Will there ever be new US highways?

[RoadMaster09]

👍 Roadmaster

I agree.  You laid out well-thought out principles that clearly delineate that a US highway, while not always a freeway or expressway, is at least an important corridor that should have precedence over state routes.  I also agree that the system needs to be cleaned up a bit, add some highways and remove others largely on the grounds that you have suggested.

In short, if there are two parallel non-Interstate corridors, the US route should be the primary route and the other route should be a state highway.

Correct. The order is Interstate --> US highway --> State highway --> County highway. However, if they are NHS or higher standard routes, US routes should have never been decommissioned in the first place. It's a tricky task but I'd try to recommission the old US highways as much as possible. Split and alternate routes have no place in the system. Longer ones would probably take on a 3-digit number, shorter ones become state highways (or in a few cases, county highways).

Non-NHS US routes that do not parallel an Interstate should be reviewed, but in many cases they would just get an NHS classification anyway, and if not, they would become state highways. US highways should either have an inter-regional or national purpose, or parallel a route (an Interstate) that does.

[froggie]

^ Sounds rather familiar...

[epzik8]

I haven't really read the replies, but this is an interesting question.

[RoadMaster09]

^ Sounds rather familiar...

I do include the parallel-route exception though.

[tolbs17]

Not sure, and I don't think so. If anything they have a more modern interstate system and these days US highways are getting diminished.

[paulthemapguy]

It's a tricky task but I'd try to recommission the old US highways as much as possible. Split and alternate routes have no place in the system. Longer ones would probably take on a 3-digit number, shorter ones become state highways (or in a few cases, county highways).

I don't know if I agree with phasing out US route shields and redesignating them as state routes.  It would be fine either way, but changing the shape of the route shield is just extra work for maintenance crews.

But I DEFINITELY agree that bannered and suffixed routes on the US system are obsolete in a world where people rarely are following the main US highway number for a considerable distance.  Longer ones can be state numbers or 3dus.  Business/bypass routes should be given state numbers.