb_app_fl-686_02.jpg

@gronier: Do you have some sort of fetish with asphalt highways? Why do you want to see pics of US asphalt highways and who ever said that all highways in Europe were asphalt. Some must be concrete.

In Michigan, asphalt is used as a cheap fix when the concrete wears out.

@gronier: Do you have some sort of fetish with asphalt highways? Why do you want to see pics of US asphalt highways and who ever said that all highways in Europe were asphalt. Some must be concrete.

I love their smoothness and I think they are more beautiful than concrete highways.

I'm no tree-hugger, but asphalt is a petroleum byproduct so everytime a road needs asphalt it is sucking up more of that precious oil. However, it is reuseable.

Concrete seems fine to me. Nowadays they can make it with certain additives that makes it as hard and flexible as steel!

^^ I agree

I'm afraid that asphalt doesn't mean the same for you and me cuz here every single piece of land planned for transit is made with that and I didn't notice anything different on the roads when I was to the US :?

Concrete lasts much longer, but once it goes bad, it can take a while to fix because states are unwilling to come up with money to do a complete fix on long sections of road.

Yea i think concrete highways are only built originally. Then after so many years the concrete is good for they have to repair it with asphalt because putting concrete down would require tearing up highway.

Well, it's been ~5 years since I drove on I-10, so it was probably redone since my trip. But in October 2000, I-10 in Florida REALLY sucked... especially west of Tallahassee -- no shoulders, original 1960s-vintage narrow rural seashell-paved highway.

^oh ok 5 years ago i dont doubt it was very rural back then florida has changed and grown so much since then.

^oh ok 5 years ago i dont doubt it was very rural back then florida has changed and grown so much since then.

even the florida of 5 years ago was WAY better than most nothern states..

Florida's oldest highways were built in the 60s... MANY states in the north have highways pre-interstate legislation.

that alone speaks volumes!

New York and Michigan both have roads that are often in disrepair.

Ohio generally has pretty good roads, especially the interstates which are vastly better shape than any of Ohio's neighbors. They tend to be plenty wide, and in good shape for a northern state.

Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illnois are three states I would rate as mediocre in the construction and quality of their roads.

I've never experienced potholes like northern California city streets, although i have also never been to the northeast states.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.

STFU.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.
Third world countries don't have extensive freeway networks. The end.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.

What is the National Highway System?

It is approximately 160,000 miles (256,000 kilometers) of roadway important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. The National Highway System (NHS) includes the following subsystems of roadways (note that a specific highway route may be on more than one subsystem):

We also made it clear that NHS is not another system of interstate highways. In fact, beyond the interstate segment, NHS consists mostly of existing two-lane roads, and about 98 percent of all roads in NHS already have been built. Yet those roads are vital. The 256,000 kilometers (km) of NHS include only 4 percent of the nationƒs roads, but they carry more than 40 percent of all highway traffic, 75 percent of heavy truck traffic, and 90 percent of tourist traffic.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep10/nhs/
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/spring96/p96sp2.htm


must be real hard for third world countries to maintain that 3 mile, 2 interchange highway system they have SMH

Third world countries don't have extensive freeway networks. The end.

But developed coutries have their freeway system in good shape.

But developed coutries have their freeway system in good shape.

There seems to be a misconception of non-American forumers that the US's highway network is falling apart. It isn't. Lots of routes do need resurfacing, and the network has some real ugly spots, but it is still a very impressive network generally filled with good quality roads that generally well suit there traffic needs.

Cheers.

There seems to be a misconception of non-American forumers that the US's highway network is falling apart. It isn't. Lots of routes do need resurfacing, and the network has some real ugly spots, but it is still a very impressive network generally filled with good quality roads that generally well suit there traffic needs.

Cheers.

Yup :cheers:

Ohio probably has thousands of miles of expressways that are in pristine condition, and perhaps 50 or so miles in the downtown areas that are banged up due to heavy traffic, but the folks here will probably fixate on the latter.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.

..Because of course, the greatness of a country is always based on the upkeep and quality of their roads. Right.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.
dickhead.

Why do the Americans call themselves "the greatest country in the world", when they can't even maintain the roads that were paved decades ago?.I have never seen such pothole ridden roads anywhere else in the world.Maybe Africa!.Talk about dodgy infrastructure!.The poor colored folk of New Orleans will tell you a lot about the dam that burst through their town.The Americans build cars stronger than the cardboard palaces that they live in!!.Almost every state in America has dodgy roads.They're no different from any other third world country.

Yeah, all of us should go to India and learn how they keep their highways and infrastructure in tip-top shape.

You can fool only some of the people some of the time...How long will the American propaganda machine fool the American people into thinking they're living in the "greatest country in the world"?.This is a country where they nail thin slats of plywood to sheets of cardboard, slap some paint on the cardboard , some plasticky tiles and decorations and call the structure a house for which Americans pay millions of dollars to own.Who's fooling who?.Come a little wind and rain, there goes Mr. and Mrs. America's wordly possessions down the street for all to see!.This is where the Soviets lost out.Their propaganda machine was nowhere near the Americans'.Now it's the Americans turn.The Emperor is fast losing his clothes, it seems!!.Not that i'm gloating.It is unfortunate that it is so.....

This is an example of an indian expressway.Let the picture speak for itself....

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/720/mumpunhighwayanooprawat13hy.jpg

You can fool only some of the people some of the time...How long will the American propaganda machine fool the American people into thinking they're living in the "greatest country in the world"?.This is a country where they nail thin slats of plywood to sheets of cardboard, slap some paint on the cardboard , some plasticky tiles and decorations and call the structure a house for which Americans pay millions of dollars to own.Who's fooling who?.Come a little wind and rain, there goes Mr. and Mrs. America's wordly possessions down the street for all to see!.This is where the Soviets lost out.Their propaganda machine was nowhere near the Americans'.Now it's the Americans turn.The Emperor is fast losing his clothes, it seems!!.Not that i'm gloating.It is unfortunate that it is so.....

This is an example of an indian expressway.Let the picture speak for itself....

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/720/mumpunhighwayanooprawat13hy.jpg

So what is your point?
That India has better highway condition than US because where you have been and suffer with?
Come on, don't come here bashing away a country where you don't know much and best of all, never driven every part in US, because I can tell you by looking at that pic of yours, even the pavement in Illinois are 10 times better! :sleepy:

There seems to be a misconception of non-American forumers that the US's highway network is falling apart. It isn't. Lots of routes do need resurfacing, and the network has some real ugly spots, but it is still a very impressive network generally filled with good quality roads that generally well suit there traffic needs.

Cheers.

Thank you!
I can tell you that here in Illinois where I have driven alot on highway and interstate highway between the cities of Illinois. Their condition are very well done until you get to the biggest metro area in Illinois. The condition of chicagoland highway certainly can't be compare to rest part of illinois where highway are tough to maintain, repair or even rebuilt due to the amount of traffic day in and day out. But as you drive out of NE part of metro area, the highway condition are unbelieablily new due and this is the majority case for about 70% of highway that are exlcuding chicago area!

Cayenne, just get out of here. I can make better time on a horse than a car on Mumbai streets. :lol:

Are there any highway reconstruction plans for Chicago? Here in Houston all the highways are being rebuilt and widened one by one.

Cayenne, just get out of here. I can make better time on a horse than a car on Mumbai streets. :lol:

Are there any highway reconstruction plans for Chicago? Here in Houston all the highways are being rebuilt and widened one by one.

LOL, I am pretty sure that here in US, we don't allow horse on highway! :)

Yea, TONS are going on right about this time of year especially inter city highway! I am living in the burb so whenever there is construction going on, you can be sure the traffic condition is near to the halt to chicago and between! :sleepy: But in order to keep drivers safe and happy(particularly for the people like "CAYENNE"), that is what need to be done almost every year due to the snow.
We do have some widened here in the naperville area due to the dramatic population increase and travlers to chicago on the I-88, I-80 and I-55, i am sure there are also alot going on in other suburban highways toward chicago.
But for chicago, it is quite hard to widen due to restriction to the housing area and industries.
I know in Houston, highway are very wide and continue to widen,lol! That certainly isn't the case for chicago! :cheers:

You can fool only some of the people some of the time...How long will the American propaganda machine fool the American people into thinking they're living in the "greatest country in the world"?.This is a country where they nail thin slats of plywood to sheets of cardboard, slap some paint on the cardboard , some plasticky tiles and decorations and call the structure a house for which Americans pay millions of dollars to own.Who's fooling who?.Come a little wind and rain, there goes Mr. and Mrs. America's wordly possessions down the street for all to see!.This is where the Soviets lost out.Their propaganda machine was nowhere near the Americans'.Now it's the Americans turn.The Emperor is fast losing his clothes, it seems!!.Not that i'm gloating.It is unfortunate that it is so.....

This is an example of an indian expressway.Let the picture speak for itself....

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/720/mumpunhighwayanooprawat13hy.jpg

Hey smart ass do you notice anything about that picture its really hard to find notice the nothingness around the highway and the 7 cars and a bus driving on an almost empty three lane highway, now how about this picture average tampa traffic around 5pm. They are upgrading it because its outdated and you see the traffic it causes its the same kind of highway 6 lanes but notice something maybe um a city around it and the second picture its 8 lane but still you see the point.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/Tampatraffic.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/TrafficJamPinellas.jpg
BTW my house is made of concrete blocks so do some research before sayin the whole country does some thing a certain way. Also show me some pictures of the roads in Bangledesh or a major city in India where its a crowded clusterfuck and there are no red lights or lanes, not some rural highway because i can get pictures of a highway outside a major city in florida where its fresh clean asphalt and smooth as can get. See you cant pave over a road when thousands of cars keep going over it we need to maintain an infrastructure closing the lanes makes things worse.

Here are some of the inter city highway, mostly from the burb toward chicago...enjoy! (Notice: no horse was harm in the process of capturing in the photo) :)
http://www.wrx900.com/I-88%20at%20I-355.jpg
http://www.wrx900.com/I-88%20and%20I-355.jpg

Typical rush hour here in naperville towards chicago on I-88 :runaway:
http://www.wrx900.com/I-88%20Naperville%20Rd.jpg

some minor construction on I-294 during the nice weather season
http://www.wrx900.com/I-88%20near%20I-290.jpg

There u go, my neck of woods,lol
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20026.jpg
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20025.jpg
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20027.jpg
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20030.jpg

This is one particular ramp that I use most often to get off I-88, as you can see it being widen even more :runaway:
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20029.jpg

I-88 is a toll way, so with the help of I-Pass technology, drivers able to save TONS of tavle time :)
http://www.wrx900.com/NIU%20Trip%20033.jpg

:cheers:

Here are some chicago highway, noctice the crowdedness of traffic and surrounding on and off the highway!
http://www.pbase.com/goonsta/image/27702909/original.jpg

Chicago highway system in 1996 :)
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/maclean/aerials1/01.JPEG
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/maclean/aerials1/30.JPEG
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/maclean/aerials1/45.JPEG
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/maclean/aerials1/46.JPEG
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/maclean/aerials1/48.JPEG

Eek, those highways seem rather narrow for all the people that live in Chicago.

I'm used to the titanic concrete eyesores here. We already have two 10-lane ones, a 12-lane one, and are building a 16-lane one. :x

Eek, those highways seem rather narrow for all the people that live in Chicago.

I'm used to the titanic concrete eyesores here. We already have two 10-lane ones, a 12-lane one, and are building a 16-lane one. :x

I know,lol! Texas loves everything "BIG", the bigger is better there! :) :cheers:

Here in chicago, we gotta be smart and yet be efficient, so the patience come into play until we get our 12 lanes in every chicago highway! majority of them are around 8-10 lanes. The largest I ever see are 16 lanes in chicago! :runaway:

I-275westcoastfl.....

I do not know anything about Bangladesh.I live in India.Certain areas in New York city do resemble photos of Bangladesh i have seen.I do plan to visit there sometime soon.

But here is an example of an inner city road/freeways in India....This is in New Delhi/National Capital Region....
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2854/delhiroadnoidamirmax1un.jpg

Cheers!.....



[img]

cayenne> this thread is about US highways _only_

you have got warnings before and this is your last time

I know,lol! Texas loves everything "BIG", the bigger is better there! :) :cheers:

Here in chicago, we gotta be smart and yet be efficient, so the patience come into play until we get our 12 lanes in every chicago highway! majority of them are around 8-10 lanes. The largest I ever see are 16 lanes in chicago! :runaway:
How is Chicago's commuter rail service? I have heard many positive remarks about the rail network there. Over here, I don't think people know what trains are, beyond Thomas the Tank Engine.

Here's the 16-lane behemoth we're building:

http://www.katyfreeway.org/images/constructE1_0106/6ConstructionL.jpg

All that space in the middle will be lanes. :shocked:

How is Chicago's commuter rail service? I have heard many positive remarks about the rail network there. Over here, I don't think people know what trains are, beyond Thomas the Tank Engine.

Here's the 16-lane behemoth we're building:

http://www.katyfreeway.org/images/constructE1_0106/6ConstructionL.jpg

All that space in the middle will be lanes. :shocked:

Yep, with the help of our METRA commuter trains that constantly running in and out between chicago union stations and its distant suburban cities, it has been greatly percieive as best alternative on driving to chicago!
It isn't just cutting down on commuting time, it also saves tons on the gas spending as well! :)
I think that chicago region is trying really hard to upgrade its existing railway system. I am hoping something like the bullet train of Tokyo near future! :cheers:

Yep, with the help of our METRA commuter trains that constantly running in and out between chicago union stations and its distant suburban cities, it has been greatly percieive as best alternative on driving to chicago!
It isn't just cutting down on commuting time, it also saves tons on the gas spending as well! :)
I think that chicago region is trying really hard to upgrade its existing railway system. I am hoping something like the bullet train of Tokyo near future! :cheers:
Oh, that would be incredible!

Do the suburban stations have large "park and ride" lots to accomodate drivers?

How is Chicago's commuter rail service? I have heard many positive remarks about the rail network there. Over here, I don't think people know what trains are, beyond Thomas the Tank Engine.

Here's the 16-lane behemoth we're building:

http://www.katyfreeway.org/images/constructE1_0106/6ConstructionL.jpg

All that space in the middle will be lanes. :shocked:
that's awesome :okay:

Oh, that would be incredible!

Do the suburban stations have large "park and ride" lots to accomodate drivers?
Oh yea, plenty of lots, particularly here in Naperville!
We are in the 2nd stations and the newer one having acres of parking lot just to compensate the riders. and it is this reason some people here still prefer driving, you wonder why,lol! :)

Oh yea, plenty of lots, particularly here in Naperville!
We are in the 2nd stations and the newer one having acres of parking lot just to compensate the riders. and it is this reason some people here still prefer driving, you wonder why,lol! :)
Haha, it must take a while finding parking.

It would be even funnier if you have mini-skylines of eight-story parking garages.

I don't understand why there's even a debate on which state has the worst highways; it is obviously Louisiana. The days when Louisiana had its highway funding cut off for age-18 drinking took its toll, and the continual battering of hurricanes did the rest. I wonder if all the washed-out pavement and demolished bridges on I-10 have been repaired yet.

http://level2.cap.gov/documents/Slidell_LA_I10.jpg

Haha, it must take a while finding parking.

It would be even funnier if you have mini-skylines of eight-story parking garages.

I don't understand why there's even a debate on which state has the worst highways; it is obviously Louisiana. The days when Louisiana had its highway funding cut off for age-18 drinking took its toll, and the continual battering of hurricanes did the rest. I wonder if all the washed-out pavement and demolished bridges on I-10 have been repaired yet.

http://level2.cap.gov/documents/Slidell_LA_I10.jpg

I doubt the multi story parking garages is feasbile here in naperville due to out plenty of open land,lol!
Very true, in and out of of parking lot is problematic here!

For louisiana I-10, would have been the worst but look again, it will be the newest after rebuilt, so what can u say! After all we are in the greatest nation of the world! :)

I-275westcoastfl.....

I do not know anything about Bangladesh.I live in India.Certain areas in New York city do resemble photos of Bangladesh i have seen.I do plan to visit there sometime soon.

But here is an example of an inner city road/freeways in India....This is in New Delhi/National Capital Region....
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2854/delhiroadnoidamirmax1un.jpg

Cheers!.....



[img]

On the surface it looks ok. But where are the shoulders? If your car breaks down or something do you just sit in the middle of the highway? I don't think that flimsy guard rail would stop very much either.

I doubt the multi story parking garages is feasbile here in naperville due to out plenty of open land,lol!
Very true, in and out of of parking lot is problematic here!

For louisiana I-10, would have been the worst but look again, it will be the newest after rebuilt, so what can u say! After all we are in the greatest nation of the world! :)
That is terribly ironic, getting stuck in traffic trying to leave a parking lot. :lol: Is there commuter bus service too, or just rail?

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2854/delhiroadnoidamirmax1un.jpg

Pssh, your country has a lot to learn about modern highway design. Also 8 lanes, but much better:

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/bw8/images_mainlanes/bw8_s_of_memorial_trench_20-may-2001_lres.jpg

You can fool only some of the people some of the time...How long will the American propaganda machine fool the American people into thinking they're living in the "greatest country in the world"?.This is a country where they nail thin slats of plywood to sheets of cardboard, slap some paint on the cardboard , some plasticky tiles and decorations and call the structure a house for which Americans pay millions of dollars to own.Who's fooling who?.Come a little wind and rain, there goes Mr. and Mrs. America's wordly possessions down the street for all to see!.This is where the Soviets lost out.Their propaganda machine was nowhere near the Americans'.Now it's the Americans turn.The Emperor is fast losing his clothes, it seems!!.Not that i'm gloating.It is unfortunate that it is so.....

This is an example of an indian expressway.Let the picture speak for itself....

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/720/mumpunhighwayanooprawat13hy.jpg

That's nice that your country can keep up with the very few amount of freeways compared to the United States. The majority of our roads look like that and even better. But we have more to deal with thus we can't please everybody. The shit is not cheap. You're comparing apples to oranges.

^^^^
True, true~!LOL
Traffic jam on the highway, traffic jam off the highway in the train station parking lot,lol! Awkwardly efficient!

Just to let you know that the word "bus" in the chicago suburb doesn't exist,lol! :)
Or at least, no one is really give a damn if there is even one around....take great patience to wait for it to come near you!
In the chicago land area, commuter bus is another story tho!

Yea, India has a lot to learn about the great highway systems!
At least the true "high" way don't have scenes of scooters snaking around with the cars that are running at least 65 miles/hr. lol! :cheers:

Ah, I see. Over here, since nobody knows what "train" means, the highways have dedicated bus/carpool lanes in the middle:

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/59sw/images/59s_at_westpark_sb_from_hov_8-sept-2001_lres.jpg

I guess buses here serve the same function as rail in Chicago. The annoying thing about buses is, when on a regular street, every time they stop they cause a traffic jam on the right lane. :lol:

Ah, I see. Over here, since nobody knows what "train" means, the highways have dedicated bus/carpool lanes in the middle:

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/59sw/images/59s_at_westpark_sb_from_hov_8-sept-2001_lres.jpg

I guess buses here serve the same function as rail in Chicago. The annoying thing about buses is, when on a regular street, every time they stop they cause a traffic jam on the right lane. :lol:

LOL, pretty much it! :)
They all looks good one way, yet ugly the other!
That is cool, how the bus even run as far as houston suburbs! I like it, another cheaper way for commuting!
So no train at all between houston downtown and its suburbs?

BTW, I see you also have been to shanghai. I am also very impress with its new high speed rail! That is another reason why chicago metra needs major upgrade! :cheers:

LOL, pretty much it! :)
They all looks good one way, yet ugly the other!
That is cool, how the bus even run as far as houston suburbs! I like it, another cheaper way for commuting!
So no train at all between houston downtown and its suburbs?
No trains. The buses run out to about 20 miles from the city center, about the distance from Oakbrook Terrace to downtown. These are express buses from park-and-ride lots to downtown. Chicago's disadvantage is that downtown is located on a lake, with all the suburbs in the west, increasing commuting distances.
BTW, I see you also have been to shanghai. I am also very impress with its new high speed rail! That is another reason why chicago metra needs major upgrade!
I am from Shanghai. All my family is there. I myself am often there, though currently working in Texas. The only "high speed" rail there is the maglev; regular metro trains aren't that fast.

New York because the highways are outdated.
All I know is that when you leave New Jersey and drive by the "Welcome to New York [state]" sigh, the roads automacically become rougher and bumpier. As of the NYC highways, the elevated ones are so old and rusted they're scary just to look at.

Here are some Chicago highways, as you can see that it takes guts and wizdom to block off few lanes for construction , not an easy thing for major rebuilt and repairment, it is amlost the case for every major metro cities in US:) :

Here is the witness of toll before the "I-Pass" was introduced, pain!
http://www.lungchicago.org/site/largepics/487/23862/88817/134324/Highway_photo.jpg
http://www.iit.edu/~mbudeus/images/chicago/highway.jpg
http://people04.albion.edu/AMA12/dp/images/chicago%20traffic.jpg

This one you can see the "chap" on the surface, thanks for the snow, salt and the snow removal truck...
http://www.jacemouse.com/photography/albums/wallpaper/Traffic1280.jpg
http://www.gapersblock.com/detour/gfx/09112003_traffic.jpg
http://www.elledeegee.net/mystcon2005/traffic.jpg
http://www.teresco.org/pics/alaska-20010606-30/rff/07/P6070165.JPG
http://www.teresco.org/pics/alaska-20010606-30/rff/07/P6070167.JPG
http://www.teresco.org/pics/alaska-20010606-30/rff/07/P6070168.JPG
http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_257222221/xl
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ssanburn/Michiana-LUG/Meetings/M-03-20-2004/mvc-498f.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ssanburn/Michiana-LUG/Meetings/M-03-20-2004/mvc-499f.jpg
:sleepy:

No trains. The buses run out to about 20 miles from the city center, about the distance from Oakbrook Terrace to downtown. These are express buses from park-and-ride lots to downtown. Chicago's disadvantage is that downtown is located on a lake, with all the suburbs in the west, increasing commuting distances.

I am from Shanghai. All my family is there. I myself am often there, though currently working in Texas. The only "high speed" rail there is the maglev; regular metro trains aren't that fast.

Yep, houston is geographically more feasible for buses than chicago!
cool, so you from shanghai! It is a city with great advancement! :)

[QUOTE=cayenne]I-275westcoastfl.....

I do not know anything about Bangladesh.I live in India.Certain areas in New York city do resemble photos of Bangladesh i have seen.I do plan to visit there sometime soon.

But here is an example of an inner city road/freeways in India....This is in New Delhi/National Capital Region....
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2854/delhiroadnoidamirmax1un.jpg
Cheers!.....
Oops i meant India i dunno what i was thinking anyway yea in India that still looks like the outskirts of the city i dont know why you said inner city but then i found a few pictures of some delhi highways anyway they look fairly good except for the first picture but the highways have no or little of a center divider, no break down lanes, etc overall india has nice highways but i cant see how they compare to american ones.
http://photos1.blogger.com/img/297/1803/640/NoJam.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3285/delnoida88bg.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7425/delhinoida73db.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/853/untitled5zc6tz.png

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2474/aiims97lx.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6919/delrd180lf.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1356/aimsdelhiflyoverritmishra3qq9v.jpg
American ones
Tampa pop 400,000 and St.Petersburg, FL pop 300,000
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida050/us-092_wb_at_fl-686_694_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_nb_exit_023_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_045b_02.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_028_01.jpg
[/IMG]http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_023b_04.jpg[/IMG]
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_015_01.jpg
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_006_08.jpg

^^^
Nice pics!

http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_006_08.jpg
I still remember that I drove over this bridge during my trip to Florida!
It was unbelieable sight! :runaway: :cheers:
Oh, the year when Ivan invaded :sleepy: !

http://www.southeastroads.com/florida200/i-275_sb_exit_006_08.jpg
I remember this bridge is on Interstate 275, but can't recall the exact location. Can you refresh me?

^^ Thats the Skyway Bridge in St.Petersburg,Florida between Pinellas and Manatee Counties
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/skywaybridgelocation.jpg
View of St.Pete Beach, etc from bridge
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/sky10v017.jpg
another pic
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/bg5.jpg
my favorite
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/skywaybridge.jpg
Here is the old one from after the container ship plowed into it paving the way for the new one which is one of the safest from ship collisions and here it is next to the new one.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/MK275/dedication04.jpg

^^^
Isn't that amazing!
BTW, I LOVE clearwater beach! The sand there is so gorgeous and soft! It is the 2nd best place in Florida after South beach in my top florida destinations!

Some pics of Mumbai(Bombay)....expressway construction........

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/6739/bandraworlisealink0xr.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7050/bridgeworlishutternut6qi.jpg

More inner city roads in Bombay......

http://mk23.image.pbase.com/v3/10/401710/2/46191077.circlebuilding2.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/10/401710/2/46264362.marinedrivefrombridge.jpg

http://img327.imageshack.us/img327/4066/bombay75nv.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/v3/74/575674/2/49021223.DSC_0186.jpg

Well, i live in Mumbai!!.Ever driven through Flatbush Ave, in Brooklyn, anyone?.The lunar landscape will be a smoother ride, i guarantee you!!

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/10/401710/2/46264362.marinedrivefrombridge.jpg
Why are the outer two lanes so narrow and inner are wide?

Well, i live in Mumbai!!.Ever driven through Flatbush Ave, in Brooklyn, anyone?.The lunar landscape will be a smoother ride, i guarantee you!!
Thats great every city has their bad roads im sure in Mumbai too there are some shitty roads i dont know why you keep pulling things about america. Get on topic because for every flaw you point out about american roads i can probably do the same with Indian roads you cant have all roads be in good condition smooth or not its to get people place to place.

Hey Cayenne, thanks for sharing tho, but majority of your posts and pics shouldn't be here in the first place, we all know that mumbai has nice road, so please get back to the topic! We are here for "US states with the worst highways?" Not india and any other countries!:)

I think it is fair to say, that the US is no different from any other developed/developing country, in that it has it's share of good and bad roads, rich and poor folks and the great middle class in-between the two, and by calling themselves "the greatest et al" and belittling other nations they are engaging in needless propoganda far more than even the Soviets did and in the process making themselves disliked by a majority of the peoples of the world.It is time the US and it's peoples got 'REAL' and faced the music.Unless ofcourse they want to compare themselves to the unfortunate nations of sub-saharan Africa to feel 'superior' again.I hope the poor displaced peoples of New Orleans are provided shelter and relocated before money is spent on paving new roads.Are roads more important than people?.

How is it propaganda if it is truth? Have you seen what you speak of? You sound like nothing but a pathetic conspiracy theorist in that post.

I think it is fair to say, that the US is no different from any other developed/developing country, in that it has it's share of good and bad roads, rich and poor folks and the great middle class in-between the two, and by calling themselves "the greatest et al" and belittling other nations they are engaging in needless propoganda far more than even the Soviets did and in the process making themselves disliked by a majority of the peoples of the world.It is time the US and it's peoples got 'REAL' and faced the music.Unless ofcourse they want to compare themselves to the unfortunate nations of sub-saharan Africa to feel 'superior' again.I hope the poor displaced peoples of New Orleans are provided shelter and relocated before money is spent on paving new roads.Are roads more important than people?.

Do you honestly think that this kind of propoganda posts of yours should even be existing in this thread?
You are the only one here so far that I think has propoganda issues, not US, not anyone, but you! Get fix or be fix, bud! :sleepy: