Talk:Interstate 66

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I'm curious if it's worth mentioning any of the problems and unique situations I-66 has within Northern Virginia. Most notable is the fact that it has only two lanes of traffic within the beltway, and that this traffic is highly regulated by HOV and other traffic control measures. I'm told that this solution was adopted as a compromise with Arlington County, whose residents did not desire the road. I haven't done enough research into the matter to know for certain.

Also the road is heavily congested throughout both rush hours, as the only interstate to enter the city from the west, and this has led to all sorts of zaniness locally. For instance, after the intersection with US Route 50 at Fair Oaks, the road drops from 4 lanes to 3 (through the beltway), but there is a 4th "shoulder lane" open only during rush hour. The congestion extends out well past Fairfax into Loudon county, and plans to expand it to at least three lanes as far as route 29 at Gainesville have met with limited success.

Also not mentioned is that Metro's Orange Line bisects the highway from Vienna until it goes underground, somewhere further in.

Is any of this worth mentioning in the article? I can do some research to make sure I'm not making stuff up, but living within hearing distance of the road, I feel like it deserves more discussion than a mere mention of a failed 266 project. The congestion on it is certainly a source of major concern and strife for Northern Virginia residents like myself, and is a major political issue.

Also I'm a bit miffed at the map. It shows Centreville and Oakton, which are respectable locales, but it leaves ot Fairfax and Manassas. As a resident of Vienna, VA, I would also complain about the choice of leaving my hometown out, though it all but overlaps with Oakton.

Contents

[edit] I-66 disputes

You're right to believe that the many of the restrictions on I-66 within the beltway are compromises between the state, the FHA, and the residents of Arlington who didn't want this road at all. They originally planned 66 to be an 8 lane highway, splitting into two 6 lane highways (I-66 and I-266) in Arlington around Spout Run. Eventually a compromise was reached in the [ Coleman Agreement | http://www.idea66.com/downloads/Coleman-Decision.pdf ]. The original compromise limited the highway to 4 lanes, excluded trucks from the road at all times, and set the rush hour HOV restriction to 4 passengers cars, buses and people coming and going to Dulles Airport and emergency vehicles, and also mandated construction of the subway line in the median. Most of the Coleman restrictions were eased since then, and in 1999 the Coleman Restrictions of no widening of the highway were removed. [1]. And now the State and the Federal government is trying to alter I-66, though there is still community opposition in Arlington. [2]

[edit] I-66 vs US 66

I-66, if extended, should cross former US 66 near Baxter Springs, Kansas where it is marked a "historic route", it will also come close to the historic road in Missouri which should, by the end of 2005, be designated a scenic byway. Does anyone know, would this cause AASHTO to oppose I-66 being designated through here? Should this be placed in the article? - Rt66lt 04:01, September 5, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I-666

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Who would want to ride on a highway numbered 666 anyways?
JesseG 23:17, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

I'll be damned if I know! - Paul Robinson (Rfc1394) 21:44, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] East Extension?

I read at the bottom of an article I found here (at the bottom of the page) that Maryland and Delaware may eventually have the route extended to Dover. I added this info before but it got deleted. Anyone know if it can be trusted?-Jeff (talk) 04:24, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Absent a primary source, I'm inclined to discount it. All we have so far is the say-so of one person who is identified only by name, not by title. Doctor Whom 14:27, 27 February 2006 (UTC)
It feels a little speculative yet. Now, if Maryland or Delaware were to have the info on an official site, or a newspapre article were to mention it, etc., then it's worth putting in, IMHO. —C.Fred (talk) 02:53, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] More Cities in small Map

I have restored the map I created for this article more than 2½ years ago that someone (a vandal?) removed. Based on comments here, I have added the (major nearby) cities of Fairfax, Manassas and Warrenton, plus the Town of Vienna to the map. Paul Robinson (Rfc1394) 21:42, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

I've moved the map off to the right-hand side in the major cities section, since it illustrates minor cities and intersections with other interstates. I've bumped the other images down to Notes, though on my screen width, it causes an interaction with the future road template. —C.Fred (talk) 04:45, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Former railroad * Roosevelt Bridge

I had an old street map (currently misplaced) which showed a railroad running north from what is now Crystal City, approximately where the Blue Line runs through Arlington Cemetery, and finally around the east side of Rosslyn where I-66 is now located. (This is not to be confused with the old W&OD railroad west of Rosslyn). Assuming I won't be able to find my old map, can anyone else provide details? When was the railroad replaced? If I'm not mistaken, the Roosevelt Bridge predates the rest of the I-66 route, no? The part where I-66 exits the bridge (heading west) is where that old railroad would have been. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 21:59, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

This was the Rosslyn Connecting Railroad (no article yet). --NE2 23:53, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
Interesting, thanks. I'm wondering, when was the railroad torn up, and when was I-66 built in its place? Did this portion precede the rest of I-66? I'm not sure whether this info would be better suited for this article or the one about the T. Roosevelt bridge (if either). I couldn't find these details on the external sites. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 14:31, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
It would be best suited for Rosslyn Connecting Railroad, with short mentions on other related articles. I'm not sure when it was abandoned, but it seems to have been fairly late. Here's a map showing it. --NE2 14:44, 10 April

2007 (UTC)

[edit] Route 66 Photo

The photo titled "I-66 at its western terminus, where it splits from I-81" is actually a photo of route 81. The cars are shown driving on route 81. Trust me on this; I take it every day to go to work. It does show the entrance ramp to route 66. Shouldn't this photo be transferred to the route 81 article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.111.109.106 (talk • contribs)

I trust you; I took the photo. It's fine on this article, as it would show no purpose on the I-81 article other than showing a junction. Here, it shows a terminus of the road in question, which is I-66. (We really like good termini pictures). If you want to one morning (Sun would be in the east, shining west) get a picture of the I-81 split from I-66 westbound showing the signs, be my guest. The times I've travelled through there have been in the late day/evening, which makes for terrible (but silhouetted) pictures, or mine just weren't good. I mean, I could get one sometime in the next week I suppose. But to answer your question- no, it fits here. --MPD T / C 03:56, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Well, then, maybe the photo could be re-titled. Perhaps "I-81 at its junction with I-66". The only place I-66 itself actually "shows" in the photo is the bridge over I-81. Of course, the exit sign shown on I-81 indicates that the exit will take you to I-66. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.111.109.106 (talk) 23:17, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Better? --MPD T / C 23:34, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Please, trust me again when I say thank you very much, and thank you for all the effort involved in taking the photo and placing it here for all of us. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.111.109.106 (talk) 01:46, 13 December 2007 (UTC)