Renumbering the interstate grid

[agentsteel53]

that's an interesting idea, bouncing I-35/I-29 and I-49/I-35 off each other.

[geoking111]

I think most of the interstate highway grid needs to remain intact. Many of the existing 2di's are deeply embedded within the states and cities they travel through. I couldn't imagine swapping major routes such as I-55, I-65, and I-75 for other route numbers. However, there are a few interstates that I would change:

I-39 should be changed to I-47, it's current number is too low to be located that far east, plus I-39 is not a major 2di and is relatively new, so changing it wouldn't cause much trouble

I-43 should be changed to I-53, its current number is also too low to be located this far east. It is also a intrastate interstate, so there shouldn't be much trouble. By the way, I wouldn't care at all that there would be a I-53 and a US 53 in the same state!

Currently, the I-6 idea for  Louisiana sounds interesting, but I'm a little more in favor of switching I-10 to US 90's path from Lafayette to New Orleans. I would extend I-12 west from Baton Rouge to Lafayette. I would renumber I-10 between Baton Rouge and New Orleans as I-x12. I-110 in Baton Rouge could be renumbered to I-112. Also, I-55 could be extended to the southeast to New Orleans. I know this would involve changing I-10's traditional path and some problems, I still favor this option. I definitely do not support extending I-49 to New Orelans, that would be completely ridiculous.

I-97 should definitely be changed to something else. It is way too short to be a 2di. Since I think I-66 should be extended east of DC to Annapolis, I would renumber it to I-x66.

I'm on the fence about I-99. Some days, I think it should be left alone, other days I think it should be a I-x76. I definitely think I-81 and I-83 should remain intact as they are. It doesn't make sense to change these routes because of this little annoying route.

[FLRoads]

I think most of the interstate highway grid needs to remain intact. Many of the existing 2di's are deeply embedded within the states and cities they travel through.

My thoughts exactly.  Changing Interstate numbers at this point would cause more confusion than good.

While it's nice to map out a new numbering system as a lesson in creativity/imagination/fantasy, the reality of the situation is that the existing system is well-established and understood.

Well that was all this thread was suppose to be.  Kind of like a "what if" scenario to see what others would have numbered the interstate system.  I do agree that changing the interstate system now would cause more confusion.  But unfortunately AASHTO has already made some changes, such as changing Interstate 181 for Interstate 26 (as discussed in a previous thread).  And yes, the current system is well-established, but being well understood, that is something different.

[DrZoidberg]

I-7 should be US-97, especially in Oregon.  That corridor definitely needs an upgrade.

I agree with this one...I think an upgrade to US 97 is needed, as it would provide truck traffic with a better alternative between CA and Washington without going over the I-5 Siskiyou Pass.

[Sykotyk]

If I had control, any 'non-mainline' interstate that's not a loop or spur would get a new designation.

Examples, I-17, I-19, I-27, I-45, I-49, I-12/I-10, I-79, I-99, I-376 (when finished), I-476, I-68/I-70/I-76, and I-97.

I'd take I-70 straight through Pennsylvania and stay as the Turnpike until New Jersey. Turn the I-76 in Philadelphia into a 3di spur. Take I-68 from Morgantown into Baltimore. Turn the I-70 Breezewood extension into I-168 or so, or also call it a connector. Take I-76 from the I-80 interchange to the new New Stanton I-70 interchange, and called it an interstate connector. Take I-76 from I-71 to I-80 in Ohio and rename it as an interstate connector.

Any limited access highway (even slightly substandard), that is not considered a 'mainline' for the U.S. that connects to an interstate can be resigned as an "Interstate Connector". The number would simply be in progression from, say, IC-101, to IC-102, IC-103, etc.

My suggeston would be to 'invert' the interstate shield (red with white numbers, blue band at the top that says "Connector".

That would also free up a lot of numbers to be used for other eventual mainline interstates.

That's just my thought.

Sykotyk

[Revive 755]

Maybe now would be a great time to renumber the US and Interstate systems; think of the jobs that could be created from having to change all the signs . . . yeah, I wish.

[FLRoads]

Yes, but they do that on a regular basis in Delaware already.  Though they aren't changing the numbers, DelDOT repeatedly replaces signs that do not need replacing...

[Freewayjim]

Maybe now would be a great time to renumber the US and Interstate systems; think of the jobs that could be created from having to change all the signs . . . yeah, I wish.

And the money that could be raised by auctioning off the old signs.

[Freewayjim]

Here's my $.02

Reroute I-95 around Richmond along I-295, Extend I-85 North through Richmond along Current I-95. Rename the section of I-95 from I-295 to I-85 in Petersburg to I-485. Renumber I-195 and VA-195 to I-685.

I-85 Ends at I-75 in Atlanta (Brookwood Interchange). I-85 Airport Connector Section is renamed I-875 (leave I-285 As-Is) and Rename I-85 from I-285 SW of the Airport to Montgomery I-14 and extend it west to Meridian, MS.

GA-316 Becomes I-785

Extend I-185 South to Tallahassee as I-67

Switch I-75 with I-275 around the Tampa-St. Petersburg Area

I know it doesn't jive with everyone elses ideas, after all it's just for fun. Now if we are all in a room getting paid to do this that's a different story. 

[FLRoads]

Switch I-75 with I-275 around the Tampa-St. Petersburg Area

Well, actually at one time I-75 was routed into the St. Petersburg area, during the 1970's.  Once the eastern bypass of Tampa was proposed and the I-75E designation was dropped, it was decided to reroute I-75 on the bypass and create I-275 to go through Tampa and St. Pete.  Of course before all of that I-4 was the chosen interstate to venture close to the Pinallas County city (back in the 1960's).

[74/171FAN]

Renumber I-99 to I-480 if it doesn't become a 2di. Renumber PA 283 to I-383.

Renumber VA 288 to I-695. Change VA 895 (yes, I know it's not an interstate) to an extended VA 150.

VA 164 should be I-164, and I-264 from I-64 to Virginia Beach should be I-64. (In other words, I agree with the idea to do that, then make present I-64 from I-264 to its terminus an extended I-664).

US 34 in Illinois between I-74 and Monmouth should become I-174.

Actually VA 895 should be I-895 but federal funds for an early phase of the project made AASHTO reject it as an interstate due to some technalities due to federal funds being used in early phases of the project after AASHTO approved the designation 10-15 years before it was even considered to be a toll road. And if you still want it VA 150 you can beg VDOT to secretly assign it like in Florida or Georgia with its interstates. Anyhow I-695 should be cosigned with I-83 on the NE end of the Baltimore Beltway along with I-70 on the southwest side to I-97(which would be replaced by I-70) and I-70 would go from I-97 to Annapolis(being signed with US 50 and US 301. I-595 would end at current I-97) at MD 70 or points east.   

[akotchi]

If I had the opportunity to renumber the interstates in the Baltimore-Washington area, knowing what we know now, here is what I would do:

Considering that U.S. 50/301 was to be I-68 before it got the secret I-595, I would extend I-68 from Hancock, multiplexing with I-70 to Frederick, then overtake I-270 to Washington (I-370 becomes I-368), multiplex with I-495 (and I-95) to U.S. 50, and veering east to Annapolis, maintaining 2di service to the capital city.  I-68 could extend east to the U.S. 50/301 split, though I don't think that section is up to interstate standards.

I-97 would become another spur of I-68, such as I-268 or I-468.

The other thought . . . (shaking the Etch-o-Sketch) . . . is to extend I-97 through Baltimore (along the northern section of I-895), duplex with I-95 up through Wilmington, overtake I-295 in Delaware, cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and assume the southern portion of the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 6.  Maybe I-97 gets a bit of respectability as a 2di.

Of course, what is nice about these discussions is that if one idea does not work, shake up the Etch-o-Sketch and try again 

[FLRoads]

Actually VA 895 should be I-895 but federal funds for an early phase of the project made AASHTO reject it as an interstate due to some technalities due to federal funds being used in early phases of the project after AASHTO approved the designation 10-15 years before it was even considered to be a toll road. And if you still want it VA 150 you can beg VDOT to secretly assign it like in Florida or Georgia with its interstates. Anyhow I-695 should be cosigned with I-83 on the NE end of the Baltimore Beltway along with I-70 on the southwest side to I-97(which would be replaced by I-70) and I-70 would go from I-97 to Annapolis(being signed with US 50 and US 301. I-595 would end at current I-97) at MD 70 or points east.   

I concur on your statement about Interstate 70. I have always felt that since the original alignment was never completed and never will be, the proper solution would be to extend the transcontinental (well, almost transcontinental) interstate southwest along Interstate 695 at least to Interstate 95, and even further east and south along Interstate 97. And one can go further to extend Interstate 70 on new alignment to Dover, DE (I believe I have mentioned this before).

I can also see Interstate 83 being rerouted onto Interstate 695 to end at Interstate 95. The original section of Interstate 83 could then be renumbered as an I-x83.

Though these things will never come to fruition, it is nice to dream...

[74/171FAN]

Actually VA 895 should be I-895 but federal funds for an early phase of the project made AASHTO reject it as an interstate due to some technalities due to federal funds being used in early phases of the project after AASHTO approved the designation 10-15 years before it was even considered to be a toll road. And if you still want it VA 150 you can beg VDOT to secretly assign it like in Florida or Georgia with its interstates. Anyhow I-695 should be cosigned with I-83 on the NE end of the Baltimore Beltway along with I-70 on the southwest side to I-97(which would be replaced by I-70) and I-70 would go from I-97 to Annapolis(being signed with US 50 and US 301. I-595 would end at current I-97) at MD 70 or points east.   

I concur on your statement about Interstate 70. I have always felt that since the original alignment was never completed and never will be, the proper solution would be to extend the transcontinental (well, almost transcontinental) interstate southwest along Interstate 695 at least to Interstate 95, and even further east and south along Interstate 97. And one can go further to extend Interstate 70 on new alignment to Dover, DE (I believe I have mentioned this before).

I can also see Interstate 83 being rerouted onto Interstate 695 to end at Interstate 95. The original section of Interstate 83 could then be renumbered as an I-x83.

Though these things will never come to fruition, it is nice to dream...

I actually had already posted this in the Baltimore thread on the Mid-Atlantic Board as well and if I-83 used the NE section of the Baltimore Beltway that the second(for now until I-785 is assigned after I-840 in Greensboro is finished) 3di multiplex would exist between the x-83 and I-695.

[DrZoidberg]

Ideally, I'd like to eliminate the "jump" from I-40 to I-70.  I-50 and I-60 would be interesting to see, but would require some massive renumberings, and most likely re-alignments.

[DrZoidberg]

Here is an interesting challenge for us all, related to renumbering the Interstate grid.

Q: Can you find alignments for Interstates 1-99, using each number?  In other words, could we have 100 interstates?

[un1]

Well if we could add interstates that are only 50 miles long, than yes. 

[WillWeaverRVA]

Renumber I-99 to I-480 if it doesn't become a 2di. Renumber PA 283 to I-383.

Renumber VA 288 to I-695. Change VA 895 (yes, I know it's not an interstate) to an extended VA 150.

VA 164 should be I-164, and I-264 from I-64 to Virginia Beach should be I-64. (In other words, I agree with the idea to do that, then make present I-64 from I-264 to its terminus an extended I-664).

US 34 in Illinois between I-74 and Monmouth should become I-174.

Actually VA 895 should be I-895 but federal funds for an early phase of the project made AASHTO reject it as an interstate due to some technalities due to federal funds being used in early phases of the project after AASHTO approved the designation 10-15 years before it was even considered to be a toll road. And if you still want it VA 150 you can beg VDOT to secretly assign it like in Florida or Georgia with its interstates. Anyhow I-695 should be cosigned with I-83 on the NE end of the Baltimore Beltway along with I-70 on the southwest side to I-97(which would be replaced by I-70) and I-70 would go from I-97 to Annapolis(being signed with US 50 and US 301. I-595 would end at current I-97) at MD 70 or points east.  

I knew about the whole I-/VA 895 designation thing, but the main reason for my suggestion is that the mileposts on VA 895 continue on VA 150; they don't reset when VA 895 ends and becomes VA 150. This implies a single continuous route, and not two separate ones.

If for some weird reason VA 895 never becomes I-895, it should become a VA 150 extension.

[74/171FAN]

Renumber I-99 to I-480 if it doesn't become a 2di. Renumber PA 283 to I-383.

Renumber VA 288 to I-695. Change VA 895 (yes, I know it's not an interstate) to an extended VA 150.

VA 164 should be I-164, and I-264 from I-64 to Virginia Beach should be I-64. (In other words, I agree with the idea to do that, then make present I-64 from I-264 to its terminus an extended I-664).

US 34 in Illinois between I-74 and Monmouth should become I-174.

Actually VA 895 should be I-895 but federal funds for an early phase of the project made AASHTO reject it as an interstate due to some technalities due to federal funds being used in early phases of the project after AASHTO approved the designation 10-15 years before it was even considered to be a toll road. And if you still want it VA 150 you can beg VDOT to secretly assign it like in Florida or Georgia with its interstates. Anyhow I-695 should be cosigned with I-83 on the NE end of the Baltimore Beltway along with I-70 on the southwest side to I-97(which would be replaced by I-70) and I-70 would go from I-97 to Annapolis(being signed with US 50 and US 301. I-595 would end at current I-97) at MD 70 or points east.  

I knew about the whole I-/VA 895 designation thing, but the main reason for my suggestion is that the mileposts on VA 895 continue on VA 150; they don't reset when VA 895 ends and becomes VA 150. This implies a single continuous route, and not two separate ones.

If for some weird reason VA 895 never becomes I-895, it should become a VA 150 extension.

So if VA 150 was ever upgraded to interstate standards and VA 895 became I-895, I would propose extending the I-895 designation to VA 76 along with making VA 76 I-595 from I-195(which would take over VA 195) to I-895 and then designate VA 76 as I-895 all the way to VA 288(I-695 here).  Of course I prefer making VA 150 a full freeway up to interstate standards along with Parham Rd up to I-64 with the I-895 designation.  In that case I-595 would extend down VA 76 to VA 288(I-695 again here).

[Revive 755]

I posted this once on MTR, but for the heck of it, here's my idea to renumber the interstates in base-12,  with 'a' for 10 and 'b' for 11 -- I'm assuming other symbols, maybe Greek letters, would actually be used for signing:

* I-95, I-93, and I-91 become I-b5, I-b3, and I-b1.
* I-97 becomes I-9b7 unless it gets extended in the future, in which
case it becomes I-b7.
* I-89 and I-87 become I-a9 and I-a7
* I-81 between the Canadian border and Roanoke, VA, becomes I-a5.
South of Roanoke, I-a5 would follow the proposed I-73 corridor to
Myrtle Beach.
* I-83 becomes I-a3, with a future extension northward to Rochester,
NY.
* I-99 keeps its number.
* I-79 becomes I-97
* I-77 becomes I-95.  South of Columbia, SC, I-95 would replace I-26.
* I-26 between Columbia, SC, and the Virginia border becomes I-93.
* I-71 becomes I-89
* The proposed I-73 corridor between Lansing, MI, and Roanoke, VA,
becomes I-91
* I-94 north of Detroit becomes I-87.
* I-75 becomes I-85.
* I-69 becomes I-83 south of Lansing.  North of Lansing, I-83 would
use the US 127 freeway.
* I-196 and the US 31 corridor north of Indianapolis becomes I081
* I-43 north of Milwaukee, I-94 between Milwaukee and Gary, and I-65
north of Montgomery become I-75.  South of Montgomery, I-75 would
follow the future freeway in the US 231 corridor.
* I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile becomes I-73.
* I-59 between I-24 and I-20 becomes I-79, and would be extended up
the proposed I-175 corridor between Chattanooga and Lexington KY
should such a route be built.
* The western part of I-59 between I-20 and I-10 becomes I-71.
* I-57 becomes I-69
* I-55 becomes I-65.
* I-39 becomes I-63.
* I-59 is reserved for the US 67 corridor in Illinois, with a possible
extension north along US 61 up to Dubuque.
* I-57 is reserved for the Avenue of the Saints corridor.
*I-55 is reserved for any future development of the US 63 corridor
between Waterloo, IA, and I-55.
* I-53 is reserved for the MO 7-MO 13-US 65 corridor between the
Kansas City area and Little Rock
* The I-49 corridor between I-30 and I-10 keeps its number
* I-35 north of KC becomes I-45.  South of KC, I-45 follows the
proposed I-49 corridor down to Texarkana, from which it would follow
the proposed spur of the I-69 corridor into Texas and then follow the
main corridor down to the Brownsville, TX.
* I-41 is reserved for a future Sioux City - Minneapolis interstate.
* I-29 becomes I-39
* I-35 between Kansas City and Emporia is replaced by I-37.  This I-37
continues up present I-335, and is available for extension from Topeka
to St. Joseph.
* I-35 keeps its current route south of Wichita, but replaces I-135 in
Kansas, with a far-future extension northward.
* I-45 in Texas becomes I-43
* I-37 becomes I-3b
* I-44 west of Oklahoma City becomes I-33
* I-27 and westward stays the same.
* I-90 between I-5 and Billings become I-b0.  I-b0 then follows I-94's
route to Milwaukee.
* I-90 between I-25 and Billings becomes part of I-25.  The part of
I-90 between I-25 and the western junction with I-94 in Wisconsin
becomes I-a0, and would take any US 12 freeway between Madison and
Chicago.
* I-43 between I-90 and Milwaukee becomes I-9a.
* I-90 between Rockford and Chicago become I-98, and would eventually
be extended west via the US 20 corridor.
* I-86 in Idaho becomes I-96.
* Western I-84 becomes I-94.
* I-82 becomes I-a2.
* I-69 between Lansing and Port Huron becomes I-88.
* I-96 becomes I-86.
* I-94 between Chicago and Detroit becomes I-84.
* I-b0 replaces I-90 between Boston and Buffalo, but heads to Canada
via I-290 and I-190.
* I-90 between Cleveland and Buffalo becomes I-aa
* Eastern I-86 and I-84 become I-a6 and I-84.
* I-80 keeps its number.
* I-238 becomes I-a80.
* Western I-76 becomes I-7a
* I-35 between I-335 and KC becomes I-52.
* I-30 becomes I-34.
* I-81 between I-40 and Roanoke would become I-54
* I-85 between I-65 and its western junction with I-40 becomes I-36.
* I-24 becomes I-38
* The proposed I-22 becomes I-30.  I-30 would replace I-20 east of
Birmingham.
* I-20 between Birmingham and the western junction with I-59 becomes
I-26.
* I-20 eventually replaces I-16 and US 80 east of Meridian.
* I-10 replaces I-12.
* I-49 between Lafayette and New Orleans and I-10 between New Orleans
I-59 becomes I-6.
* I-10 between Baton Rouge and I-55 becomes I-610.  I-55 replaces I-10
into New Orleans, with I-655 replacing the existing I-610.

[CMHroads]

New here, but I would extend I-68 west to Columbus via U.S. 33 once it is upgraded.

[74/171FAN]

I posted this once on MTR, but for the heck of it, here's my idea to renumber the interstates in base-12,  with 'a' for 10 and 'b' for 11 -- I'm assuming other symbols, maybe Greek letters, would actually be used for signing:


* I-85 between I-65 and its western junction with I-40 becomes I-36.

What about I-85 from the eastern I-40 junction to I-95 in Petersburg?

[Revive 755]

I posted this once on MTR, but for the heck of it, here's my idea to renumber the interstates in base-12,  with 'a' for 10 and 'b' for 11 -- I'm assuming other symbols, maybe Greek letters, would actually be used for signing:


* I-85 between I-65 and its western junction with I-40 becomes I-36.

What about I-85 from the eastern I-40 junction to I-95 in Petersburg?

I'd go with I-a1.

[Duke87]

I-86 in Idaho. Make it I-284. There is zero justification for that thing being a two digit route. It goes from nowhere to almost nowhere, and it's a measly 63 miles long. All it really is is a shortcut from westward on I-84 to northward on I-15. Sounds like a bypass to me!

And don't get me started on I-97.

[ComputerGuy]

I-82: I-7
I-182: I-107