What are the Roads You'd Rather Not Travel?

ATeam · Sep 7, 2012

In the Loveland Pass thread, Layoutshooter named that stretch of US-6 the "second worst road we have driven on to date." Dabluzman1 said, "I'd place this high on my list of roads I'd rather not travel, right along with 299 in northern California."

These comments raise the question, what are the roads you'd rather not travel, and what is it about those roads that make it so?

zorry · Sep 7, 2012

I delivered sewage treatment chemicals my first eight years of driving. A baffleless 40' tank.

Going to a farm in Harrison Ar the guy sitting in front of the local tire shop gave me directions and ended with "I wouldn't take my car down those roads but you'll be fine in that thar truck !"

I took a tanker of prills ( blasting agent) to a secret location in the UP. Directions were hwy 2 to some town and customer will meet you at abandoned ice cream store. I followed him down the road and he pulled off the shoulder. He walked between some trees and dropped a cable. Then he took me out through the woods.
The worst I remember was a 24,000 acre ranch in Texas where they had installed windmills. The cleats ot the massive cranes cut ruts into hard compacted roads that simulated driving on a RR track. Over an hour each way to go in 20 miles. Stopped to rehang a fender and again to close icebox. By the time I knew what I was getting into there was no turning back. I would not do it again.
If you don't like Loveland, try it with an underpowered tractor and doubles or a load of trucks at 80,000# with five feet hanging over rear of trl,three feet hanging over front.
In a D unit it's a breeze. If icey,don't waste your time.

ATeam · Sep 7, 2012

One of my least favorite roads in the U.S. is I-76 through Pennsylvania. We avoid that road whenever we can. If eastbound, we go south on I-79 soon after entering Pennsylvania and pick up I-68. That avoids the perpetual road construction, toll and the many trucks that roar past you up and down the hills and around the curves of I-76. Night driving on I-76 is bad because oncoming traffic is separated not by a wide median but by only a jersey barrier. That puts oncoming headlights closer and brighter.

Depending on the destination, the I-68 route can add up to 40 miles to the trip but there is no toll. There is less traffic, wider shoulders, a real median and more truck lanes on I-68. The truck drivers behave better because of it. I-68 has a down side in more ways than one; it is the long downgrade and reduced truck speed limits going into Cumberland, MD.

Still, considering all the pros and cons, I-68 trumps I-76 most of the time.

Turtle · Sep 7, 2012

My least favorite stretch of routinely traveled road is I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville. I hate it, hate it, hate it. Give me straight and flat any day.

State Route 299 Between Redding and Eureka, CA is not one of my favorites. Neither is State Route 66 between Klamath Falls and Ashland, Oregon. Both of those roads are not going to be traveled that often in expediting, though. But if you ever need to travel them, take whatever alternate route you can find.

guido4475 · Sep 7, 2012

Michigan side roads.Absolutely terrible.although their highways have improved greatly.

moose · Sep 7, 2012

There is a road in Michigan called Hwy D32 (Petterson lake rd) ...(someone will 'get it').

Slo-Ride · Sep 7, 2012

First and last 25 miles or so of I-75.
Not sure if its my worst traveled road but for sure its my most hated piece of pavement.

No matter where I go, seems I return right back on it. Its the repairs to the road that have gotten so bad,,Beats the living He** out of me and the truck. I actually think the speed needs to be reduced for heavy truck.. Only a matter of time before this causes equipment failure resulting in accidents if it hasn't already happened in the past.

I ran I-76 the other night and never gave the road a thought..Alot of new pavement,,seemed to ride pretty good..I can only think of a few construction areas,but blew right thru..I do remember light problems,mostly coming from vehicle's displaying 4 white lights up front. Both 4 wheelers and big trucks.

Ragman · Sep 7, 2012

moose said:
There is a road in Michigan called Hwy D32 (Petterson lake rd) ...(someone will 'get it').

I heard the place froze over.

Rocketman · Sep 8, 2012

Hwy 219 through PA up to Buffalo, NY. I did it once, never again.

I agree with Phil except I would include I-80 as well with all the construction and heavy truck traffic.

I-95 from Richmond, VA to New Haven, CT. I avoid it if at all possible.

Zorry, my brother used to sell a lot of new farm tractors and machinery up in the Harrison area. You wouldn't believe some of the stories he can tell about getting around in those hills. I went up there with him once. The guy was baling hay with a round baler. All of his bales were piled up at the bottom of the hill. He had one guy that was pulling a 15' bush hog with a 85hp four wheel drive tractor. He came to my brother wanting to put duals on it. It was spinning out trying to climb the hills.

aquitted · Sep 8, 2012

Any road with construction

aquitted · Sep 8, 2012

I-95 G.W. bridge at rush hour with no EZ Pass

Falligator · Sep 8, 2012

I 95 SB before you get to Richmond, VA. I sat in traffic there for 2 1/2 hrs at 9pm since they are replacing bridges

jimby82 · Sep 8, 2012

Ditto for I-95 south of DC. Wife hates it. Mine is 95 east of the GW Bridge. Rough does not begin to describe it.

aquitted · Sep 8, 2012

jimby82 said:
Ditto for I-95 south of DC. Wife hates it. Mine is 95 east of the GW Bridge. Rough does not begin to describe it.

Yes I have heard that a F.E.C.C. sprinter fell into one of those pot holes and they still have not found it

Tennesseahawk · Sep 8, 2012

Hwy 7 from Albany to Bennington, VT... too narrow for my tastes.

US 58 from just south of Wytheville to Danville, VA... way up and curvy, wouldn't do it at night.

US 421 from Boone, NC to Bristol, VA... 10mph curves up and down the mountain. Another one I wouldn't do at night.

Marty · Sep 10, 2012

Ho Chi Minh Trail Highway.

ConfusedMuse · Sep 10, 2012

US 12 East end for sure in Montana Gingerly did 10 miles, 5 each way. Airbag h*ll

blizzard2014 · Sep 10, 2012

guido4475 said:
Michigan side roads.Absolutely terrible.although their highways have improved greatly.

I was driving along on I-75 one night headed to the I-94 Interchange to go over to Chicago all relaxed and sleepy (it was 4 AM Eastern) and then bam I hit a pot hole and my coffee went flying across the dashboard. That almost gave me a heart attack. That is how Michigan rolls I guess.

blizzard2014 · Sep 10, 2012

The tail of the dragon (highway 129) when you are coming out of Cleveland Georgia headed over to Toyota in Georgetown KY. I was dumb enough to run this road only to find out that the top part of it had been closed off and I couldn't make it over to I-40. It was one heck of a ride and almost made me want to give up driving.