Random facts about interstates and US routes

[Scott5114]

In 1958, California had no less than four US route shield designs for use on freeway guide signs: 1 digit, 2 digit, 3 digit where one digit is "1", and 3 digit. The one-digit shield, of course, was only ever used on US-6!

[Bickendan]

Highest difference between two same direction interstates intersecting

E-W: I-40 and I-74 (34)
N-S: I-35 and I-69(W) (34)

Incorrect:

And together they make I-100!

[GaryA]

In 1958, California had no less than four US route shield designs for use on freeway guide signs: 1 digit, 2 digit, 3 digit where one digit is "1", and 3 digit. The one-digit shield, of course, was only ever used on US-6!

Surprised they didn't have one more, for 3 digit where two digits are "1" (101).

[bandit957]

In the late '80s, I observed that Cincinnati was tied with several other cities for having the most U.S. routes within its city limits. I don't remember what the others were, but Lexington and Memphis may have been among them. However, I think Chicago once had more.

[bandit957]

In the late '80s, I observed that Cincinnati was tied with several other cities for having the most U.S. routes within its city limits. I don't remember what the others were, but Lexington and Memphis may have been among them. However, I think Chicago once had more.

Also, for Cincinnati, I did count US 25 even though by that time it had been truncated at the state line.

[bandit957]

I would also say there are gaps in I-74, between the unfinished portions in North Carolina, but would not consider the section between Cincinnati and the NC/VA line to be a gap because there will never be an interstate between those two points. There's also a gap in I-26 between Asheville and Mars Hill, even though there's a freeway running between those two points.

The gap in I-74 can really be filled in with existing Interstates as it is. It wouldn't be perfectly straight, but it wouldn't be completely idiotic either.

[bwana39]

Post whatever random facts about interstates or US routes you have that you find interesting here. They can be as obvious, or as obscure as you like. I had plenty of facts over the past few weeks, but forgot about what all of them are about. Here's two I thought of in the shower today:

Of the x0 interstates (excluding wannabe I-30), I-10 interchanges with the most x5 interstates, while I-70 interchanges with the least. And none of them meet all 10 of them.
90: 5, 15, 25, 35, 55, 65, 75, 95 (8)
80: 5, 15, 25, 35, 55, 65, 75, 95 (8)
70: 15, 25, 35, 55, 65, 75 (6)
40: 15, 25, 35, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95 (8)
20: 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95 (7)
10: 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 95 (9)

Speaking of I-70, it's the only x0 without a 5xx 3di, a common odd first digit for 3dis for some reason, and sometimes, the only odd first digit 3di an interstate has (516, 520, 530, 579, etc). Also, I-40 doesn't have a 3xx 3di, another common first digit.

Interesting.

I have always thought about how the I-35/I-10 interchanges in San Antonio are the most "connected" interchanges in the system (fitting since they share an alignment too).  Since the aforementioned I-10 intersects with the most I-X5s and I-35 is the only I-X5 to intersect with all I-X0 interstates (I am not going to fight about how I-35 is actually 3 separate interstates and that it doesn't intersect with I-20 or I-30 since they actually intersect I-35E and I-35W from east to west respectively).  Basically the only one missing is I-85, but a short jaunt up I-65 from Mobile gets you to I-85 so it can be easily forgiven.

Separately, I-30 and I-85 are cousins, as they are the only interstates to default on both ends onto another "like" interstate (I-85 from I-65 to I-95 and I-30 from I-20 to I-40), making their short or relatively short life being part of a much larger route. 

On that note, I am not in the boat of the I-30 and I-45 bashing.  I-30 is an important connection from Dallas to Chicago or New York, while I-45 is basically I-35EE, part of that important corridor.  Yes they are both short, but very important.

The folks in Arkansas wanted to continue I-30 along US-67 to the Missouri state line, but AASHTO declined the application at the strong urging of the Illinois and Missouri contingents.  Some would argue that I-22 should have become I-30. Others would propose that US-287 should eventually become I-30. I-30 probably exists because of US House Speaker Sam Rayburn from north Texas and Senate majority leader Lyndon Johnson.  coupled with Arkansas' powerful senators McClellan and Fulbright.

US 67 was always a major thoroughfare. It might also mention that Texas size probably called for 4 X-0's

[Crown Victoria]

A picture of the western portal of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Kittatinny Mountain Tunnel is featured as the first postcard during the opening credits of National Lampoon's Vacation.

The image is from before the tunnel was twinned, and before designation as I-76, but still an interesting random fact.

[CtrlAltDel]

A picture of the western portal of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Kittatinny Mountain Tunnel is featured as the first postcard during the opening credits of National Lampoon's Vacation.

The image is from before the tunnel was twinned, and before designation as I-76, but still an interesting random fact.

Not that anyone asked, but here are all of the postcards from that title sequence.

[Flint1979]

I'm surprised to see Big Boy in that picture. Talk about a chain that has gone downhill it's horrible now days. Used to be a good restaurant but not anymore.

[achilles765]

Texas has both the most intrastate Interstate and intrastate US Routes. It also has the most suffixed routes:
Interstates:
I-2, I-14 (for now), I-27, I-37, I-45

Suffixed:
I-35E, I-35W, I-69E, I-69C, I-69W

US Highways:
Us 57, US 96, US 175, US 181, US 290

[ethanhopkin14]

Texas has both the most intrastate Interstate and intrastate US Routes. It also has the most suffixed routes:
Interstates:
I-2, I-14 (for now), I-27, I-37, I-45

Suffixed:
I-35E, I-35W, I-69E, I-69C, I-69W

US Highways:
Us 57, US 96, US 175, US 181, US 290

But does it have the most alternate US routes?

US 90A and US 77A.  I am basing this on nothing so I don't know. 

[Dirt Roads]

Texas has both the most intrastate Interstate and intrastate US Routes. It also has the most suffixed routes:
Interstates:
I-2, I-14 (for now), I-27, I-37, I-45

Suffixed:
I-35E, I-35W, I-69E, I-69C, I-69W

US Highways:
Us 57, US 96, US 175, US 181, US 290

But does it have the most alternate US routes?

US 90A and US 77A.  I am basing this on nothing so I don't know.

North Carolina still has a bunch of "A-suffixed" routes:

US-1A (Franklinton)
US-1A (Wake Forest/Rolesville)
US-23A (Faust)
US-25A (Arden -to- Asheville)
US-64A (south of Bunn -to- Nashville)
US-64A (Rocky Mount -to- Williamston)
US-70A (Pine Level)
US-74A (Bat Cave -to- Asheville)
US-74A (Maxton -to- west of Lumberton)
US-117A (Dudley -to- Mount Olive)
US-220A (Ulah -to- Seagrove)
US-221A (Rutherfordton -to- Chesnee SC) (Bonus!  Important enough to multiplex with four-lane US-74 between Rutherfordton and Forest City)
US-264A (east of Zebulon -to- Greenville)
US-321A (Lenoir)

There are many others in North Carolina that have been downgraded (and some of these may have already been as well).  Also, it looks like we will lose some sections once I-587 and I-87 get posted along the respective stretches of US-264/US-264A and US-64/US-64A.

Also, there is the infamous "Highway 70A" signed on street blades east of Hillsborough, and posted as US-70 Business.  Like so many of North Carolina's "A-routes", this is a "flipped route". The Hillsboro bypass was completed in 1942 and originally posted as US-70A and the downtown route remained as US-70.  Then the routes were flipped in 1947.  By late 1959, US-70A through downtown Hillsborough was reposted as US-70 Business.  Folks continued to refer to the section east of "new" NC-86 as "Highway 70A", and the post office continued to use that moniker for addresses east of town.  In the 1990s, street blades went up still saying "Highway 70A" in accordance with the official postal service addresses.  I noticed that US-321A is also a flipped route.

[jlam]

A Denver fact to restart this thread: All interstates in Colorado go through Denver proper. I believe this is the only state where all of its interstates go through the limits of one city?

[JayhawkCO]

A Denver fact to restart this thread: All interstates in Colorado go through Denver proper. I believe this is the only state where all of its interstates go through the limits of one city?

And also somewhat interestingly, three of the five only are in Denver for less than a mile (I-76, I-225, and I-70).

North Dakota has all signed interstates at least going through one city (Fargo).

Chris

[jlam]

Honorable mentions go to Sioux Falls and Omaha, but I-190 and both I-76 and I-129 exist respectively.

[JayhawkCO]

Honorable mentions go to Sioux Falls and Omaha, but I-190 and both I-76 and I-129 exist respectively.

And Providence and Wilmington, DE are both even closer.  Both I-295s are less than 5 miles away.

Chris

[jlam]

Technically, Honolulu stretches across all of Oahu, but the Goog counts it as just the south shore.

[SkyPesos]

A Denver fact to restart this thread: All interstates in Colorado go through Denver proper. I believe this is the only state where all of its interstates go through the limits of one city?

I find it interesting that even if I-470 is an interstate in the Denver area, it will still go through the city limits even though it's pretty far from most of the city, because of Pena Blvd and the weird city limit borders including the airport.

[Rothman]

Technically, Honolulu stretches across all of Oahu, but the Goog counts it as just the south shore.

What?

[jlam]

Technically, Honolulu stretches across all of Oahu, but the Goog counts it as just the south shore.

What?

Apparently, Honolulu and Honolulu county are a consolidated city-county government. They don't have the same boundaries, though.

[Rothman]

Technically, Honolulu stretches across all of Oahu, but the Goog counts it as just the south shore.

What?

Apparently, Honolulu and Honolulu county are a consolidated city-county government. They don't have the same boundaries, though.

Your statements appear contradictory.

[formulanone]

US 441 runs for exactly 441.20 miles in Florida.

[kenarmy]

US 166 is 166 miles long.
US 195 is 95 miles long.
Close enough but US 319 is 318 miles.
The biggest range for a numbered US route intersections is 729 (US 30). Pls idk how to word that.

[US20IL64]

Technically, Honolulu stretches across all of Oahu, but the Goog counts it as just the south shore.

What?

Apparently, Honolulu and Honolulu county are a consolidated city-county government. They don't have the same boundaries, though.

Your statements appear contradictory.

There is the official 'Honolulu City & County', all of Oahu island, and the "census county division" which is the unincorporated urbanized area on south shore.