This report is from the return trip to Norfolk, VA from Minnesota, during my 2002 summer vacation in mid-August, 2002.
A little slow on the draw here, but I've been very busy since my return to
Norfolk late Monday night as I'm heading back out to sea for 5 weeks on Friday.
Got some time now to share notes from the return leg of my summer vacation, from
Minnesota via Jersey back to Norfolk.
Before I start, for those who have noticed me use the term "CSAH" and not
recognize it, "CSAH" in MnDOT terminology stands for County State Aid
Highway....simply put, a county road that's on the State Aid system.
Day 1 (Friday, 8/9): Burnsville, MN to Rochester, MN
Largely via county roads to US 52, then down US 52. Two main items of note:
- At the brand new US 52/CSAH 46 intersection south of Coates (only fully opened
this June), there was a 3 car accident that blocked and jammed up the northbound
lanes on 52. This latest accident comes four days on the heels of a news report
by the local ABC affiliate which commented on the insanely high number of
accidents at the intersection since it fully opened....at least 8 accidents just
since June...with 2 of them fatal.
The intersection was opened when Dakota County finished off CSAH 46, an
east-west minor arterial, this summer. MnDOT wanted to put an interchange there,
but neither they nor Dakota County have the money for an interchange. And the
Minnesota Legislature really screwed up this year when they failed to pass a
transportation funding bill...basically a partisan fight in the Minnesota House
between DFLers who wanted more money for transit, and a core group of
Republicans who were loathe to increase any taxes, especially for transit
funding.
- Other note is from Rochester, where ROW acquisition and clearing continues for
the upcoming US 52 reconstruction project in Rochester. In one of
Minnesota's first design-build projects, and the biggest such project currently
on the plate (currently estimated at $239 million), construction will begin this
fall on US 52. The plan is to finish construction within 5 years, and will
involve full reconstruction of the mainline between US 63 on the south and 85th
St NW (about 6 miles NW of the northern US 52/US 14 interchange), an improved
frontage road system, reconstructed interchanges, a new interchange at 75th St
NW/CSAH 14, and widening to 6 lanes between US 63 and 75th St NW/CSAH 14. This
project will also extend the freeway section on US 52 about 3 miles further
northwest from its current end at 55th St NW/CSAH 22. The interchange
reconstructions include a 6-ramp parclo (NE and SW quadrant loops) at US 14
WEST/Civic Center Dr, Minnesota's 6th SPUI at 19th St NW, and a split-diamond
with 2 on-ramps each direction at 37th/41st Sts NW. The new interchange at 75th
St NW/CSAH 14 will be a 6-ramp parclo with NE and NW quadrant loops.
Day 2 (Saturday, 8/10): Rochester, MN to NTC Great Lakes, IL
- Departed Rochester via US 52 to Chatfield, where I discovered that MN 74's
terminus is at US 52 IN Chatfield, instead of at MN 30 east of town as
previously thought. Along the MN 30/MN 74 duplex, MN 74 is the "through route",
with mileposts based on the original southern terminus at then-US 16 in Spring
Valley.
- MN 30 between MN 74 and MN 250 is in VERY POOR condition, both between
geometrics and pavement condition.
- MN 250 has a couple of neat overhead steel truss bridges over a couple
branches of the Root River, including a pair of 15 MPH curves on either side of
one of the bridges.
- MnDOT has plunked some good money into MN 16 through the Root River valley
over the years....overall it is a well-engineered 2-lane highway, with fairly
gentle curves and wide shoulders. Only noted problem with the road is between
Lanesboro and Rushford, where the shoulders are gravel...IMHO they should be
paved, given the large amount of bicycle traffic going between the campgrounds
along MN 16 and the nearby Root River State Trail.
- Found "Rushford Village" route numbers...white square shields.
Occasionally, one will find township routes in Minnesota, but they're not very
common...and Rushford Village is an incorporated municipality.
- MN 16 is closed for reconstruction between Hokah and MN 26...detour via CSAH 7
and MN 26.
- Snapped some pics along MN 26 (including at the state line)...VERY scenic
drive, although the road gets increasingly narrower as one travels south.
- Got both ends of IA 26, and the east end of IA 9, for Jeff Morrison. At
the junction in Lansing, IA 26 NORTH/IA 9 WEST is considered the through
route...traffic to/from the bridge is required to turn. And speaking of the
bridge, it is a must-see for historic bridge buffs...an steel overhead truss,
steel grid deck, 25 MPH speed limit, narrow lanes, the works. Overall an
interesting ride across the river.
- Took WI 82 to WI 35 SOUTH to WI 171. WI 171, though narrow, is a fascinating
and scenic drive, alternating between the valleys and the hilltops that so
permeate southwestern Wisconsin...the route also passes through many apple
orchards.
- Was reminded of the short, 2 (or so) mile segment of 4-lane divided on US 14
between Boaz and Richland Center...the one that doesn't show up on maps. Wish
there were more...
- Sometime within the past 5 years, US 14 has been rerouted through Richland
Center proper. From the west, it now turns to go south down a reconstructed
street two blocks west of its original routing through the center of town. The
reconstructed street is done in concrete, and there is an all-new concrete
connector between this former street and the southern US 14/WI 80 junction. Said
junction, where US 14 formerly turned off of WI 80, is now just a normal 4-leg
intersection junction between two routes (but signalized).
- For the Wisconsinites: Does WisDOT have any plans, or at least a corridor
management plan, for US 14 between Richland Center and Middleton? Given the
amount of traffic I encountered, some sort of improvements would be desireable...at
a minimum, turn lanes at major intersections, a few passing lanes in the rural
areas, and 4-laning between Cross Plains and Middleton.
- Noticed ramp meters at a few locations along the Madison Beltline. Knew
they were planned, but wasn't aware that they were installed. At least one of
them has the signals on an overhead.
- Took US 12/18 east of I-90, to see the new construction....well done, but am a
bit disappointed that the 4-laning did not extend all the way to WI 73, as
indicated by one national map (the American Map...formerly National Geographic).
- Saw the construction at I-94/WI 26...did anyone slow down? Take a wild
guess...
- From what I saw on the run into Milwaukee on I-94, if the local MPO does
decide to pursue 8-laning, it'll be a VERY TIGHT fit in some parts of western
Milwaukee, if possible at all. After passing through in daylight (previous trips
were at night), I now have my doubts...
- Meandered downtown along 4th and Wisconsin...after stopping at GENCON (a
gaming convention).
- After leaving GENCON, made my way back to I-794, and conversely onto WI 794.
When will the next phase of WI 794/Lake Pkwy be constructed?
- Hopped on I-94 from WI 100 (which, surprisingly, and contrary to RMcN, is only
2 lanes for a significant stretch east of I-94), and instead of taking Tri-State
down to IL 137 to get to NTC Great Lakes, I opted for US 41....saved toll, but
the stoplights along US 41 are a pain...
Day 3 (Sunday, 8/11), NTC Great Lakes, IL to Roselle Park, NJ
Long drive this day...didn't get into Roselle Park until almost 2am.
- As another "toll-saving" measure, and for a change of pace, I opted to follow
Sheridan Rd along the lakeshore, 'til I hit Lakeshore Drive in Chicago.
Interesting trip through some expensive territory (some awesome looking houses
and buildings, though)....lots of turns, though. Signage for Sheridan Rd
and the "Lake Michigan Circle Tour" ranged from fair to good...almost missed one
turn though due to lack of signage.
- SB lanes of US 41/Lakeshore Dr are being reconstructed south of
downtown...down to 2 narrow lanes SB, and 2-3 lanes NB. Bet this one's a mess
during rush hour...
- On the Southside, the South frontage road to the Skyway (and conversely,
access from 87th St) is closed east of Jeffrey Ave. Also, South Chicago Ave is
closed at 93rd St...made for some interesting traveling to get around it.
- Once into Indiana, took US 41 to IN 912/Cline Ave and around to I-80/94...like
the new flyovers at IN 912/I-80/94...
- Question for the Michiganders...crossing into MI from IN, how far does the
6-lane continue on I-94?
- Took US 12 east across much of southern Michigan, collecting a few counties
and seeing the sights. In many of the smaller towns, US 12 has recently been
restriped from the original 4-lane undivided to a 3-lane section (2 lanes plus
center left turn lane)....one can tell where the original 4-lane markings were.
- Just west of Union, the finishing touches are being put on a new connector
route from US 12 into Indiana....route shields show MI 217, with trailblazers to
I-80/90, though the road still had yet to open. Unfortunately, I was busy
dealing with a tailgater, and so missed a photo opportunity.
- Some sort of passing lane between Sturgis and Coldwater would be nice.
- Reconstruction at the I-69/US 12 interchange in Coldwater...seems the NB ramp
intersection is being realigned.
- The maps don't show it, but MI 99 is a combo 4-lane divided/5-lane undivided
between Jonesville and Hillsdale.
- OH 108 is in much worse shape than MI 156.
- Once on the Ohio Turnpike, noticed construction through the I-280 interchange
to extend the 6-lane section through the interchange...this, combined with
weekend traffic exiting at I-280, created a 3 mile backup WB on I-80/90.
- Took I-90 east, through Cleveland and into Pennsy...thereby clinching I-90 in
Ohio. Construction is close to wrapping up on 6-laning I-90 west to OH 611.
- Don't remember specifically where, but over a fairly large valley (Grand
River?), somewhere between Painesville and Ashtabula, the WB I-90 bridge over
the river is being completely rebuilt, along with about a mile of the WB
mainline on either side....traffic was 2-lane/2-way in the EB lanes, and this
created a 3-4 mile backup in the WB lanes.
- Clinched US 6N, as well as pics of both endpoints. Continued east on US
6....combination of slow traffic and limited passing opportunities made for slow
going.
- PA 666/PA 948 was a scenic shortcut to US 6/US 219 between Sheffield and
Ridgway. Continued east out of Ridgway on PA 120, which has a curve past a RR
crossing signed for 5 MPH. (no pic..was getting dark by then)
- Can't tell from the maps, but PA 255 is 4-lane from Saint Marys south to the
PA 948 junction.
- Continued on PA 255 to PA 153 to I-80...things were normal (but busy) on I-80
EB until....
- I hit the construction on I-80 at the Susquehanna River bridge. Hard.
For their credit, PennDOT had VMS warning of the construction as far west as
before the US 220/Lock Haven interchange, but I wasn't expecting to hit a 5 mile
jam at 11pm. End result: 35 minutes to go 5 miles.
- At this moment, all traffic is on the WB lanes. Was too dark to really see how
construction status was going. PennDOT was also, via VMS, advertising the
project website at http://www.i80bridge.com
- Once out of the jam, things were pretty much normal for the rest of the run
(I-80/I-287/NJ 24/city streets). Did notice that roughly 70% of the traffic (and
there was still a lot of traffic) on EB I-80 at midnight was truck traffic.
Day 4 (Monday, 8/12), Roselle Park, NJ to Virginia Beach, VA
- In an interesting attempt to avoid suspected traffic jam areas (at 4pm on a
weekday), plus reduce my overall toll, I took a lopsided route to NJ TPK...GSP
to NJ 440/I-287 to US 1 to NJ 18. Traffic along US 1 was heavy, but moving. The
lone stoplight on NJ 18 between US 1 and NJ TPK was a noticeable problem area.
- Have now been on the length of the NJ TPK south of Exit 11...this was my first
time south of Exit 7A. A large accident in the car lanes just before the
car/truck merge had the fortunate effect of metering the cars merging in, and
thus traffic was flowing VERY well for 5pm on a weekday between the merge and
Exit 6.
- Had one impatient soul pass me using the left shoulder, south of Exit 3.
- Construction continues on DE 1 between Odessa and Smyrna.
- Continual gripe: too many stoplights, and too many access along US 13 south of
Dover. Of the 3 "Delmarva States", only Maryland has half a clue when it comes
to access and traffic ops along US 13, though VDOT does have a halfways-decent
corridor management plan for US 13 north of CBBT now...unfortunately, lack of
funding will be an obstacle to implementation. Now, when the $*#(* is DelDOT
going to get on the ball?
That's about it. Overall, put just over 5100 miles on my car during my 3 week
vacation.
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