99 homes vs Rte. 80

[fuzzybuddy]

In the East, US Rte. 80 is a major artery for NYC. My section of 80, was designed and built in the early 50s. It was never designed for the amount of traffic we have now. The on/off ramps were designed for a time when you got on very leisurely. Today, you have to floor it to get on, alive. It's the only section which has 2 lanes each way. It's famous for its 5-8 hour delays. They want to redo that section, so it's 3 lanes each way. But that means 99 homes and businesses will have to go. Our local people say three lanes won't help. It'll be just another clogged lane. The area's economy will take a hit, by the loss of those businesses, and homes; so keep the 99. Others say for safety and ease of travel make it three lanes and the 99 have to go. What do you say?

 

[Manatee]

Sounds like I-4 in the Disney-Orlando area. It has never been adequate even after expansion.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

fuzzybuddy ,I'm just over the border in New Jersey. Just about 5 miles from 80. It can get pretty jammed up here also. I'm not even going to venture out during the holiday season. Those huge trucks scare the heck out of me.

 

[Don M.]

Our highways have NOT kept up with the growth of traffic. Much of the Interstate Hwy. system, for example, was built 50 or 60 years ago...and the number of cars and trucks have doubled...maybe tripled...since then. The growth of suburbs around most major cities has created morning and evening rush hours that result in a lot of people spending 2 or more hours/day just getting to/from work...and that's if there isn't a wreck enroute. In our area, I just hate to get on I-70...that stretch from Kansas City to St. Louis is the most heavily laden with big truck traffic in the nation. There has been talk, for years, of widening it from 2 to 3 lanes...and truck traffic forbidden on the inside lane....but so far, it's just all talk....plus no one seems to be able to come up with the billions of dollars such an expansion would cost.

 

[Big Horn]

I live just over a hundred miles from the nearest interstate. However, the highway near my place now has a night speed limit of 55 because of so much wildlife. The day limit on this road is 65, down from 70. The interstate speed limit in Wyoming is 80. There are some sections on long hills with three lanes because large trucks go much slower on grades, either uphill or downhill.

Some of us live in places very different from others. The Wyoming DOT has been successfully helping animals with tunnels under certain roads and plans to build more. Wyoming drivers drive just over 20k miles per capita. Our closest competitor is just over 16k.

 

[hearlady]

I can't imagine living in a city with so much traffic. My daughter lives in Atlanta. What a nightmare.
I don't think they'll give much choice. If it means bringing new business to another part of the city they will take all those properties. Enough people would have to fight hard.
In the country they build new highways through land owned by generations. I love the convenience of two new highways but feel bad for people who built homes in privacy. Now they have a highway in their back yard. It's close enough to us to hear traffic noise now.
If they do approve it fb, it will be a long painful process. I feel for you.

 

[911]

I once patrolled I-80 in PA. Truckers ruled the highway back then and probably still do. In PA, the I-80 runs across the northern part of the state. In winter, it used to become a very hazardous road to travel. It’s never fun for anyone, including Troopers, to be involved in accidents during the winter in near zero temps, snowing with windy conditions.