sagefinds Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Many decades ago we would drive up to Rapid City,East to New Underwood and North to Hereford to see relatives. They put in I-90 there and it totally self destructed,had to be replaced. Couple decades later we went to the Iola Wi swapmeet and coming back it was still the worst interstate I ever drove on. It broke the hitch on our motorhome but luckily I was able to jury-rig it enough to get home using two lane roads down to I-80. I may have to go that way shortly and just wondering if anyone has been over it,particularly in Minnesota. Appreciate any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I don't know if you meant to refer to SD in your title rather than NE, but I've been across both I-90 and I-80 a few times in the last five years and have noticed no terrible road surfaces. Keep in mind, I don't tow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Just drove across NE. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Drove across Minnesota. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 This may be a dumb question. I90 goes left and right.. You can not take this road and get to Nebraska? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share Posted January 22, 2023 You got me! We drove across Nebraska to get down to I-80 on that trip and I guess I had it in mind. Glad to hear it's passable. Thanks for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 (edited) I have to make the trip 3 times a year.. My son goes to college in MN.. I took the back roads twice and I 35 an I 80.. Still on the fence on the best route. My wife loves shopping in Edina Minnesota.. Her bill was almost the cost of my car insurance for the year on my toys... Edited January 22, 2023 by nick8086 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I don't know if they finished it yet but when I was in Omaha last year there was a ton of work being done at the intersection of I80 and I29, with 29 being completely closed. https://media.fotki.com/2v2adprH9x2zUmm.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 It is not done yet.. I was at this site in DEC 31st. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Trucker Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 (edited) The respective state and even local road departments should have road condition reports either on their web sites or by phone (numbers listed on state, county, or city sites). AAA might also be a good source for current road info. A helpful person can direct you to the information if they don't have it. Remember it's winter. Be careful. Edited January 22, 2023 by Crusty Trucker (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 10 hours ago, sagefinds said: You got me! We drove across Nebraska to get down to I-80 on that trip and I guess I had it in mind. Glad to hear it's passable. Thanks for your input. What part of the country are you IN? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 7 hours ago, Billy Kingsley said: I don't know if they finished it yet but when I was in Omaha last year there was a ton of work being done at the intersection of I80 and I29, with 29 being completely closed. https://media.fotki.com/2v2adprH9x2zUmm.jpg Sorry, Billy, but what does that have to do with I 90? You lost me! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Along the same thoughts, I think that an historic preservation bill was passed in the State of New York requiring all evidence of original road surfaces to the clearly defined in the top strata of any repaired or replaced sections of road. Originally this was limited to the extension into existing shoulder when any road was widened. It now shows in previous intersections, straightening of curve, and other modifications including reminisces of tar strips on concrete sectional highways. In an hour I will use one of the historical monuments of the past to bring home groceries. This is the road that inspired my thinking.... every Sunday. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I-90 probably does not compare in the least little bit to I-10 and I-20 through Mississippi and Louisiana. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LI_BENTLEY Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I 80 was like this 10 years after they built it low bidder no inspections or bad specs. They replaced road surfaces and was ok have not been on it in last 5 years. How is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share Posted January 22, 2023 2 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: What part of the country are you IN? Ben I'm in Cheyenne Wyoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 1 hour ago, LI_BENTLEY said: low bidder no inspections or bad specs Veteran or woman owned business that probably went bankrupt waiting for payment to be authorized. My earlier post mentioned a section of bad road sarcastically. I told my wife what I had written as we drove over it and she believed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Last time I took either I90 or I80 the black ice was the biggest problem. I wasn’t hauling a trailer so maybe that would be different. With winter up there I’m not sure road conditions wouldn’t change overnight sometimes. dave s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 6 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Sorry, Billy, but what does that have to do with I 90? You lost me! Ben When the post mentioned I90 in Nebraska, which it does not run through, I figured it was a typo of I80. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share Posted January 22, 2023 Someone asked how things are on I-80 now,since it runs coast to coast it's a little hard to say other than this area. Here in the windblown SE corner of Wyoming,we are at 6062' above sea level. It can snow any month of the year here. The high point on I-80 East of the Miss is a little bump in the road in Pa at 2250' above. The high point West is 35 miles West of here at 8640'. It can be sort of balmy here and a raging blizzard up there. Very often closed in the winter months from bad storms and smasharoos from people that drive too fast for conditions or vehicles not suited for slick roads. If you get over the summit you drop about 1500 feet into Laramie at 7220'. From there to Rawlins is what is appropriately nicknamed the Snow Chi Min trail. Old highway 30 used to go North out of Laramie in an arc through little towns like Rock River and Medicine Bow back to where 80 is now. The highway dept decided they would go straight through. The ranchers told them it was a churning mess in the winter but it was 11 miles shorter and has saved billions of gallons of fuel. But in winter it is closed so much and actually interfering with the nation's commerce by stopping big trucks,that they are thinking of running a bypass around by the old highway 30 route. I would like to give this advice-if you are going to drive through here,be prepared in case you are caught up in a sudden storm,it can be a blizzard or just blowing snow from high wind in the form of a ground blizzard. Have blankets,coats,boots,non-perishable food,water,full gas tank,etc. You may get stuck out in the boondocks and have to wait hours for help. If all you can see is the taillights from the car ahead of you,then if he drives off the road,you will follow him and be stuck also. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 9 minutes ago, Billy Kingsley said: When the post mentioned I90 in Nebraska, which it does not run through, I figured it was a typo of I80. Billy is correct. I-80 runs across Nebraska, not I-90. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 5 hours ago, West Peterson said: I-90 probably does not compare in the least little bit to I-10 and I-20 through Mississippi and Louisiana. Thanks, West, Living here in Louisiana, and driving I-10 on a regular basis, I'm comfortable stating that major portions of I-10 have been significantly improved especially the area just west of the elevated roadway just west of the Atchafalaya Basin and mile 118, going toward Lafayette. We have ongoing major repairs as well as new construction, and widening with additional lanes several I don't drive I-20 often, actually as little as necessary, and have noted some improvements there as well. Louisiana has a unique situation with regard to road construction - ours are considered "Floating Roadways" as the soil in many areas typically has substantial water content, is constantly sinking, and many areas are actually below sea level. The constant beating-up of these roads by overloaded trucks, travelling at high speed, causes ongoing damage to the concrete, as well as the sub-structure, requiring extreme maintenance at extreme cost, and not properly funded by federal sources - not all of the damage is caused by locals - rather by inter-state commerce. As frequent travelers, hauling our cars cross-country to support and enjoy the old car hobby, we do appreciate those areas of smooth miles across other areas outside of Louisiana, but have noted some other areas with tragic results. Driving through Chicago on my way to judge a show a few years back (Oak Brook?), we broke springs on both the trailer, and the car inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 (edited) I 5 west of Chicago (called the lonely nickel) was also called the washboard highway by locals. Every seam in the concrete was at a different level. The highway destroyed tires and shocks on a lot of cars until they finally fixed it. dave s Edited January 22, 2023 by SC38dls (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CChinn Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 In the DC area the George Washington Parkway in Northern Virginia along the Potomac River is notorious for it’s numerous large potholes that destroy tires and rims. The National Park Service does not have the budget to repair on a regular basis. Glad I don’t live there anymore. The $$s saved not replacing tires goes toward filling up with non-ethanol gas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 22 hours ago, Xander Wildeisen said: Just drove across NE. Just curious - what sort of economy does a rig like that do? I happened to watch a you tube video posted by some folks - coincidentally in Nebraska - driving their similar Ram diesel pickup on a trip of several hours. No trailer though they did have an engine on a low stand in the bed. Their dash readout was showing around 17 mpg at a 70 mph cruise. At around $6/gallon it wasn't cheap travel. "Cheap' is relative though. In this part of the world diesel is currently around $2.20/litre (figure the NZ dollar to be worth only 2/3 the US dollar). For diesel vehicles there are road user charges on top of that. I don't own a diesel but I see from the relevant website the base rate for a vehicle no more than 3.5 ton is 7.6 cents/kilometre (around 5c/mile). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 15 minutes ago, CChinn said: In the DC area the George Washington Parkway in Northern Virginia along the Potomac River is notorious for it’s numerous large potholes that destroy tires and rims. The National Park Service does not have the budget to repair on a regular basis. Glad I don’t live there anymore. The $$s saved not replacing tires goes toward filling up with non-ethanol gas! That is the area where, some time back, my sister's Honda Civic hit a pothole with such severity, that the tire blew and wheel bent, but the the Airbag went off and blew out the windshield. She traded in the car rather than considering repairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 45 minutes ago, nzcarnerd said: Just curious - what sort of economy does a rig like that do? I happened to watch a you tube video posted by some folks - coincidentally in Nebraska - driving their similar Ram diesel pickup on a trip of several hours. No trailer though they did have an engine on a low stand in the bed. Their dash readout was showing around 17 mpg at a 70 mph cruise. At around $6/gallon it wasn't cheap travel. "Cheap' is relative though. In this part of the world diesel is currently around $2.20/litre (figure the NZ dollar to be worth only 2/3 the US dollar). For diesel vehicles there are road user charges on top of that. I don't own a diesel but I see from the relevant website the base rate for a vehicle no more than 3.5 ton is 7.6 cents/kilometre (around 5c/mile). You are right on your guess. Wind can play a part in the mileage. Any where from 11-17 loaded. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Just found this online.. Yes MN has problems with the roads.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticbuicks Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) At least you guys have paved roads ….sigh, I just did 6 hours of gravel and frost heaves ,Lynn lake to Thompson Mb Edited January 27, 2023 by arcticbuicks (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now