United States Interstate Highways [Archive]

United-States-of-America

November 6th, 2005, 05:38 AM

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.

United-States-of-America

November 6th, 2005, 05:42 AM

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

We aren't bad drivers, are we?

United-States-of-America

November 6th, 2005, 05:53 AM

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

United-States-of-America

November 6th, 2005, 06:01 AM

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

United-States-of-America

November 6th, 2005, 06:12 AM

Interstate 14 coming to a thread near you tomorrow.

miptag

November 6th, 2005, 06:37 AM

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?

GuyFromMoss

November 6th, 2005, 12:46 PM

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...

NorthGermany

November 6th, 2005, 01:12 PM

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.

Jonesy55

November 6th, 2005, 01:46 PM

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.

er_juli

November 6th, 2005, 04:02 PM

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

staff

November 6th, 2005, 04:26 PM

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

Andrew

November 6th, 2005, 05:51 PM

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

sbarn

November 6th, 2005, 06:49 PM

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.

edolen1

November 6th, 2005, 08:58 PM

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.

andysimo123

November 6th, 2005, 10:27 PM

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.

fredcalif

November 7th, 2005, 05:50 AM

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

_Vega_

November 7th, 2005, 05:55 AM

they´re not the best...

i prefer german ones

Ewok71

November 7th, 2005, 04:52 PM

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.

DrJoe

November 7th, 2005, 05:52 PM

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

FM 2258

November 7th, 2005, 06:40 PM

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Burnout 3

November 7th, 2005, 07:32 PM

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.

CharlieP

November 7th, 2005, 08:47 PM

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

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

TO_Joe

November 8th, 2005, 03:02 AM

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.

sojourner truth ™

November 8th, 2005, 03:53 AM

I prefer the European Autobahn system.

PotatoGuy

November 8th, 2005, 03:58 AM

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

mr_storms

November 8th, 2005, 04:44 AM

FM 2258

November 8th, 2005, 08:12 AM

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.

Nerima#

November 8th, 2005, 08:43 AM

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.

asohn

November 8th, 2005, 09:45 AM

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.

Jonesy55

November 8th, 2005, 06:18 PM

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.

edolen1

November 8th, 2005, 07:33 PM

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..

CborG

November 8th, 2005, 07:45 PM

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

DrJoe

November 8th, 2005, 08:09 PM

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

SoHo~

November 8th, 2005, 08:13 PM

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

November 8th, 2005, 08:33 PM

ttownfeen

November 8th, 2005, 08:58 PM

FM 2258

November 8th, 2005, 09:28 PM

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

November 8th, 2005, 10:09 PM

One word to describe this: amazing :)

yako

November 9th, 2005, 12:05 AM

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

PotatoGuy

November 9th, 2005, 02:54 AM

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

November 9th, 2005, 05:37 PM

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

November 12th, 2005, 08:07 AM

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

November 13th, 2005, 05:47 AM

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

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_05.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_04.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_03a.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_00a.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_026a_05.jpg

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

Naga_Solidus

November 13th, 2005, 06:45 AM

^^

That stuff is what makes our country great.

mr_storms

November 13th, 2005, 08:32 AM

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

November 13th, 2005, 10:45 AM

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

I-275westcoastfl

November 15th, 2005, 12:10 AM

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

PotatoGuy

November 16th, 2005, 03:35 AM

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

Brighter Hell

November 16th, 2005, 04:02 AM

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

November 16th, 2005, 04:52 AM

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

November 16th, 2005, 05:40 AM

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

TexasBoi

November 17th, 2005, 07:51 AM

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.

OettingerCroat

November 17th, 2005, 08:27 AM

chris9

November 17th, 2005, 08:43 AM

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).

OettingerCroat

November 18th, 2005, 05:32 AM

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

TO_Joe

November 18th, 2005, 07:01 PM

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.

FM 2258

November 18th, 2005, 08:02 PM

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.

chris9

November 18th, 2005, 09:09 PM

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.

sonysnob

November 19th, 2005, 02:02 AM

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.

edolen1

November 19th, 2005, 03:17 AM

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..

bay_area

November 19th, 2005, 06:51 PM

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

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_002_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_008a_06.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_009_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_010_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_013a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_004_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_004_05.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_002c_12.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_002c_15.jpg

great prairie

November 20th, 2005, 06:59 PM

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. :|

TheOldMan

November 21st, 2005, 10:38 PM

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.

mr_storms

November 22nd, 2005, 12:51 AM

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
http://static.flickr.com/26/56211610_e1522807b1.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/8/7334222_af4e3b5605.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/8/6988185_6babc7f47a.jpg

PotatoGuy

November 22nd, 2005, 06:58 AM

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?

OettingerCroat

November 22nd, 2005, 09:21 AM

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?

great prairie

November 22nd, 2005, 04:49 PM

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.

OettingerCroat

November 22nd, 2005, 10:26 PM

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

PotatoGuy

November 23rd, 2005, 02:18 AM

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

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_nb_exit_012_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_nb_exit_015_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_017b_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_014b_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_013_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_007_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_003_04.jpg

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

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images201/ca-241_nb_exit_024_01.jpg

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

PotatoGuy

November 23rd, 2005, 02:37 AM

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

OettingerCroat

November 23rd, 2005, 08:43 AM

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

Verso

June 14th, 2006, 01:01 AM

Looks like the Interstates don't whoop ass. :D

Sorry, just had to bring it out of the basement. :D

Any more pix? :)

Verso

June 14th, 2006, 01:12 AM

Oh lol, only now I noticed how ugly the first part of the first page is! :puke:

Can someone remove this shit? :)

10ROT

June 14th, 2006, 05:42 AM

WTF is on the first page?! :puke:

I-275westcoastfl

June 14th, 2006, 09:33 AM

The 1st page is Nasty!!!!!!! :runaway:
Its burns my eyes!! aaaaaahhhhhh :badnews:

sojourner truth ™

June 14th, 2006, 08:21 PM

I <3 it when SSC sucks up my bandwidth!!!

dwrecker

June 20th, 2006, 08:08 PM

That pic of I-80 at the Bay Bridge toll booth is amazing. That freeway is huge out there. I think they are constructing 1-10 out here in Houston that size or so. As dense as SF is, its hard to believe that they are beat by San Diego(population wise).

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

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_002_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_008a_06.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_009_02.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_010_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_eb_exit_013a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_004_01.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_004_05.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_002c_12.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images075/i-080_wb_exit_002c_15.jpg

Minato ku

June 20th, 2006, 08:38 PM

Why many interstates have not fence at middle in rural area ?

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images051/ca-073_sb_exit_003_04.jpg

Verso

June 20th, 2006, 08:46 PM

Does it even matter by such width...

boricuba

June 20th, 2006, 09:22 PM

I Think from the point of being an engineer is that the U.S interstate system is not only the largest and most complete system on earth but is also the best.

It is true there are some rundown areas but the system is so extensive that the good over takes the bad.

In regards to autobahn i think is great but it suffers what mainly allot of highways, streets, avenues in Europe suffer there not wide enough! In America Interstate, avenues, streets,boulevards are more impressive than small curvy european routes. That is why American trucks are more bulky and bigger.

when the 1996 olympics in Atlanta allot of Europeans went to my school georgia tech for the aquatic sports and they were all really impress by the georgia road system some germans admitted to me that they were superior in wide lanes to autobahn.

phnzn2

June 20th, 2006, 11:00 PM

Sorry doublepost. :)

phnzn2

June 20th, 2006, 11:03 PM

I Think from the point of being an engineer is that the U.S interstate system is not only the largest and most complete system on earth but is also the best.

It is true there are some rundown areas but the system is so extensive that the good over takes the bad.

The US Interstate system, besides being the largest system by its size, is however not the densest one (the Autobahn system in Germany and Switzerland is much much denser). And Interstate is definitely not the best:

http://www.transact.org/library/decoder/roadconditiondecoder.pdf

Half of the nation’s roadways, and nearly 70 percent of urban roadways, are in poor, mediocre, or fair condition as of 2001, the most recent year for which data is available.
The state of Hawaii, with 89.7 percent of its roads in less than good condition, has the worst roads in the nation as of 2001. Missouri, where 87.5 percent of all roads are in poor, mediocre, or fair condition, is a close second. In Michigan, nearly 90 percent of urban roads are classified as in less than good condition. And in Massachusetts, more than 88 percent of the state’s rural roads were found to be in poor, mediocre, or fair condition.

Despite a fairly dismal starting point, road conditions in a handful of states actually worsened from 1994 to 2001. In the state of Utah, for example, the portion of road miles in poor, mediocre, or fair condition grew by almost 121 percent. In that 8-year period from 1994 to 2001, Californians saw a 25 percent rise in the portion of roadway miles in less than good condition.

Virginia, for example, spent only 13.4 percent of it’s federal highway funds (excluding planning and engineering) on road repair and rehabilitation during the ten year period since 1992. This low spending is reflected in the condition of the state’s roads. As of 2001, nearly two-thirds of Virginia’s roadway miles were found to be in poor, mediocre, or fair condition. Yet despite the obvious need to repair existing roads, the Virginia Department of Transportation instead dedicated almost 41 percent of the state’s available federal funding to the construction of new roadway capacity.

(Also have a look at the table over there. Such proportions are rather unusual in Europe).

In regards to autobahn i think is great but it suffers what mainly allot of highways, streets, avenues in Europe suffer there not wide enough! In America Interstate, avenues, streets,boulevards are more impressive than small curvy european routes. That is why American trucks are more bulky and bigger.

when the 1996 olympics in Atlanta allot of Europeans went to my school georgia tech for the aquatic sports and they were all really impress by the georgia road system some germans admitted to me that they were superior in wide lanes to autobahn.

When one mentioned the mediocrity of US rail you justified that by pointing the difference in transport paradigm between the 2 continents ("the US is an automobile society"). Now you just seem to overlook the difference and superimpose the US model, saying that Europe's roads "suffer" from being not as wide as those in the US.

Looks like you never cease to interchange viewpoints whenever necessary. Also, how "some" Europeans marvel at the United States seems pretty much exciting, huh ? Some Germans admit Georgia's roads are "superior" to Autobahn. Some European pilots have never seen such traffic as at O'Hare and Hartsfield. Some this, some that... :sleepy: :sleepy: :sleepy: That said, Georgia has, according to the aforementioned source, some of the finest roads (if not the best) of the entire US (only 2.8% are not in good condition). You probably didn't show those Germans Kansas City or Saint-Louis, I suppose ? This again illustrates how selective, one-sided your information always is.

Minato ku

June 20th, 2006, 11:28 PM

Verso

June 20th, 2006, 11:34 PM

In regards to autobahn i think is great but it suffers what mainly allot of highways, streets, avenues in Europe suffer there not wide enough! In America Interstate, avenues, streets,boulevards are more impressive than small curvy european routes. That is why American trucks are more bulky and bigger.
As far as I know the reason for your trucks being longer is the fact that u don't have a length limit as Europe does.

And for the freeways: this Autobahn really looks like some vow wow. It's just because they are free of charge and without speed limit. Big deal. Like there's a lot of police presence on freeways. At least in Europe it isn't. Beside that they are overcrowded since there are few big rural areas in Germany, I mean I don't probably have to tell u the density of people in Germany and the US. Btw, try the freeway Salzburg (Austria, but close to Germany) - Rosenheim (50 km before Munich) and u'll be 'amazed'.

phnzn2

June 21st, 2006, 12:19 AM

U.S interstates are the opposite of French autoroute

France autoroute are good in rural area and bad in big urban area (especially inParis and Lyon)
U.S interstates are good in urban area ( L.A Houston..) but bad in rural area

German autobahn or french autoroute is a smaller network than US interstates
German autobahn over 12,000 km
French autoroute over 12,000 km
US interstates over 90,000 km

it is normal that the motorways in France or in Germany are in better condition than US interstates

It is wrong to say that the US Interstate is better in urban area than in rural ones. It is the reverse that is true. The following source (the same as the one I gave above):

http://www.transact.org/library/decoder/roadconditiondecoder.pdf

will confirm that.

Your data for the German Autobahn and the French autoroute are quite correct, but you largely overestimated the US Interstates. As of 2002, the Interstate totalizes 75,198 km (and not over 90,000 km).

Besides, there is nothing "normal" about the US Interstates being in worse conditions than the German Autobahn or the French Autoroute. How about comparing the autoroutes and Autobahn with road network in separate US state ?

Minato ku

June 21st, 2006, 12:38 AM

It is wrong to say that the US Interstate is better in urban area than in rural ones. It is the reverse that is true. The following source (the same as the one I gave above):

http://www.transact.org/library/decoder/roadconditiondecoder.pdf

will confirm that.

Your data for the German Autobahn and the French autoroute are quite correct, but you largely overestimated the US Interstates. As of 2002, the Interstate totalizes 75,198 km (and not over 90,000 km).

Besides, there is nothing "normal" about the US Interstates being in worse conditions than the German Autobahn or the French Autoroute. How about comparing the autoroutes and Autobahn with road network in separate US state ?

Ah interstates are financed by state
indeed by state is not normal

I overestimated U.S interstates sorry (japanese traduction in bottom ) :)

Nephasto

June 21st, 2006, 12:42 AM

Taken into account the US is about 18 times larger than France, and even more comparing to Germany, the 90000km figure, although impressive, is not that amazing...

boricuba

June 21st, 2006, 01:40 AM

The US Interstate system, besides being the largest system by its size, is however not the densest one (the Autobahn system in Germany and Switzerland is much much denser). And Interstate is definitely not the best:

http://www.transact.org/library/decoder/roadconditiondecoder.pdf

Half of the nation’s roadways, and nearly 70 percent of urban roadways, are in poor, mediocre, or fair condition as of 2001, the most recent year for which data is available.
The state of Hawaii, with 89.7 percent of its roads in less than good condition, has the worst roads in the nation as of 2001. Missouri, where 87.5 percent of all roads are in poor, mediocre, or fair condition, is a close second. In Michigan, nearly 90 percent of urban roads are classified as in less than good condition. And in Massachusetts, more than 88 percent of the state’s rural roads were found to be in poor, mediocre, or fair condition.

Despite a fairly dismal starting point, road conditions in a handful of states actually worsened from 1994 to 2001. In the state of Utah, for example, the portion of road miles in poor, mediocre, or fair condition grew by almost 121 percent. In that 8-year period from 1994 to 2001, Californians saw a 25 percent rise in the portion of roadway miles in less than good condition.

Virginia, for example, spent only 13.4 percent of it’s federal highway funds (excluding planning and engineering) on road repair and rehabilitation during the ten year period since 1992. This low spending is reflected in the condition of the state’s roads. As of 2001, nearly two-thirds of Virginia’s roadway miles were found to be in poor, mediocre, or fair condition. Yet despite the obvious need to repair existing roads, the Virginia Department of Transportation instead dedicated almost 41 percent of the state’s available federal funding to the construction of new roadway capacity.

(Also have a look at the table over there. Such proportions are rather unusual in Europe).

When one mentioned the mediocrity of US rail you justified that by pointing the difference in transport paradigm between the 2 continents ("the US is an automobile society"). Now you just seem to overlook the difference and superimpose the US model, saying that Europe's roads "suffer" from being not as wide as those in the US.

Looks like you never cease to interchange viewpoints whenever necessary. Also, how "some" Europeans marvel at the United States seems pretty much exciting, huh ? Some Germans admit Georgia's roads are "superior" to Autobahn. Some European pilots have never seen such traffic as at O'Hare and Hartsfield. Some this, some that... :sleepy: :sleepy: :sleepy: That said, Georgia has, according to the aforementioned source, some of the finest roads (if not the best) of the entire US (only 2.8% are not in good condition). You probably didn't show those Germans Kansas City or Saint-Louis, I suppose ? This again illustrates how selective, one-sided your information always is.

I am not talking about density! At All

You confused personal experiences with your that is why thery are called personal experience.

Let me tell you you butt in into every single argument that i made trolling around all forums looking for me!

You are always looking and talking about something else.

I am an engineer and you are not!

If we are going to talk about poor roads lets talk about POrtugals, Italy,s
Poland , Romania,Slovakia, Czheckrepublic, even some parts in cologne, dresden, lets not even talk about Great britain there are worst that some that you are indicating.

boricuba

June 21st, 2006, 02:01 AM

phnzn2

June 21st, 2006, 02:47 AM

I am not talking about density! At All

which means I do not have the right to mention it, either ???????? Given the fact that you claimed the US to be "BEST", and given the fact that a good system might be of considerable density.

You confused personal experiences with your that is why thery are called personal experience.

Let me tell you you butt in into every single argument that i made trolling around all forums looking for me!

You are always looking and talking about something else.

I am an engineer and you are not!

I'm not talking about "something else". Sorry buddy, I'm talking about how the US Interstate might be the "best" system in the world, which is a subject YOU initiated. I'd like to learn more about how your "personal experiences" being an "engineer" have taught you that the US Interstate is superior to any other highway network, a point you have not yet proven and which is very interesting indeed.

If we are going to talk about poor roads lets talk about POrtugals, Italy,Poland , Romania,Slovakia, Czheckrepublic, even some parts in cologne, dresden, lets not even talk about Great britain there are worst that some that you are indicating.

I don't care about poor roads (if any) in Portugal, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic or in some parts around Cologne, Dresden, or Great Britain. What I do care about, on the contrary, is if the following statement can be considered acceptable:

The US Interstate is the best system in the world.

phnzn2

June 21st, 2006, 02:57 AM

When it comes to the U.S system it is very selective that the angry asian which is not even an Engineer picks a internal study of 2003 to only proof that in some parts of the U.S system of roads they are underfunded. And that roads are not to U.S Standards which are their own. I am pretty sure that Germany, France, Italy local goverment and departments of transportation also think they are under budget.

For the n time boricuba has failed to prove he has the competency to read and understand simple English. The 2003 Study does not vaguely point to "some parts of the US system that are underfunded." Indeed, the study says: a very considerable portion of US road system is not in good condition.

Also, you stated that the US standard for highway is higher than the one used in other parts of the world. I am so sorry to tell you: this is simply ridiculous ! Standards may vary, but what is the silly Department of Transport to set them so high that practically HALF a nation's network is deemed unsatisfactory ??????? Sorry buddy, such high proportions can mean only one thing: that US highways are seriously problematic. And the common perception that Interstate sucks is not exactly unfounded, either !!!!

When I pointed out a study suggesting Boeing violating WTO subsidy laws, you said the study goes back to the Arms Race period and is therefore unreliable. You did not further justify. Now once again boricuba is finding a pretext to disqualify a study, this for the X time shows how skewd you are.

The U.S system is devided into varios entities

Federal goverment fully funds! and Administer
U,S interstate
U.S routes
And other routes and roads under dept. of interior

State goverments They run and fund!

Turnpikes, State roads, Highway, freeway expressway

County and Cities form Expressway authorities or road and highway authorities. they are local funded for maintanace but they get state money to build City and County expressway, streets, roads, streets, boulevards etc..

Municipalities they mainly get there money form counties and State but the Municiaplity must mantain it.

Municipal roads, service roads, streets, avenues

The U.S system is to vast even to compare with germany or which ever country!

I have travelled in Europes Highways like the Autobahn it is the best in Europe but not the best in the world by far. And many countries like Portugal, Italy, greece, hungy, Poland check republic road are still not roads that belong to industrilize countries.

For Exa,ple i think that South Afica, Australia, and Japan have better roads than Europe.

Juggling with tons of "facts" in a last desperate attempt to mess up everything again, I see... You seem so quiet about the unseeming coincidence of Germans admiring Georgia - and not any other state's - 's highway ??????????? :) :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:

Nephasto

June 21st, 2006, 03:42 AM

I have travelled in Europes Highways like the Autobahn it is the best in Europe but not the best in the world by far. And many countries like Portugal, Italy, greece, hungy, Poland check republic road are still not roads that belong to industrilize countries.

By the way, do you really know anything about Portuguese roads? Some 10 or 20 years ago they were bad, that's true, but nowadays we have fine motorways. And believe me, I wouldn't trade Portuguese motorways condition by american interstates ever!
We have a network (which can and is being improved in terms of extension) of modern motorways in excelent condicions. Much better than the conditions of the average interstate I'm sure.

For Exa,ple i think that South Afica, Australia, and Japan have better roads than Europe.

But what you think shouldn't be taken very seriously, right? ;)

I-275westcoastfl

June 21st, 2006, 10:46 AM

2000_Watts

June 22nd, 2006, 12:11 AM

boricuba

June 22nd, 2006, 04:33 AM

Thats as of 2001 now its totally different many cities and states are having highways repaved or widened or have already done so at the turn of the century we realized our roads have fallen behind with quality and we are doing something about it. Go drive on a freshly paved or repaved highway in america its an extremely smooth ride.

It does not matter what you sy PHZ2 he hates america and what he does is find a article or study that nobody cares that is not actually factual and say that roads are underfunded and the U.S roads are terrible. The U.s System by number of expressways, payed roads is bigger than E.U. In countries that are not germany roads are like 3rd world countries i have seen them!

And dont tell them that we have improved them! the roads in general have always been better in general to europe. Go to Florida, Nevada, Georgia brand new highways build by the states like turnpikes and expressway! dont give them explanation i have the data and studies that are international comparing E.U road systems to U.S.

boricuba

June 22nd, 2006, 04:40 AM

10ROT

June 22nd, 2006, 07:52 AM

All I have to say, is that Connecticut has fallen behind in Interstate quality...

Better than New York, though...

Minato ku

June 22nd, 2006, 12:56 PM

It does not matter what you sy PHZ2 he hates america and what he does is find a article or study that nobody cares that is not actually factual and say that roads are underfunded and the U.S roads are terrible. The U.s System by number of expressways, payed roads is bigger than E.U. In countries that are not germany roads are like 3rd world countries i have seen them!

And dont tell them that we have improved them! the roads in general have always been better in general to europe. Go to Florida, Nevada, Georgia brand new highways build by the states like turnpikes and expressway! dont give them explanation i have the data and studies that are international comparing E.U road systems to U.S.

I like U.S interstates
You make a mistake.
Germany has not the better road in EU.

http://autorout.free.fr/4_photos/04%20A%20METTRE%20EN%20LIGNE%20(envoy%E9)/5_Provence/A%2050/A50-006-EchA52-Aubagne-B-2004822.JPG
http://autorout.free.fr/4_photos/04%20A%20METTRE%20EN%20LIGNE%20(envoy%E9)/5_Provence/A%2050/A50-011-Avant_Ech8-Cassis-B-2004822.JPG

Bahnsteig4

June 22nd, 2006, 01:14 PM

I prefer the European Autobahn system.

There is no point in preferences. You can't drive on European roads in the US. I always prefer the roads that get me where I want. ;)

e2ksj3

June 22nd, 2006, 01:33 PM

It depends on what state you're in. Some states like NC don't do a very job of keeping up the interstates, while states like Georgia do.

I-77 in Charlotte, NC

http://www.wrx900.com/Trip%20to%20St.%20Augustine%20064.jpg

I-85 in Atlanta, GA

http://www.truckweb.ca/images/Visiteurs/ChristianCantin/0151%20I-85%20atlanta%205%20avril%202005%20(2).JPG

phnzn2

June 22nd, 2006, 07:05 PM

It does not matter what you sy PHZ2 he hates america and what he does is find a article or study that nobody cares that is not actually factual and say that roads are underfunded and the U.S roads are terrible. The U.s System by number of expressways, payed roads is bigger than E.U. In countries that are not germany roads are like 3rd world countries i have seen them!

Once again "engineer" boricuba has failed to prove he has the capacity to discern between basic concepts. My study is qualitative, buddy, it is not quantitative. It is therefore pointless to point out that the US outnumbers the EU in terms of absolute length. You are continuously off-track, and this clearly shows how much of "experiences" how have acquired during your career. You just never fail to fail other forumers.

In addition, you affirm my study is not factually correct, a point I heartily invite you to demonstrate eventhough I for sure know you won't.

And dont tell them that we have improved them! the roads in general have always been better in general to europe. Go to Florida, Nevada, Georgia brand new highways build by the states like turnpikes and expressway! dont give them explanation i have the data and studies that are international comparing E.U road systems to U.S.

You just don't have any (reliable) data. :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:

phnzn2

June 22nd, 2006, 07:16 PM

PHZ2

Remember U.S standards in almost everything are higher than E.U!

You get informationfrom a nonprofit organization which pretty much gets its information from word of mouth they work for the lobbyst to ask for more money. the federal goverment in which they really outspends E.U and germany by allot.

Please see sides like AAA which clearly points out the status of roads!

You are free to furret into aaa.com and fetch a study that "clearly points out" the (real ?) status of roads. Also, AAA is a nonprofit lobby group, I hope their studies are not just "words of mouth" either.

Can you show me how US Standards "in almost everything" outperform EU ones, please ????? :) A last remark: watch your spelling and punctuation. I know it's your trick to always make everything foggy but at some point it becomes less funny.

boricuba

June 22nd, 2006, 07:58 PM

You are free to furret into aaa.com and fetch a study that "clearly points out" the (real ?) status of roads. Also, AAA is a nonprofit lobby group, I hope their studies are not just "words of mouth" either.

Can you show me how US Standards "in almost everything" outperform EU ones, please ????? :) A last remark: watch your spelling and punctuation. I know it's your trick to always make everything foggy but at some point it becomes less funny.

I am sending message to moderator you are always looking for me in the forums. You hate america and that clouds your Judgement! When i have accepted that E.U have somethings better than U.S for Example Raislsystems i have not seen from you once in this forum something positive about the U.S. Clearly you seem to think that i care about your desperation to make the U.S.A look bad which it clearly leads by numbers last time i put allot of links and list other forumers did backed the information. But you always pick on the Railsystems because that is the only thing you could find that E.U has better than U.S. Clearly you have not been to Florida, Gerogia, Texas, Nevada all brand new roads and believe me if i wanted i could get your precious studies and factual data but clearly the U.S has a major system of roads and cannot be compare to a system like germany that is no bigger than a state. The U.S has more roads and Expressways than Europe check any site. I have been to Europe and Next month i will be in Spain were my grandparents live. Hopefullyi will rent a cart and take E.U roads in Spain and France and compared them to the U.S.A please i travel and i know what i see! In regards to my mispuntuation is that i live and i think and i talk in Spanish is my first and main language i never said i had perfect english!

You should get out of the U.S.A you clearly dont appreciated and you are a demagogue that hates the U.S for what it did to your country Vietnam that now kises the U.S ass! to due Buisness. Yesterday the president of European comission Wolfgang said that if it wasn't for the U.S aid Europe received after the war to rebuild itself,Europe will not be as half of what it is today. I
am not goint to talk any further with an Angry asian!

phnzn2

June 22nd, 2006, 08:16 PM

I am sending message to moderator you are always looking for me in the forums. You hate america and that clouds your Judgement! When i have accepted that E.U have somethings better than U.S for Example Raislsystems i have not seen from you once in this forum something positive about the U.S.

I am extremely concerned about what you say and its accuracy. Everything else just happens to be out of my interest. :) :) :) I don't personally feel obliged to praise the US, not that I hate it, but simply I don't feel like !!!!!! And the fact that this hurts your American pride is a good indicator of your inferiority complex. :scouserd:

Clearly you seem to think that i care about your desperation to make the U.S.A look bad which it clearly leads by numbers last time i put allot of links and list other forumers did backed the information. But you always pick on the Railsystems because that is the only thing you could find that E.U has better than U.S. Clearly you have not been to Florida, Gerogia, Texas, Nevada all brand new roads and believe me if i wanted i could get your precious studies and factual data but clearly the U.S has a major system of roads and cannot be compare to a system like germany that is no bigger than a state. The U.S has more roads and Expressways than Europe check any site. I have been to Europe and Next month i will be in Spain were my grandparents live. Hopefullyi will rent a cart and take E.U roads in Spain and France and compared them to the U.S.A please i travel and i know what i see! In regards to my mispuntuation is that i live and i think and i talk in Spanish is my first and main language i never said i had perfect english!

Again, my only and unique concern is the accuracy of what you say. I am not into learning if you have grandparents in Spain, or if you have driven Georgian or Floridan highways. :) :) :) My unique and only concern is whether Boeing is such an integer corporation, whether the US Interstate are really the "best", whether US Standards are almost higher than EU ones in "everything", etc etc etc. Sadly you have left my questions unanswered. :-( preferring to cling to "facts" that are of limited interest in the discussion.

You should get out of the U.S.A you clearly dont appreciated and you are a demagogue that hates the U.S for what it did to your country Vietnam that now kises the U.S ass! to due Buisness. Yesterday the president of European comission Wolfgang said that if it wasn't for the U.S aid Europe received after the war to rebuild itself,Europe will not be as half of what it is today. I
am not goint to talk any further with an Angry asian!

Do you personally take it seriously when politicians make speech ????? When Bush said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, did you believe him ?????? Besides, the president of the European Commission is not named Wolfgang. And whether somebody really said such thing in Vienna is kind of dubious.

Verso

June 22nd, 2006, 09:32 PM

COULD YOU STOP WITH THESE ENDLESS AND POINTLESS ARGUMENTS AND JUST SHOW US PICTURES?!?!?!

THANKS!

Downtownboi

June 23rd, 2006, 08:10 AM

I-5 (Seattle) showing the Washington State Convention Center over the Interstate.
http://www.phenry.org/wsh/photos/i5convctr.jpg

OettingerCroat

June 24th, 2006, 06:09 AM

For Exa,ple i think that South Afica, Australia, and Japan have better roads than Europe.

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!

EDBTZ

June 24th, 2006, 01:20 PM

San Francisco International Airport

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4149/untitled13zq.gif

I-275westcoastfl

June 26th, 2006, 03:47 AM

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!
Whats so funny? I dont know about South Africa but Australia and Japan have excellent roads at the same level or even better than europe.

Nephasto

June 27th, 2006, 12:36 AM

Whats so funny? I dont know about South Africa but Australia and Japan have excellent roads at the same level or even better than europe.

?!
Give me a break!!!
Australia?!?!? :rofl: :rofl:

Get real mate. ;)

Not that Australia has bad roads.... they just don't have the density or the population to need a road network than could compare in any way with europe.

Also, Japan?... Sure they have great infrastructures, but motorways are not Japans speciality... They might have good urban roads, but apart from that...

Jayayess1190

June 28th, 2006, 01:22 AM

:dj: Happy 50th Birthday Interstates!!!!!!! :dance:

OettingerCroat

June 28th, 2006, 05:51 AM

^^ yah lets hope you look a little prettier and drive a little smoother!!!

Paddington

June 28th, 2006, 06:56 AM

New York City area:

http://www.teresco.org/pics/signs/20060614/exit4-14ave.jpg

http://www.teresco.org/pics/signs/20030820/gwb.jpg

Vrysxy

June 28th, 2006, 07:42 AM

Interstate 5-San Diego, CA
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/Jaygergon/downtown-flickr/1806183_cfdf0e0bc7.jpg
http://img225.echo.cx/img225/5521/sandiego7cx.jpg

DrJoe

June 28th, 2006, 07:38 PM

lol, I didn't start this thread but it has me listed as the thread starter and first poster. I guess this and some other thread were merged???

Aokromes

June 28th, 2006, 07:42 PM

^^ No, they deleted the 1st posts with some pornographic photos.

Zargyle

June 28th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Here is some pictures of Interstate 15 in Salt Lake County, Utah. (Courtesy of AARoads.com)

http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_300_02.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_303_01.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_303_04.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_304_02.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_305a_01.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_exit_305a_03.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_080_wb_exit_305b_01.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_080_wb_exit_305c_07.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_080_wb_exit_306_05.jpg
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/utah001/i-015_nb_080_wb_exit_308_03.jpg

Verso

June 28th, 2006, 09:58 PM

^^ No, they deleted the 1st posts with some pornographic photos.
Heh, that was some ugly porn...

Vrysxy

June 29th, 2006, 04:55 AM

Interstate 5- San DIego, CA
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_001a_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_001a_02.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_001b_02.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_003_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_003_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_003_04.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_004_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_005b_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_008b_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_009_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_010_02.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_014a_02.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_014a_04.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_014b_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_015a_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_015b_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_016a_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_016b_03.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_017_01.jpg
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_019_02.jpg

Aquarius

June 30th, 2006, 01:14 PM

What do you know about the new Tran Texas toll road? any offical thread?

FastFerrari

May 20th, 2007, 02:16 AM

Construction at San Antonio's, TeXaS - USA Loop 410 and US 281 interchang with ramps on the norhtside along with add 4 lanes to Loop 410...was 6 expanding to 10 lanes.
Friday May 18, 2007...410/281 interchange w/ ramps
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4109/sd531135ln4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7909/sd531136yv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4580/sd531137vk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4174/sd531138wc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1935/sd531139ti1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1923/sd531140od8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9681/sd531141iu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8934/sd531142bq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2104/sd531143cj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/913/sd531144de3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6953/sd531145mi2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4559/sd531147vo8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5580/sd531148ca1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7525/sd531149zb3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9941/sd531153ua9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6019/sd531155uz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)[/QUOTE]

Gaeus

May 20th, 2007, 05:11 AM

OK guys. Seems like DC people is not posting its pride, the SPRINGFIELD INTERCHANGE!!! (maybe they are all stuck in a typical DC traffic!!!) The biggest interchange in Northeast US and soon will be the biggest in Atlantic Coast (sorry to say this Atlanteans). Some people say that it will become the biggest in United States or the World but they are just dreaming. A max of 16 lane intersection and the construction is not over yet.

I am sorry to say that I only got a PDF version for now but I will update it later with true images. :)

http://www.springfieldinterchange.com/pdf/map.pdf

mgk920

May 20th, 2007, 10:09 AM

Here ya go Naga:

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_03.jpg

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images101/ca-110_nb_exit_024a_03a.jpg
VERY interesting here in that the big green sign in these two images was modified by someone other than CalTrans (the state agency in charge of roads in California). Someone whom was handy at art got tired of getting lost because of missing info from the sign. He then took it upon himself to make the changes needed to correct that problem and in August of 2001, added the 'NORTH/I-5' to the sign. He did such a good job that CalTrans itself did not realize that anything was done to it (or that it was done by CalTrans sign crews) for nearly a year and when they did find out, they determined that it as such a useful improvement and of such good quality that it was allowed to remain and at last report, it is all still there.

Amazing.

:cheers1:

Mike

Alex Von Königsberg

May 20th, 2007, 10:24 AM

I actually saw a TV programme (I think on TLC, but may be mistaken) about this story a while back. The man used some pretty advanced technique to create the shield, and it was by no means an easy job to do. I think he deserves a recognition.

As for the CalTrans, sometimes they themselves do such a bad job that it leaves you wondering who was that freelance painter to create such a crap. I will take a picture of CA-99/US-50 interchange to show what I mean.

phattonez

May 21st, 2007, 09:12 PM

Take a look at the freeways in Riverside County. I-215 was just repaved and look amazing. The 60/215 segment is being completely redone and the 60/91/215 interchange is huge.

I really need to get pictures of all of the work being done there.

Rebasepoiss

May 21st, 2007, 09:27 PM

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_001a_01.jpg
WTF?(the signs)

ChrisZwolle

May 21st, 2007, 10:29 PM

Yeah, you see those signs a lot in California. Useless, and stupid.

mgk920

May 22nd, 2007, 06:37 AM

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_001a_01.jpg
WTF?(the signs)
The photographer's back in that image is right tight to the USCustoms station at the San Ysidro (San Diego), CA border crossing from Mexico. It is the World's busiest international border crossing. They basically tell people leaving the checkpoint that the highway splits very quickly and to get to the correct side of the road.

Yes, it could be clearer.

:ohno:

Mike

Patrick

May 22nd, 2007, 11:55 AM

maybe it should look like this

..........I-5..............................I-805........
...........................................................
San Diego West +..............El Cajon...........
National City.....................San Diego East.
Imperial Beach...................Chula Vista......
......................................Bonita.............
^........^........^..................^..........^....

^ = arrow
+ = airport symbol

Verso

May 22nd, 2007, 07:14 PM

Hehe, Americans are obsessed with road numbers. :) When driving on the I-95 through Maine, heading towards Canada, there are such small towns along the highway, that they just put "THRU TRAFFIC". :) I was thinking, ok, 'no one' knows those small towns there, but at least they could put "Canada". :)

mgk920

May 22nd, 2007, 08:03 PM

MasonsInquiries

May 22nd, 2007, 08:15 PM

interstates are "ok". somewhat convenient

TheCat

May 23rd, 2007, 04:43 AM

lol those "left/right lanes" signs are okay. I find this picture very funny :)
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images005/i-005_nb_exit_016a_01.jpg
"Trucks okay" ... "Trucks not okay"... :lol:

10ROT

May 24th, 2007, 06:22 AM

Some pictures of interstates in my area...not great, but I'm showing them anyway...(not mine, BTW)

Interstate 91

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-091_nb_exit_029_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-091_nb_exit_032a_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-091_nb_exit_032a_05.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-091_nb_exit_032b_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-091_nb_exit_033_04.jpg

Interstate 84

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_058_03.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_056_01.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_051_01.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_047_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_039a_02.jpg

Interstate 291 (relatively recent, completed in 1994)

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut200/i-291_eb_exit_004_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut200/i-291_eb_exit_005_01.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut200/i-291_eb_exit_006_02.jpg

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut200/i-291_eb_exit_006_03.jpg

ChrisZwolle

May 24th, 2007, 09:36 AM

That 291 doesn't look that good for a 13 year old interstate highway.

Verso

May 24th, 2007, 03:39 PM

http://www.northeastroads.com/connecticut050/i-084_wb_exit_058_03.jpgSo signs on these restricted lanes are white? :) So green isn't the exclusive color on US motorways/freeways. :)

ChrisZwolle

May 24th, 2007, 03:49 PM

Those are for the HOV lanes. (High Occupancy Vehicle).

But you should check out Cleveland, they have red interstate signs there.

Patrick

May 24th, 2007, 05:04 PM

these signs are pretty rare, aren' they?

http://www.aaroadtrips.com/ohio/cleveland_intl_airport_exit_signage_2040.jpg

mgk920

May 24th, 2007, 05:05 PM

these signs are pretty rare, aren' they?

http://www.aaroadtrips.com/ohio/cleveland_intl_airport_exit_signage_2040.jpg
Isn't that signage on the airport grounds?

Mike

Patrick

May 24th, 2007, 05:19 PM

this could be the reason ;) is it just on this airport? I can't remember seeing red signs on Dulles, Phoenix Sky Harbor or Orlando Airport. actually that's also the only pic with a red sign I have found

10ROT

May 24th, 2007, 05:27 PM

That 291 doesn't look that good for a 13 year old interstate highway.

Except for some pavement issues, it's one of the better highways in the area, the only problem about it is that it's only 4 lanes...making it a traffic trap during rush hour.

Also, snow and ice (and bad maintenance) have made the road age badly.

So signs on these restricted lanes are white? So green isn't the exclusive color on US motorways/freeways.

Yeah, those our HOV lanes.

They were an absolute waste of space...nobody really uses them except some express buses during the rush hour period. Hartford has almost 50km of HOV lanes.

However, since gas prices increased, their usage has grown incredibly...

Billpa

May 24th, 2007, 07:16 PM

HOV signage is indeed white to help drivers visually determine which signs they need to pay attention to and which ones to ignore; you'll also notice the diamond symbol, which should be on all the HOV signs.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/512370917_29d857166e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/512370915_26fd9089cc_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/512370909_0cb5bd5322_o.gif

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/512370903_b965b79c64_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/512370893_ffcb3c8144_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/512370887_fa8448f497_o.jpg

pwalker

May 25th, 2007, 05:49 AM

Simple explanation: US airport property can use any signage and colors they choose. Why? Not sure. But you will see this variety in signage at most US airports.

ChrisZwolle

May 25th, 2007, 11:25 AM

Are those HOV-lanes a succes in the United States?

mgk920

May 25th, 2007, 05:06 PM

Are those HOV-lanes a succes in the United States?
IIRC, the State of New Jersey tried that (HOV-2) on an express lane segment of I-287 but converted them into regular full-access (but no trucks/lorries) lanes after a few years, they were so unpopular. I believe that this was in the early-mid 1990s.

I think that the overall 'success' of HOV lanes is a mixed bag.

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

I do remember a Dilbert comic strip from a few years ago where one of the office workers took the zit-faced young intern with her to a client meeting simply so she could use the HOV lanes on the freeway to get there faster.

Mike

10ROT

May 26th, 2007, 01:43 AM

Are those HOV-lanes a succes in the United States?

I hear that they are almost as popular as the main lanes in certain Northern Virginia highways (Washington DC suburbs). Carpooling is at a different level down there.

California also has a few popular HOW lanes, as far as I know.

Patrick

May 26th, 2007, 10:06 AM

is that the clearview font on the signs posted in #144 by billpa? looks great!

ADCS

May 26th, 2007, 12:18 PM

is that the clearview font on the signs posted in #144 by billpa? looks great!

Nope, that's just the condensed form of the standard font used by the state of Georgia in their signs.

Billpa

May 26th, 2007, 03:42 PM

You can tell it's not clerview by the lack of the little "hook" on the bottom of the lower case "l" and the truncated ends on the "g".

For example...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/514615756_c3400495e0_o.gif

Alex Von Königsberg

May 27th, 2007, 12:36 AM

Is it just me or the Clearview font looks a lot like the one on German signs?

Patrick

May 27th, 2007, 12:56 AM

http://clearviewhwy.com/_images/howItWorks/comparisons/compare_signsEm5wr_01.gif
Highway-E

http://clearviewhwy.com/_images/howItWorks/comparisons/compare_signsEm5wr_02.gif
Clearview 5W

http://clearviewhwy.com/_images/howItWorks/comparisons/compare_signsEm5wr_03.gif
Clearview 5WR

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2259/unbenannt2wlf1.png
DIN 1451 Mittel

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4158/unbenannt2wvf4.png
Lucida Sans Unicode

Alex Von Königsberg

May 27th, 2007, 01:04 AM

Ha! They do look much alike.

dallas

June 7th, 2007, 12:41 PM

I like the pics, pity about the bitching and self agrandisment, it just makes for wasted diatribe that has to be waded through. The first national system was Germany with their autobahns which were developed when Hitler was in power; the reason he did this was for exactly the same reason as the US's, to move goods and people around the country quickly, but of course he had troop movements and military hardware in mind whereas Eisenhower, never a fan of the military / industrial complex had people and commerce in mind. So there may have been some form of freeways existing in the US prior to the interstate highway act, but they would have been on a very limited scale.

Also a question (or two), do a lot of cities / states in the US have big freeways that are not a part of the interstate system? I know California has a few, such as the 101, but I don't remember seeing any local freeways in Miami for instance. Would the 101 be the biggest non interstate freeway in the US?

ChrisZwolle

June 7th, 2007, 01:13 PM

Also a question (or two), do a lot of cities / states in the US have big freeways that are not a part of the interstate system? I know California has a few, such as the 101, but I don't remember seeing any local freeways in Miami for instance.

Yes there are. In Fact, almost every US city has one or more (even a lot by some). Think of the many highways in the New York or Los Angeles area.

Would the 101 be the biggest non interstate freeway in the US?

I think it is the busiest non-interstate freeway too.

dallas

June 7th, 2007, 06:05 PM

Yes there are. In Fact, almost every US city has one or more (even a lot by some). Think of the many highways in the New York or Los Angeles area.

I think it is the busiest non-interstate freeway too.

Cheers dude.

Alex Von Königsberg

June 7th, 2007, 11:30 PM

In California, most of state highways at one point become motorways even if for just a couple of kilometres. This is an obvious advantage over European local highways because the latter will almost never become motorways. In other western states, however, it is harder to find motorways that are not interstates.

ChrisZwolle

June 8th, 2007, 12:05 PM

This is an obvious advantage over European local highways because the latter will almost never become motorways.

Yeah it definatly is. We are stuck on crowded one lane roads for miles. An exeption is Belgium, where a lot of roads are 4laned outside the Motorway network.

Well, i like that most Interstates near cities have 4 or 5 lanes per direction. We are always stuck on 2 or maybe 3 lanes per direction, even near big cities.

US Interstates have a much better quantity, but i'm not sure about the quality. We do have narrow roads, but the quality of them is usually very good.

But i think i'd rather have more lanes and flowing traffic, than looking on the same piece of asphalt for hours in a traffic jam.

Gaeus

June 8th, 2007, 10:28 PM

these signs are pretty rare, aren' they?

http://www.aaroadtrips.com/ohio/cleveland_intl_airport_exit_signage_2040.jpg

Those signs can only be found in airport grounds, ports/harbor grounds, government-owned grounds (local and federal) and maybe military grounds and but I am not sure of that. Need someone to clarify please :)

LordMandeep

June 9th, 2007, 06:25 PM

Alex Von Königsberg

June 9th, 2007, 08:12 PM

Well, I-80 is really really long, mate :lol: It might be good somewhere near the Great Lakes or toward the East Coast, but in Sierra Nevada it has the worst pavement quality I have ever seen on a motorway.

TheCat

June 10th, 2007, 07:38 AM

Well imo the major Interstates like I-90 and I-80 are in really good shape.

I went on the I-81 from I-90 to I-80, it was in great shape, but it was a pain to drive on in the middle of Thunderstorm at night in fog.

However some highways are in terrible shape, like I-95 outside NYC, I-80 when you get to New York city. Actually ever highway in the major cities in the east are very crappy compared in rural areas.
The worst highway i was on was the I-381. It was like driving alone, in a post apocalyptic world. Didn't see a single sole for 25 miles but we were finally able to drive really fast like 85 mph. However we stayed at the speed limit on the other highways especially I-90.
Ohh nice, you drove from Toronto to NYC through the Niagara crossing, am I correct? I'm going to drive that same route next week. Any suggestions? Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures along the way and share them with you guys. It's actually going to be my first time in the US.

@Alex: we both have exactly 270 posts at this point :)

mgk920

June 10th, 2007, 07:57 AM

Ohh nice, you drove from Toronto to NYC through the Niagara crossing, am I correct? I'm going to drive that same route next week. Any suggestions? Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures along the way and share them with you guys. It's actually going to be my first time in the US.

@Alex: we both have exactly 270 posts at this point :)
I would avoid the NYSThruway - *BORING!*.

Instead cross over from Buffalo to I-86/NY 17 (US 219 is a good way) and follow that to the NYC area. INFINITELY BETTER SCENERY (and no tolls)!

Mike

Alex Von Königsberg

June 10th, 2007, 08:00 AM

One suggestion: remember that the USA uses an archaic system of measurements, so you need to drive 1.6 times faster than the archaic speed limit signs say :lol:

TheCat

June 10th, 2007, 08:49 AM

Alex Von Königsberg

June 10th, 2007, 09:41 AM

I myself have never driven on the East Coast, but I heard some horror stories about drivers charged with criminal offences just for speeding. I would probably not drive faster than +15..20 km/h.

TheCat

June 10th, 2007, 07:22 PM

Heh alright thanks, will stick as close as possible to 104.6 km/h :)
There is also an agreement between NY and the province of Ontario (and Quebec), that traffic offenses in NY get transferred to the Ontario record. This agreement does not even exist between NY and other US states.

mgk920

June 10th, 2007, 09:21 PM

^^ :lol: yeah I actually spent some time converting the common speed limits in the US to kilometers and sharing this information with my dad, who will be sharing the driving with me around 50/50. Our speedometer displays km, although there are also small mile marks on the outline.

How strict are speed limits on the major NY interstates? Here in Canada it is common to drive around 120 and sometimes 130 km/h on rural stretches, even though the limit is 100.

Edit: I heard that speed limit enforcement is quite strict in NY, and the police frequently uses regular (non-police) cars.
Highway speed conditions in most of the USA are very similar to what you experience in Canada.

My roadtrips into NYS were strange, I hear the reputation but found that some of their highways fly along like German autobahns (the times I was on I-87 north of the Albany area - WOW - some sections were 85th percentile at 140-150 km/h!).

Regardless, I usually go by the 'When in Rome...' adage and seldom have any problems.

I have also read that Virginia considers '20 over' to be 'reckless driving', a felony.

Keep in mind that many USA states are run by self-righteous 'do-gooder' types whom are all aghast at the thought that many people like to drive fast (as in European speeds - and in COMPLETE SAFETY) and for that reason many highways are grossly underposted. Some localities also like to use underposted speed limits as a source of easy revenue for their governments.

Another thing that I bring along on my roadtrips is a CB radio. If you can put up with some of the mindless crap that flows over it, it gives VERY GOOD info on road conditions ahead of you, including traffic problems along with active speed and other enforcement traps. Lorry drivers still do use them to keep each other up to date on such things.

Mike

Alex Von Königsberg

June 10th, 2007, 09:59 PM

If he can understand all that bumbling-mumbling of truck drivers :) I couldn't most of the time, but then I am not a native speaker either. Plus, for some reason a chip Cobra CB had a problem picking up the 19th channel.

Chicagoago

June 11th, 2007, 07:21 PM

I think as a general rule of thumb, you can drive roughly 15kph above the speed limit and have no problems with the police.

In Illinois the speed limit is around 105kph on interstates, but I always put the cruise control at 120kph and have never felt worried what-so-ever driving by a cop car. I think you have to push 125 or so before you really risk being pulled over.

I've also noticed the random times when the flow of traffic is far above the speed limit. Driving in Iowa a few times the average speed of people was 130-138kph. The speed limit was 105, but this must faster flow just developed - so I went with it!

I use to drive 160-175kph on the interstates in Iowa when I went to visit family. I only did it a few times, but never an into any problems. There aren't THAT many police out looking for speeders.