New I-244 Bridge

[kylieosu]

This project has diverted a far higher percentage of lost idiots to the southwest corner of downtown. The Houston exit from the BA (where people are forced off) is just full of morons who don't have any clue where they're going.

It used to be a fairly quiet intersection. Now you can pretty much count on someone trying to kill you with completely ridiculous and unpredictable turns.

I see they've even put up a big "no through traffic" sign at the hospital there to prevent idiots from clogging up the hospital entrance.

Even that crazy Mayfest trucker nutjob exited there.

This. I take that exit when I go home from work everyday, and it's become a total nightmare. I started taking the Cincinnati exit to avoid it. What do people not understand about "THIS ROAD IS CLOSED AHEAD"?

[Conan71]

This. I take that exit when I go home from work everyday, and it's become a total nightmare. I started taking the Cincinnati exit to avoid it. What do people not understand about "THIS ROAD IS CLOSED AHEAD"?

Hard to read signs when their head is buried in a smart phone.

[Ihearttacos]

23rd and SW Blvd gets congested from commuters turning south onto SW Blvd to use the I-244 entrance from 4pm on. At least the construction along SW Blvd is complete now.

The real issue I see is in the morning when the Eugene Field school zone lights are flashing, people have been blazing through more than usual. Would love to see some police planted around the school during this time as I always see very young kids running across the street instead of using the pedestrian bridge.

[bacjz00]

Lots of work going on the bridge project...I noticed they've stripped the southwest IDL entrance ramp to 75S/244W down to the girders.  I hope that this ramp is able to be widened slightly when redone and also that the transition to the new bridge won't have a sharp change in radius at the bottom like the current one does.   That onramp to 75S/244W has always bothered me...if nothing else a concrete wall or even some pylons would be advisable as a separation between that lane and through traffic for a longer distance before allowing cars to change lanes.  For through traffic, it's never been advisable to travel the inside lane of 244W coming off the IDL if someone is coming down the ramp, because a lot of those cars seem to drift into traffic.

[bacjz00]

Westbound bridge officially closed now...all traffic flowing on the eastbound bridge.   This is going to be a huge project. 

Does anyone know what the design of this thing looks like?  Is there a reason it hasn't been released or it just that there's nothing to see cause it will look like every single other ODOT bridge built in the last 20 years.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Westbound bridge officially closed now...all traffic flowing on the eastbound bridge.   This is going to be a huge project. 

Does anyone know what the design of this thing looks like?  Is there a reason it hasn't been released or it just that there's nothing to see cause it will look like every single other ODOT bridge built in the last 20 years.

What is the nearest on ramp to get to 75 South now?  I think I might go have a drink at back alley and some $1 sliders and wait a bit for the craziness to die down today.

[Townsend]

What is the nearest on ramp to get to 75 South now?  I think I might go have a drink at back alley and some $1 sliders and wait a bit for the craziness to die down today.

I use 75 N to 244 W to 75 S.  Keep an eye on it though.  They swapped sides.  You exit Left to get to 75 south/244 W.  Anyone going home that way tonight, may God have mercy on their souls.  There will be mighty anger on the North side of the IDL tonight.  MIGHTY ANGER.

[Conan71]

Westbound bridge officially closed now...all traffic flowing on the eastbound bridge.   This is going to be a huge project clusterf*ck. 

Does anyone know what the design of this thing looks like?  Is there a reason it hasn't been released or it just that there's nothing to see cause it will look like every single other ODOT bridge built in the last 20 years.

FIFY

Townsend, I finally decided to get on the BA at 31st & Yale then head westbound on I-44, that wasn't too congested around 8am.  I think I will avoid the construction area on the 244 segment as much as possible until the new bridge opens.  Of course the shifting lanes of I-44 can always cause a problem here and there and the Lewis bridge project will be a major mess.

I just hope I outlive the construction.

[Townsend]

Townsend, I finally decided to get on the BA at 31st & Yale then head westbound on I-44, that wasn't too congested around 8am.  I think I will avoid the construction area on the 244 segment as much as possible until the new bridge opens.  Of course the shifting lanes of I-44 can always cause a problem here and there and the Lewis bridge project will be a major mess.

I just hope I outlive the construction.

Tell me about it.

As for the I244 issue...I was actually impressed how well they re-worked it.  You still have two lanes both ways and the traffic backups (minus operator error) should be ok once everyone understands it.

[Conan71]

Tell me about it.

As for the I244 issue...I was actually impressed how well they re-worked it.  You still have two lanes both ways and the traffic backups (minus operator error) should be ok once everyone understands it.

I was thinking of the huge CF which ensued during all the IDL construction, no one seemed to understand it and there was no shortage of assholes causing slowdowns for everyone else by trying to ram themselves into a line of cars right at the last second.  Convince me it's not causing snarls and I might try it.  I believe BA to I-44 is a shorter distance to our respective destinations right now rather than having to go north of downtown, is it not?

[Townsend]

I was thinking of the huge CF which ensued during all the IDL construction, no one seemed to understand it and there was no shortage of assholes causing slowdowns for everyone else by trying to ram themselves into a line of cars right at the last second.  Convince me it's not causing snarls and I might try it.  I believe BA to I-44 is a shorter distance to our respective destinations right now rather than having to go north of downtown, is it not?

I 44 takes me a bit farther out of my way.  244 meets up with 44 and I continue on towards the West-Southwest for a while.

I'll let you know how it fares.

[Conan71]

I 44 takes me a bit farther out of my way.  244 meets up with 44 and I continue on towards the West-Southwest for a while.

I'll let you know how it fares.

Really?  Seems 44 would be more of a straight shot since you go further south from our hoods then west, rather than looping north three miles then back.  I don't even really worry about distance anymore it's wear on the nerves.

[Townsend]

Really?  Seems 44 would be more of a straight shot since you go further south from our hoods then west, rather than looping north three miles then back.  I don't even really worry about distance anymore it's wear on the nerves.

Well, I've sold myself on a bag of goods.  I don't want to be on 44.  I'll try your way in the AM and give you my report.

21st to SWBLVD is the straightest shot for me but it's a splinter in my butt.

Actually there's no splinterless way to cross over to the West side these days.

[bacjz00]

Fastest way to 75 south out of downtown is to take Detroit north to 244 West.  IDL Open all the way around from there...don't tell ALL your friends though.  .

(SW Blvd = Disaster)

[BKDotCom]

I think my options are

• 23rd St -> Jackson -> 25th St -> 24th St on-ramp
• Riverside
• Detroit -> 244W

<unrelated rant>Looking at the map reminds me:   That south-bound 244 exit to 2nd street and then t-boning @ Frisco/BOK is retarded.   I mentioned this when they were doing all the IDL work, but that ramp should just simply exit to Charles Page / 3rd street.
And with out the ramp, that 2-block stretch of 2nd street could become a 2-way street
Only thing in the way:  a church... we've got plenty of them already.
</unrelated rant>