Work will start near the end of the month for intersection improvements at 148th Street and US 34. These improvements include the first traffic signal for 148th.
To me, 148th Street is an effective bypass of eastern Lincoln, though it would be even more effective with an interchange at I-80. Getting across US 34 could be a pain, so this new signal is a welcome improvement.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
MoDOT closes Adelaide Viaduct this Wednesday (March 17)
MoDOT will be closing the Adelaide Avenue Viaduct this Wednesday. The closure will allow for most of the bridge to be replaced.
As one can find on Google Streetview, the viaduct has had the outer lanes closed for a while.
For those using Hall Street as a route between I-270 and downtown, it may be just as easy to continue south and access I-70 via Grand Avenue.
As one can find on Google Streetview, the viaduct has had the outer lanes closed for a while.
For those using Hall Street as a route between I-270 and downtown, it may be just as easy to continue south and access I-70 via Grand Avenue.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Gas tax increase to finish Nebraska's expressway system?
The York News-Times has had a couple articles regarding a proposed five cent gas tax increase to finish the expressway system in Nebraska.
A map of the planned expressway system can be found on page 35/39 in Nebraska's 2006 highway needs assessment.
A rough map created to show an earlier, much more ambitious expressway/freeway plan for Nebraska can be found here.
Given the current rise in gas prices, I would not expect this to be popular with many voters. Furthermore, some of the projects should be reevaluated. Unlike Kansas, expressways in Nebraska are limited to 65 mph, the same as many two lane US routes are posted at in western Nebraska already. In addition, traffic on some of the routes is extremely low; parts of US 385 saw less than 2000 vehicles a day back in 2008. Conversion of US 385 to a shared four lane should be much cheaper.
Two comments on the 2006 Needs assessment as long as I've brought it up:
1) The expressway system map lacks the NE 50 expressway from south of I-80 to Springfield.
2) The plan lacks any mention adding interchanges to the US 281 Grand Island - Hastings expressway. Given the number of stoplights along the west side of Grand Island, and a lack of apparent coordination, this route is no longer 'express'. There is also a stoplight between I-80 and Hastings at Doniphan that should be replaced with an interchange. Of course, Nebraska has never been good with consistency on their expressways - witness the how US 77's expressway sections pass through Cortland, Princeton, and Ceresco instead of bypassing them.
(Disclaimer: I have no current affiliation with any Nebraska agency.)
A map of the planned expressway system can be found on page 35/39 in Nebraska's 2006 highway needs assessment.
A rough map created to show an earlier, much more ambitious expressway/freeway plan for Nebraska can be found here.
Given the current rise in gas prices, I would not expect this to be popular with many voters. Furthermore, some of the projects should be reevaluated. Unlike Kansas, expressways in Nebraska are limited to 65 mph, the same as many two lane US routes are posted at in western Nebraska already. In addition, traffic on some of the routes is extremely low; parts of US 385 saw less than 2000 vehicles a day back in 2008. Conversion of US 385 to a shared four lane should be much cheaper.
Two comments on the 2006 Needs assessment as long as I've brought it up:
1) The expressway system map lacks the NE 50 expressway from south of I-80 to Springfield.
2) The plan lacks any mention adding interchanges to the US 281 Grand Island - Hastings expressway. Given the number of stoplights along the west side of Grand Island, and a lack of apparent coordination, this route is no longer 'express'. There is also a stoplight between I-80 and Hastings at Doniphan that should be replaced with an interchange. Of course, Nebraska has never been good with consistency on their expressways - witness the how US 77's expressway sections pass through Cortland, Princeton, and Ceresco instead of bypassing them.
(Disclaimer: I have no current affiliation with any Nebraska agency.)
Design changes for I-270 interchange with Page Avenue (MO 364/Route D)
MoDOT is announcing a major design change for the interchange between I-270 and Page Avenue (MO 364/Rte D). The NB I-270 to WB MO 364 ramp will be changed from a semi-direct flyover (like the ones at the I-255/I-270/I-55 cloverstack) to a more looping, turbine ramp with separate bridges for crossing the mainlines of Page Avenue and MO 364 like the NB I-465 to WB I-70 ramp on the west side of Indianapolis). The new design also changes access from WB Page to Bennington Place; instead of a braided design, traffic from WB Page will have to weave with traffic from SB I-270 desiring to access WB Page. The official site for the I-270 projects at Page and Dorset has a map showing the new deisgn while the older project site still has a map with the old design.
The new design for this interchange will lessen impacts on I-270 and Page Avenue in the short term - pier construction for the original flyover design would probably require closing the left lanes on both routes - and saves more than $1.4 million. Long term, however, I have concerns that the new design will repeat the weaving failures experienced on the WB I-44 ramp to I-270.
In addition, the future second phase project for this interchange has been changed. The original second phase was to add a flyover for the SB to EB movement. Now the future second phase will be adding a similar turbine ramp for the WB to SB movement. As seen in the animation MoDOT has posted, this design requires construction an underpass to get this ramp under MO 364. Such a design will require a temporary shoo-fly for MO 364 to enable this bridge to be constructed. Without more design information, it is my opinion that an overpass for the new ramp would be better. In addition, this new design is not weave free; EB MO 364 traffic wanting to access NB I-270 will have weave with SB I-270 traffic wanting access to EB Route D. This design is less safe, and may have congestion issues depending upon future volumes. Unless there is a hope to eventually remove another loop from this interchange (in a perfect world with more funding, I'd make this interchange loop free), the second phase should stick with replacing the SB to EB loop.
(Disclaimer for the heck of it: I have no current affiliation with MoDOT or anyone involved with this project.)
The new design for this interchange will lessen impacts on I-270 and Page Avenue in the short term - pier construction for the original flyover design would probably require closing the left lanes on both routes - and saves more than $1.4 million. Long term, however, I have concerns that the new design will repeat the weaving failures experienced on the WB I-44 ramp to I-270.
In addition, the future second phase project for this interchange has been changed. The original second phase was to add a flyover for the SB to EB movement. Now the future second phase will be adding a similar turbine ramp for the WB to SB movement. As seen in the animation MoDOT has posted, this design requires construction an underpass to get this ramp under MO 364. Such a design will require a temporary shoo-fly for MO 364 to enable this bridge to be constructed. Without more design information, it is my opinion that an overpass for the new ramp would be better. In addition, this new design is not weave free; EB MO 364 traffic wanting to access NB I-270 will have weave with SB I-270 traffic wanting access to EB Route D. This design is less safe, and may have congestion issues depending upon future volumes. Unless there is a hope to eventually remove another loop from this interchange (in a perfect world with more funding, I'd make this interchange loop free), the second phase should stick with replacing the SB to EB loop.
(Disclaimer for the heck of it: I have no current affiliation with MoDOT or anyone involved with this project.)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Various MoDOT Project Updates #1
* MoDOT will break ground on the MO 141 expansion/relocation between St. Luke's Hospital Road and MO 340/Olive Boulevard on March 15.
* On the same day, MoDOT will close the NB I-55 exit to Route M in Jefferson County as part of the widening project on I-55 between Route M and Route Z. While the official detour uses US 61-67 to the east, the west outer road (Metropolitan Boulevard) may be just as convenient.
* Lane closures begin today for the repaving and widening of I-44 between the Pacific Exit and the Washington Exit (the western MO 100 interchange). Since this project will have the usual narrow lanes crammed between jersey barrier driving, MO 30 may be a less stressful alternative. for through traffic. Alternatively, Business Loop 44/Old US 66 may be nicer for traffic that needs to stay close to the I-44 corridor near Pacific.
* On the same day, MoDOT will close the NB I-55 exit to Route M in Jefferson County as part of the widening project on I-55 between Route M and Route Z. While the official detour uses US 61-67 to the east, the west outer road (Metropolitan Boulevard) may be just as convenient.
* Lane closures begin today for the repaving and widening of I-44 between the Pacific Exit and the Washington Exit (the western MO 100 interchange). Since this project will have the usual narrow lanes crammed between jersey barrier driving, MO 30 may be a less stressful alternative. for through traffic. Alternatively, Business Loop 44/Old US 66 may be nicer for traffic that needs to stay close to the I-44 corridor near Pacific.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Business Loop 55 to be four laned between I-55 and US 61-67
MoDOT held a joint meeting today with Herculaneum to display preliminary plans to widen Business Loop 55 (McNutt Road) and build a new intersection with a relocated Scenic Drive
Aerial photo (5.57 MB pdf) showing the planned configuration of BL 55
Due to lack of funding, the bridges carrying I-55 will not be replaced for this project. Leaving the existing bridges necessitates dividing BL 55 under the interstate, similar to how Rte Z is divided under I-55 at Pevely. However, the through lanes will not be divided as on Rte Z, rather the through and left turn lanes will be divided.
It was mentioned at this meeting that this interchange will likely be reconfigured to a SPUI once MoDOT widens I-55 in this area.
The design of the relocated Scenic Drive is not set in stone yet; feedback from the meeting will determine if there will be a right in/right out with the existing road north of BL 55.
Other items of interest learned from this meeting:
* There will likely be traffic signals installed at the Rte Z/Metropolitan Road intersection in Pevely. There is talk of using a roundabout there instead of signals, but funding may be an issue.
* There was construction underway to extend Riverview Plaza Drive across Joachim Creek. I was told this was to provide a route that is still usable in event of a 100-year flood, and to be a new route for trucks to/from the lead smelter in the area.
Aerial photo (5.57 MB pdf) showing the planned configuration of BL 55
Due to lack of funding, the bridges carrying I-55 will not be replaced for this project. Leaving the existing bridges necessitates dividing BL 55 under the interstate, similar to how Rte Z is divided under I-55 at Pevely. However, the through lanes will not be divided as on Rte Z, rather the through and left turn lanes will be divided.
It was mentioned at this meeting that this interchange will likely be reconfigured to a SPUI once MoDOT widens I-55 in this area.
The design of the relocated Scenic Drive is not set in stone yet; feedback from the meeting will determine if there will be a right in/right out with the existing road north of BL 55.
Other items of interest learned from this meeting:
* There will likely be traffic signals installed at the Rte Z/Metropolitan Road intersection in Pevely. There is talk of using a roundabout there instead of signals, but funding may be an issue.
* There was construction underway to extend Riverview Plaza Drive across Joachim Creek. I was told this was to provide a route that is still usable in event of a 100-year flood, and to be a new route for trucks to/from the lead smelter in the area.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The First Post
So I've decided to go ahead and start a blog instead of boring others with my opinions. This could be the start of a great blog, or one that dies after a few posts.
The main topics that I will be covering here will be various transportation news stories in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and maybe some from other states if they are interesting enough. Occasionally I will focus on a specific project or road and either praise it or flame it.
Since I find spell check to be one of the most useful computer features nowadays, there will probably be quite a bit of editing for this blog.
The main topics that I will be covering here will be various transportation news stories in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and maybe some from other states if they are interesting enough. Occasionally I will focus on a specific project or road and either praise it or flame it.
Since I find spell check to be one of the most useful computer features nowadays, there will probably be quite a bit of editing for this blog.
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