OT: Taconic State Pkwy

[Eric15]

I drove on this road for the first time in my life this past weekend to attend a wedding near Poughkeepsie.

Is it just me, or is this one of the most unsafe highways in America? The fact that it's windy, hilly, unlit and heavily trafficked is bad enough, but what amazes me is that in many spots instead of merging on-ramps, there are intersecting stop signs where cars just pull out into 60-65 mph traffic (some of which are around bends/blind spots).

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Surprised you didn't see any deer. I hate that road also. Give me the thruway any day.

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[BlackKnight76]

As someone who grew up driving on the Merritt...meh

 

[orangefog]

The first time I drove the Taconic, I approached an off ramp, expecting there to be distance to slow down and then take the circle off. Nope, I barely stayed on the road. It was clearly built before engineers and designers thought to lengthen ramps and merge lanes for safe merging.

 

[Bill Orange]

Growing up it was one of favorite highways when traveling to and from the City. You couldn't pay me to drive on it these days.

 

[igor]

unsafe, but this time of year the Taconic leaf views are breath taking.

 

[Crusty]

Beautiful but unsafe. The deer can kill you.

 

[zhanjuzi]

In the same vein, my favorite "thrill ride" is the Sawmill Parkway .. insanely dangerous.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

In the same vein, my favorite "thrill ride" is the Sawmill Parkway .. insanely dangerous.

Cross Bronx or the Hutch does it for me. One of my big fears in life is breaking down on the Cross Bronx.

 

[wadegarrett]

In the same vein, my favorite "thrill ride" is the Sawmill Parkway .. insanely dangerous.

Sawmill takes the cake for me. I used to travel the Merritt, Hutch, and Taconic all the time. I lost a side view mirror on the Sawmill one time. It feels like you are traveling in a bike lane.

 

[Toga]

When I drove a Miata, used to love driving the lower Taconic with its hilly, winding roads and narrow lanes.

 

[newmexicuse]

As someone who grew up driving on the Merritt...meh

The Hutch part is much worse tham the Merrick part.

 

[BlackKnight76]

The Hutch part is much worse tham the Merrick part.

Only for the build up around Harrison or so that happens every time. Still think the Merritt takes the cake for unnecessarily curvy highway that people drive 80 on indiscriminately.

 

[senorpalmer]

It was never intended to be a major artery, but rather a scenic road that city folk could take to get up into the country. Further down the Taconic (lower dutchess into Westchester) the crossovers are being phased out, and replaced by safer on/off ramps.

 

[jgeorge322]

the road to hana in maui is much more treacherous...

 

[cto]

The Taconic is one of my favorite roads Unless the weather is bad, it is the route I always take to Syracuse (rather than the Thruway or 17/81). No trucks, no traffic. Just set cruise control to 63.

 

[Eric15]

unsafe, but this time of year the Taconic leaf views are breath taking.

Totally agree - just a beautiful drive. I'm secure enough with my masculinity to admit that there are few things in life I enjoy more than fall foliage. I could never live somewhere that doesn't have four seasons.

 

[MikeSU02]

How about the Loveland Pass in the dead of winter?

Makes the Merritt and Cross Bronx look like child's play. With that said, the Merritt is great until there is a breakdown or accident and then it's awful. Love taking it through CT though. But a lot of people do treat it like a racetrack.

The Cross Bronx, I'm convinced, is some research study to see the limits of the human condition.

 

[OttoMets]

One of my favorites.

Doesn't help that people drive like lunatics and the lack of shoulders prevents any enforcement, but the Taconic is one of my all-time favorite (and most-traveled) drives.

 

[Cusejuicy]

I love those roads. You have to remember that they were built 60-70 years ago before cars were big, fast, and handled like sports cars. They were/are scenic, curvy, hilly and fun to drive. They beat the straight, level, multi-lane and boring super highways today. No trucks and fewer delays even today! You do have to stay awake though!

 

[shandeezy7]

The Schuylkill outside of Philly is one road I always dread driving on

 

[Cusejuicy]

[quot"shandeezy7, post: 776578, member: 720"]The Schuylkill outside of Philly is one road I always dread driving on[/quote]

Have to agree. No socially redeeming qualities, too many cars, too little road.

 

[pfister1]

The Schuylkill outside of Philly is one road I always dread driving on

Do you mean the Sure-Kill Expressway? It's rare that it isn't jammed, but driving that road when its moving is where I learned that you don't need to lengthen the distance between you and the driver in front of you just because you're going 60 - 70 miles per hour...about 5 feet is the right distance at any speed.

 

[tee1222]

Do you mean the Sure-Kill Expressway? It's rare that it isn't jammed, but driving that road when its moving is where I learned that you don't need to lengthen the distance between you and the driver in front of you just because you're going 60 - 70 miles per hour...about 5 feet is the right distance at any speed.

That is New Jersey in a nutshell.

 

[VaBeachOrFan]

Sawmill takes the cake for me. I used to travel the Merritt, Hutch, and Taconic all the time. I lost a side view mirror on the Sawmill one time. It feels like you are traveling in a bike lane.

Just got back from a 2,600-mi. round trip to New Brunswick. Best roads: New Brunswick. Worst road: the Sawmill "bike path." Second worst was NJ's Route 1 around Menlo Park -- can't turn left from the left lane; some right-hand exits turn into left turns; no shoulder to pull off and collect your wits; great if you're a local who knows where he's going, but no pity shown for tourists, especially at night. Made me rediscover a love for Tidewater's third-world expressways.-VBOF