Breezewood, PA

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

Yes, I will never understand how the Federal Government allows that traffic light on an interstate. Imagine if every two-bit town decided they would lure tourists by putting up traffic lights at interstate intersections.

Breezewood's representative was Congressman Bud Schuster (R-Pa) who was the long-time chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. In 2001 his son Bill succeeded him. Bill Schuster, who now goes by "Bud", is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Any further questions?

Yes, Bud Schuster is also responsible for interstate 99, which connects the metro areas of Altoona and Bedford. How can you have an inter-state that never leaves the state of Pennsylvania.

Most states have them. Interstate defines the characteristics of the freeway, not where it goes.

quote:

Originally posted by enginecapt

Most states have them. Interstate defines the characteristics of the freeway, not where it goes.

Rather than define what an interstate highway is, I believe that Robearjr meant was that finding such a magnificent highway connecting Bedford and Altoona is rather like visiting the modest home of your old school marm and finding her living room walls decorated with original Monets, van Goghs, and Picassos.

Yes, interstates are often within states. Baltimore and Annapolis are connected by interstate 97, which is about 15 miles long.


What bothers me about interstate 99 is that not only is it not needed, but Bud Schuster also made sure that the road was called interstate 99 Interstates are supposed to go down in number as they move from east to west. The department of transportation assigns numbers based on this pattern. Interstate 99 was meant for a future interstate that would more or less follow US 13, which would connect Philly to VA Beach through the delaware and the eastern shores of MD and VA. Anyway, Bud liked the cache of Interstate 99, so his highway project specified that the road would be number 99. I know the number is far less important than building a highway that is not needed, but I think the number issue speaks to the arrogance of Congress and its system of earmarks.

I am too afraid to stop in Breezewood for fear of getting on the highway the wrong way.

the 2 routes that run concurrently through Breezewood (the US 30 and I 70 ) are marked opposite direction!!

So when you go on I70 E you are going on US30 West. Stopped for gas once and almost wasn't sure which way to go home

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

Yes, interstates are often within states. Baltimore and Annapolis are connected by interstate 97, which is about 15 miles long.


What bothers me about interstate 99 is that not only is it not needed, but Bud Schuster also made sure that the road was called interstate 99 Interstates are supposed to go down in number as they move from east to west. The department of transportation assigns numbers based on this pattern. Interstate 99 was meant for a future interstate that would more or less follow US 13, which would connect Philly to VA Beach through the delaware and the eastern shores of MD and VA. Anyway, Bud liked the cache of Interstate 99, so his highway project specified that the road would be number 99. I know the number is far less important than building a highway that is not needed, but I think the number issue speaks to the arrogance of Congress and its system of earmarks.

Sorry, I have to disagree that I-99 isn't needed. I-99, when completed, will go from I-86 near Corning,NY to I-68 near Cumberland, MD. There's no other north/south interstate that covers Central PA.
Whatever name one wants to call this particular interstate is no matter to me, as long as they actually compete it.

For others:
A road designated as an "Interstate Highway," simply means that the road is part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (or Interstate Highway System). It has nothing to do with the type of freeway, although most all Interstate roads are limited access highways. But, not all limited access highways are Interstates, even if they cross state lines.

I'm not sure what one could call this particular Interstate. I-79 lies to the West and I-81 lies to the east. There are no North South route numbers between 79 and 81. The only other option would be to designate it as a spur of I-76 and use a number like I-776. But, when completed, the interstate won't specifically be a spur of I-76. So, there's controversy, sure, but I for one, who has travelled through Central PA using US15 and other State and US routes, welcome a completed interstate in that area.

Many would argue that I 99 is actually a spur of the Pa Turnpike (I 76), and is not an idependent interstate. It should be something like 176 or something.

Interstates are also supposed to to terminate at another interestate. Sometimes this can't happen, such as when i 95 ends at the tip of the Floridia, and other times it happens when a road was supposed to be built but wasn't due to budget, community opposition, etc,.., such as when I 70 or I 83 just stop in Baltimore instead of connecting as they were originally designed.

Now, as to 99, I'm not sure if it will ever be built all the way to I 80 or even I 68 in Maryland.

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr


Interstates are also supposed to to terminate at another interestate.

There's no such rule. The terminous of lots of interstates is not another interstate. I-66 ends in Washington, DC, I-40 ends in Wilmington, NC, I-81 ends at the Canadian Border (as do many interstates), I-10 ends in Santa Monica, I-90 ends in East Boston., I-78 ends at the Holland Tunnel, I-80 ends at Rt. 101 in city of San Francisco, etc, etc.

I think what you are confusing is the designation of the prefix number of an auxillary Interstate. Auxillary interstates with an even number should connect to an interstate (or auxillary interstate) on either end, while an auxillary interstate with an odd number only connects to an interstate at one end.

The auxillary routes with an even number do not need to connect to the same interstate at both ends. For example, I-476 (the Northeast Expressway in NE Pennsylvania), spurs from I-76, but the other end connects to I-81 in Scranton, Pa. Another example is I-690 in Syracuse NY which spurs from I-90 on the west side of syracuse and runs parallel to I-90 until ending at I-481, another auxillary interstate on the east side of Syracuse.


There are , of course, roads that break these rules. Actually, there's always at least one road that breaks the "rules" of number designation. For example, I-82 is fully north of I-84 and I-39 lies fully east of I-45 and I-49 but west of I-43.

Other oddities on the interstate system includes some roads with wrong way concurrency, such as the nine mile stretch near stretch Wytheville, VA, where one can be traveling on both I-81 North and I-77 South at the same time, and in the other direction, on I-81 South and I-77 North at the same time.

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

Many would argue that I 99 is actually a spur of the Pa Turnpike (I 76), and is not an idependent interstate. It should be something like 176 or something.


Now, as to 99, I'm not sure if it will ever be built all the way to I 80 or even I 68 in Maryland.

I'm not sure about it running to I-68, but when you're travelling down from Corning, you do see signs that read "furture I-99" and can see early stages of construction of the road, which initially I thought were bypasses for US-15.

What I think they should do, is extend it even furthur south, following US-220, then cut over to Staunton, VA using the existing US-250, then run concurrent with I-64 (heading East), turn south along VA Rt 6 to US 29, and run concurrent with US-29 tthough Lynchburg, Danville all the way to Greensboro where it could hook up with I-40.
You could also just have it follow US 220 to Roanoke and hook up with what is now I-581, which eventually wikll be a part of the I-73 corridor, but I like beefing up US 29. Another option, would be, instead of using US-250 as the cut over toward Staunton, to use US-33 to Harrisonburg and then over to US-29.

just an idea for some better roads in that whole area.

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader



What I think they should do, is extend it even furthur south, following US-220, then cut over to Staunton, VA using the existing US-250, then run concurrent with I-64 (heading East), turn south along VA Rt 6 to US 29, and run concurrent with US-29 tthough Lynchburg, Danville all the way to Greensboro where it could hook up with I-40.
You could also just have it follow US 220 to Roanoke and hook up with what is now I-581, which eventually wikll be a part of the I-73 corridor, but I like beefing up US 29. Another option, would be, instead of using US-250 as the cut over toward Staunton, to use US-33 to Harrisonburg and then over to US-29.

just an idea for some better roads in that whole area.

The US 29 corridor from Danville VA south to GSO is being groomed as I-785. Some of it has been improved to interstate standard around Danville (and may even be properly signed I-785), just the NC part is left.

I-73 is supposed to come down the US220 corridor into Greensboro. The only part of I-73 that I know of that's signed is a small segment south of Greensboro where it co-exists with US 220 and I-74.

I-74 in NC is also complete as a by-pass around Mt. Airy and meets with I-77 to the VA state line. It will then follow the US 52 corridor into Winston-Salem and meet up with the existing highway near Greensboro.

They have been working on some of the I-73/74 corridor near where I live near Bluefield/Princeton WV for some time. For now, only about one mile is completed and they are working on the next short segment. When completed from Bluefield to Huntington, it's not going to be a full interstate highway, more like a divided 4 line like US 220, US 29 and US 460 are in most of VA. Of course, it'll be at least 20 years before any of us see that highway (or any of these others discussed) finished.

quote:

Originally posted by jimcfs1

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader



What I think they should do, is extend it even furthur south, following US-220, then cut over to Staunton, VA using the existing US-250, then run concurrent with I-64 (heading East), turn south along VA Rt 6 to US 29, and run concurrent with US-29 tthough Lynchburg, Danville all the way to Greensboro where it could hook up with I-40.
You could also just have it follow US 220 to Roanoke and hook up with what is now I-581, which eventually wikll be a part of the I-73 corridor, but I like beefing up US 29. Another option, would be, instead of using US-250 as the cut over toward Staunton, to use US-33 to Harrisonburg and then over to US-29.

just an idea for some better roads in that whole area.

The US 29 corridor from Danville VA south to GSO is being groomed as I-785. Some of it has been improved to interstate standard around Danville (and may even be properly signed I-785), just the NC part is left.

I-73 is supposed to come down the US220 corridor into Greensboro. The only part of I-73 that I know of that's signed is a small segment south of Greensboro where it co-exists with US 220 and I-74.

I-74 in NC is also complete as a by-pass around Mt. Airy and meets with I-77 to the VA state line. It will then follow the US 52 corridor into Winston-Salem and meet up with the existing highway near Greensboro.

They have been working on some of the I-73/74 corridor near where I live near Bluefield/Princeton WV for some time. For now, only about one mile is completed and they are working on the next short segment. When completed from Bluefield to Huntington, it's not going to be a full interstate highway, more like a divided 4 line like US 220, US 29 and US 460 are in most of VA. Of course, it'll be at least 20 years before any of us see that highway (or any of these others discussed) finished.

Well, those are fine projects. I think the I-99 could be easily linked up to a variety of existing projects, either cutting over to US 29 at either Harrisonburg or Staunton, or, just using US-220 as the guide.

I was under the impression, when I lived in NC, that the southern section of I-73 was going to more or less follow US 220 to Rt 74 (or something like that) to 501 and head to Myrtle Beach.

I don't know why they call that 74/73. How does I-74 jump across the city like that? I have a feeling, when all is said and done in NC, some of the Interstate names might change.

I was living in G'boro when they were building the new I-85 bypass to help alleviate some through traffic from Death Valley.

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

Yes, interstates are often within states. Baltimore and Annapolis are connected by interstate 97, which is about 15 miles long.


What bothers me about interstate 99 is that not only is it not needed, but Bud Schuster also made sure that the road was called interstate 99 Interstates are supposed to go down in number as they move from east to west. The department of transportation assigns numbers based on this pattern. Interstate 99 was meant for a future interstate that would more or less follow US 13, which would connect Philly to VA Beach through the delaware and the eastern shores of MD and VA. Anyway, Bud liked the cache of Interstate 99, so his highway project specified that the road would be number 99. I know the number is far less important than building a highway that is not needed, but I think the number issue speaks to the arrogance of Congress and its system of earmarks.

I remember visiting my sister while she was in college near Tyrone, PA in the late 1970s....and I-99 was wrapping up construction near Altoona. Eventually it bypassed Tyrone, and then ended near Bald Eagle. They are STILL working on connecting I-99 to State College. I predict they'll be finished by the year 2525.

quote:

Originally posted by frogger67

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

Yes, interstates are often within states. Baltimore and Annapolis are connected by interstate 97, which is about 15 miles long.


What bothers me about interstate 99 is that not only is it not needed, but Bud Schuster also made sure that the road was called interstate 99 Interstates are supposed to go down in number as they move from east to west. The department of transportation assigns numbers based on this pattern. Interstate 99 was meant for a future interstate that would more or less follow US 13, which would connect Philly to VA Beach through the delaware and the eastern shores of MD and VA. Anyway, Bud liked the cache of Interstate 99, so his highway project specified that the road would be number 99. I know the number is far less important than building a highway that is not needed, but I think the number issue speaks to the arrogance of Congress and its system of earmarks.

I remember visiting my sister while she was in college near Tyrone, PA in the late 1970s....and I-99 was wrapping up construction near Altoona. Eventually it bypassed Tyrone, and then ended near Bald Eagle. They are STILL working on connecting I-99 to State College. I predict they'll be finished by the year 2525.

you must mean late 1990's, because the road wasn't designated as I-99 until 1999.

The next section to Port Matilda was recently opened. So, it is creeping along. Plus, I noticed lots of construction along US 15 between Corning and Williamsport. They seem to have a lot more done domapred to 18 months ago, although, if it were really a top priority, I think more work would be done.

quote:

Well, those are fine projects. I think the I-99 could be easily linked up to a variety of existing projects, either cutting over to US 29 at either Harrisonburg or Staunton, or, just using US-220 as the guide.

I was under the impression, when I lived in NC, that the southern section of I-73 was going to more or less follow US 220 to Rt 74 (or something like that) to 501 and head to Myrtle Beach.

I don't know why they call that 74/73. How does I-74 jump across the city like that? I have a feeling, when all is said and done in NC, some of the Interstate names might change.

I was living in G'boro when they were building the new I-85 bypass to help alleviate some through traffic from Death Valley.

Your "impression" about 73/74 is correct. The co-joined section in NC was to then split again and ultimately meet up again near Myrtle Beach. I-74 is following US 74 (and is signed Future I-74 now). I-73 goes further south into SC before heading east.

From what I know about I-74 in NC, it is to be the existing US 52 into Winston-Salem (already signed future I-74) and then follow the existing US 311 through High Point and over to the current 73/74 that exists with US 220.

To be totally complete, the rest of US 52 south of Winston-Salem, down to I-85 is currently signed Future I-285 IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by jimcfs1

quote:

Well, those are fine projects. I think the I-99 could be easily linked up to a variety of existing projects, either cutting over to US 29 at either Harrisonburg or Staunton, or, just using US-220 as the guide.

I was under the impression, when I lived in NC, that the southern section of I-73 was going to more or less follow US 220 to Rt 74 (or something like that) to 501 and head to Myrtle Beach.

I don't know why they call that 74/73. How does I-74 jump across the city like that? I have a feeling, when all is said and done in NC, some of the Interstate names might change.

I was living in G'boro when they were building the new I-85 bypass to help alleviate some through traffic from Death Valley.

Your "impression" about 73/74 is correct. The co-joined section in NC was to then split again and ultimately meet up again near Myrtle Beach. I-74 is following US 74 (and is signed Future I-74 now). I-73 goes further south into SC before heading east.

From what I know about I-74 in NC, it is to be the existing US 52 into Winston-Salem (already signed future I-74) and then follow the existing US 311 through High Point and over to the current 73/74 that exists with US 220.

To be totally complete, the rest of US 52 south of Winston-Salem, down to I-85 is currently signed Future I-285 IIRC.

ah, I see.
I'm glad that 52 from Winston down to I-85 is definately going to be an Interstate. It totally needs to be. It was a decent route in some parts, but US routes don't seem to get the same amount of financial attention as Interstates, so I remember going down 52 an it was bumpy as he-double hockey sticks at times.

I think 74/73 is part of some fanciful plan to build another cross county highway that would be in between I 64 and I 40. Finally, Roanoke VA, Loundon Ky and Witchita Kansas can be connected.

I just can't buy into the highway building on the eastern half of the county, whether it is I 99, I 73/74, I 66 into west virginia or another one of my favorites, the plan to make 219 into an interstate which would link up Buffalo NY, and Johnstown PA. Highways are not going to bring prosperity to these regions, regardless of what the politicians say.

And yet, on the western half of the country, we have huge holes that need to be filled. There should be an interstate between Vegas and Phoenix and/or Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

What does all this have to do with Breezewood?

quote:

Originally posted by sunnyside up

What does all this have to do with Breezewood?

what do you care? the thread was dead for 2 1/2 months.
way to bring it back with nothing to add.

There is a film, from about 2002, about Breezewood by Jason Hutt. I've never seen it and don't think it's on DVD. Has anyone seen this?