Texas/Loozyana road report . . .

[Benzadmiral]

I'm back from a 1300-mile road trip to Austin and Tyler, TX, over the Christmas break:

a) close to 500 miles, NO to Austin, via I-10 and US 290

b) about 350 miles from Austin to Tyler via US 79

c) about 450 miles from Tyler to NO via I-20, I-49, and I-10.

For anybody who plans to go on any of these roads, everything featured superb surfaces, with the exception of half of I-49 and large chunks of I-10 (especially near Lafayette). I'm sick to death, and I'm sure my car would be if it were alive, of bounding from one bump to another on the badly finished, rough concrete strips that Loozyana seems to think constitute "roads."

The moment I crossed into Texas I was aware of the improvement. Even the old Federal highways, US 290 and US 79, were smooth. On a couple of stretches the road made the tires hum a bit noisily, but there was no bucking and banging. It almost made the car seem to be doing 10 mph less than it really was.

And I had no trouble at all finding my way around using the signage -- in Texas, that is. As I approached Shreveport, the signs mentioned a state road bypass to Alexandria, the way I was going, but didn't mention I-49. I didn't want to get stuck on some poorly-surfaced cart track instead of the Interstate, so I skipped that exit. Mistake; I had to circle back to find those signs added the direction "To I-49." Leave it to Loozyana to confuse the traveler. the connecting state road was as lousy as I'd feared, but it was at least short.

Why is it that Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama roads are so good, while those in LA stink on ice? Is it just the construction methods? It's not the proximity to the Gulf. Gulf Coast MS has good surfaces, and North Loozyana roads are as terrible as those in the south. Anybody have an idea?

 

[TooManyWheels]

I imagine it is strictly a result of the money spent. The same principle applies to the rest stops. Not meaning to denigrate anyone else's state, but you can tell that Texas puts some budget into the roads and amenities. As you say, the difference is apparent starting at the state line.

 

[chubbs1]

I was gonna say because Louisiana is a poor state but Mississippi is the "poorest" state in the Union and it has better roads it must just a gov't funding issue. I remember a family trip driving through Louisiana when I was a kid (12). It had the worst roads and drivers in about 10 states we toured. So things haven't changed much in 20 years.

 

[hate2work]

Reminds me of the border between Cali and Mexico at Tijauna. It goes from smooth pavement on the US side to dirt roads with chuckholes in Mexico. That was 35 years ago, so maybe it's better these days.

 

[Spazdog]

I-20 does go from okay to bad when you cross the state line into Louisiana.

Makes no sense. Texas has more roads to maintain than any other state and has no state income tax. We also don't have any casinos to pull in extra revenue like Louisiana does. Fuel in Shreveport/Bossier is not any less expensive than it is in Tyler/Lindale so it's not in the gas taxes.

But not all roads in Texas are "okay". US 377 between Ft Worth and Stephenville seems to have been paved with aggregate the size of ping-pong balls. It's really coarse and annoying at the posted speed limit of 70mph. The road surface should last a long time with rocks that big embedded in asphalt but man is it noisy.

 

[Johnny]

You guys should come on up and drive on our highways. They are slick/smooth as ice.

Enjoyed reading the above though as I know everyone of those highways mentioned and can picture the scenery and all the good places to eat along the way.

A big old plate of Bodacious Barbecue would be good right about now.

 

[bullwinkle]

Can't be any worse than our bombed out & frost heaved roads in the not-so-great Rust Belt state of Ohio-these daily freeze-thaw cycles are creating potholes so fast I can't dodge them all! As an aside-Johnny, don't leave us-how will we find out the inside SOPUS dirt now!!

 

[JimPghPA]

Years ago I worked for a cement company that was located in a town that bordered two states. We sold cement (mostly for bridges) to both states. There was a big differance in the quality of the mix that each used. And both states were along the same latitude. So both basicly saw the same weather. Neadless to say the state that purchased the lower cost mix also was the state with the poor roads. And that state also had to replace there roads more often.

 

[crinkles]

I know Texas has excellent road research and engineers. My friend's father did his masters degree at College station.

 

[sciphi]

I'd bet some of the roads up here are worse. It seems every bridge was designed to be a launch ramp for "Dukes of Hazzard" style river crossings. At 60 mph they're scary. At 75 or faster, they will throw one against the ceiling if not belted in. Whatever, my friends can do that to their cars if they want.

Although, when I lived in South Carolina, it was evident which areas had the well-off Congresscritters, and which ones couldn't "bring home the bacon". The roads in the well-off areas were smooth. The roads in the next county over were worse. The Lowcountry outside of Hilton Head seemed to have terrible roads. And going from I-26 to I-95 was always rough before reaching Beaufort County.

 

[Spazdog]

OH! another Louisiana highway story.

Riding back to our room at The Horseshoe from another casino on a shuttlebus. Been drinking for free while slowly giving my money to the Blackjack dealer

Actually came away a little up so I'm drunk and happy.

There is a section of highway that is so washboard you would swear that the sections between the expansion joints were at 90 degree angles to each other. The E-chassis Ford Shuttlebus is pitching drunk gamblers all over and making sounds like it is going to break into halves or maybe even quarters or eighths. Driver? Unphased by this. "Dat jus' a regular drive down a Loosiana highway..."

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
OH! another Louisiana highway story.

Riding back to our room at The Horseshoe from another casino on a shuttlebus. Been drinking for free while slowly giving my money to the Blackjack dealer

Actually came away a little up so I'm drunk and happy.

There is a section of highway that is so washboard you would swear that the sections between the expansion joints were at 90 degree angles to each other. The E-chassis Ford Shuttlebus is pitching drunk gamblers all over and making sounds like it is going to break into halves or maybe even quarters or eighths. Driver? Unphased by this. "Dat jus' a regular drive down a Loosiana highway..."

Was it I-10 east of Lafayette, between that city and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge? When I drove it, I had to hog the left lane, because it was marginally smoother. (Now I remember why I hated living in Lafayette back in the '70s.)

 

[UncleS2]

The difference between Louisiana and Texas highways has been noted for *decades*. I live less than 50 miles from the LA state line, but- no offense- go there as little as possible.

BTW- from Austin to Tyler, via 79(unless you took one heckuva lot of side trips or a big detour), is closer to 250 miles. I've made the drive many times. It just *seems* longer because of all the little towns & stop signs you have to go through!

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Stuart Hughes
The difference between Louisiana and Texas highways has been noted for *decades*. I live less than 50 miles from the LA state line, but- no offense- go there as little as possible.

BTW- from Austin to Tyler, via 79(unless you took one heckuva lot of side trips or a big detour), is closer to 250 miles. I've made the drive many times. It just *seems* longer because of all the little towns & stop signs you have to go through!

Yeah, I'm not sure of the exact mileage. Google Maps told me the trip ought to take 5 hours, but it took me from 9 to about 3:30, with the small towns and so forth. I liked that; it gave me the excuse to vary my speed, maybe stop for a slice of pie at a local diner, which I did in Hearne. That was why I chose it in preference to the Interstates.

The Buick performed superbly as always, with a high mpg of 29 some-odd on 10% ethanol gas, and was solid at all speeds, including in steady rains as I worked my way to Tyler and then the next day down toward Alexandria.