mireaux7

what are some of the worst sections of u.s. interstates due to geographical terrain?

one of the worst ive been on is I-17 going south from flagstaff into phoenix. you start out in flagstaff, at around an elevation of more than 4,000 ft., and within the course of around 2 hrs, you arrive in phoenix, some 3,000 feet lower.

so, as youre imagining this (or being painfully reminded), its chock full of turns here and there, and loaded with signs indicating 7% grade going lower, and lower, and lower.

going from phoenix to flagstaff via an alternative route which parallels I-17 and that takes you through sedona and the coconino national forest is even worse. (not an interstate, mind you)

anyone know of a worse stretch of road?

janisj

3000 feet elevation drop/gain isn't that much. Even I-80 from the Sacramento Valley to Reno has twice that, and other roads have more . . . .

mireaux7

well, i havent been everywhere yet, although i do have many travel goals.

i think i read once in the world book of records that one of the worst roads is located in san francisco,.i forget the name, but i saw the pic, and it was a literal zig zag

janisj

That's just one block of Lombard Street. Not really an example of a "worst road".

Dayle

I-80 between Salt Lake City and Park City, known locally as Parley's Canyon. It's just about an 18 mile section, but it gains/looses approximately 3,000 ft. in a 15 minute drive.

Add to that the fact that it's a major interstate trucking route and you have the extra entertainment of dodging 18 wheelers that are dodging other 18 wheelers crawling uphill at 5 mi/hr, and the regular vehicles zipping along at 75- 90 mi/hr. Throw in a bull moose or two in the dark and you've got a really fun drive!

Bill_H

one of the worst ive been on is I-17 going south from flagstaff into phoenix.

Sorry, this is an easy road, few curves and only one 'up' section and two 'down' sections, just a few miles total ...

you start out in flagstaff, at around an elevation of more than 4,000 ft.

Yeah, a LOT "more than 4,000 ft" since it's 7,000 ft elevation there ...

and within the course of around 2 hrs, you arrive in phoenix, some 3,000 feet lower.

Actually you drop a few thousand feet to the Verde Valley, climb a thousand feet to a big plateau and drive on that half an hour, then drop again (this one is curvy, I give you that) to Black Canyon city and Phoenix.

But most interstates over the Sierras or across the Rockies are worse for much longer ...

J_Correa

I am not particularly fond of the secontion of Hwy 50 going into south Lake Tahoe. I don't think this is an interstate though.

Then there is the road (I80) between Winnemucca and Salt Lake City - dangerous due to sheer bordom

enzian

Some people's "worst road" is another's adventure or scenic route.

I don't know of any section of interstate in the West that I would consider "bad", unless, like J_Correa, you were discussing boredom in Nevada.
The curvy sections in the mountains are scenic, not "bad".

rkkwan

Good thread.

I was a truck driver for 2.5 years, and even though most of the miles I drove are east of the Rockies, I did take heavy trucks over them a few times, and I've also driven in cars over. Here are the worst grades I've driven:

- I-80 down from Donner Pass. 7,000 ft in about 70 miles. And there's no good place to stop the truck to cool the brakes. There's simply so "safe" way for a 80,000lb truck (legal limit) to come down the hill without Jake Brakes (which uses engine compression to hold speed; not mandatory).

- I-64 eastbound in WV down to the New River Valley at Standstone. 1,400ft straight drop in 6 miles. That's a very long continuous 5-7% downgrade. Again, simply not safe for a 80,000lb truck to come down this hill without Jake Brakes.

I have done many of the others "named" grades with heavy trucks with no problem, including I-40 Black Mountain in NC, I-80 Sherman Hill in WV, CA58 (well, not an interstate) Tehachapi in CA, Monteagle I-24 in TN. I also have no problem coming down Parley Summit on I-80 in UT down to SLC.

However, I've not taken a heavy truck down the Grapevine (I-5) or Cajon Pass (I-15) in CA; or I-90 Snoqualmie Pass. Also, no crossing I-70 in CO (few truckers do anyways).

I haven't driven I-17 in AZ, and I don't think it's that bad. However, on I-40 west from Flagstaff, it does drop 2,000ft in under 20 miles. Not dangerous, but I've smoked my brakes a little one night coming down that hill.

rkkwan

Oh, I also hate I-68. Steep downhill eastbound before Cumberland, MD. For westbound, short but steep hill down to Cheat Lake before Morgantown, WV.

BarryK

The PA Tpk in the western half of the state. The 18 wheelers play games trying to pass each other on the hills and it's only 2 lanes, so cars line up behind them.

cfc

As someone else said, one person's "worst" may be another's "scenic," and for every steep downgrade, it's a steep climb coming the other way. Further, it makes a huge difference whether there are at least 3 lanes (one for runaways or creepers) and whether cars and large trucks are sharing the road. Finally, it makes a big difference -- at least to me -- whether you're on the outside hanging-over the edge curve while you're climbing or careening downward.

Recently did I-40 between Asheville NC and Tennessee -- a "thrill a minute" thanks to narrow lanes and often only 4. Very pretty in good weather, but I'd hate to be there in fog, driving rain, or snow/ice.

Oh, and one other thing: if you like to listen to recorded books on the road, they're just great for mountainous areas with spotty radio reception BUT try not to pick one with a car chase in it for the time you're on a stretch like that I-40 run!!! Bad enough to see the grill of a semi bearing down in your rearview mirror without also hearing that the cops have just shot out your windows and bullets are screaming past your ears!

RedRock

All in all the Interstate Highway System was designed to be rather tame as highways go.

____

A Standard Design
The legislation of 1956 also provided for an extended network of 66,000 km (41,012 mi) and nationwide design standards, including:

a minimum of two lanes in each direction
lanes that were 12 ft in width
a ten-foot right paved shoulder
design speeds of 50–70 mph

Further legislation over the years continued to expand the total length of the system, which now stretches for more than 75,198 km (46,726 mi). In 1990, in recognition of President Eisenhower's pivotal role in building the national system of interstate highways, President George Bush signed legislation officially renaming it the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways

______

Since the standards were first established back in the 50's they have been upgraded many times over. I have yet to see a "worst highway due to terrain". For the most part I just find the Interstate boring. A 7% grade is really nothing when it comes to the design of a highway.

http://www.interstate50th.org/index.shtml

http://www.us-highways.com/

rkkwan

The PATP in western PA is quite different from most freeways, and it was built before there was the Eisenhower interstate system.

The routing was originally planned for railroad, so actually it has much less altitude change than the other routes - I-68 or I-80.

But compared to modern interstates, it has much sharper curves and for very long distances it has no shoulder on the left hand side. Only a concrete barrier in the median.

Add to the heavy truck traffic and severe lack of service and rest areas, it's not a fun road to drive. But it doesn't have long dangerous grades.

---

RedRock - a 5-6 mile downgrade at 7% is nothing for cars, but try take a 80,000lb legal truck down it with no Jake Brake. It can be a scary experience.

RedRock

rkkwan -- If you are driving a truck you need the proper equipment for the condition of the road. If you ever get out west in your 18 wheeler watch out for some of the older highways and byways, you will find some with 10-15% grades. Most of them are well marked with warnings but I am sure you would are aware of the situation... I like the roads less traveled, less traffic.

rkkwan

RedRock - I know about 10-15% grades, and they can definitely be done safely. But we're talking about the interstate highway system here. It's main and original purpose is to carry freight and military supplies across the country with trucks.

What I'm pointing out is that there are a few stretches of interstate highway that is almost impossible to come down safely with a legal truck under legal equipment.

It's fine to have some 4-5 miles stretch of 5-7% grade, as I've listed, that any legal truck can just come down at 35-40MPH with no trouble at all. But when you have Donner Pass, which comes down 7,000 miles without one single mid-hill truck brake check area for truckers to stop and cool down their brakes, that's in my book unacceptable.

And I have other complains about CHiPs too, even though I didn't go over to CA often when I was trucking. Like some weigh station that's right at the start of the hill (on both directions of CA58, I believe). Trucks leaving the station going upgrade at 10MPH trying to merge with the main traffic, and then struggle to get up to 35-40MPH. How's that being safe? Or a 70/55MPH speed split for cars/trucks. Dangerous too.

Anyways, that's getting off-topic.

polaris

I agree with the PA turnpike. It is old and narrow with very little room for error..such as narrow or non-existent shoulders and sharp curves. I used to work with AAA and would advise members to take alternate routes when possible (especially western PA). Also, if you enjoyed the view, you could easily become a part of it!!

bbqboy

Siskiyou Summit is the highest point on
I 5, and is a thrill ride for sure.

jodeenyc

I agree with I-68. I hate driving that road.

It's wonderfully beautiful scenery but the road winds a lot, a lot of steep parts to it, long stretches with nothing in between to keep your attention late at night, loads of deer and there is ALWAYS a cop sitting at the bottom of the mountain going into Cumberland.

RedRock

rkkwan -- >>But when you have Donner Pass, which comes down 7,000 miles without one single mid-hill truck brake check area for truckers to stop and cool down their brakes, that's in my book unacceptable.<<

I hear that. For a heavy truck to not have a place to safely stop and check their brakes makes it seem like coming off the Donner Pass is 7000 miles. I am sure there are many stretches of the Interstate System that are not truck friendly and there are both bad and good drivers driving both type of vehicles. For the most part the only time I use the I-ways is around a large city or to get away from one. I always give the big trucks as much room as possible and when I pass I allow them plenty of room. The signals also work on my vehicle.... I much prefer the old US highways and byways when taking long road trips..