What Are Interstate Highway Standards? | Interstates that BREAK the Rules

[@zachesherman]

I agree, a full video about the violations of interstate, standards, and other interstate quirks, would be really fun!

[@adammoldover8769]

Theres also Interstate 180 in Cheyenne, WY which is basically a surface road its entire length. Its also the only 3di in Wyoming.

[@rogerlevasseur397]

I-93 thru narrow Franconia Notch, NH with a single lane in each direction.

[@SonnyBubba]

I-110 in Biloxi MS has a drawbridge.

[@zachesherman]

@@adammoldover8769 in Memphis there’s interstate 40. It was originally going to cut through the city, but would have destroyed a beloved local park. I-40 in Memphis now goes north of the city, along what would have been the north side of a 240 loop.

[@ryanearles2024]

I-180 in Wyoming breaks all the rules in the Interstate Highway System for starters.

[@NipkowDisk]

I would LOVE to see a video of the numerous interstate locations that don't meet standards!!

[@ianb9851]

My favorite violation is when I-93 drops down to a single lane in either direction for a time in the mountains of New Hampshire. Makes sense to do so considering the terrain and the fact that there's probably never more than a dozen people on that road at once 🤣

[@WUStLBear82]

It's also where 93 runs through Franconia Notch State Park and a number of attractions are adjacent to the road as is.

[@cisium1184]

I'm guessing you haven't been up there during ski season? It's clogged when Cannon Mountain closes for the day.

[@duncanmcauley7932]

@@cisium1184it was jammed up during an autumn day when I was up that way a few years ago too

[@mpd2022]

A lot of eclipsers recently had a lot of time to learn about this lol

[@SpaceGeek321]

I didn’t learn about this until I heard about all the eclipse traffic on the news - are you a time traveler since you posted about this a few days before the eclipse??? 🤣🤣🤣

[@brianmiller1909]

One other idea, since you've traveled to so many states, I'd love to see a video where you talk about some construction practices you noticed in certain places that really stand out... i.e. types of lighting used, pavement types (and sounds), quality of roads, etc.

[@cake7986]

good idea! i'd like to know why a lot of i68 in maryland has red pavement

[@isaiahparis]

​@@cake7986I noticed the same thing on the stretch of I-89 N in Vermont in the section before williston. Thought it was so cool

[@jz3572]

Which states thank you or explain the project to the public , vs which states don't at all...would be an interesting analysis. East vs west

[@yahirlopez7222]

Anyone notice how in Texas the roads actually sound like something? It sounds like wind when riding on the freeways in cities

[@calvinsmith6681]

Oh no you did NOT just pronounce the c in Mackinac. Prepare to have all of Michigan comment to correct you. 😅

[@stevenjlovelace]

Came to see if this was the top comment. It was!

[@calvinsmith6681]

@@stevenjlovelace honestly surprised myself

[@michaelmiller9458]

​@@stevenjlovelace, me too.!

[@stsensual]

He probably did it out of spite. Mike's videos are great but he seems to have some kind of ire for Michigan specifically. Sorry for whatever we did, Mike...

[@AaronOfMpls]

And a few of us in neighboring states. 🙂 Good video overall, though! ❤

[@kevincorbett3695]

Back in my trucking days, I absolutely loved Breezewood, PA. With two truck stops that had large parking lots, I could be about 99% certain I could get a parking space for the night and a nice meal as well.

[@johnrickard8512]

So less tourist trap and more port of call.

[@bouncypear_net]

​@@johnrickard8512I think it's somewhere between the two.

[@roughrdr]

One of the truck stops there has closed off most of the parking and it's now overgrown with weeds.

[@penguinsfan251]

Covid, the cost of gasoline and the tolls on the Turnpike have crushed Breezewood. There are more closed restaurabts, hotels and other establishments than open ones. It isn't coming back. There should be a direct connection from I-70 to I-76 just as there is in New Stanton, 86 miles to the west.

[@MotoringAdventures_KE7SAI]

I absolutely love your videos! You actually mention the literature and organizations that are behind the literature because you yourself are a civil engineer. I’ve mentioned this before in another comment and video but, my wife is a civil engineer and your videos on traffic and geography are some of the only one’s she’ll actually watch with me because she knows that you have more reputable information backing up your content. Besides, they’re just damn interesting to us! I grew up as a military brat and moving and traveling by interstate was the very backbone of what I know. It’s the one thing many places and areas of the US have in common.

[@brolinofvandar]

They were still building out the Interstate system when I was growing up. In fact, building I-24 in southern Illinois, which took place when I was in high school, directly led to my hometown being designated the official "Home of Superman". The earliest things I can remember about the system was hearing that the primary reason for building it was to streamline the movement of military hardware across the country. So we could readily shift assets from one coast to the other. I believe that was the primary motivation for the federal government. My hometown was Metropolis, Illinois, which is in the southern tip of the state on the Ohio River. Prior to the Interstate system, traffic flowing from, for example, St. Louis to Nashville would likely be following Illinois State highway 45, since it has a bridge over the Ohio at the neighboring town of Brookport. That same highway runs right through the middle of Metropolis to get there. Which meant there was a constant flow of traffic through town. There's also a State Park there as well, Fort Massac. Building I-24 bypassed all of that. It passes between the two towns, slicing through the back of the state park, and has its own bridge across the river. And just across that river is a town about six times the size that was getting 3-4 exits of its own, Paducah, KY. So, business people realized they needed to give people a reason to stop on our side of the river. A little research, we were supposedly the only town named Metropolis (so named for its location near the junction of Ohio & Mississippi Rivers). So, they contacted the publishers and had it made official. Even took the fairgrounds (adjacent to the park, near the exit) to turn it into a Superman theme park. Not a bad idea in the early 70s. And, they took the skating rink for a museum. The park never got built. That land eventually got incorporated into the park. Nothing beyond that official designation lasted. Later, however, an actual museum was developed in town by the courthouse (with a Superman statue in front of the courthouse) and there's a Superman celebration there every year. I've never been to the celebration, despite it being in my hometown, but I hear it's getting pretty big. There's also an annual reenactment of life around the fort that takes place in Fort Massac. Haven't been to that either. The development of the Interstate system had a lot of impact in a lot of different ways.

[@bullinmd]

As a Texan, I have seen multiple violations. I-40 and I-10 have at-grade intersections. I-40 has them between Vega and Glenrio. I-10 has them between Van Horn and El Paso.

[@calvinsmith6681]

I think I remember hearing somewhere that there’s a law on the books stating all roads in Texas must be accessible to private property and that includes freeways. It’s why they go nuts with frontage roads there. I suppose that’s why there’s a couple at-grade intersections out in the middle of nowhere. Michigan also had a few at grade intersections. Fort Custer in Battle Creek had direct access to I-94 via a driveway, and when the interstates were first being built there were actually a handful of at grade railroad crossings (one on I-94 in Albion and two in Ann Arbor) because that was cheaper to do. Those thankfully are all gone and the only one left is on the expressway portion of US 127 in Gratiot County, which eventually is supposed to be upgraded to full freeway

[@stevenpugsley2542]

Thanks for covering the Breezewood, PA interchange 9:55 and calling it a "Tourist Trap!". It's all about the Benjamin's, not what best for the traveler.

[@WUStLBear82]

No one forces you to stop and spend money, and many people need to stop for gas, food, or beverages. Most of the motels in what used to be called the "Town of Motels" are now gone.

[@KarlPoorbaugh]

Definitely a money sink. Everything a road to road interchang is proposed, the families that own most of Breezewoods real estate wind up their employees and the local politicians. Personally witnessed it multiple times in my 50 years living nearby.

[@carringtonpageiv6210]

I love interstate highways! I love the standard and also hate what it did to pre-existing neighborhoods in the northeast, but at the same time it is a marvel that I can easily travel from coast to coast on the interstate system

[@rongoesCDN]

Eisenhower never wanted the Interstates in the cities. The developers prevailed over the state governments and got them to build into the cities to allow sprawl into the suburbs. Robert Moses had already built the Cross-Bronx on which I-95 was overlaid.

[@ztl2505]

The opposite of this could be an interesting video as well, what are the most prominent US or state highways that meet interstate standards but aren’t designated as such?

[@stanleygustafson]

Michigan has many of these segments: US 131, US 127, US 23, & US 31 all come immediately to mind. Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

[@CoasterCrest]

@@stanleygustafson Yeah, some of those Michigan highways far exceed many interstates in their quality and design speed. I was amazed by the size of the R.o.W. and median on US-31, and how huge most of the interchanges/exits were.

[@titaniumvideos1039]

The Kentucky parkway system meets interstate standards. It's something pretty neat to look into.

[@arkyst1]

I would love a video on more interstate violations! Shoutout to i-80 in NJ going towards Delaware water gap, some of those exits are very old and wonky, and some even have stop signs with no entrance lane! Just gotta gun it and hope for the best 😅

[@angrodNumenesse]

Sounds like the interchange of PA-51 and I-70. Old, substandard cloverleaf built in the 50's with stop signs at the end of every ramp. Super unsafe and requires gunning it to survive. It's in the process of being replaced with a diverging diamond.

[@RealMaRoFu]

I think a part of the reason why I-80 is so narrow and constrained there is because it was built on top of what used to be the NYS&W railroad’s main line.

[@Not_Evan75]

My favorite is when parts of I-10 in the rural side of Texas where they don't have fences, people decide to make their own enter and exit ramps, follows by their own U-Turn ramps, which could be a severe problem to truck drivers.

[@leechjim8023]

Texas off ramps!!😀 I actually used one on a recent trip to Texas! I used it to get off the hopeless mess of I-10 in NW El paso along with obscure roads to bypass the crap!😂🤣😂🤣

[@sarysa]

Wheeling WV I-70 is briefly one lane around the tunnel, as the other lanes are exit lanes. Despite this, I still prefer taking a semi truck this way when not hazmat due to the way gentler grades. I-470 bypass is about as bad as I-68 when it comes to grades, which makes it a massive waste of fuel.

[@truckercowboyed2638]

I'm a trucker as well and I always take i70 straight through wheeling vs the hill climb of i470.....

[@sam_newitt_22]

41st street in Sioux falls mentioned!!

[@thebeastproductions]

A vote for another video about standards violations!

[@maxpowr90]

If you want to see some "Ralph Nader curves", look no further than I-95 in Providence. Don't forget the redlining that happened to make said interstate! Boston is getting rid of said curves; with demolishing the "BU" (Boston University) viaduct on I-90; straightening said roadway out.

[@RogerSweeny]

As a Massachusetts resident, I expect construction to start about 2050 and finish in 2070.

[@nickpalance3622]

That fast? Oh and when changing lanes, don’t forget to put on ya binkaz !

[@michaelp340]

Love your videos and appreciated the solving of the mystery of Breezewood. I93 goes to 1 lane in each direction near Littleton , NH

[@BrowncoatInABox]

ex trucker, currently pot-head your videos are fantastic. Also been through Breezewood a few times

[@295g295]

9:23 - In Philadelphia, I-76 first was routed through Center City and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Later, I-76 was changed to the Walt Whitman Bridge because that bridge is built to Interstate standards, not at street level.

[@ka7583]

I’ve always been a road and geography enthusiast, so I’m glad to find this channel. If you ever want to avoid the PA turnpike, I’d recommend taking the ups and downs of US 30 in PA as a scenic route (though you won’t avoid Breezewood as it is concurrent with I70 during the giant truck stop)

[@g.t.richardson6311]

It is a nice drive if you got no where to be soon, I did it from Latrobe to breezewood a couple years ago

[@efil4kizum]

Where does this road go?

[@theobscurity9392]

Ha! 6:49 is my home exit. I had to replay that because at first I was thinking it looked way too familiar. I can't stop watching the backgrounds to see if it's someplace I've been to.

[@DPBGMODELRAILROAD]

At one time I 20 in Louisiana had a major exception/violation of interstate standards, a few miles east of Shreveport, Louisiana there was an at grade active railroad crossing to reach an Army Ammunition Plant requiring two separate rail routes serving it! Was there until sometime in the 1980’s when it was removed. Even after removal temporary panel track was stacked nearby in case if was needed for several years!

[@asatsumaorange9296]

The I-10 curve in Baton Rouge does not feel normal. My dad said it used to narrow down to 1 lane. It doesn't now, but if you're in the right lane at the I-110 merger, you have to merge left pretty quickly or else you're forced to exit at Washington St.

[@vladandlaika]

Very interesting; thank you! I remember when I was a college student in Kansas in the late 70s that I-70 west of Topeka had gravel exits in a number of locations. This was probably due to similar reasons that you mentioned in North Carolina and Texas.

[@BeachCity]

This is helpful. Though as someone who moved from the Northeast to Texas, it seems Texas may have wider lanes and is overall a lot faster going just about anywhere.

[@Demopans5990]

The NE had highways essentially tacked onto preexisting cities. That along with the dense area means streets everywhere are narrow, and jammed full of cars

[@UHaulShorts]

farn equipment accommodating highwayz

[@aimxdy8680]

same here in the midwest.

[@QuizHeavenTriviawithJonas]

Born and raised in Texas, and have lived in the northeast as well and it’s true. Plenty of more wider roads in TX and higher speed limits even on the highway routes that go into the backroad with 1-2 lanes per direction. Northeast is almost like another country compared to it and speed limits are 65 maximum with the exception of Maine and New Hampshire.

[@UHaulShorts]

@@QuizHeavenTriviawithJonas new england suxx

[@s2meister]

I am glad I get to drive on what is not only the shortest "Interstate Highway" in the entire US but the one that does not follow any of the rules. I-180

[@EthanNeal]

Well that partially explains why the Rigby freeway in eastern Idaho isn't an interstate, didn't even think about at-grade rail crossings with the ramps being an issue. Exit 315 (ID 43, Ucon) violates that rule. Realistically the ramps there are long enough and the trains short enough that it really isn't that big of an issue, I've never seen or heard of traffic backing up there. Between that and a redesign of the I-15/US-20 interchange north of Idaho Falls, it's pretty much up to standard all the way to Sugar City

[@VictoryHighway]

The Franconia Notch parkway in New Hampshire used to be a gap in I-93. It was built as a two-lane controlled access highway through the notch as a compromise. It used to be signed as US 3 TO I-93 and have its own exit numbers, but it later officially became part of I-93.

[@Species-lj8wh]

It wasn't until 1983 that the last stop light on I-84 was removed in Caldwell, Idaho. 17 years after construction started in 1966. I remember many such At-grade crossings on I-10 in Texas. But I stopped OTR a decade ago, so things may have changed.

[@chrisbunka]

Mileage Mike’s videos are some of the ones I am starting to look forward to on KZbin.

[@trowwzers5057]

In Michigan, Mackinac is pronounced as “Mackinaw.” If you haven’t been to the island yet, I highly recommend going

[@parrott350]

Lanes: Where two interstate highways are forcibly combined; like in Virginia, where 64 & 81 run together between Lexington and Staunton. Two interstate highways combined should always be a minimum of three lanes in each direction. Many a day I have sat in stop & go traffic on 81/64 southbound. annoying. Where 77 & 81 run together in Wytheville Virginia, it is a busy six lanes. I have even seen VDOT plans for a parallel connector from 77 proper in Fort Chiswell to reconnect in North Wytheville. Now that would be cool. Always great topics Mike! Your narration is superb. Best regards, Chuck

[@trowwzers5057]

VDOT has plans on widening a huge portion of I-81. Especially where it merges with I-64. I-81 has way too much truck traffic to be 2 lanes In 20 years, it should be 3 lanes statewide

[@drelowe7]

I swear i love this guy

[@reginaldgarner4321]

@MileageMike, Perfect subject! It's too bad that geography is not as prevalent in today's curricula as it once was.

[@dashcamtravelsusa]

I-180 in Cheyenne is the most egregious violator of interstate standards, imho. Breezewood is a close second.

[@calvinsmith6681]

At least with Breezewood, Philly, and the Holland Tunnel approach they’re just segments of a longer route. With I-180 it’s the whole thing. Totally bizarre. Alaska called, they want their interstate back

[@penguinsfan251]

Breezewood is ridiculous. 70 should connect to the Turnpike. Most of the Breezewood restaurants and motels have closed.

[@simplykarma5480]

PA doesn’t like that. They do double trumpet interchanges.

[@simplykarma5480]

Be like Virginia. They do toll exits on a toll road.

[@calvinsmith6681]

Breezewood could easily be cut off if the political will was there to do it. All it would take is creating ramps where I-70 crosses over itself. But the businesses in Breezewood throw a fit every time it comes up. If it’s true they’re starting to close, then perhaps the gap will finally be closed in the near future

[@Cerby1979]

Interstates needing two lanes in each direction (four overall). 93 at Franconia Notch State Park in NH goes against this but it runs with US-3 and to go around the requirement the co-op sign would be US-3/I-93 meaning that US-3 is the primary road.

[@semipenguin]

When I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, I used to home on the weekends, since I grew up in Southern California. I-215 wasn’t completely finished at the time. There was at least two traffic lights near the Air Force base that you passed along the way. When I moved to Joplin, Mo, I-49 wasn’t completed from the Arkansas State line, to I-435 in Kansas City.

[@abrahamwarner4408]

I-81 crossing the St Lawrence River goes down to one lane each way. There is also a part of I-93 in central NH that only has one lane each way.

[@gingercat7925]

That is an interesting section of I-81.

[@richh650]

I would love to see more on the Interstate violations that are occurring with the Interstate system. Driving through the Appalachian Mountains on I-40 in NC, I have often noted the back roads that occasionally dump onto the interstate next to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I understand why they are there with the remoteness of the highway corridor, but it is still unusual to see them. Thank you Mike for another great video.

[@Zeakthecat]

I-40 between memphis and nashville. so much truck traffic on that roadway that its a mess. it needs to be widened from 2 lanes each direction to 3 lanes at minimum with a truck lane or 2. it probably doesn't break the standards, but i feel it breaks the standard of 20 year to a degree that it makes drivers feel unsafe when driving it.

[@alterman156channel]

There is apparently a driveway to a house accessible from an Interstate Highway. I believe that it is in the West. There are some grade crossings on Interstate Highways in the West where the traffic is light. I believe there are not very many of these grade crossing and many of them have probably been eliminated over time.

[@aarond23]

Lots of them in upstate NY around the NY Thruway.

[@chadcountiss5290]

A fun violation near where I live is the identical pair of I-5 bridges over the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. The northbound bridge opened in 1917 and the southbound one in 1958, and they're vertical-lift steel truss bridges that occasionally raise to allow large ships to pass under. There are of course traffic lights on the bridges to shut down the whole interstate when that happens, and everyone hates them.

[@JStorm13]

I-380 in waterloo, ia starts as a violator. Also MN state hwy 62 (a.k.a. the crosstown) in the twin cities could possibly be considered for the shield

[@u.s.6909]

I've been fascinated with Interstate highways since I was a kid although I feel like we need to upgrade the U.S. transportation network to include a Chinese / Switzerland style passenger rail transport. I love how the designers implemented super wide medians on many parts of the Interstate highway system. We need a president like Eisenhower for some 250 mph long distance and 155 mph local trains.

[@samhenriques4462]

I really hope that since i see a growing consensus of people who are less car centric that there will be significant amount of supporters that push for other forms of mass transit outside of cars and planes. It’s been long enough that people can see through the lobbying and know that more lanes and more cars aren’t the way to go, especially in any city that was established before cars became widespread.

[@penguinsfan251]

I am tired of the anti car crowd. Leave us alone.

[@samhenriques4462]

@@penguinsfan251 what’s wrong with trains? Or buses? Proliferation of other forms of transit won’t mean gas stations on every corner close, it won’t mean you would have your car forcibly taken from you. It means other people have options to get from one place to another without having to drive. More than 90% of America has access to drive a car so you acting like there’s been a concerted effort to remove them in real life is just you being dramatic. There’s already an epidemic of terrible drivers on the road, would it not be a net positive for some of them to not have to drive and relieve the amount of traffic where trains for example could take some of the share?

[@Irishfan]

Normally, I would be a person in support of train systems, but having had to ride a city bus once when I couldn't use my car, no thanks. Visiting New York City once, something I will never do again, and riding the mass transit system, no thanks. Then, there is the shamble the airline industry has turned into. I, for one, won't give up my car. My own car is and always will be my preferred mode of travel.

[@brolinofvandar]

@@samhenriques4462 Mass transit only "works" in cities. Strange thing about this country, there's a LOT of it that isn't a city. Considering we have National Guard stationed in mass transit locations in some cases now, I'm not sure you can really say it even truly works in a city, anymore. Not to mention, there's something to be said for the freedom in knowing, if you don't like where you are, all you have to do is get in your car and leave. Not go wait for a bus, etc. That's even a reason I've preferred to drive myself rather than go with others in some cases. I have the freedom to leave and drive away whenever I wish, at a time of my choosing.

[@RinJERKS]

Fascinating video! I'm a surveyor and my dear departed dad was a civil engineer, so I have maintained an interest in roads and bridges. I found it curious that you didn't mention I-76, aka The Schuylkill Expressway here in Philadelphia, which was built before the interstate system. There are some tight turns, variable speed limits, and other fun stuff which makes navigation such a joy to experience! UGH Once again, I really enjoyed this video!

[@benpholmes]

He actually just made a whole video about that.

[@leechjim8023]

In New Mexico, west of Albuquerque there are surface access points on I-40 on a reservation.

[@lisak7997]

This was FANTASTIC! Yes, please on a video on violations. Thank you for sharing.

[@thebestbaseballguy]

There's a section of I-90 in Montana just East of Butte where the posted truck speed limit is 25mph. Long downhill with lots of turns.

[@efil4kizum]

That is fascinating!

[@nothat0therguy992]

I've been quite curious about what the interstate standards are, this video definitely helps. As far as what highways seems to meet the standards but don't have the blue shield, I feel as though there are several US highways in Michigan that meet the standards including: US 131 from Kalamazoo to Manton US 127 from Jackson to where it terminates at I-75 south of Grayling, with exception to a 6 mile stretch between Saint John's and Ithaca And US 10 from Clare to where it also terminates at I-75 in Bay City

[@calvinsmith6681]

Sure would be nice if we could get that Ithaca to St Johns gap closed, but MDOT seems to have decided it’s not worth their time or money to do so and instead have been constructing Michigan lefts at all the cross streets. 16 miles of highway with at grade crossings and people still drive it like it’s a freeway. I’m astonished the crash rates aren’t through the roof.

[@jaykebird2go]

I am fairly surprised by the amount of freeways that are in Michigan but yet MDOT haven't applied for an Interstate shield for so many of them. It's such a contrast to North Carolina, for example, where they just seem eager to make all kinds of Interstate freeways. Over here in Wisconsin, one that stands out to me is Wisconsin 441 that is a southern bypass of Appleton. After we got the I-41 designation and some of 441 rebuilt, I'm still surprised that WisDOT hasn't applied to make this I-441.

[@calvinsmith6681]

@@jaykebird2go I think there’s a few reasons why MDOT hasn’t petitioned for more blue shields. 1.) they don’t feel the need to/don’t see any benefit in having them signed as interstates. 2.) a lot of them are not to interstate standards (looking at you M-10 and M-39) , and 3.) the routes are incomplete (the aforementioned Ithaca-St Johns gap in US 127, the Grand Haven-Holland gap in US 31, the sections of US 131 north of Manton and south of Portage, M-59 and M-53, etc)

[@FurthermoreJack]

I love! How Illinois has a nice overgrown median all Summer in the countryside

[@LawrenceMarkFearon]

Well done. Love learning about the roadways in such professional detail. So prolific I can barely keep up lol. Thanks man.

[@gallup3dproject]

Just a little west of Albuquerque, there are two direct (maybe three) intersections on I-40. Two on the west bound lane and one on the east bound. I believe there are even median crossing at these. They are both located at mile marker 135.

[@SonnyBubba]

An exception is I-110 in Biloxi, MS. It has a raised draw bridge.

[@BillSchlichting]

Interstate 5 crossing the Columbia River also has a drawbridge.

[@duskmoon181]

Hi, Michigan native here. I know you're gonna get a lot of comments like this so I'll be kind and nice about it unlike some others who may not be. It is pronounced (Mack-en-awe). But don't feel too bad. Lots of people butcher our strange Indian names lol.

[@gingercat7925]

Same with any other state with cities/rivers named after Indian tribes.

[@frostie_14]

HWY 167 from Little Rock up to Bald Knob in Arkansas for sure meets interstate standards

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

Thanks, Mike! Very good video.

[@spongeb649]

I-95 through North Carolina is full of violations. Especially through Four Oaks and Smithfield with the exit and entrance ramps. NCDOT is in the planning stages of fixing them.

[@georgeadams1853]

US 31 in Indiana and Michigan between US 20 (North interchange) and I-94, about 30 miles, is apparently built to Interstate standards, as well as US 31 between Ferrysburg, MI and Scottville, MI, 66 miles. Also, US 131 from Schoolcraft, MI to Manton, MI, 168 miles

[@lakerskid2013]

I live in Indianapolis and while I haven’t been on much of US 31, I have noticed how strange that is starting from the north side of Indy that it is basically built like an interstate. Now I’ve only driven from the I-465 interchange up to Westfield but I have noticed that as well in terms of how it’s built, definitely feels like an interstate to me more than a regular US highway

[@georgeadams1853]

@@lakerskid2013 I haven't been in that area 6 or 7 years, but it's like that at least as far at 236th Street.

[@lakerskid2013]

@@georgeadams1853 There’s only one time I’ve ever gone past 146th and that was the time I worked at Zerorez for a job assignment in Westfield which I didn’t even get started on that long before the water tank in the van acted up. I haven’t been out in that area in a couple years (mainly because I haven’t had a car since June 2022) but I know that SR 37 they’ve been making that somewhat like what US 31 is in the area.

[@luau5974]

I'd like to see you travel internationally. I'd love to hear your thoughts on driving on the left side of the road; comparing highways in Europe and the UK to the ones in the US. Just a bit of travel north or south of the US would be great. Toronto's toll highway comes to mind.

[@efil4kizum]

How about Mexico?

[@kesschristopher]

My favorite violation is the one that we just lost - the Key Bridge. I loved the MD 695 signs right at the approaches to the bridge. I imagine that the replacement will be interstate standard. I should go steal one of those signs.

[@brianmiller1909]

You really could do a whole video on Interstates that don't meet the standards... just to name a couple more, I-180 in WY, I-10 in West Texas (same reason as I-40)...

[@tylersmith4265]

I-93 through Franconia Notch in New Hampshire is one lane in each direction with a couple of hiking trailheads/parking along the route.

[@keithalaird]

I believe there are still a lot of non conforming conditions on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (I-76). However, a lot of them are because the Turnpike construction largely predates the Interstate system. And there were quite a few in the western end that were corrected as part of the tunnel elimination and rerouting in the early sixties.

[@brianbuddy2ACP]

If you do a part 2, let me give some other violations, or at least, oddities. I-93 in New Hampshire. There's about a 5.5 mile part in the white mountains where it's a single lane in each direction. I-81 in New York. The thousand island bridge is a single lane each way, but this one is worse than I-93 in NH, because at least the previous one is physically divided. This one, however, isn't. It literally a 2 lane road. I-35E in Minnesota. There's a portion where the speed limit is 45. I-238 in California. Ok, this one doesn't actually go against any interstate standards. It's just an oddity because its number doesn't line up with the interstate numbering system. These are just what I know off the top of my head, but I'm sure there's many more that I didn't cover, so feel free to reply and add those.

[@earlewhitcher970]

I have always enjoyed your presentations for their informational clarity and content. This example was first rate. Ok, enough apple polishing - my question: I have always heard that the Interstate system that we have was greatly influenced by General Eisenhower's introduction to and understanding of the Autobahn he encountered in Germany. I have also heard that originally there was a requirement that at least one mile of every five had to be straight to accommodate airplane landings and take off. Is this or was this true?

[@briansevy7717]

Would definitely be interested in a full video on violations! I’ve gotta add in I-76 between King of Prussia, PA and Philly, which is a walking violation, “walking” because I could walk faster than drive through there during rush hour. Thin/non-existent shoulders, tight curves, and variable speed limits down to 35mph make for an all-around awful driving experience

[@panamrailfan]

Interstate 93 in Franconia notch has only one lane each way and just a fence separating the two sides with multiple uncontrolled interchanges for viewing areas

[@efil4kizum]

That is a real beauty area!

[@panamrailfan]

44.13809° N, 71.68417° W cordinates for where the one lane either way is

[@dynamicremakes5592]

Fun fact most of North Carolina’s interstate highways date back to the roaring 50s🥳🥳

[@JimmyZNJ]

Great to see my town in the video, Jersey City. As you pointed out some compromise or exception is needed in certain circumstances. That surface street entrance into the Holland Tunnel is a chaotic spot though.

[@nickpalance3622]

Also consider: even IF the surface streets were blocked off and you just came down the ramps of the NKTPK exit 14 extension (or the “1&9” ramps) and your only choice was straight into the tube, you’d STILL be in gridlock! So what’s a traffic light or two at that point? Hop out of your car, and over the fence, and shop at the Newport Mall for a little while. Eat at the food court. Take in a movie! 🤣

[@jonahdinger2000]

A few highways I can think of that are at Interstate standards is California State Route 99 from I-5 south of Bakersfield to where it meets I-5 again in Sacramento. Also there is California State Route 210 from I-10 in Redlands to where it turns into I-210 at interchange with CA-55 in San Dimas.

[@aarond23]

Always interesting to see the few private driveways that come out to the interestate, I have to think that over time these will all be discontinued. Maybe some exception for farms and ranches.

[@jliller]

It amazes me drawbridges were ever allowed on interstate highways. There aren't many left. I-95 used to have one in Jacksonville, FL but it was replaced about 25 years ago. I-495 still has one on the south DC beltway. There's also a couple in the Norfolk area, one in New Jersey, and I think one between Portland OR & Vancouver WA. IIRC, one of the updates to the standards post-2000 finally prohibited left-hand exits, but there are a ton of these grandfathered in.

[@RiniculousNick]

I-95 in Jacksonville formerly briefly shrank to a single lane in order to merge with I-10, and then went across the original Fuller Warren draw bridge across the St. Johns River. This is in addition to being tolled at the Fuller Warren Bridge at Trout River until 1989 and having a beltway that was incomplete and non-interstate compliant until 2011.

[@nickpalance3622]

I don’t have childhood memories of driving through Jacksonville to/from the big mouse trap between Orlando and Kissimmee. But I still recall driving through the construction 🚧 of 95 & 10 as an adult in 2002. In the dark. In the rain. Who my now-wife and I survived (or at least didn’t have an accident) I do not know. Too bad that Shoney’s at exit 360 is gone.

[@danieljackett4193]

In the original Interstate Highway Yellow Book, I-96 was supposed to turn to Southwest in Grand Rapids, and end at Benton Harbor, and I-196 to Muskegon When that freeway section was built, it was it was a mix, which forced the flip flop of route numbers to avoid confusion

[@grahamturner2640]

I’m not sure when Milton Road in Flagstaff becomes I-17, though a block south of Forest Meadows St (the southernmost at-grade intersection along Milton)m there is a business driveway leading into the southbound side of Milton, where you can only turn right from the driveway.

[@mattguey-lee4845]

I-70 has a couple more substandard sections that I've traveled. Also PA between the turnpike and I-79 there's zero space between the left lane and the center barrier. Then in Wheeling WV it narrows briefly to 1 lane each way coming west out of the tunnel.

[@penguinsfan251]

I-70 between New Stanton and Washington was built before the Interstate system was established. It is being rebuilt.

[@trowwzers5057]

I-70 in Topeka KS, the road goes from 3 lanes in each direction to 1 lane in Downtown. After passing downtown, it goes to 2 lanes each way Traffic is so light there anyways that it doesn’t cause traffic jams

[@dr4782]

@@penguinsfan251 The segments near the Monongahela River are going to be a bitch to rebuild and expand, but yes, PennDOT is slowly but surely upgrading I-70 south of Pittsburgh to modern Interstate standards.

[@leifkhas7425]

In North Colorado there is an on ramp at State Highway 119 onto Soutbound I25. The on ramp has a few gas stations and a mccdonalds that use the on ramp as their access.

[@LucarioBoricua]

One fascinating exception to the Interstate Highway Standards can be found in two non-contiguous US jurisdictions, the state of Alaska, and the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico. During the original proclamation of the Interstate Highway System in the Federal Highway Act of 1956, these places were granted permission to have designated interstate highway corridors to use the federal funds. The catch is they're only required to be built to meet the needs of travel of the area, which means they can (and largely were) built as roads of 'lesser quality' compared to an untolled freeway with full geometric characteristics. - Alaska has 4 unsigned interstates, internally designated as A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4. Outside the main cities and towns of the state, these routes are 2-lane rural express roads with very spaced-out at-grade intersections. Not a whole lot of people or commerce around to justify the expense of a 4-lane freeway. None of these reach the capital of the state, the city of Juneau. - Puerto Rico has 3 unsigned interstates, designated PRI-1 (comprises PR-18 and PR-52 from San Juan to Ponce through the center), PRI-2 (comprises PR-22 and PR-2, from San Juan to Ponce along the north and west) and PRI-3 (PR-26, PR-66, PR-3 and PR-53 from San Juan to Humacao along the northeast and east coasts). Due to the island's compact geography (small size compared to nearly all states + high population density + rugged topography), many of these roads are fully-fledged tolled freeways / toll roads, and most of the parts that aren't are instead multilane arterials with traffic signals. The toll road sections are built 100% to standard when looking at the geometric requirements, the untolled sections tend to have some smaller deficiencies, and the non-freeway portions obviously fail the grade separation and access control requirements. The big caveat for converting these into full / proper interstates is that the Island's public finances depend largely on toll revenues to pay for upkeep and capital improvements of the rest of the road network.

[@tropicalstorm24]

Future I-49 aka US 90 (that runs through southcentral Louisiana) violates so many interstate rules, ESPECIALLY entering Morgan City/Bayou Vista and Lafayette. I'm still trying to figure out how they'll run the interstate with it crossing through a neighborhood at one point (although I'm sure they're planning on elevating it)

[@allenbaylus3378]

thanks for explaining the I70/I76 interchange (and lack of one). I go out 68 to 79 to bypass the toll road and the stupid stoplights and excess traffic. The fact that PA limits the speed on I79 to 55MPH has to be to punish those bypassing their toll scheme.

[@dr4782]

The speed limit on I-79 from the West Virginia state line to I-70 is 70 MPH, except for a brief, two-mile segment with a very sharp curve that has a speed limit of 55 MPH.

[@evanrozsa]

Fantastic videos lately. Thank you!

[@jliller]

It's interesting to drive through I-95 in southern North Carolina. The area around Lumberton must have been very early interstate highway construction, with bridges that are now too low and a very cramped right-of-way. Then you go a little north to the bypass around Fayetteville, which was the last part of I-95 built in NC, and it's got a very wide ROW, including a wide median, and has a higher speed limit that the freeway north and south of it.

[@Mpaul3311]

Just stumbled across your channel. Thanks Mike! You're going to love the west. Pay special attention to Southern California, I'm sure you will find it to be the same magical place i find it to be. Ive spent my life in north Texas. Stop bye sometime. ;) Peace

[@danaralston6688]

The vehicle gate to Fort Custer on I-94 near Battle Creek, Michigan is an interesting one. On one hand, it could be a violation because it's a driveway versus a ramp, and whether being gated means "fully controlled" might be open to debate. On the other hand, it's specifically for military use only, and because of that would seem to fall under the AASHTO purpose definition.

[@Will0398]

A big issue I see (especially in California) is many state highways are being used as de facto interstate highways. They have heavy commercial traffic yet weren’t built to accommodate it.

[@mutated__donkey5840]

NY17 is so close to fully becoming I86 but there are grade intersections around hancock

[@stonehenge55]

Those intersections at Fishs Eddy and the other Eddys between exit 84 and 87 (Deposit to Hancock)

[@lukesichau972]

Awesome video, brother. Thank you!

[@nickpalance3622]

I miss the three at-grade and traffic light’d exits/interchanges/intersections on the Garden State Parkway down in Cape May County. Not an interstate, but otherwise built to high standards and nowadays run by the same folks from the NJ Turnpike (part of which is I-95).

[@eaglescout1984]

11:04 I've actually used that intersection before. There are (or were) a couple of Geocaches just off the interstate there, so I stopped to find them while driving I-40 west. Other violations: West Virginia Turnpike (I-64 and I-77) between Pax and Chelyan. The road was built prior to modern standard, so it has several deficiencies including narrow lanes, narrow shoulders, and only a concrete barrier median. And I know plenty of roads that do meet interstate standards, but are not considered interstates in my home state of Virginia. VA-288 which goes by the southwest side of Richmond. Probably not an interstate because it's not federally funded. US-29 around the east side of Lynchburg. Not an interstate because on either side of the city, it doesn't meet interstate standards.

[@matthewryan9323]

It's not interstate ready, and may never be, but I know that US 36 from Hannibal, MO to at least Macon, MO has been updated not all that long ago from a lot of 2-lane US highway that ran through every little speed trap town on the route, to 2 lanes each way, going around the towns, etc., and I would bet that it was with an eye to a possible future extension of I-72 west of Hannibal. Either way, it significantly improved travel to/from my in-laws' ;p

[@stevenjlovelace]

I remember my grandparents lived in Imperial, MO, and I watched them build the route 21 bypass, which i thought was pretty neat!

[@AceTheDragon]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this but another requirement for Insterstates is that there has to be a straight section about every 5 miles or so. At the time that the Interstate system was created, these would be used as runways for aircraft in case war broke out in the States.

[@gingercat7925]

Here you go, this myth is mentioned here: highways.dot.gov/public-roads/mayjune-2000/one-mile-five-debunking-myth

[@mattl6948]

That’s a myth.

[@lilcuh9433]

I have a question. You said there must be at least two lanes. However, in when I-81 merges with I-40 traffic, I-40 has one lane for just a bit as the left lane continues as I-40 West and and the other lane as I-81 North. Does that goes against the rules?

[@gregadams6827]

I 55 in Memphis. North and South on the Memphis-Arkansas bridge, built in 1949. Narrow lanes, no shoulders.

[@rckc.1719]

i 78 for the holland tunnel is a bottleneck horror about 5 lanes get squeezed down to 2 you need nerves of titanium to drive it.

[@RichardGreen422]

Many freeways around LA (60, 91, 101, 134, 170, eastern part of 210) meet interstate standards but are not designated as such.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

At 8:25 is the infamous Brent Spence bridge over the OHIO connecting OHIO and KY.)Cincinnati) I-75. This bridge was built in 1964 with a 30 year life. In 2024 it is still standing and the politicians are still arguing about it's replacement! Just a couple of years ago, it was closed due to a big vehicle fire on the bridge. Every time I go over this bridge I hold my breath.

[@LordBass]

I like the giant drawbridge on I-95 in Delaware. I believe that's the only traffic light on I-95.

[@jackfry136]

Would love to see you explain the Uk moterway standards

[@dennisc6716]

CA-905 in San Diego appears to meet the standard but lacks its shield, I believe due to issues surrounding its funding. There is a surface street nearby which has a TO I-905 shield sign where it appears someone at CalTrans jumped the gun.

[@bixbysnyder-00]

Older interstates like the ones in Detroit are downright dangerous. Ramps have no acceleration lane, you just merge right onto the freeway. No shoulders either The speed limit is 55 for this reason, but no one does less than 80.

[@danieljackett4193]

In Detroit, 94 and 96 aren't the route numbers, they're the suggested minimum speed, lol Actually driven on the Lodge doing 70 in the 2nd lane...I was a rolling chicane