Route 88 in New York

When I-88 is good, it's very good, but when it's bad, it's really awful. The first few miles out of Binghamton are rough, then it gets better for awhile, then bad again until you get near Oneonta. The concrete sections are the worst, with the expansion joints giving your suspension and kidneys a real workout. If there's little traffic around, the left lane is usually smoother. The DOT has been repaving major sections over the last few years, it's getting better each year, but they still have a ways to go.

You'll see probably 2 to 4 state cops sitting in the weeds waiting for speeders.

I have never though it to be terrible. It does have some concrete sections with the requisite expansion joints, but those have not caused me any trouble. I gather they tickle a resonant frequency in some setups and make for a less than delightful ride; however, on my cars and my class C motorhome, they've always seemed perfectly decent.

Beyond that, it's a nice rural road, devoid of any steep grades, significant cities (save for the two terminuses, of course), and generally not having heavy traffic. The scenery is pretty but not breathtakingly spectacular, lots of rolling hills and small foothilly mountains and so forth.

There is now only one rest stop in each direction. However, there are services off of the exits.

David

I ran it two years ago from 81 to Albany and other than some bumpity, bumpity from the paving it was a nice ride with light traffic. I 81 from Harrisburg to Scranton was much rougher and lots of traffic.

Anyone who thinks 88 is "not that bad" I dare you to run the speed limit in a motor home in the right lane from I-81 to exit 5. Then come back and let us know what you think.

From exit 5 to NY23 in Oneonta was thump - thump concrete. I found myself in the left lane several times to sooth the ride. On the road for six months, 16 states and 6000 miles, this was the worse run of concrete I hit all winter. Do yourself a favor, slug it out on Route 7.

Outside lane is much smoother than inside lane in concrete sections.

Quick answer. You can always tell when you are on a NY road. Winter damage.Rough!

And the next topic will be.......... about repaving projects to improve road conditions holding up traffic. ;)

As of 05/24/2016 Construction right lane between exit 21 and 22. This road was repaved at the top of the hill Northeast bound after Exit 23.

David