Our Favorite City By-Passes

Before he suddenly left us, Harry Kline had approached me with the by-pass for El Paso. It is now published as an article here on RTA, El Paso By-Pass. We had briefly discussed, via Private Message, the idea of starting a thread about city by-passes such as this one. I had told him, if he started the thread, I would gladly contribute to it. Now he's gone, so I'm going to start this one in his honor.

Most of the time, when on an interstate, taking the "belt-loop" provided by the Highway Commission is the normal way. These are the loops where another number (or two) is added. An example would be 805, a belt loop around San Diego for I-5. Or, perhaps, I-210 in LA, which is a belt loop around LA instead of I-10.

Our favorite by-pass, one we often use when traveling on I-70, concerns St Louis when traveling east/west. Downtown St Louis is something we try to avoid unless we have to be there. We also want to try to avoid the traffic around Lambert Field (STL) and St Charles, and these days, other certain areas. So, here's how we do it:

EASTBOUND: Leave I-70 at exit 224, MO-370 East. Take that until it ends at I-270 eastbound. Continue on I-270 east. You will cross the Mississippi River on a new bridge, but if you look to the south (your right) you can see the old Chain-of-Rocks Bridge running more-or-less parallel to the new bridge. (I say more-or-less, because the old bridge actually has a *turn* in it.) Once in Illinois, I-70/I-270 join together.

WESTBOUND: Watch the signs on I-70 as you approach St Louis. Follow the I-270 signs - very easy, smooth, seam-free. As you cross the Mississippi River on the new bridge, the old Chain-of-Rocks will be to the south (your left), but not as easy to see as from the eastbound side. You'll be on the 270 for about 20-some miles before you see the exit to MO-370 west, which is either exit 21 or 22. Then take that until you find yourself with a choice of I-70 west or east.

By-Passing Portland:

Portland has two possible belt loops. One, I-205, goes between exit 288 on the Oregon side, up the eastern side, and reconnects with I-5 at exit 9 on the Washington side.

Another one has a few more roads involved, but means you will almost-completely by-pass Portland. If you're heading north to Seattle, or south to Eugene, perhaps you don't care about Portland. Then you use the following routes:

Southbound: Get off I-5 at exit 39 in WA, and go west on WA-4 into Longview. Follow the signs to the Lewis & Clark Bridge to Rainier/US-30. Cross the river on said bridge, then go east on US-30. Follow this route past Scappoose, about 5 miles, and turn south (right) on NW Cornelius Pass Road. You are on that route for about 8 miles - a 2-lane road through a beautiful forest and farm lands, over a "pass" of about 500 ft elevation, no danger. You will come to US-26, which you take east for about 7 or 8 miles to OR-217. Take that south to I-5 South.

Northbound: I-5 north to the OR-217 north at exit 292. Then take US-26 west to the exit for NW Cornelius Pass Road. After 8 miles, turn west on US-30 through Scappoose and Rainier, then use the Lewis & Clark Bridge over the Columbia into Longview. Follow the signs to I-5 or signs to Kelso, where you pick up I-5 north.

It adds NO mileage, does take about 10 minutes longer because of US-30 (2 lane), but if you are traveling mid-day on a weekday, or near a rush hour, it saves time (except to get on the Lewis & Clark Bridge, which gets busy at rush hour).


Donna

Donna, thanks for reviving this idea and thread. I think I've given this basic routing around New York City before in response to a question, but this is a better place to archive it. The following is my favorite way around the city. It's neither the shortest nor the fastest, but it is the most relaxing way to get from most places in New England to Philadelphia and points south. For purposes of describing the route, I will assume a southbound traveler.

If you are approaching New York along Long Island Sound on I-95, leave I-95 at New Haven and take CT-34 to I-84 at Newtown. From much of New England you would already be on I-84. Continue on I-84 past Danbury (where this route would gather in those arriving via US-7 from northern and western New England), crossing into New York State, and then take I-684 south. A few miles down the road take Exit 7 onto NY-116 west to US-202 southwest and follow that around Franklin D Roosevelt State Park and then use the Bear Mountain State Parkway around Peekskill. Rejoin US-202/US-6 and head upriver to the Bear Mountain Bridge which you will then cross. Stay with US-6 on the far side and head into Harriman State Park. At the circle, take Seven Lakes Parkway south and follow that through the park down to Sloatsburg.

At this point, it's probably worth most RoadTrippers' effort to just use NY-17 south to get on I-287 and complete their journey around New York by either taking I-80 towards northern Pennsylvania, I-78 to Harrisburg and points south and west, US-202 for a possible Philly bypass, the Jersey Turnpike for Philly, and the Garden State Parkway for the Jersey shore.

Getting around Phoenix, if you want to head west afterward:
Heading southbound down I-17, use exit 221-Loop 303 west. It will drop you onto I-10 at exit 124, where you can head west. If you want to head towards Yuma or San Diego, get off I-10 at AZ-85 south and take it to Gila Bend, where you can pick up I-8 west.

Getting around Phoenix, if you want to continue to Tucson:
Heading southbound down I-17, use exit 214-Loop 101 east. Once in Chandler, take Loop 202 west to I-10 (it's marked). Take I-10 east (though it's going south at that point).




Donna

Is Loop 303 a full freeway from I-17 to I-10 now? Last time I used it, it wasn't complete and still had some traffic lights.

Donna:

Why would anybody want to bypass Phoenix? Ha!

glc:

I can't answer that question about the 303, and I live here! I really need to get out of the house more often. Every time I drive north on I-17, there's a new exit to some new road I've never heard of, out where there was nothing but desert two years ago. There's no keeping up with it. I don't even try anymore.

Rick

I know what you mean, Rick. I lived in Casa Grande area for awhile, and when we'd head north, Bell Road was pretty well the end of civilization up there. I know, that was in The Dark Ages. I still have family in the East Valley, so it's rare to by-pass Phoenix.

My daughter and her husband used the Loop 303 by-pass in June, and she didn't remember stop lights. Either she didn't remember, or it's divided highway unlimited access for a few miles. (Family wasn't able to take them overnight, and they preferred that route to going through Riverside/San Bernardino on the 15 up to the 40.) I've used the Loop 202 west bypass before that. It was freeway-style all the way. (Edit: Loop 101 west. Thanks for catching that, GLC!)


Donna

Donna, don't you mean the 101? The 202 is the southeast bypass.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick Quinn

there's a new exit to some new road I've never heard of, out where there was nothing but desert two years ago. There's no keeping up with it. I don't even try anymore.

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Every place I go, I drive neighborhoods and I always try out the new exits on the highways around Las Vegas. I've now lived in Las Vegas for nearly 18 years and I am still discovering neighborhoods in the center of town -- plus, of course all of those new ones.

Kudos to Donna et al for refreshing this thread. Great idea.

Mark

Another way around Phoenix, this time eastbound or westbound:

Coming from Tucson, heading toward LA? (Westbound) Get off I-10 at I-8 near Casa Grande, and continue on to Gila Bend. (Warning: once you leave the Casa Grande area, it's pretty desolate out there, and no rest areas.) At Gila Bend, head north on AZ-85. Take that up to I-10 and get on that westbound.

Coming from LA, heading eastbound toward Tucson? Reverse the above. Get off I-10 at exit 112 in AZ, to take AZ-85 south into Gila Bend. Get on I-8 eastbound to connect with I-10 at Casa Grande. (It's about 40 miles from GB to CG with no rest areas and only one very high-priced fuel station, *if* it's open. That's a big *if*.)

AZ-85 is used by truckers, but on the occasions we've been on it, the traffic has never been bad. It's still a great alternative to the traffic in Phoenix, unless you really need to go to the Valley of the Sun for some reason. Make sure you have fuel before leaving I-10 southbound or I-8 northbound, as there's no services (to my knowledge) between the two.



Donna

GOING TO NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO from the EAST?

From I-8, take the Lake Jennings Road exit (Lakeside/El Cajon) and turn north (right). Continue on Lake Jennings Road until you connect with Rt. 67, then turn north again (right).

Then you have several choices:

1 - A left turn onto Scripps Poway Parkway can take you to I-15 through a lot of businesses and a lot of lights. However, much of it is 4 lane (5 in places), so you won't get stuck behind slow vehicles on the hills.

2 - A left turn onto Poway Road/S-4 can take you to I-15 through a lot of businesses and a lot of lights. Much of this is only 2 lanes, particularly the first 4 miles from the light at 67 down to the light at Espola Road.

3 - Keeping on to Ramona, you can turn west/left onto Rt 78 (AKA 10th Street) which will take you past a few lights before the twisty, winding but scenic road into Escondido. You might find this hairy or exhilarating. If you're going into Escondido and/or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, it's the more-or-less direct way. This will also take you to I-15.

Any of these three are considered the faster and shorter way to I-15 north from I-8, if you don't plan to stop in El Cajon, La Mesa, Mission or Fashion Valley, and are just on your way to the north county suburbs of Poway, Ramona, Escondido, and even points west of Escondido like San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside and Encinitas.


Donna

Quote:

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2 - A left turn onto Poway Road/S-4 can take you to I-15 through a lot of businesses and a lot of lights. Much of this is only 2 lanes, particularly the first 4 miles from the light at 67 down to the light at Espola Road.

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If you are heading for I-15 and points north, turn right on Espola Road (S-5), this becomes Rancho Bernardo Road and has an interchange with I-15. I think I prefer this to taking Poway Road through town and it cuts off several miles. Either way, these are not fast roads, they are essentially suburban city streets.

I didn't suggest that because right now there is a LOT of construction on Espola Rd. When they finally get through with the construction (a year???) it may be a great way to go. But right now, it's to be avoided if at all possible.


Donna

If that's the case, I think Scripps Poway Parkway would be the least hassle.

Another option is stay on I-8 to CA-67, take that north to CA-52 west. This will take you to I-15. If you want to get to I-5, stay on CA-52 to I-805, take that north to I-5. This keeps you off all city streets, it's freeway all the way.