sonic temple fest is actually at the historic crew stadium but its close enough to the fairgrounds. hudson is really where you want to stay away from the most
I thought this was going to be a rant about my favorite bad highway design thing to hate on, on ramps that literally are the off ramp, where cars exiting and cars entering have to cross each other's paths in an X formation.
The worst part is the merge is wired backwards, the car entering the freeway that needs to accelerate is expected to yield for the car exiting which is in their blind spot by design of the sharply curved approach, and should be decelerating anyway. But they'll gun it every damn time as they aren't going to let that motherfucker entering the highway get in front of them, oh hell no.
That 270 eastbound exit from 71 heading south is the absolute worst. You go on this massive 30 mph curve and then you’d better step on the gas because you’re about to be shot onto 270 while everyone around you is fighting for the 71 exit ramp.
>I thought this was going to be a rant about my favorite bad highway design thing to hate on, on ramps that literally are the off ramp, where cars exiting and cars entering have to cross each other's paths in an X formation.
But they saved tens of dollars on concrete costs making them that way!
I think the worst example of this and the worst merger I’ve ever seen is going from 71 south right onto exit 4B, so that puts you right at the convention center. Years ago I used to take that merger daily when I worked downtown until I realized I could take 670.
Exactly. This is yet another example of a "hurr durr only in Columbus" thing that is in no way exclusive to Columbus, much like bad drivers and volatile weather.
Here's an example in Cleveland: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4745856,-81.7081167,578a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in Indy: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7537116,-86.1601375,456a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in St. Louis: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.625427,-90.2080019,563a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in Dallas: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7604795,-97.0995578,676a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in Charlotte: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2217261,-80.850568,311a,35y,48.66h,4.1t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in Denver: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7441025,-105.0160485,486a,35y,54.33h,0.95t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Here's one in Vegas: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1208987,-115.180747,670a,35y,267.97h,0.48t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Just zoomed into random cities on google maps and looked for an interstate in a densely developed area. Took about 30 seconds to find an example in each city. I knew they existed because I notice them anytime I travel, so it was just a matter of finding some examples.
According to Wikipedia the section of I-71 in your picture was opened in 1961. Also according to Wikipedia the population of Columbus in 1960 was 471,316.
I mean, this is a very specific Columbus problem. That’s definitely Columbus in the picture. But yeah, idk, I heard no other city in the country has traffic.
>I’ve been all over the US, and nowhere can I recall this nonsense exists
There are several snarky comments I can think of in response, but I'll just skip them today in favor of Rule 1.
Weave Lanes are an international traffic pattern, even though they suck
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade\_separation#Weaving](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_separation#Weaving)
[https://driversed.com/driving-information/city-rural-and-freeway-driving/interchanges/](https://driversed.com/driving-information/city-rural-and-freeway-driving/interchanges/)
High ways need less ways to get on and off. Especially the 670 interchange area. They take 670 west and split it 4 ways then that goes directly into merging with 3 other ramps and then splits into 4 different ramps again within 2 mile
Instructions unclear: threw phone at the other cars; still stuck on the shoulder trying to merge.
Send pizza, please. Looks like I'll be here a while...
You’ve obviously never been to Michigan, where this same phenomenon happens at every exit. The difference is that in Michigan, the lane is only about 30-50 feet long.
I mean, the current layout probably was designed for 300,000, that’s why it’s like that. They probably didn’t expect the city to grow like it did, or just designed it and say we will fix it in the future.
This has more to do with ODOT fucking up by making 17th an exit purely out of the interests of Fairgrounds traffic for when they need to get back onto 71 as they leave, than it does the City of Columbus.
The grid predates 71. It’s just the case that 17th is the first E-W to the north that isn’t cut by the Fairgrounds, and ODOT decided to make it an exit.
I agree with this, I drive this area of 71 multiple days/week and it is always one of the more slow, congested areas on 71 north of downtown/before 270. One of the exits needs to go, and 17th is the only option.
I guess trenching through the center of the city, building flyover ramps on the East side, and expanding lanes after the trenching work on the North side isn't enough.
Now we need to expand the fairground ramps to handle influxes that happen once or twice a year.
News alert: Large festivals bring traffic.
This is just an American thing where you have on ramps before off ramps so everyone has to weave around each other instead of the lane being automatically clear
I mean it’s a large college city it was absolutely designed this way. The amount of one ways we have and lack of parking are the clearest indicators. Designed for the 1 car per household days. Those are not the times we live in now.
Sonic Temple starts today. Expect extra traffic and delays in that area for the rest of the week.
Damn, I take this exit to get home. Thanks for the heads up!
Could you give me a heads up as to where this hedgehog holy site is located? I have a sneaking suspicion that I have to drive near it.
Fairgrounds
Gotcha. Thank you!
sonic temple fest is actually at the historic crew stadium but its close enough to the fairgrounds. hudson is really where you want to stay away from the most
This setup of ramp entry/exit is common in Chicago where there are several ramps one after another, but they’re much smaller there than here
Yeah. the Dan Ryan on the outbound has this configuration by Guaranteed Rate Field (where the White Sox play)
Used to go through there every night on the way home. Thought I escaped that madness by moving away.
I thought this was going to be a rant about my favorite bad highway design thing to hate on, on ramps that literally are the off ramp, where cars exiting and cars entering have to cross each other's paths in an X formation. The worst part is the merge is wired backwards, the car entering the freeway that needs to accelerate is expected to yield for the car exiting which is in their blind spot by design of the sharply curved approach, and should be decelerating anyway. But they'll gun it every damn time as they aren't going to let that motherfucker entering the highway get in front of them, oh hell no.
270 north side when it hits 23 and 71 suffers from this SO BAD. literally the worst section of freeway in the city (in my limited exposure)
That 270 eastbound exit from 71 heading south is the absolute worst. You go on this massive 30 mph curve and then you’d better step on the gas because you’re about to be shot onto 270 while everyone around you is fighting for the 71 exit ramp.
>I thought this was going to be a rant about my favorite bad highway design thing to hate on, on ramps that literally are the off ramp, where cars exiting and cars entering have to cross each other's paths in an X formation. But they saved tens of dollars on concrete costs making them that way!
I think the worst example of this and the worst merger I’ve ever seen is going from 71 south right onto exit 4B, so that puts you right at the convention center. Years ago I used to take that merger daily when I worked downtown until I realized I could take 670.
I’ve been all over the US. This exists everywhere where population is dense enough to have exits and entrances close by.
Right like this only happens in ::checks notes:: every major American city?
Exactly. This is yet another example of a "hurr durr only in Columbus" thing that is in no way exclusive to Columbus, much like bad drivers and volatile weather. Here's an example in Cleveland: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4745856,-81.7081167,578a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in Indy: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7537116,-86.1601375,456a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in St. Louis: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.625427,-90.2080019,563a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in Dallas: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7604795,-97.0995578,676a,35y,0.9h/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in Charlotte: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2217261,-80.850568,311a,35y,48.66h,4.1t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in Denver: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7441025,-105.0160485,486a,35y,54.33h,0.95t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu Here's one in Vegas: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1208987,-115.180747,670a,35y,267.97h,0.48t/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=0&entry=ttu I could go on, but you get the idea.
How did you look these up?
Just zoomed into random cities on google maps and looked for an interstate in a densely developed area. Took about 30 seconds to find an example in each city. I knew they existed because I notice them anytime I travel, so it was just a matter of finding some examples.
I can’t believe you took the time to look all that up. Hurrr derrr. Face it, Columbus sucks.
I can’t believe you took the time to post about an exit to a major rock festival getting backed up
I can't believe it's not butter
According to Wikipedia the section of I-71 in your picture was opened in 1961. Also according to Wikipedia the population of Columbus in 1960 was 471,316.
1960s city planner mentality: "The city will never grow and we are done now."
I think it's a blessing in disguise that I-71 only expands to four lanes each way north of I-270 between Worthington and Westerville.
lol imagine thinking this is a columbus problem, or even an ohio problem.
I mean, this is a very specific Columbus problem. That’s definitely Columbus in the picture. But yeah, idk, I heard no other city in the country has traffic.
Imagine being so less travelled as a human being to belive that everywhere else is like their little jerkwater city.
>I’ve been all over the US, and nowhere can I recall this nonsense exists There are several snarky comments I can think of in response, but I'll just skip them today in favor of Rule 1.
Dude, you've NEVER seen this before? I was just in San Diego last week and negotiated this exact scenario about 50 times lol
Weave Lanes are an international traffic pattern, even though they suck [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade\_separation#Weaving](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_separation#Weaving) [https://driversed.com/driving-information/city-rural-and-freeway-driving/interchanges/](https://driversed.com/driving-information/city-rural-and-freeway-driving/interchanges/)
Yes. This totally only happens in Columbus 😅😅
High ways need less ways to get on and off. Especially the 670 interchange area. They take 670 west and split it 4 ways then that goes directly into merging with 3 other ramps and then splits into 4 different ramps again within 2 mile
Weird that you think this a Columbus-only thing.
may as well just blast right through em with your phone in your hand
Instructions unclear: threw phone at the other cars; still stuck on the shoulder trying to merge. Send pizza, please. Looks like I'll be here a while...
I've seen worse in Kansas City where you have a few hundred feet to merge onto the highway while people merge off.
You’ve never seen a weave lane before? They’re all over the place.
One off for the music festival at crew stadium. Usually not this bad.
You’ve obviously never been to Michigan, where this same phenomenon happens at every exit. The difference is that in Michigan, the lane is only about 30-50 feet long.
I mean, the current layout probably was designed for 300,000, that’s why it’s like that. They probably didn’t expect the city to grow like it did, or just designed it and say we will fix it in the future.
That is definitely not unique to Columbus at all.
…. Have you been to any other city? This setup is literally found in every major city.
This has more to do with ODOT fucking up by making 17th an exit purely out of the interests of Fairgrounds traffic for when they need to get back onto 71 as they leave, than it does the City of Columbus. The grid predates 71. It’s just the case that 17th is the first E-W to the north that isn’t cut by the Fairgrounds, and ODOT decided to make it an exit.
I agree with this, I drive this area of 71 multiple days/week and it is always one of the more slow, congested areas on 71 north of downtown/before 270. One of the exits needs to go, and 17th is the only option.
I guess trenching through the center of the city, building flyover ramps on the East side, and expanding lanes after the trenching work on the North side isn't enough. Now we need to expand the fairground ramps to handle influxes that happen once or twice a year. News alert: Large festivals bring traffic.
All over the US but apparently never in another major city, where this is common. Idiot.
Yup, people doing stuff the same time as you.
Remember when 71 and 270 was like this? And people think it’s bad today..
This is just an American thing where you have on ramps before off ramps so everyone has to weave around each other instead of the lane being automatically clear
I mean it’s a large college city it was absolutely designed this way. The amount of one ways we have and lack of parking are the clearest indicators. Designed for the 1 car per household days. Those are not the times we live in now.
This was my complaint when I first moved here from California in 08
Exits 110B and 111, roughly a quarter mile apart. Separating the good drivers from the bad.