Worst Roads or Highways you've had to take

[DeadlyDynasty]

I'm up in MD/DC for the next couple weeks and I spent a good hour and a half on the Capital Beltway this morning--god I hate that fucking road--always congested.

Others that are hell:

-BQE in NYC
-Palmetto Expressway in Miami, especially around Hialeah
-405 in LA
-I-376 in Pittsburgh, around the Squirrel Hill Tunnel
Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh

[baseline bum]

405 through Sepulveda Pass is as bad as it gets.

[silverblk mystix]

405 through Sepulveda Pass is as bad as it gets.

On the other hand...driving through those mountains at least gives you some decent scenery...

[ggoose25]

285 from roswell to santa fe in the winter is an icy death trap

[ChumpDumper]

Those rural highways that have more traffic than they should but the state never does anything about them because there aren't enough people with money living there to make it give a shit. Roads like 71 around Smithville or Pearblossom Highway in California. Both have "Try not to die!" billboards on them.

[Proxy]

I live in ATX... I-35 is suicide for a n00b

[benefactor]

I live in ATX... I-35 is suicide for a n00b
Indeed. Between Waco and SA you gotta have your running shoes on or your getting run over.

59 on the backside of Lufkin going to Houston has almost always sucked. Lots of cops and I don't think it was smooth even when they first paved it.

[Drachen]

I'm up in MD/DC for the next couple weeks and I spent a good hour and a half on the Capital Beltway this morning--god I hate that fucking road--always congested.

Others that are hell:

-BQE in NYC
-Palmetto Expressway in Miami, especially around Hialeah
-405 in LA
-I-376 in Pittsburgh, around the Squirrel Hill Tunnel
Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh

I would kill. I get legitimately angry in traffic... Like Air Conditioner on full blast in the winter and still sweating bullets while bruising my hands from beating the steering wheel angry. Otherwise I am extremely laid back. That is the one thing that gets to me. Luckily I live 5 miles away from work and I don't have to touch the highway at all. I actually haven't driven in traffic for probably 6 years.

[scampers]

US-1 north of Boston. Had to commute that bullshit during rush hour in and out of Boston every day for 2 years. It's an expressway with driveways and blind on ramps, basically. Fucking terrible road.. a week didn't go by that I didn't see at least one really nasty accident and countless fender benders.

[CuckingFunt]

The whole of New Orleans. I-10 sucks and I avoid it like the plague. And the Huey P. Long Bridge is just crazy face.

Freeways in the Bay Area suck ass, too. Bridges require too much maintenance. When I was a kid it seemed like the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was constantly under construction and choked down to just one lane in each direction for painting.

Highway 101 in Northern California can be bad, too, but more because of the weather than the road itself. They've straightened a lot of its most treacherous curves over the years, but mudslides and thick fog remain problematic. And, of course, the fact that it's mostly a curvy 2-lane largely populated with huge logging trucks and people who don't know how to use passing lanes properly.

I think the worst I've encountered, though, is in Northeast Missouri, but I can't remember the number. 30? 38? Something like that. My mom used to teach at a university in Kirksville, MO and this highway was so bad -- snow, ice, poor lighting, poorly marked construction areas, frequently changing speed limits, etc. -- that it was pretty much assumed a student or two would end up dying in a crash every winter.

[Fpoonsie]

I-35 can be hell, especially near downtown where everything converges and splits off at once (75, I-10, etc) and 635 always seems to have a problem for one reason or another.

On the flip-side, I hate Hwy 77, a lengthy stretch of road I'd be forced to take when I'd drive from CS to the Valley. It's the dullest drive I've ever encountered. Just ugly, flat land for miles and miles. Nothingness as far as the eye can see.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

The whole of New Orleans.
Sounds dirty

[Viva Las Espuelas]

I-35 can be hell, especially near downtown where everything converges and splits off at once (75, I-10, etc) and 635 always seems to have a problem for one reason or another.

I don't know how long youve been in Dallas, but 75 used to be hell in the early to mid 90s. I remember I was literally fearing for my life everytime I got on Central.

[Heath Ledger]

I would say driving through the Cajon pass(between LA and Vegas) in low visibility/rain/icy condtions is about as scary as I have driven through on more than one occasion.

[leemajors]

I don't know how long youve been in Dallas, but 75 used to be hell in the early to mid 90s. I remember I was literally fearing for my life everytime I got on Central.

is that the one that was under construction for about 10 years?

[TimmehC]

US 101 near Hollywood. Shit is worse than the 405.

[Blake]

Almost any road up in the Rocky Mountains through Colorado.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

is that the one that was under construction for about 10 years?

I believe. Potholes, 2 lanes with no shoulders and people still flying down it? Yep. That's it.

[silverblk mystix]

The whole of New Orleans. I-10 sucks and I avoid it like the plague. And the Huey P. Long Bridge is just crazy face.

Freeways in the Bay Area suck ass, too. Bridges require too much maintenance. When I was a kid it seemed like the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was constantly under construction and choked down to just one lane in each direction for painting.

Highway 101 in Northern California can be bad, too, but more because of the weather than the road itself. They've straightened a lot of its most treacherous curves over the years, but mudslides and thick fog remain problematic. And, of course, the fact that it's mostly a curvy 2-lane largely populated with huge logging trucks and people who don't know how to use passing lanes properly.

I think the worst I've encountered, though, is in Northeast Missouri, but I can't remember the number. 30? 38? Something like that. My mom used to teach at a university in Kirksville, MO and this highway was so bad -- snow, ice, poor lighting, poorly marked construction areas, frequently changing speed limits, etc. -- that it was pretty much assumed a student or two would end up dying in a crash every winter.

I once drove up 101 to PCH/1 all the way up past the avenue of the giants/redwoods and then cont'd north thru PCH/1 and , although treacherous, it was an awesome drive fraught with peril. Foggy, winding, rainy, mysterious, scenic, ....

I sure don't look at it as a bad drive but it could be viewed as dangerous.
I loved it.

[CuckingFunt]

I once drove up 101 to PCH/1 all the way up past the avenue of the giants/redwoods and then cont'd north thru PCH/1 and , although treacherous, it was an awesome drive fraught with peril. Foggy, winding, rainy, mysterious, scenic, ....

I sure don't look at it as a bad drive but it could be viewed as dangerous.
I loved it.

Oh, there's no question it's a gorgeous drive through a gorgeous area. But I lived in Humboldt for three years and when you're dependent upon 101 (or 299) to get out of town, the drive quickly loses its charm. There were at least three times in that period where for various reasons (twice mudslides, once a huge accident) I got within about an hour of Eureka only to be stopped, turned around, and forced to back track (a long enough distance to double the length of my trip) only to get on 299 and pray that it wasn't also closed.

[Sense]

Indeed. Between Waco and SA you gotta have your running shoes on or your getting run over.

59 on the backside of Lufkin going to Houston has almost always sucked. Lots of cops and I don't think it was smooth even when they first paved it.


I live in Lufkin, I think I know what area you are talking about.. and I think it's still getting fixed.. I don't think it's that bad, nor do I think 35 is either. That's just me though..

The bridges from Houston to Beaumont when it's raining can be nerve racking.. My first time in a highway I had to go through there and I could barely see 10 feet infront of me passing through there.. I nearly pissed my pants a couple of times.

[silverblk mystix]

Oh, there's no question it's a gorgeous drive through a gorgeous area. But I lived in Humboldt for three years and when you're dependent upon 101 (or 299) to get out of town, the drive quickly loses its charm. There were at least three times in that period where for various reasons (twice mudslides, once a huge accident) I got within about an hour of Eureka only to be stopped, turned around, and forced to back track (a long enough distance to double the length of my trip) only to get on 299 and pray that it wasn't also closed.

One of my favorite places in the world, I might even retire in Humboldt-and I don't even smoke ...

not for everyone but the climate, the mystery, the grandeur just makes me happy to be alive everytime I spend time there.

The bay area and napa being nearby doesn't hurt either.

[mrsmaalox]

The Central Expressway in Dallas was my first exposure to really serious traffic, so that's what I compare all other traffic to. Living in the DC area for a couple of years, driving the Capital Beltway was a walk in the park compared to Dallas! But driving I-20 through Atlanta rush hour has been the only time I seriously feared for my life while driving :lol

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I-10 sucks and I avoid it like the plague. And the Huey P. Long Bridge is just crazy face.


10 East into Houston back when I moved to Houston in 2001 was an absolute joke. The busiest commuter route in the city and it was two lanes major stretches of it. They finally finished the expansion (which as with all Houston construction projects seemed to take forever and a day) and it's almost manageable now. Now the title goes to 290 on the NW side, which like the Katy Freeway boomed with urban sprawl faster than the roads did. A friend of mine got a great deal on a house out there precisely because the commute is for shit.

And yeah, the Huey P. Long bridge looks like it was built from a fucking Erector Set. :lol

[DeadlyDynasty]

The Huey P. Long Bridge is interesting, that's for sure:lol The scariest bridge I've ever been over is The Grace Memorial Bridge in Charleston, SC back in 1999 (it's since been torn down and a new bridge is up)...very narrow bridge that made sounds when you drove over it.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is freaky when there's a storm, because as you exit each tunnel you can see a little water splashing over the side.

As far as other highways, I-80 is brutal--not because of traffic, but it's boring as hell. I drove from Idaho to Pittsburgh a view years ago and picked up I-80 in Utah. Once I left the state there was nothing for 1100 miles, till you reach some of the midwest cities. Southern Wyoming is deceptively windy though--you can feel your car swaying pretty hard.

[DMC]

Coming out of Logan airport in Boston, that fucking roundabout. I hate that thing.

[DeadlyDynasty]

The fucking Florida Turnpike..

[Lincoln]

Central in Dallas can get pretty bad a little after 635 and right before downtown

[benefactor]

On the flip-side, I hate Hwy 77, a lengthy stretch of road I'd be forced to take when I'd drive from CS to the Valley. It's the dullest drive I've ever encountered. Just ugly, flat land for miles and miles. Nothingness as far as the eye can see.
Just got back from Harlingen recently and I had forgotten how bad this is. Most normal people will contemplate suicide at least once on this stretch of road.

[ploto]

10 East into Houston back when I moved to Houston in 2001 was an absolute joke. The busiest commuter route in the city and it was two lanes major stretches of it. They finally finished the expansion (which as with all Houston construction projects seemed to take forever and a day) and it's almost manageable now. Now the title goes to 290 on the NW side, which like the Katy Freeway boomed with urban sprawl faster than the roads did.

610 and 59 on the SW side used to be awful. When I lived there in the early 1990's, I think it may have been the busiest intersection in Texas.

[phxspurfan]

101 in the bay area in California. Worst drivers ever

[Jacob1983]

Highway 75 in McKinney aka Central Expressway to those in Dallas, Richardson, and Plain and aka 75 to those in Allen and McKinney. It's a nightmare especially from 4pm to 7pm. Massive construction and a major pain in the ass. Drive through that shit every day. Right now both the northbound and southbound sides are 2 lanes but are going to be expanded into 4 lanes on each side creating a perfect storm for traffic.

[Lincoln]

Highway 75 in McKinney aka Central Expressway to those in Dallas, Richardson, and Plain and aka 75 to those in Allen and McKinney. It's a nightmare especially from 4pm to 7pm. Massive construction and a major pain in the ass. Drive through that shit every day. Right now both the northbound and southbound sides are 2 lanes but are going to be expanded into 4 lanes on each side creating a perfect storm for traffic.

Where do you live in mckinney

[CubanMustGo]

Highway 75 in McKinney aka Central Expressway to those in Dallas, Richardson, and Plain and aka 75 to those in Allen and McKinney. It's a nightmare especially from 4pm to 7pm. Massive construction and a major pain in the ass. Drive through that shit every day. Right now both the northbound and southbound sides are 2 lanes but are going to be expanded into 4 lanes on each side creating a perfect storm for traffic.

Crap, they've been working on that since before we left there in 2008.

[Jacob1983]

The construction is a nightmare. 75 between 380 and Wilmeth Road are almost looking good. I believe there is going to be a major traffic switch next week because I'm thinking we are going to be able to drive on the south bound bridge of 75 near Wilmeth.

[DMC]

There's a county road just south of Rock Springs that I took a couple weeks ago in the pouring rain pulling a tandem axle flatbed loaded with equipment, all hills and extreme curves at the bottom of the hills (with cattle guards). Just dropping enough speed to make those curves without skidding was a challenge. Downshifting is probably the only way to get through that situation in one piece.

[DesignatedT]

Highway 21 from San Marcos to Bastrop is pretty bad. 2 lanes pretty much the whole way and 18 wheelers all over the place. It's only like a 40 mile stretch but it's horrible.

[mavs>spurs]

i hate I20 in the morning tbh shits backed up all the way to mexico every morning. where 121 turns into 183 in irving is also like an obstacle course you gotta be on your A game, lanes are barely wide enough for a car to fit and half of it is solid white lines so no switching lanes because it just curves and meanders back and forth all over the place.

[scampers]

US-1 between Boston and Topsfield. Expressway with driveways, essentially. So bad.

[Agloco]

On my trips from Zurich to Innsbruck, I used to visit Stelvio Pass. A most fascinating ride.

http://www.anvari.org/db/cols/The_Most_Dangerous_Roads_in_the_World/Stelvio_Pass_Road_Redefining_Switchbacks.jpg

[mavs>spurs]

IAEA, N!GGA!

[Das Texan]

Highway 85 from Dilley to Carrizo Springs.

total piece of shit road.