Infrastructure in general. For the longest it was because of the constant construction upgrading infrastructure but now that construction is done it’s what was created.
The mixing bowl area is crazy. When I was a kid we had those plastic race tracks for our matchbox cars with loops and ramps going everywhere. Great fun. That’s what the mixing bowl area reminds me of. Ramps going in different directions. Confusing at first to me but I figured most out. But that doesn’t matter because other drivers are clearly confused by it so I’m constantly dodging people trying to make exits at the last minute. I drove it this past weekend. Had to go to west Springfield high for a basketball tournament.
The VA side of the Woodrow Wilson bridge is still a shit show even with thru and local lanes. The Dulles toll road, why is it a toll road? 66 should be changed to 666. Then the smaller highways and connectors have so many strip malls and other stuff on them you get caught in what seems like 10 traffic lights to go 3 miles.
Having said all that, I know my side in Maryland isn’t much better but it’s my side. I know it. I know what road to take depending on the time of day and I know all the nooks and cranny’s to get around somewhat efficiently. I don’t have that same familiarity with NOVA.
And now my side will be a shit show in the future with construction for the coming of express lanes on the beltway to match NOVA. Which also means the American Legion bridge will need to be widened or replaced effectively closing off the northern route around DC to get to a NOVA stadium for probably eternity. That means south over the WWB or threw DC to get to a game. Not happening. So, yeah, not a fan.
Guess in this case it is grass is greener on this side than the other.
Having lived on NOVA since '81 there have been some rough constructions period. Living right off Edsall/395 I'm a stone's throw from the springfield interchange since 2004 so got to experience the OG one and the constructions hell of the second. And yeah I can tell all the time people screwing up navigating the new one and see daily them ending up on 395 as they come off the Edsall exit going west and have to quickly move two lanes over to get to the turn back to 395S to hit the interchange again.
The HOT lanes expansion for the VA side of 495 yeah it sucked but now with both of those done for a few years it is not too bad. Granted even before covid I was not having to deal with morning rush hour working a PST schedule for the past decade plus.
66W is always going to suck I don't care how much they widen it or add hot lanes.
I love the location here I've lived since 2004 for trying to get around since E/W/N/S I'm on a highway in some cases after just one light.
Route 7 widening right now is a crap show but will help not funnel people to the toll role and have a legit no pay option going NW in NOVA.
The American Legion Bridge I believe is on track to be widened but I recall things might be stalled again but regardless WOULD be a nightmare for MD folks on that side coming that way to hit a potential stadium out by Dulles.
