ROADS

[trode]

Just back from trip from home, NC, to Washington DC. It occurred to me on this trip that the condition of our roads, based especially on what we pay in taxes and in particular highway taxes on gas, that the condition of our interstates is horrendous. I thought my coach would fall apart on some of the sections of I-95, the I-295 bypass around Richmond and the Washington Beltway. The conditions on I-95 in Virginia north of the mid 30's mile markers was particularly bad, the road looks like a patch work quilt, and how they manage to repair a small imperfection in the roadway and make the repair feel worse than the original problem is incredible. The 295 bypass, which I remember being uncomfortable in my truck a year ago while pulling travel trailer, is virtually intollerable in a motorhome. The highway is different construction than most of I-95, looks to be concrete instead of asphalt. But large sections have been replaced due to deterioration of the concrete, don't know how they managed to make it so uneven, but repaired sections are not much improvement over old. Maybe it is my motorhome, but sounds like it will fall apart on these roads. NC was not too bad on I-95, few miles of expansion joints and broken highway, but did not hold a candle to VA! How is it that roads can not be brought to grade with overpasses and bridge approaches, nearly every one, with a few exceptions, was a jolting, jarring event, some feel the equivalent of driving off a curb.

I think a large part of the problem is the roads are clearly not designed for the loads they carry. Truck traffic beats these roads badly. I know on some of the secondary roads around my home, the roads are badly rutted from the weight of trucks, to the point that when it rains these roads become continuous puddles of standing water in the ruts.

I don't know the answer, but I for one don't think we should have to suffer the conditions that we do. Maybe we need to let our elected officials know we are out here. And to add insult to injury, we are hearing discussions of making the interstates toll roads in our state. Another frustration about traveling north, increasing tolls on deteriorating roads...that's for another day!

PS...ordering Koni shocks today - hope they are some help.

[kirk7678]

That's because all the money is going to the welfare state!

[hamguy]

The $$ collected for continuing road maint. has been taken by political purposes.

[JohnRR]

Let's not turn this down a political path please.

[jpharley]

Virginia is having a difficult time raising money to fund road improvements. Anytime an attempt is made to fund road improvements, it is shot down by the voters or the legislature because one wants to be responsible for an increase in taxes. Because of that, Virginia is taking a different approach and is adding tolls to many of the bridges and tunnels at least in the Hampton Roads area if it survives a court challenge. They have also entered into a public/private agreement to build a limited access expressway from the Hampton Roads area parallel to US460 to Richmond. Of course it will also be a toll road and US 460 will remain open. Lived in Virginia Beach for 20 years-thank goodness no more!

[Oldme]

We are organically from Virginia and travel I -95 ad I -85 frequently.

Both are in the worse shape I have ever seen them in.
I was a teen when they built I-95 and it seems like they have done nothing since then. I even remember the I 95 tollbooths.

The expansion joints in I-85 are awful. How do they make them that high?

Our inner structure has been neglected for many years.

[CampDaven]

Everywhere I go, when I hit a bump it is a spot that needs to be fixed. If I hit a big bump, it is where they fixed one.

[RickO]

Here here!

I made a similar post a couple of years ago after returning from an east coast trip. It all came to a head for me traveling the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Just about the worst road conditions we saw in >6000 miles on that trip... and they had the audacity to charge me a $48 toll when I exited.

Rick