So Is It "The Loop" Or Is It "The Circle"? (Chicago: neighborhoods, rail)

[Drover]

I can't say as I've ever heard the quarry used as a reference point in a traffic report. To me it's the landmark that says "you're just about to cross the state line."

[cubssoxfan]

The Edens spur is the east-west section that connects the Edns Expressway and the Tri-State Tollway. It begins just north of Dundee Rd and ends at the intersection of I-294.

[andrewesque]

Originally Posted by linicx

As far as routes go CA is pretty well marked and easy to follow but that does not mean it is terribly easy to get between A and B if you are not on major routes like #1 or I-5. In Illinois it is easy enough to use the backroads between Chicago and St. Louis. Try that sometime between LA and SD or LA and SF. Afaik it is impossible.

This is a function of political geography and topography, isn't it? On the coast you have Camp Pendleton stopping civilian development between LA & SD (so the 5 is the only way through), and east of Camp Pendleton you could take the 15 through the Riverside Co. area. There aren't back roads for all the segments because it's quite mountainous through there, versus a lot of Illinois which has way-friendlier road-building topography.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by Drover

I can't say as I've ever heard the quarry used as a reference point in a traffic report. To me it's the landmark that says "you're just about to cross the state line."

Out of sheer curiosity I drove to the other side of the quarry.

The gravel pit quarry - what ever its called is bigger than you would think.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by KevK

I see but that is mightly confusing to out of town people.

Too bad. They can go home if they don't like it.

[paytonc]

Originally Posted by SmartGXL

So when they built the interstates, they built the local expressways to run along this invisible north south axis, at least thru the downtown area.

Interesting theory, but I'd say that it has more to do with Lake Michigan being an impediment to east-west transcontinental travel than to the local geography. To connect Boston and Seattle, as I-90 does, you need to either dip south through Chicago or cut across the largely vacant Upper Peninsula. Obviously, the former route serves a few more destinations.

My historical proof? The 90/94 freeways follow railroads: the Rock Island on the south side, C&NW on the northwest side. The railroads were built before Chicago was a huge city; indeed, they were what made Chicago into a huge city. (This theory is from Cronon's "Nature's Metropolis.")

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by paytonc

Interesting theory, but I'd say that it has more to do with Lake Michigan being an impediment to east-west transcontinental travel than to the local geography.

Well, that was the original theory I heard. The interstates were more for truck traffic and possibly military transportation to connect areas. Then local parkways were to carry traffic into cities. Interstates were not supposed to be routes within cities, which they have become through political diversions.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by sunnyandcloudydays

Gapers I believe is used in the Chicago area more than other areas
not sure about the term cash box

I haven't heard cash box for years, but I rather miss it. Perhaps it dropped out of use since the cash boxes are gone with open road tolling.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I haven't heard cash box for years, but I rather miss it. Perhaps it dropped out of use since the cash boxes are gone with open road tolling.

Good point- Since the ol hopper is gone so is the term.

Always had a nice ring to it CASH BOX
I guess now its old school as the young kids say.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Manigault

Well, that was the original theory I heard. The interstates were more for truck traffic and possibly military transportation to connect areas. Then local parkways were to carry traffic into cities. Interstates were not supposed to be routes within cities, which they have become through political diversions.

There were various factions that influenced this. The Interstate plan before Eisenhower had this view. Then when IKE submitted his plan it morphed to include routing interstates through cities. Then in the early 60's neighborhood groups in certain cities protested the routing of urban interstates and were able to alter routing and stop a number of these. Baltimore is the best example of this. San Francisco also after the Embarcadero Freeway was built, cutting off the bay front.
In Chicago, the Crosstown was cancelled because of neighborhood protest. Looked at plans for the Crosstown and it was to be almost as wide as the Dan Ryan.