I’m modeling the the 1920’s and I need to know about how wide the streets would be. I had tried 15 feet but that doesn’t look right.
In York,Pa the right of way is 50 feet. Ten feet on each side is for sidewalk and curb leaving the street -curb to curb - as 30 feet. The property owner must maintain the walk and curb. Very tight to have parking on both sides and have two traffic lanes but probably good in the 1920’s.
Since most cities haven’t moved their buildings, I’d say they should be about the same as todays city streets. Have seen posts with suggestions, but can’t remember the actual footage recommendations, maybe someone else can help.
Have fun,
Thanks, I had forgott to include room for parking.
Hi!
City streets of my youth in Chicago in the '50s varied quite a bit. After all, there are “cities”, and there are “CITIES”. The Chicago streets of the '50s were (from what I was told by those who were there in earlier times) pretty much the same in width as they were in the '20s.
The typical “side streets” were wide enough for a parked car on either side and two cars to barely pass each other. I recall the number of 32 or 35 feet, which makes sense.
The “semi-main” streets had the same “two park and two lanes of traffic”, but were wider than the side streets - probably 38 to 40 feet.
The main streets - which usually ran street cars or trolley buses - were typicaly 2 parked lanes and 4 lanes of traffic. I believe this was about 48 - 54 feet or so.
While on the subject, many of the main streets were bricked with very hard reddish bricks about 50 % thicker than a house brick. Most of these were removed and / or covered with asphalt in the late '50s.
Hope that helps!
Mobilman44
Thankyou. That is very useful. I had started with 15 feet. It really looked too narrow. I hadn’t considered any space for parking or anything.
Haven’t measured, but on the way to an LHS in Lakewood, Oh, a large section I have to drive is just barely wide enough for one lane of curb parking and enough room left for two cars to pass inopposite directions. Maybe 22 to 24’ curb to curb? My home street is also one curb and two traffic lanes, but still wider than that one.
That’s pretty much what I have in front of my house.