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Why isn't there an Interstate 995?

Started by Crown Victoria, April 10, 2020, 08:57:10 AM

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Crown Victoria

As we all know there are many, many I-x95's, with some numbers that repeat within fairly close proximity to each other (the 395s and 695s in the DC-Baltimore area come to mind).  Why hasn't any agency chosen to designate I-995 anywhere?  And if you could change an existing x95 to I-995, which would you choose?



Henry

The most obvious candidate for I-995 would be I-97, but since the question specifies an existing I-x95 route, I'd go with I-395 leading into downtown Baltimore.

As for why there's no I-995 anywhere, the state DOTs simply don't have any real need to add, since most of them only stop at either 195 or 395. FL has gone up to 595, while NC and MD have each gone up to 795.
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1995hoo

Quote from: Henry on April 10, 2020, 09:24:33 AM
The most obvious candidate for I-995 would be I-97, but since the question specifies an existing I-x95 route, I'd go with I-395 leading into downtown Baltimore.

As for why there's no I-995 anywhere, the state DOTs simply don't have any real need to add, since most of them only stop at either 195 or 395. FL has gone up to 595, while NC and MD have each gone up to 795.

It somewhat bears noting that North Carolina doesn't have an I-195, -395, or -595, either; they have an I-295 near Fayetteville and they briefly had a bogus I-495 near Raleigh a few years ago. This somewhat underscores the point made in another thread about how the use of 3dis' initial digits can be somewhat arbitrary, as there's no real reason why North Carolina's I-795 couldn't have been I-195 (insofar as I'm aware, there hasn't been an NC-195 since 1975).

I could, theoretically, see a case for using different numbers for Maryland's I-395 and DC's I-695* to avoid theoretical confusion with each other (though I'm unaware of any real-life claims of actual motorist confusion, other than former WTOP traffic reporter Bob Marbourg gratuitously griping about DC's I-695 number on occasion), but of all the states with I-x95 routes, North Carolina is one that doesn't really face such concerns because their two I-x95s are reasonably distant from any other state's routes (the next one to the south is I-295 around Jacksonville; the next one to the north is I-295 around Richmond and Petersburg).

*I figure the Virginia/DC I-395 is the more prominent and established one than Maryland's stub of an I-395, and I figured the Baltimore Beltway is the more important and better-established I-695, especially seeing as how DC's wasn't signed until very recently. But I don't really see any need to renumber any of those routes.
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Crown Victoria

Quote from: 1995hoo on April 10, 2020, 09:49:03 AM
Quote from: Henry on April 10, 2020, 09:24:33 AM
The most obvious candidate for I-995 would be I-97, but since the question specifies an existing I-x95 route, I'd go with I-395 leading into downtown Baltimore.

As for why there's no I-995 anywhere, the state DOTs simply don't have any real need to add, since most of them only stop at either 195 or 395. FL has gone up to 595, while NC and MD have each gone up to 795.

It somewhat bears noting that North Carolina doesn't have an I-195, -395, or -595, either; they have an I-295 near Fayetteville and they briefly had a bogus I-495 near Raleigh a few years ago. This somewhat underscores the point made in another thread about how the use of 3dis' initial digits can be somewhat arbitrary, as there's no real reason why North Carolina's I-795 couldn't have been I-195 (insofar as I'm aware, there hasn't been an NC-195 since 1975).

I could, theoretically, see a case for using different numbers for Maryland's I-395 and DC's I-695* to avoid theoretical confusion with each other (though I'm unaware of any real-life claims of actual motorist confusion, other than former WTOP traffic reporter Bob Marbourg gratuitously griping about DC's I-695 number on occasion), but of all the states with I-x95 routes, North Carolina is one that doesn't really face such concerns because their two I-x95s are reasonably distant from any other state's routes (the next one to the south is I-295 around Jacksonville; the next one to the north is I-295 around Richmond and Petersburg).

*I figure the Virginia/DC I-395 is the more prominent and established one than Maryland's stub of an I-395, and I figured the Baltimore Beltway is the more important and better-established I-695, especially seeing as how DC's wasn't signed until very recently. But I don't really see any need to renumber any of those routes.

I'll agree that I-97 should have been I-995...makes no sense to use a 2-digit number for such a short route (unless it's the start of something much longer, i.e. I-14 in Texas).

Keep in mind that there's nothing that says a state has to go in order.  Arkansas has 430, 530, and 630, but where's 230 and 330?  (I-130 almost made it...)   Also, I-540 is used twice (AR and NC), but there's no I-340 to be found anywhere...

In any case, if I-90 can use all its available three-digit numbers, certainly I-95 could?






sprjus4

Quote from: 1995hoo on April 10, 2020, 09:49:03 AM
Quote from: Henry on April 10, 2020, 09:24:33 AM
The most obvious candidate for I-995 would be I-97, but since the question specifies an existing I-x95 route, I'd go with I-395 leading into downtown Baltimore.

As for why there's no I-995 anywhere, the state DOTs simply don't have any real need to add, since most of them only stop at either 195 or 395. FL has gone up to 595, while NC and MD have each gone up to 795.

It somewhat bears noting that North Carolina doesn't have an I-195, -395, or -595, either; they have an I-295 near Fayetteville and they briefly had a bogus I-495 near Raleigh a few years ago. This somewhat underscores the point made in another thread about how the use of 3dis' initial digits can be somewhat arbitrary, as there's no real reason why North Carolina's I-795 couldn't have been I-195 (insofar as I'm aware, there hasn't been an NC-195 since 1975).

I could, theoretically, see a case for using different numbers for Maryland's I-395 and DC's I-695* to avoid theoretical confusion with each other (though I'm unaware of any real-life claims of actual motorist confusion, other than former WTOP traffic reporter Bob Marbourg gratuitously griping about DC's I-695 number on occasion), but of all the states with I-x95 routes, North Carolina is one that doesn't really face such concerns because their two I-x95s are reasonably distant from any other state's routes (the next one to the south is I-295 around Jacksonville; the next one to the north is I-295 around Richmond and Petersburg).

*I figure the Virginia/DC I-395 is the more prominent and established one than Maryland's stub of an I-395, and I figured the Baltimore Beltway is the more important and better-established I-695, especially seeing as how DC's wasn't signed until very recently. But I don't really see any need to renumber any of those routes.
IIRC, the US-264 corridor between I-95 and Greenville was originally proposed as I-595 years back, though ultimately was extended to US-64 at Zebulon to the west and approved as I-587.

Konza

One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.
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hotdogPi

Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.

There's already a 440, 880, and 990.
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Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.


You mean the on ramp between I-65 and I-465.
They said take a left at the fork in the road.  I didn't think they literally meant a fork, until plain as day, there was a fork sticking out of the road at a junction.

Crown Victoria

#8
Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.

Yes, that could be an issue.  However, there are some areas that tend to refer to their roads with names, not numbers.  In those areas, having similar sounding numbers wouldn't be an issue. 

Also, there are some secret Interstates, such as I-595 in Maryland.  A hidden I-995 designation somewhere would be just as good.

Quote from: 1 on April 10, 2020, 12:49:11 PM
There's already a 440, 880, and 990.

Don't forget 444 (which is unsigned), 555, and the soon-to-be-born 885.

sprjus4

Quote from: 1 on April 10, 2020, 12:49:11 PM
Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.

There's already a 440, 880, and 990.
If they had gone through with the original NC-VA I-87 proposal, there would have been an I-40, I-440, and I-44 all in Raleigh. I believe the confusion of three close numbers was one of the reasons they did not opt to go with that.

1995hoo

Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.

Do they not use individual digits when they talk over the radio, e.g., "six-six-five" instead of "six-sixty-five"? Using the NATO terminology would arguably be even clearer as to "niner-niner-fife." (Supposedly the reason "niner" is used instead of "nine" is to avoid any possible confusion with the German word "nein," meaning "no.")

My wife sometimes makes fun of me when I'm doing laundry and I tell Siri to set a timer for four-zero minutes, but the reason I do it is the same reason aviators do it–when I said "forty" once Siri thought I said "fourteen."
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

formulanone

Florida has a Future 795 in the works, so they would probably be the first state to use the Interstate 995 designation. There's plenty of opportunities for growth and another spur route. On the other hand, a lot of the newest expressways in Florida are tolled, so don't hold your breath.

RobbieL2415

Viable candidates for I-995, IMO:

CT 40 freeway stub
MA 18 freeway, New Bedford
The Loop Connector, Lawrence
PA/NJ 90
FL 836, Miami

Beltway

Quote from: 1995hoo on April 10, 2020, 03:04:51 PM
Quote from: Konza on April 10, 2020, 12:44:38 PM
One reason I-865 in Indiana is not I-665 is because the 911 dispatchers cautioned that "65" and "665" sound a lot alike.  I suspect the "95" and "995" would elicit the same reaction.
Do they not use individual digits when they talk over the radio, e.g., "six-six-five" instead of "six-sixty-five"? Using the NATO terminology would arguably be even clearer as to "niner-niner-fife." (Supposedly the reason "niner" is used instead of "nine" is to avoid any possible confusion with the German word "nein," meaning "no.")
I haven't heard of any such problem with I-664.

There is a I-264 and I-464, so I suppose they could have used I-864, but didn't.
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