[USA] United States Interstate Highways

[CborG]

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

[DrJoe]

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

[SoHo~]

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 !!

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted by SoHo~

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.

[ttownfeen]

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.

[FM 2258]

Originally Posted by ttownfeen

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.

[michal-skoczen]

One word to describe this: amazing

[yako]

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

[PotatoGuy]

Originally Posted by yako

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)

[Jonesy55]

Originally Posted by SoHo~

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.

[Naga_Solidus]

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)?

[PotatoGuy]

Here ya go Naga:

[Naga_Solidus]

That stuff is what makes our country great.

[mr_storms]

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

[FM 2258]

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

[I-275westcoastfl]

The first pics of Tampa look outdated they widened and still are widening that area.

[PotatoGuy]

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

[Brighter Hell]

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.

[TO_Joe]

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.

[great prairie]

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