Route family oddities

[mcdonaat]

A route family would be the LA 987 group in Port Allen, with 1-6. A route family would also be a small one - LA 988-1 and -2 in Brusly. These "families" are pretty common in rural towns, but what oddities do you know of?

For example, LA 436 is a normal state highway, going from Bogalusa to Franklinton on a big ole' loop (something common, actually). However, LA 436-1 exists as a spur going to Varnado. Also, LA 728-1 and -2 exist, and in 1988, -8 existed... no 3-7.

Monroe, of course, has LA 840-1 and -6, but no 2-5, which were removed in 1960, five years after being created.

[Alps]

The oddity is the fact that these route families exist. Louisiana should have enough 4-digit numbers to go around.

[NE2]

The oddity is the fact that these route families exist.

Exactly.

[mcdonaat]

The oddity is the fact that these route families exist.

Exactly.

I like the families existing. Why have 6 different 4di highways, when you can share the same number, and be done? Think about it this way - All business routes could be 4di highways, and all spurs and loops could be 4di numbers. If we used 3000-series highways for the families, you would already be in the late 3300's, if not 3400's. Thankfully, Louisiana is not numbering any more highways as 3XXX routes, just 12XX.

[Scott5114]

Seems less confusing to use the Oklahoma/New York method, under which 987-1 would be 987A and 987-6 would be 987F.

How do you say "987-6" in speech, anyway?

[NE2]

Or just use the "duh" method and make it 9871.

[mcdonaat]

Nine eighty seven dash six, is what I've always said. I've also heard nine eighty seven six, or really, South Jefferson. The confusing ones are 840-1 and 840-6, where you can't say "eight forty six", you have to say "eight forty dash six".

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

The oddity is the fact that these route families exist.

Exactly.

The oddity is the fact that these routes are state highways in the first place.

[StogieGuy7]

That there is such as thing as a "route family" is oddity enough.....   

[Alps]

That there is such as thing as a "route family" is oddity enough.....   

PA has route families. The x96s, the x13s, the x32s... list goes on.

[mcdonaat]

The one oddity that bugs me the most is the existence of orphaned routes. An example is LA 992-3; the rest of the routes were turned back to city control, but 992-3 was kept.

It seems that each small city had a route cluster. Most were wiped off the map (St. Joseph had six, all gone), but some remain. The worst part is that, in Gretna, all of the routes there were renumbered to 3XXX routes, for reasons truly unknown.

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

The worst part is that, in Gretna, all of the routes there were renumbered to 3XXX routes, for reasons truly unknown.

Were these routes later eliminated? Certainly the majority of the 466 family has disappeared. I don't know of any current 3xxx routes in Gretna.

[Henry]

The oddity is the fact that these route families exist.

Exactly.

I like the families existing. Why have 6 different 4di highways, when you can share the same number, and be done? Think about it this way - All business routes could be 4di highways, and all spurs and loops could be 4di numbers. If we used 3000-series highways for the families, you would already be in the late 3300's, if not 3400's. Thankfully, Louisiana is not numbering any more highways as 3XXX routes, just 12XX.

That same (four-digit routes) oddity also exists in KY and VA.

[StogieGuy7]

That there is such as thing as a "route family" is oddity enough.....   

PA has route families. The x96s, the x13s, the x32s... list goes on.

But they aren't 396-1, 396-2, 396-3, etc.  That's rather peculiar.   Just like WV's fractions. 

[NE2]

That same (four-digit routes) oddity also exists in KY and VA.

And New Mexico, and Florida, and Hawaii, and the Dakotas... hardly an oddity.

[mcdonaat]

Choudrant, LA has the most route family branches out of any of the cities, for the size... well, had. LA 819-1, -2, -3, -4, -5... all for a town with a population of 200.