The Commonwealth of Paradise (USNW): March 27: A (late) Most Heartfelt Thanks

[Jack³ 291]

Amazing job with the highways, Kenny! I don't know how you do it.

[Haljackey 17,441]

That is what you call an ambitious project. Good luck!

[vivapanda 422]

Fantastic highways, maps and plans!

[kj3400 178]

Benedict: Thank you!

jack3oh3:I'm not ure sometimes either XD

Haljackey: Thank you

vivapanda:THanks!

Welcome back. We hope you had enough time to think about the first section because we’ve already started building the beltway before giving you all the budget specifics and billed you for it finished the second portion of the proposal for your viewing.

Phase II, as you may recall, involves extending the Capital Beltway from I-1 to I-2. The next section we will look at is Phase IV. We will look at Phase III last as it is geographically later than this section. Phase IV connects I-2 to I-1 north of Johnson City, crossing over the Baltimore River.

Option 1a exit 6

Exit 6 will provide direct access to West Johnson City via a modified diamond interchange. The interchange was originally was going to be with Melbourne Rd, but it was decided the interchange would be too close to the interchange with I-302/I-2.

Exit 7

A simple diamond with the Great Northwest Road was recommended here. This might need to be upgraded in the future.

Option 1b exit 6

The specifications for this interchange are exactly the same as for option 1a’s exit 7 as is the road the interchange is for. The only difference is the wide curve to the east the beltway will take here.

Because of the different number of exits on option 1a and 1b, the next set of exits will have two numbers associated with them.

Exit 7 or 8

This exit isn’t going to be constructed with the rest of the beltway, because it simply isn’t needed yet. However, due to our country’s exit numbering protocol, we are trying to avoid massive renumbering by reserving this exit number ahead of time.

Exit 8 or 9:

This exit is for Route 19, to access New Baltimore to the north. The layout of the interchange is due to the New Baltimore river crossing.

Exit 9a-b-c/10 or 10a-b-c/11

This quartet of exits is for National Highway 3/Great Northern Rd, I-1 and Louvenia Pike. The unusually shaped interchange is due to the geography of the area. Interstate 1 is wedged between the city’s freight rail line and Paradise’s commuter rail line, and moving either one could prove costly. As a result, we had to get a bit creative with this interchange.

The alternate version of this interchange is what would be constructed if it were decided if a toll were to be put on the river crossing. The toll plaza would require westbound traffic crossing the river to collect before the plaza, eastbound traffic exiting after the crossing to exit after the toll, and westbound traffic exiting before the bridge and traffic heading eastbound on the beltway to do so more east than the former two things.

We at the Commonwealth Transit Department appreciate your input and will be back with our third portion of this proposal soon.

[jacksunny 741]

Very detailed planning, nice work

[The Avatar 1,089]

Nice roadgeekery, Kenny. That second to last interchange is quite a doozy.

[SimCoug 5,977]

Impressive road plans - I look forward to the completed projects.

[kj3400 178]

Replies:

jacksunny: Thanks!

MamaLuigi945: Yes, when I start planning, they tend to get a bit crazy

SimCoug: Thanks, they should be finished soon.

While we're waiting for the transit department to finish their proposal, I found some new route shields the Commonwealth will be using...

and an example sign:

[Jack³ 291]

Nice shields, Kenny!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Cool! I like them. reminds me of ours...

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Very nice routeshields! They kinda look like those back east(Which look soooo much better than California's)

[kj3400 178]

jack3oh3: Thanks

Schulmanator: I kinda realized they'd look something like NC route shields, but I honestly wasn't going for that

nathanthemayor: But the spade's so cool D: and green

Still stalling, so here's a region view. Notice the new region I've added to the inventory of Paradise regions. Marvel at how big it is (260 large tiles). Curse at me for not continuing updating. Rinse and repeat.

Warning: Clicking the image will bring you to a larger view of the region, but said view is 12,544 x 6,661 pixels.

Happy birthday Paradise!

  Edited November 1, 2012 by kj3400  

[Benedict 3,119]

LOL @ your CJ title. And happy birthday to The Commonwealth!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

260 large tiles????!!!

GADZOOKS!

[kj3400 178]

Benedict: Thanks!

Schulmanator: Yes 260. I outdid myself this time. And thanks for the cake. Paradisians love cake

Update time!

Part 3 of my extremely long for some reason beltway update deals with the northeast section of the new beltway.

After the Transcontinental Freeway interchange, the beltway proceeds to curve northeast, north of the newly constructed stadium complex. There’s no special interchange for the stadium, though if there is a need for one, there is plenty of space to fit ramps.

Exit 11 or 12:

A simple diamond with the now 2 lane Government Pkwy is all that’s planned for this interchange. Traffic levels are low enough now that this is all that’s needed at this point.

After exit 11/12, the freeway proposal diverges into its second pair of route options. The preferred option continues northeast, while the alternate option swings back southeast.

Option 2a makes it way toward NH 192.

Exit 12/13:

This interchange, besides providing access to and from west NH 192 from the west on the beltway, it also provides local access to Gateway, the airport industrial area and cargo loading depot. The road here (Gateway Av) will be upgraded to a divided highway at the interchange.

Exit 13/14:

This is where the beltway/NH 192 multiplex begins. The exit provides access to Airport Blvd for the rail station, parking facilities and hotels, as well as an alternate route to the airport. The interchange is rather unorthodox, having NH 192 merge with the beltway in the middle. But traffic levels are projected to be divided rather evenly between the beltway and NH 192, enough so that this setup is acceptable. The other reason for this will be discussed a little later.

Exit 14/15:

This exit… is already built, in its entirety. I’d show a picture, but there’s no point considering nothing about it is changing except some widening on the beltway portion. This exit, of course is the main access point to the airport, it being the terminus of I-302.

I mean I suppose I could show a pic...

Exit 15/16(clockwise):

This is the reason NH 192 is allowed to enter and exit on the left at exit 13/14. The multiplex is only for the I-302 interchange… As with the western interchange, NH 192 exits and enters on the left. This interchange also provides access to northbound I-5 for eastbound beltway drivers.

Exit 15/16 (counterclockwise):

The beltway begins its multiplex with I-5 at this point. The interchange is a simple fork, with priority given to I-5.

Exit 16/17:

The current situation is an at grade junction with Rt. 7. That would be changed to a diamond interchange.

Option 2b travels farther south of NH 192, effectively forming a bypass of Gateway and Sunnysidington.

Exit 12/13:

A simple folded diamond.

Exit 13/14 A-B-C-D:

By far one of the longest stretching interchanges in the proposal, this interchange will provide access to the Airport Expwy as well as I-302. Full access is provided between all roadways.

Exit 14/15:

This t-bone interchange will provide access to both directions of I-5. Priority is given to I-5.

One more part to go, I promise. Then we can get to the fun stuff.

[vivapanda 422]

The second last picture is so complicated, nice job!

[Haljackey 17,441]

A lot of plans, some quite complicated. Good luck with them!

[Benedict 3,119]

[kj3400 178]

vivapanda: Thanks!

haljackey: Thank you.

Benedict: Merry Christmas to you too!

So, I'd like to wish everyone a happy new year, and because I can't think of anything else to say, let's start the final update of this arc.

The last section of the Capital Beltway will seem rather short. After all, most of it is already in the form of I-5 and the section of the Beltway between I-1 and I-2. It also means that except for the interchange with Rt. 7, the I-5/601 split, the section between I-2 and I-5, and minor modifications to the Beltway/I-2 interchange, this section is built in its entirety.

These last set of exits have three sets of possible numbers. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll’ve noted that there were four options and four combinations of those options and three sets of exit numbers shouldn’t make sense. Well, it does, because two of those combinations end up at the same number.

After I-601 joins I-5 wherever (depending on which options you choose; more on that later) one would assume that more traffic would equal a need for more than 2 lanes. Well, that might not be necessarily true. The region’s development thus far has been vastly uneven, which means areas only miles outside places like the capital are empty or lightly settled, and traffic is light enough so that I-601 and I-5 would probably be reduced to one lane each in the merge.

I-5 crosses a rail line, which will be the continuation of Pararail’s Cyan Line when the town of Woodbine requests a station. With the signing of I-601 and the extension of the Cyan Line pending, this crossing will need to be grade separated. There’s not much to explain here though. Overpass, no level crossing. Questions?

Exit 16/17/18:

Currently an at-grade junction because the low traffic levels on I-5, this exit is slated to be upgraded to a diamond, the very minimum needed for interstate standards. The definite widening of the stretch of multiplex would start here, which means the bridges to the south of here would need to be replaced with wider bridges. Of course engineering difficulties mean that bridge with an odd number of lanes or and, for one-way networks, anything over 2 lanes, is impossible for some reason. 2 lanes, sure, 4, fine, 6, cool. But 5 lanes, holy crap, call in the scientists, we got a problem here. But that’s a problem for another thread/team *cough*NAM Team*cough*.

Exit 17-18/18-19/19-20:

This recently built interchange is not going to be rebuilt, obviously. But there will be some widening efforts here, as development to the south is expected to creep east soon. This interchange is with the old road, Rt. 4, connecting Woodbine and Norwood to the new freeway, Rt. 33/the GER, which partially terminates here before ending at a T with a soon to be numbered route, probably 15.

Exit 19/20/21:

This is where the I-5/I-601 multiplex ends. This is just one of the two options for this interchange. The other is basically a mirror image of exit 14/15 in option 2b. The only reason there isn’t a definite decision for a partial or full interchange is because of the partial interchange where I-2 joins I-5 for a short time and it’s assumed these two forks could be considered a pair.

Exit 20/21/22:

This last stretch of Beltway is a straight shot, and so not important enough for a picture, passing north of Schulm Air Force Base (recently renamed due to confusion as to what ‘force’ the base was for). There are no plans for an exit here now, but the Department of Defense is looking into whether it would be needed later on, but previous communications have indicated it’s probably going to happen. This would be the region’s first military-only exit. It looks like the Transit Department is going to have to come up with new signage.

Exit 21/22/23 A, B(cw) A, B, C(ccw):

The interchange with I-2 is only half finished now that the plan for extending the beltway appears to be getting the green light. This interchange (which will be complex enough to get a name now) will be getting a fourth side and all the ramps associated with that side. Of course, the existing interchange was only ever a temporary setup in the first place, but only a small portion is being destroyed. There are possibly plans to have more ramps from I-601 to exclusively access the air force base, but once again, like with the I-5 interchange, plans aren’t definite, and probably won’t be needed, especially if exit 20/21/22 is constructed.

The last three exits you have already seen, as they are Phase I, but I’ll indulge you again.

Exit 21/22/23 C(cw), 23/24/25 B(ccw) :

The partial interchange with Airport Expwy. Weaved in between two interchanges so close, it doesn’t even get its own number, instead borrowing from the two surrounding it. It does its job well though, linking the new expressway to the airport with people from the southwest of the capital, although the west-north slips are going to need widening soon.

Exit 23/24/25 [A(ccw)]:

A standard diamond interchange with Rt. 6, partially seen in this picture, slightly complicated by the slips from Airport Expwy joining in on the west side.

Exit 24/25/26:

The nation’s only SPUI with Government Pkwy, which used to be NH 3 this far south, until the Transit Department realized it had made an error on the map between the bypass and the line the beltway now occupies. Problem was, the signs for the Beltway were made with this error, so they were pretty embarrassed at that.

So at this point we’ve come full circle as the phrase is said. That’s the beltway. Now when you’ve unstuck your face from the table and wiped the drool off your face, please note the poll. It’s time to decide. First of all whether you think the beltway should be built, and if so, what options. Of course, if you have any other ideas, by all means, choose other and let us know. We live to serve, and lay down massive strips of asphalt and concrete.

I do hope you enjoyed this arc that lasted much longer than it prolly should have. As a bonus, I’ve mapped out our hypothetical trip for you to enjoy and depending on the options picked, will show it again later.

Enjoy!

[Benedict 3,119]

Wow, that is one fantastic diagram!

great to see you back with more of your amazing roadgeekery.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Awesome roadness just time for Trixie season!

[kj3400 178]

Replies will come later...

I had the sudden urge to make this mosaic yesterday, although it's rather empty. Maybe it was my mind's way of telling me to relax, who knows....

I hope you enjoy it, until the next update.

[vivapanda 422]

How could I possibly say no to such an amazing plan?

The empyyness is actually rather nice, I love that winding road.

[packersfan 667]

WOW! You are amazing with those freeway plans. Master at photo-editing those diagrams in. Those new shields are great, too. Simple, but also stylish! You also seem very comfortable with the RHW and creating complex interchanges. Unfortunately, I haven't become adept to RHW, and RHW hasn't filled my needs for the ability to build interchanges on a 45-degree angle...I'm jealous of you guys who can limit your beltways to 90 degrees and work out beautiful RHW interchanges. That diagram is also epic. Makes me feel my "google" style map is lacking. Someday, I will have to attempt a "diagram" style map...likely for my Metro system. Keep up the great work!

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Leech: Some of the interchanges look complicated

Leaci: Looks like a nice place for a rally race if there were more dirt roads.

Leech: What?

Leaci: ...

Leech: Someone's been messing with the cloning machine again...

Lyhoko: Hello! The forest looks quite nice.

*Lyhoko suddenly splashes both Leech and Leaci with a bucket of water*

Leaci: Gee, thanks for the bath...

Leech: ...

[kj3400 178]

Replies: Soon

 

 

 

I'm back, folks.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

NAM 31 FTW!

[kj3400 178]

Well, trixie season is over and I've come out on top. Paradise has finally won itself a 'Best Roadgeek CJ' award!
I know I did it all by myself and so will take all the credit couldn't have done it without you folks' help, so I want to say thank you.
I know I haven't been updated much at all this month, but I'm waiting on a new laptop out of the shop that I managed to break two days after getting it. Give me a week, tops. Then the update river should flow again.

I do have a pic here I've never shown before though.



Enjoy!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Laptops are very fussy. I traded mine for a box of European chocolates and never looked back. The choclates were yummy too!!

 

Rock on, Trixie man!