Mistakes non roadgeeks make about roads

[Roadgeekteen]

My driver's ed teacher called MA 128 an interstate 

[deathtopumpkins]

My driver's ed teacher called MA 128 an interstate 

Maybe they'd just seen my avatar... 

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[CoreySamson]

I've seen US 59 in Houston called I-59, and I-69 called US 69.

[sprjus4]

Every road that ever-so-slightly resembles a freeway (divided, shoulders, etc.) is an interstate, even if it has driveways, intersections, etc.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

Freeways in PA are called expressways, no matter what.

[roadman]

My driver's ed teacher called MA 128 an interstate 

Maybe they'd just seen my avatar... 

Or all the Interstate 95 shields on signs between Canton and Peabody and just conflated the numbers.


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[jmacswimmer]

Freeways in PA are called expressways, no matter what.

The opposite seems to happen in WV, where at-grade expressways are called freeways (here's an example from Corridor H).

[texaskdog]

My driver's ed teacher called MA 128 an interstate 

watching forensic files last week the narrator said interstate 97, as a US 97 sign was on screen.  he also called it a state highway

[kphoger]

the narrator said interstate 97 ... a state highway

Isn't it?

[jeffandnicole]

A lot of people in my area believe that the municipality is responsible for the traffic light.  Almost all traffic lights are on county or state roadways, and thus they have jurisdiction.

A surprising number of people believe that state roads are county roads.  To use an example, even though NJ State Route 45 is properly signed at all signage points, many believe it's a county roadway.

Over 25 years ago in my younger days when I had time for this stuff, I went to our town council regarding a traffic light on CR 553 at NJ 55, which the state put in for traffic control of the on/off ramps for Rt. 55 North.  The timing of a protected left turn light had been changed somehow to only cycle at a specific interval, rather than on-demand, especially during lower traffic times.  Even though I stated they would need to talk to the state regarding the light, because the light appeared to physically control CR 553, the council insisted they would need to talk to the county.  Ultimately the county wrote back stating it's not their light, and they would need to contact the state.  Nothing was ever done about it.

Off the record, after the meeting, one of the council members told me they routinely go thru the red light when they go to work at 5am or so, and knew exactly what I was talking about. Still didn't do the situation any good though.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

The "every 1 in 5 miles"  urban legend about interstates. Since a lot of interstates just by coincidence have relatively straight, flat sections, a lot of people probably don't think to question it.

[CtrlAltDel]

Freeways in PA are called expressways, no matter what.

This is less a mistake and more a regional difference in terminology.

[kphoger]

Freeways in PA are called expressways, no matter what.

This is less a mistake and more a regional difference in terminology.

Agreed, but I wasn't sure how to word that succinctly.

It's like saying all those European roadgeeks on Skyscrapercity aren't really roadgeeks just because they refuse to call anything that isn't controlled-access a "highway".

[briantroutman]

Freeways in PA are called expressways, no matter what.

This is less a mistake and more a regional difference in terminology.

And there more than a few FREEWAY ENDS signs across the Commonwealth.

https://goo.gl/maps/5pstGebHF5i1tbrk6
https://goo.gl/maps/dmtABHsFTvhMDVYk7
https://goo.gl/maps/5WPvALgCq46sGV1R9
https://goo.gl/maps/x9SBRPsrrhagUa6k6
https://goo.gl/maps/Fhezoz1oy2iWeTBX6

[DandyDan]

I work with someone who routinely makes the trip from here in Mason City down to Fort Dodge. According to his description, he follows I-35 to I-20. I told him it's US 20 and he told me I don't understand that since it's freeway, it's interstate.

[kphoger]

I work with someone who routinely makes the trip from here in Mason City down to Fort Dodge. According to his description, he follows I-35 to I-20. I told him it's US 20 and he told me I don't understand that since it's freeway, it's interstate.

Well, that combines two mistakes, considering 20 isn't even controlled-access west of the Eagle Grove exit.

[STLmapboy]

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

[wxfree]

The worst fake Interstate I've seen is "I-30" in Austin.  I've seen and can understand "I-130" and "I-45," but seeing the "1" in "130" as "I" is a stretch, especially since there is no "I" in front of the number on Interstate signs.  Maybe they just have Dallas envy.

To be fair, I've seen it referred to that way only once.

[texaskdog]

the narrator said interstate 97 ... a state highway

Isn't it?

was US 97

[texaskdog]

my wife's dad's wife called I-90/94 "the I system"

[KCRoadFan]

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

I've always thought that MO 370 SHOULD be an interstate - in fact, I don't know why it's not one already. Ditto with MO 364.

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

I've always thought that MO 370 SHOULD be an interstate - in fact, I don't know why it's not one already. Ditto with MO 364.

Same with things like NC 840. Oh wait...

[Roadgeekteen]

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

It's a de facto interstate.

[ozarkman417]

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

Ditto with MO 364.

might want to upgrade the 64/364 junction before that happens.

A STL tourism map handed out by volunteers at Lambert Airport showed MO-370 as an interstate.

Did the map display MO-364 correctly?

[sprjus4]

The worst fake Interstate I've seen is "I-30" in Austin.  I've seen and can understand "I-130" and "I-45," but seeing the "1" in "130" as "I" is a stretch, especially since there is no "I" in front of the number on Interstate signs.  Maybe they just have Dallas envy.

To be fair, I've seen it referred to that way only once.

I've once heard "I-68" on VA-168 here in Hampton Roads.