Traffic Rant Denver is a one lane town

[izzy]

I have to drive on 225, 70 and 36 to and from work, it can take anywhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours

Oh yea, I forgot 270 is in that mix, probably the worst 5 miles of highway I've ever been on.

[ray1970]

Maybe if they make all the highways into high-priced toll roads and Lexus lanes, traffic would ease up for everyone (except those who actually have to be at work).

I thought that was their plan.

Added an extra lane on the north end of I25 where it’s always congested and made it a toll lane so nobody wants to pay and it’s just as congested as ever. Same on highway 36 going out to Boulder. Extra toll lane.

While there probably are too many vehicles on the roads if 95% of these idiots would learn to drive it might actually flow pretty decent even with the large volume of vehicles.

[OtterbatHellcat]

While there probably are too many vehicles on the roads if 95% of these idiots would learn to drive it might actually flow pretty decent even with the large volume of vehicles.

Agreed.

I would add that CO doesn't plan for the future though. They seem to plan for the "now", and by the time they're done with the project, it's already clogged up again. T-Rex for example. If you NEED and eight lane highway, then BUILD a twelve lane highway.....imo.

[CS1983]

why not just shut the borders?

[izzy]

Same thing happened in Boston with their Big Dig. They designed it in the 70's and finished in the 2000's, it was out of date before they even started the construction.

[Irving]

While there probably are too many vehicles on the roads if 95% of these idiots would learn to drive it might actually flow pretty decent even with the large volume of vehicles.

Agreed.

I would add that CO doesn't plan for the future though. They seem to plan for the "now", and by the time they're done with the project, it's already clogged up again. T-Rex for example. If you NEED and eight lane highway, then BUILD a twelve lane highway.....imo.

That's easier said than done. There isn't even room for a 12 lane highway for most of I-25 where they need it.

Example: I was listening to a podcast of a guy talking about how smart mushrooms are, and he was saying that the people running the study built a scale model of Tokyo with nutrients at all the major areas. Then the mushroom grew to seek the nutrients in a way that was more efficient than the current traffic layout of Tokyo. Another study had little kids design some sort of traffic infrastructure and the design was touted as more efficient than what was currently in place. Big deal. Mushrooms and little kids don't have to navigate over a hundred years of the results of zoning laws and private property ownership.

[OtterbatHellcat]

When I was a teenager, the DOT spent a couple of years concreting I-25 from like highway 7 all the way to WY. They were already there doing stuff, 2 north and 2 south.

Retarded.

They had the room, the time and evidently the money to be there, and they blew it. Kinda my point, they should have at least done 3 each way back then.

[Gman]

That's easier said than done. There isn't even room for a 12 lane highway for most of I-25 where they need it.

Example: I was listening to a podcast of a guy talking about how smart mushrooms are, and he was saying that the people running the study built a scale model of Tokyo with nutrients at all the major areas. Then the mushroom grew to seek the nutrients in a way that was more efficient than the current traffic layout of Tokyo. Another study had little kids design some sort of traffic infrastructure and the design was touted as more efficient than what was currently in place. Big deal. Mushrooms and little kids don't have to navigate over a hundred years of the results of zoning laws and private property ownership.

If you dig deep enough along the CO traffic corridors, you'll find wagon tracks. They just kept making the same old tracks bigger over time. There's no efficiency given to any of it, just expediency (in government terms).

[clodhopper]

My 20 mile commute to work involves about 12 miles of dirt road, one stop sign and one light. Almost no traffic even during "rush hour". Low stress through better planning.

[roberth]

[I]W

I would add that CO doesn't plan for the future though. They seem to plan for the "now", and by the time they're done with the project, it's already clogged up again. T-Rex for example. If you NEED and eight lane highway, then BUILD a twelve lane highway.....imo.

Correct.

OTOH I didn't expect the population in CO to explode over the last few years either.