Indiana Toll Road, Lake County = Awful. (Indianapolis: bill, design, traffic)

[domergurl]

oh quit 'cher whining! just get a transponder and be happy. The toll road wasn't making money and now it is ... it's not the state's problem anymore.

this sarcastic remark brought to you by your humble mod.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by domergurl

oh quit 'cher whining! just get a transponder and be happy. The toll road wasn't making money and now it is ... it's not the state's problem anymore.

this sarcastic remark brought to you by your humble mod.

LOL ... seriously domergurl, that area the poster is talking about is rough.

(If we have the same stretch in mind - directly ajacent to downtown Gary.)

I drove it in the middle of the day a few months back and the pickup truck in front of me hit a MAJOR hole - not pothole, more like a crater. I don't know if the wheel came from under the truck or from the bed, but when the pickup hit the crater a tire came flying off and there was nothing I could do but hit it dead on at 55 mph.

It's horrific.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by Chuckity

LOL ... seriously domergurl, that area the poster is talking about is rough.

(If we have the same stretch in mind - directly ajacent to downtown Gary.)

I drove it in the middle of the day a few months back and the pickup truck in front of me hit a MAJOR hole - not pothole, more like a crater. I don't know if the wheel came from under the truck or from the bed, but when the pickup hit the crater a tire came flying off and there was nothing I could do but hit it dead on at 55 mph.

It's horrific.

too bad those transponders can't send messages to Australia and Spain to gently let them know that the road needs some TLC and sign them with a big smooch from the kind folks who have to deal with that road on a daily basis here in the middle of the country ...

here kitty kitty kitty!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by domergurl

too bad those transponders can't send messages to Australia and Spain to gently let them know that the road needs some TLC and sign them with a big smooch from the kind folks who have to deal with that road on a daily basis here in the middle of the country ...

here kitty kitty kitty!

Looking for me, DG??

I think I know of what Chuckity is referring. If you're heading westbound on the Toll Road through Gary, there's a noticable bump in the road. There's a sign that warns folks, but it can nonetheless be a shock.

It is true that that construction zone can be treacherous. The biggest problem, though, is that too many seem to think they can ignore the posted speed limit through the zone. Too many, especially our good friends from Illinois, want to drive 70 mph through there and think they'll be OK.

But it's not as if the state always does a bang-up job with construction zones (think of the 65 to WB 80 interchange right now and the Michigan Road project here in Indy previously).

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Looking for me, DG??

I think I know of what Chuckity is referring. If you're heading westbound on the Toll Road through Gary, there's a noticable bump in the road. There's a sign that warns folks, but it can nonetheless be a shock.

It is true that that construction zone can be treacherous. The biggest problem, though, is that too many seem to think they can ignore the posted speed limit through the zone. Too many, especially our good friends from Illinois, want to drive 70 mph through there and think they'll be OK.

But it's not as if the state always does a bang-up job with construction zones (think of the 65 to WB 80 interchange right now and the Michigan Road project here in Indy previously).

Nope, it's not the bump - it was/is a crater. Seriously. (But it was in the westbound lanes - probably pretty close to being parrallel to the Steel Yard.

I think it's been since fixed since I haven't bottomed out over there since. It was too big to hit going 30 - let alone the reduced construction zone speed limit over there.

[prairiestate]

Now, could someone explain I-Zoom to me? If you need to come to a complete stop at the toll plaza where does the zoom part come in? There isn't even a dedicated lane to go thru at reduced speeds, such as in the early days of Illinois' I-Pass, let alone open road tolling.

[calindy59]

I grew up in The Region, and moved to California in 1981. I come back every year, and have YET to come back and NOT get get stuck in traffice due to road construction on 80/94, and many times the toll road. Actually, growing up it was a given, there will be road construction every summer, it is one of the SEASON'S!

[calindy59]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Now, could someone explain I-Zoom to me? If you need to come to a complete stop at the toll plaza where does the zoom part come in? There isn't even a dedicated lane to go thru at reduced speeds, such as in the early days of Illinois' I-Pass, let alone open road tolling.

Yes, that is correct! It boggles the mind! I am used to the I-PASS, you go right thru under the sensor and do NOT stop...now THAT makes more sense! I noticed that system when I was there last month and I too wondered where the ZOOM part comes in!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Now, could someone explain I-Zoom to me? If you need to come to a complete stop at the toll plaza where does the zoom part come in? There isn't even a dedicated lane to go thru at reduced speeds, such as in the early days of Illinois' I-Pass, let alone open road tolling.

Well, the only part of the Toll Road at which you have to stop during your trip is between the end of the Skyway and the I-65 interchange. Once you get east of there, you don't have to stop until you exit the Toll Road, let it read your transponder, and you're off. So, in essence, the vast majority of the Toll Road is open road tolling.

[prairiestate]

Great planning.Open road tolling except on the most congested part of the tollroad. Nothing like waiting in a mile long backup despite having a transponder. At least there's one thing Illinois is better at then Indiana.