Things every roadgeek should know

[webny99]

For starters,  Breezewood, PA
What else should every roadgeek know?

(Not to be presumptuous, but it might be good if this thread could get a sticky tack )

[Marf]

I-238
I-180 (IL and WY)
I-99
I-97
NMLSS

[ilpt4u]

Even though it is in progress of being eliminated...

I-95 Gap

[dgolub]

For starters (pun intended), Breezewood, PA
What else should every roadgeek know?

(Not to be presumptuous, but it might be good if this thread could get a sticky tack )

While we're at it, I-78 in Jersey City and I-676 in Philadelphia.

[fillup420]

I/US 74 and I/US 41

[Jmiles32]

Shortest two-digit interstate: I-97
Longest two-digit interstate: I-90

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I-275 IN/KY/OH

[lepidopteran]

The discontiguous 2-digit interstates, such as I-76

MUTCD

[ilpt4u]

I-275 IN/KY/OH

The only 3di that is the same route in 3 states? I-495/Capital Beltway says hello (ok DC isn't a state).

I-295 will be one route from Delaware thru NJ into Pennsylvania once the I-95/PA Turnpike Interchange is completed to "fill"  the I-95 Gap, so it is soon to exist in 3 states

Moving on...Doghouse vs Tower vs FYA

[Roadgeek2500]

The longest 3di - I-476 in PA

[hbelkins]

Carl Rogers is a buffoon.

[21stCenturyRoad]

Florida's colored US Highway shields.
Interchange Designs such as DDI
Future Interstates such as I-11 and I-587

[oscar]

Hawaii's Interstates, and Alaska and Puerto Rico's paper Interstates.

[Scott5114]

The different widths of FHWA Series and how to identify them.

Clearview: what it is, how to identify it, and that any font on a road sign other than FHWA Series is not necessarily Clearview.

The basic numbering system of the Interstate and US route systems. The difference between odd and even 3dis, and that distinction does not apply to 3duses. That interstates don't necessarily have to cross state lines, and that the 1-mile-in-5 rule is bunk.

The proper name for each state's route systems (e.g. that it is not Route 32 that you'll find in Kansas City, but K-32, that you won't find Route 9 in Oklahoma but State Highway 9, and that you won't find Highway 128 in Massachusetts but Route 128).

[briantroutman]

Wasn't there at one point a misc.transport.road FAQ that served basically this purpose? Does anyone have an archived copy of it?

[Max Rockatansky]

All things US Route 66.

[adventurernumber1]

These are just some things that are from the top of my head right now that have not been mentioned yet, but this list could truly go on forever:


1 => Button Copy

2 => Cut-out Shields

3 => 1926 - the creation of the US Highway system

4 => 1956 - the creation of the Interstate Highway system

5 => I-90 is the longest Interstate in the U.S.

6 => The Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 in Colorado (super awesome) is the highest point on the interstate system

7 => Interstate 275 around Cincinnati, Ohio is the longest beltway in the United States


There is definitely much more that even that, including what has already been said, and the many, many things that have yet to be said.

[oscar]

The different widths of FHWA Series and how to identify them.

Clearview: what it is, how to identify it, and that any font on a road sign other than FHWA Series is not necessarily Clearview.

ISTM these (especially the first item) are pretty optional, for those of us who aren't font freaks.

[sparker]

1.  The difference between chargeable and non-chargeable Interstates.
2.  Types of interchanges: diamond, cloverleaf, parclo, turbine, stack, trumpet, etc. -- and a reasonable amount of the     
      variances within those categories.
3.  That while 3dis are supposed to follow the spur/open-ended are odd initial integers, while loop/closed-loop
      are even initial integers, there are notable exceptions: 495 (NY), 780 (CA), 335 (KS), 635 (TX) and so on.
4.  The only time you'll see an Interstate 60 is in reference to a film that ended up going directly to video.

[OracleUsr]

What a C/D lane is
What a DDI is

[Hurricane Rex]

US 20 is longest road in country.

General understanding of all future interstates.

[Scott5114]

The different widths of FHWA Series and how to identify them.

Clearview: what it is, how to identify it, and that any font on a road sign other than FHWA Series is not necessarily Clearview.

ISTM these (especially the first item) are pretty optional, for those of us who aren't font freaks.

Not necessarily: it comes up in discussions of MUTCD compliance and legibility fairly often. A roadgeek should certainly know what Clearview is. The last part of the Clearview item is mostly my personal annoyance when someone declares something to be Clearview when it's really Franklin Gothic, or Gill Sans, or something else that has no business being on a road sign.

[formulanone]

Wasn't there at one point a misc.transport.road FAQ that served basically this purpose? Does anyone have an archived copy of it?

I'm not claiming we should all know all of this (and some it may be outdated). I usually still look 90-99% of my "facts" up.

I've wanted this here for a long time, as it is the de facto online road group. I had copies of this on my own computers over the years, but I can't find them. I had to use the Internet Archive to find it, too. I edited out a few things (what isn't allowed on MTR isn't relevant here, mailing lists, neither are other un-related newsgroups). It's just not relevant to the discussion.

Much of it is also from 2003-2005...it probably needs an update on things like I-69/E/W/C, I-22, and various other decommissioned routes, new structures, new findings. But much of it is still true today. Many of the links have probably succumbed to link rot.

Note: I take no credit for any of this information, but it took me about 90 minutes just to break it all up in to posts under 25,000 characters!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Q: Who wrote this FAQ?

A: The original FAQ was written by J.P. Kirby. He, along with Dan "SPUI" Moraseski and Travis Mason-Bushman, transferred it to Open Directory Project, Roads and Highways category. It was subsequently transferred from Dan (last remaining maintainer) to Marc Fannin (e-mail: {removed} ) and Sandor Gulyas on roadfan.com on January 9, 2002. Many comments from the original maintainers remain throughout. Author takes no responsibility for material at external sites

Thanks to Mark Adkinson, "AlbertC79", Steve Anderson, "Arrow", Leo Auray, David Backlin, Chris Bessert, Dick Boyd, L. Bracey, Mark Brader, Josef Brandriss, Robert Brooks, Tim Brown, Brad Bruzzese, John R. Cambron, Rich Carlson, Rob Carnachan, Tom Castelli, Jeffrey Coleman Carlyle, Lee Choquette, Chris "chriseay", Nick Christensen, "Chuckdogg1979az", Stanley Cline (deceased), Justin Cozart, Frank Curcio, "Daveman", "DanTheMan", Ralph DeCarli, Philip DeLaney, Paul D. DeRocco, Robert Droz, Allen Seth Dunn, Stéphane Dumas, H.B. Elkins, Stefan Ewing, "DanF", Daniel Faigin, Kevin Flynn, Adam Froehlig, Joe Galea, John David Galt, Cody Goodman, David Greenberger, "Grover", Jim Guthrie, Alan Hamilton, Steve Hanudel, Dan Hartung, Larry Harvilla, Craig Holl, Patrick Humphrey, Sam Inman, Jason of ORoads, Jeffrey Jakucyk, Gene Janczynskyi, "jarjarblinks", "jchoate2001", Pete Jenior, David Jensen, L.J. Johnson, "Kate", Richie Kennedy, Fritz Keppler, Jeff Kitsko, Michael Koerner, Scott Kozel, Doug Krause, Scott Kuznicki, Jeremy Lance, John Lansford, Chris Lawrence, Jeff Leadbeater, Dave Lieberman, Sean Lyons, Ray Martin, Rob McCaleb, Wesley McGee, David Miller, Richard Moeur, Michael Moroney, Mike Morrey, "MrSparkle", Andrew Mutch, Mike Natale, "Nick14578", Scott Oglesby, Mike Oksard, Jason Pawloski, Jim Pernikoff, "Pete from Boston", Justin Petrosek, Rich Piehl, Justin Priola, Ben Prusia, Shawn Quinn, "ranierb1187", Timothy Reichard, Aaron Renn, Justin Rhodes, Mike Roberson, Mark Roberts, "Rob S.", Matthew Salek, Chris Sampang, Dale Sanderson, Steve Shedd, Christopher Steig, Steven "Presnwap", Matthew Staller, "StanNC", Ken Stevenson, Stephen Summers, Mike Tantillo, Dan Tasman, Stephen Taylor, Andrew Tompkins, "Tropicsprite", Oscar Voss, Matt Walcoff, John A. Weeks III, Daniel Westfall, Jesse Whidden, Rush Wickes, Joel Windmiller, Jonathan Winkler, Paul Wolf, and Luke Wright for helping with individual answers.

Last revised February 12, 2008

MTR FAQ:

Table of Contents
1 Discussing roads
  1.1 What is misc.transport.road? (MTR)

2 Frequently used abbreviations

- - - - - - - - - -

1 Discussing roads

1.1 What is misc.transport.road?

misc.transport.road is an unmoderated (uncensored, uneditable) Usenet newsgroup in which individuals may discuss issues pertaining to road transportation and design. Read misc.transport.road using Google Groups Usenet archive: http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road . Usenet is described at http://www.faqs.org/usenet/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet , http://www.smr-usenet.com/tech/about.shtml , and http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/netbook/ (1997). Sep 13, 2005

m.t.r is not for only US-related topics, although it is dominated by them.
Sep 28, 2004

2 Frequently used abbreviations

2di, 3di = 2 or 3-digit interstate; occasionally used to mean 2 or 3-digit of any route type, but in this FAQ it means 2 or 3-digit interstate (2 digit interstate); 2di usually refers to all mainlines, which include 1 digit routes; "odd/even 3di" often refers to the 1st digit, not the last, since the 1st digit in a 3di defines its function - e.g. I-235 may be called an even 3di

2dus, 3dus = 2 or 3-digit U.S. Route; as above, 2dus usually refers to all 1- and 2-digit mainlines

AADT = Average Annual Daily Traffic. Counts for selected urban U.S. highways may be found at http://www.webspawner.com/users/beachbuminda650/ ; in addition, state DOT websites (see entry below) may list counts for all highways which they maintain.

AASHTO = American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (sets US and Interstate route numbering, among other duties) - Was known as AASHO until November 13, 1973 -  http://www.transportation.org/

A-nn = Autoroute nn (used in Quebec and some European countries)

Alt = Alternate

BANANA = Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody

BGS = Big Green Sign -- those huge signs on freeways that tell drivers where to go (also BBS for blue or brown, BYS for yellow, BOS for orange; and SGS for small, LGS for little, etc.). The section in the MUTCD (see entry below) that covers them is Chapter 2E ( http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003/part2/part2e1.htm ).

Bus = Business

Byp = Bypass

C/D = Collector/distributor. These are roadways which parallel a roadway of a freeway, and are used within interchanges or interchange complexes to separate exits and entrances from the main roadway so that all weaving can occur on the C/D roadway. These differ from frontage roads in that they are always one-way freeway-grade, whereas frontage roads can have at-grade intersections and driveway access.

CL = Center line (often the "C" and the "L" overlap on documents)

CMS - see VMS

CR = County Route/Road

DOT = Department of Transportation. Most U.S. states abbreviate their DOTs as *DOT, where * is the initial letter(s) of the state name (ex. Colorado = CDOT, New Hampshire = NHDOT). Exceptions: ALDOT (Alabama), (A)DOT&PF (Alaska), AHTD (Arkansas), Caltrans (California), CTDOT (Connecticut), DelDOT (Delaware), ITD (Idaho), INDOT (Indiana), IaDOT (Iowa), KYTC (Kentucky), La DOTD (Louisiana), EOTC (Massachusetts), Mn/DOT (Minnesota), MoDOT (Missouri), MDT (Montana), NDOR (Nebraska), NYSDOT (New York), PENNDOT (Pennsylvania), DTOP (Puerto Rico), TxDOT (Texas), VTrans (Vermont), WSDOT (Washington), WisDOT (Wisconsin), and WYDOT (Wyoming). New Mexico's was formerly NMSHTD but became NMDOT on July 1, 2003. A list of links to all state DOT websites is at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/webstate.htm .

HOT = High Occupancy Toll lane, a tolled HOV lane (see next entry), sometimes derisively referred to as a "Lexus lane" - http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/JPODOCS/REPTS_TE/hot/

HOV = High Occupancy Vehicle lane, where there must be a certain number of people in a car or it cannot use that lane. Sometimes the lane is named using the minimum number of occupants required, e.g. "HOV-3". See http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2b2.htm#section2B26 and http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part3/part3b2.htm#section3B22

I-nn = Interstate nn (Texas officially uses IH-nn)

IC = Interchange (variant: TI = Traffic Interchange)

ITS = Intelligent transportation systems - http://www.its.dot.gov/ See also 10.3.1

K-nn = Kansas state route nn

LOS = Level of Service. This is a traffic engineering term and ranges from LOS A (free-flowing traffic) to LOS F (traffic crawling or completely stopped). See http://web.archive.org/web/20040229073836/http://yerkes.mit.edu/DOT1/LOS/LOS.html (no-longer-extant webpage at Archive.org) A list of U.S. bottlenecks is available at http://www.highways.org/pdfs/bottleneck2004.pdf

Mnn = Motorway nn (British or Australian freeway)

M-nn = Michigan state route nn

MPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization. A list of these in the U.S., with links to their websites, is at http://www.ampo.org/links/mposnet.html .

MUTCD = Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. See Section 10 .

N-nn = Nebraska state route nn (only in official use by Nebraska DOR)

NHS = National Highway System, a strategic transportation network  (See Question 7.7) - Canada also has a National Highway System.

NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard (means anyone who opposes a project, often highway, because of its nearby location; it is often used in an expanded context as anyone who opposes any road project which the labeler wants built)

NMSL = National Maximum Speed Limit - In the U.S. this was 55 mph, 1974-1987; 1987-1991 it was 55 mph except on rural Interstates (but not Interstate-grade non-Interstate highways) where it could be raised to 65 mph; 1991-1995 this was extended to Interstate-grade non-Interstates. The National Highway System legislation of 1995 repealed the NMSL. It was originally part of the 1974 Emergency Highway Conservation Act.

RMcN = Rand McNally

ROW = Right of Way

SPUI = Single Point Urban Interchange. Information is available at http://www.kurumi.com/roads/interchanges/spui.html . See also Question 3.6.1 .

SR = State Route/Road. Common usage in m.t.r is to refer to state routes by their two-letter postal codes for the US and for Canada.
For reference:
    AL - Alabama; AB - Alberta; AK - Alaska; AZ - Arizona; AR - Arkansas
    BC - British Columbia
    CA - California; CO - Colorado; CT - Connecticut
    DE - Delaware; DC - District of Columbia
    FL - Florida
    GA - Georgia
    HI - Hawaii (Hawai'i)
    ID - Idaho; IL - Illinois; IN - Indiana; IA - Iowa
    KS - Kansas; KY - Kentucky
    LA - Louisiana
    ME - Maine; MB - Manitoba; MD - Maryland; MA - Massachusetts; MI - Michigan; MN - Minnesota; MS - Mississippi; MO - Missouri; MT - Montana
    NE - Nebraska; NV - Nevada; NB - New Brunswick; NH - New Hampshire; NJ - New Jersey; NM - New Mexico; NY - New York; NL - Newfoundland and Labrador (formerly NF); NC - North Carolina; ND - North Dakota; NT - Northwest Territories; NS - Nova Scotia; NU - Nunavut
    OH - Ohio; OK - Oklahoma; ON - Ontario; OR - Oregon
    PA - Pennsylvania; PE - Prince Edward Island; PR - Puerto Rico
    QC - Quebec (formerly PQ)
    RI - Rhode Island
    SK - Saskatchewan; SC - South Carolina; SD - South Dakota
    TN - Tennessee; TX - Texas
    US - United States; UT - Utah
    VT - Vermont; VA - Virginia
    WA - Washington; WV - West Virginia; WI - Wisconsin; WY - Wyoming
    YT - Yukon Territory

TC nn = Trans-Canada Highway nn

Temp = Temporary

TI - see IC

TR = Township Route/Road (see 1.1.2 Government Units)

U-nn = Utah state route nn

US nn = US route nn

VMS = Variable message sign (variant: CMS = Changeable message sign)

See Section 4 for more abbreviations.
{Apr 5, 2007}



<<< See next post >>>

[formulanone]

3 Common Road and Highway Terms
  3.1 Breezewood
  3.2 Business Routes
  3.3 Button Copy
  3.4 Control City
    3.4.1 What are the longest distances listed to a particular control city?
    3.4.2 Which control city for an Interstate has the smallest population?
  3.5 Decommission
  3.6 Interchanges
    3.6.1 SPUI
    3.6.2 What is the longest distance between interchanges?
    3.6.3 Exit Lists
    3.6.4 Interchange names
    3.6.5 Volleyball
    3.6.6 One-quadrant ramp
    3.6.7 Truck escape ramps
  3.7 Jersey Barrier
  3.8 Mileposts
  3.9 Multiplex
    3.9.1 What is the highway with the most multiplexes?
  3.10 Ramp to Nowhere

(Section 3 is continued on the next post.)

3 Common Road and Highway Terms

3.1 Breezewood

This term refers to a stretch of surface road that connects two different freeways, or two different stretches of a single one, without any direct connection via an interchange. Usually, these roads are filled with traffic lights, gas stations, fast food joints, etc. The original example is in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, where I-70 follows surface US 30 for a quarter mile where it meets the Pennsylvania Turnpike. See http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/tollroad.htm or http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I70.html for more details. Breezewood is the subject of a 2002 documentary by Jason Hutt called Breezewood, Pennsylvania (see 12.4.1 ). Oct 3, 2004

3.2 Business Routes

A loop or spur off a highway into the center of a town. Business routes generally have the same number of the main highway, but have special "Business" signs. Interstate business routes, for example, have special green shields, sometimes offset from the rest of a BGS by what MI's DOT calls an "accent square" (see http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2d1.htm#section2D11 ). Most interstate business routes are surface streets, usually old alignments of US highways. Some are freeways, like the I-80 business loop in Sacramento (see http://www.cahighways.org/049-056.html#051 and http://www.interstate-guide.com/business-routes/bus80.html for details on and history of that particular route), but don't meet more technical interstate standards like ramp spacing. Sometimes but not often Interstate business routes are referred to as "green Interstates" in certain areas. The only Interstate business routes from the same parent to meet each other are I-44 BS and I-44 BL in MO ( http://www.cosmos-monitor.com/road/sign/mo/routeindex.html#BS44 ). US and state business routes are often the original route through the city. A list of Interstate business routes is at http://www.interstate-guide.com/business-routes/ and a list of U.S. business and other auxiliary routes is at http://www.us-highways.com/usban.htm . Jul 18, 2006

3.3 Button Copy

Button copy is a term used to describe letters and characters on signs with several inlaid reflectors in them, providing better visibility at night. States started phasing them out on signs at the end of the 20th Century, opting for reflective sign sheeting for the whole sign instead. See http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/3d4e957b8741f740 (Message-ID: 3A3D4D1F.58FD0D6C@earthlink.net ). Jun 27, 2005

3.4 Control City

Usually associated with the Interstate Highway system, a control city is usually identified as the city on a sign which drivers are most likely to be headed. They appear as the bottom city on distance signs, on "pull-through" BGSes, and in signs leading to the freeway at interchanges. A complete list of control cities that AASHTO recommends for the Interstate system, as well as a more complete description, can be found at http://home.roadrunner.com/~pwolf/controlcities.html .

The cities on the exit signs on freeways are often called control cities as well on the newsgroup, as are the signs that say "City A ->" at an intersection, though these are officially known as "destinations". MUTCD sections: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2e1.htm#section2E12 (freeway/expressway), http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2d2.htm#section2D34 (surface road) Oct 4, 2007

3.4.1 Q: What are the longest distances listed to a particular control city?

A:The longest distance on a conventional mileage sign, and one of only three four-digit instances, is probably 1007 miles for Los Angeles on I-40 in NM. Others of note are 1508 km (937 mi) for Yellowknife, NT ( http://albertaroads.homestead.com/transcanada/hwy16/hwy16w1.html - the largest number on a conventional distance sign), 857 (mi) for El Paso on I-10 in TX, and 1065 km (662 mi) for Fairbanks, AK on the Alaska Highway in YT ( http://www.teresco.org/pics/signs/20010613/84km-close.jpg ). Other very-long-distance controls include New York City in Ohio ( http://www.roadfan.com/nycohio.html ), on the New York State Thruway just into NY State, in Baltimore, and in Boston; Miami in VA; Tampa on I-285 in Atlanta; Memphis in Chicago; Tulsa in St. Louis; Los Angeles in the San Francisco Bay area; Manteo, NC on US 64 at the other end of NC; Denver in eastern KS; and various large western U.S. cities from other large western U.S. cities which contain no cities of note between them.

For non-conventional control cities, there are signs at highway termini which list distances to the other terminus. These include US 41's north end ( http://www-personal.umich.edu/~aleskiw/roadgeek/Gallery1.htm and http://www.geocities.com/usend4049/End041/end041.htm ) and I-70's east end ( http://www.m-plex.com/roads/trips/i70et_parkandride.html - bottom), as well as both ends of I-40 ( http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-040.html ) and US 50 ( http://www.geocities.com/usend5059/End050/end050.htm ). Also, signs on the Ohio Turnpike list Chicago ( http://www.roadfan.com/ohtpkchi.jpg ) and New York City "VIA TURNPIKES".

See also 10.3.2 . Mar 25, 2005

3.4.2 Q: Which control city for an Interstate has the smallest population?

A: The smallest places follow, with 2010 Census populations:

Breezewood, PA (I-70): c. 200 (unincorporated, estimated by Rand McNally)
Delaware Water Gap, PA (I-80): 746 (may refer to the geologic feature rather than the locality)
Valley Forge, PA (I-76): 1200
Hancock, MD (I-70): 1545
Limon, CO (I-70): 1880
New Stanton, PA (I-70): 2173

Other notably small controls also appear elsewhere in PA as well as in CA and MS. {Jun 16, 2005 / May 23, 2018}

3.5 Decommission

To revoke a number from a particular highway. Normally this is accompanied by downloading to the next lower government body, although sometimes it remains as a secret state route, or a US route becomes a state route.

3.6 Interchanges

Interchanges are grade-separated intersections with one-way ramps connecting the two roads. They are often also called "exits" though that term may also apply to a single off-ramp (road carrying traffic from the freeway to the crossroad). The many different types are outlined at http://www.kurumi.com/roads/interchanges/ . Hybrid interchange-intersection conditions also exist, such as Jughandles, common in NJ ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle ); Michigan Lefts, common in MI ( http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/michigan_left.html ), known in Chicago as "Boulevard Turns"; or "channelization". Sep 13, 2005

3.6.1 SPUI

One of the more talked about types of interchanges, a SPUI (single-point urban interchange) looks like a standard diamond interchange, but the ramps work in a much different way, allowing traffic to flow easier by making opposing left turns concurrent. A list is available at http://web.archive.org/web/20021218091949/http://web.mit.edu/spui/www/spui/ (page no longer active). See also http://www4.trb.org/trb/crp.nsf/All+Projects/NCHRP+3-40 / http://64.118.69.9/acb1/showdetl.cfm?DID=92&Product_ID=2277 ("Single Point Urban Interchange Design and Operations Analysis", National Cooperative Highway Research Program [NCHRP] Report 345) as well as Section 2 . Mar 11, 2006

3.6.2 Q: What is the longest distance between interchanges?

A: In the U.S., there are 51 miles southbound and 49 miles northbound between Exit 193 (US-441/FL-60) and Exits 242/244 (US-192/441), and 41 miles between Exit 152 (FL-70) and Exit 193, on Florida's Turnpike. There are 37 miles between Exit 4 (Bonneville Speedway) and Exit 41 (Knolls) on I-80 in western Utah, the longest stretch on both a free highway and a publicly-numbered highway (Florida's Turnpike is officially FL-91 but there are no references to that in the field). There are also no services between these two I-80 exits, just a pair of rest areas (the two Florida's Turnpike stretches listed above both have a median service area along them). See Question 6.10 for the longest stretch between services on an Interstate and Question 6.10.1 for the longest stretch on an Interstate between other Interstates. Jun 10, 2005

3.6.3 Exit Lists

An exit list, also called an exit guide, is a listing of all the exits on a section of freeway/tollway/expressway. It is used to find the information about an exit before one exits. Sometimes exit lists are also made for surface streets with some degree of access control (for example arterials with jughandles in New Jersey). The exit lists are typically made by people who want to make them (roadgeeks). They use maps and personal experience when creating the exit guide. A few state departments of transportation make bare-bones text exit lists. Some of the exit lists have services listed at exits, while others just list the exits. Most list the cities and towns the exit leads to. Rest areas are usually listed. Some of the service area listings even include what types of food and gas (petrol) establishments may be found at those service areas (service plazas/oases). Links to exit lists are at http://www.ajfroggie.com/triskele/ . Nov 18, 2003

3.6.4 Interchange names

All locations in North America unless otherwise specified. All numbered routes through the interchanges may not be identified.

Alemany Maze: I-280 @ US 101, San Francisco
Anjou: A-40 @ A-25, Montreal
The Apex: I-75 @ I-275 (north junction), Metro Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL
Basketweave: ON 401's collector lane/local lane exchange near Jane Street, Toronto
The Big I: I-25 @ I-40, Albuquerque
The Big I: I-10 @ I-95, Jacksonville
The Big Scramble: I-24 @ I-124 (US 27), Chattanooga, TN
The Big Split: I-94 @ I-494 (W), Metro Minneapolis/St. Paul
The Big X: I-74 @ I-80 (E), near Moline, IL (Metro Quad Cities, IL/IA)
Blue Water Tower Interchange: I-90 @ I-290, Metro Buffalo
Braintree Split: I-93 and US 1 @ MA 3, Braintree
Brookwood Interchange: I-75 @ I-85 (north junction), Atlanta
Bruckner Interchange: I-95 @ I-295 @ I-278 @ I-678, New York
Can of Worms: I-490 @ I-590/NY 590, Rochester
Capitol Interchange: I-35E @ I-94, St. Paul
Circle Interchange: I-90/94 @ I-290, Chicago
Cloverleaf: I-77 @ I-480, Metro Cleveland
Crossroads of Mid-America: I-55 @ I-80, Joliet, IL
Crosstown Commons: MN 62 @ I-35W, Minneapolis
Dallas High 5: I-635 @ US 75, Dallas
Dead Man's Curve: I-90 @ OH 2, Cleveland
Dead Man's Curve: I-65 @ I-70 (north junction), Indianapolis
Decarie: A-40 @ A-15 @ QC 117, Montreal
East Los Angeles Interchange: I-5, I-10 and US 101 @ CA 60, Los Angeles
Edens Junction: I-90 @ I-94 (north split), Chicago
El Toro Y: I-5 @ I-405, Irvine, CA - its often-cited 26-lane width contains roadways of both highways (see also 12.3)
Elkhorn Interchange: I-5 @ CA 99 (north junction), Metro Sacramento
Fish Bowl: I-15 @ I-215, Las Vegas
Fishhook: CA 1 @ CA 17, Santa Cruz
Flying Wye: I-84 @ I-184, Boise
Fountain Interchange: US 41 @ FL 82, Ft. Myers
The 4-Level: US 101 @ I-110, Los Angeles (adjacent to the Slot on US 101)
Freeman Interchange: QEW @ ON 403 @ ON 407, Burlington
Golden Glades: I-95, FL 826, US 441 and FL 9 @ Florida's Turnpike, North Miami Beach
Grandview Triangle: I-435 and US 71 @ I-470, Kansas City
Halawa Interchange: H-1 @ H-3, Metro Honolulu
Henderson Spaghetti Bowl: I-215 @ I-515 (UC), Metro Las Vegas
Highbridge Interchange: I-87 @ I-95, New York
Hillside Strangler: I-88 @ I-290 @ I-294, Metro Chicago
Jacques-Cartier: A-20 @ QC 132 and QC 134, Montreal
The Junction: I-196 @ US 131, Grand Rapids (See also 12.1)
The Junction: I-276 @ I-476, Metro Philadelphia
Kew Gardens Interchange: I-678 @ Grand Central Pkwy @ Robinson Pkwy, New York
Lemoyne: QC134 @ QC 112 @ QC 116, Montreal
MacArthur Maze (officially Distribution Structure): I-880 and I-80 @ I-580, Oakland
Malfunction Junction: I-75 @ OH 4, Dayton
Malfunction Junction: I-275 @ I-4, Tampa
Malfunction Junction: I-20/59 @ I-65, Birmingham (AL, US) (See also 12.1)
Malfunction Junction (old): I-40 @ I-275 (former I-75), Knoxville
Malfunction Junction: I-26 @ I-126, Columbia
Malfunction Junction: I-40 @ I-85, Greensboro, NC
The Merge or The Split: I-94 @ I-57, Chicago
The Merge: I-96 @ US 131 (part), Grand Rapids
Midtown Interchange: I-95 @ I-395, Miami
Mixing Bowl: I-5 @ Atlantic Blvd., East Los Angeles
Mixing Bowl: I-696 @ US 24 and MI 10, Southfield (Metro Detroit)
Mixing Bowl: I-96 @ I-96/275 @ I-696 @ MI 5, Farmington Hills/Novi (Metro Detroit)
Mixing Bowl (old): I-395 and VA 27, Arlington
Mixing Bowl: I-95 and I-495 @ I-395, Springfield, VA
Mixmaster: I-30 @ I-35E, Dallas
Mixmaster: I-84 @ CT 2, East Hartford (aka East Hartford Interchange)
Mousetrap: I-25 @ I-70, Denver
North Mixmaster: I-35/80 @ I-235 (N), Des Moines
NW 27th Interchange: I-95 @ I-195, Miami
Oak Park Interchange: US 50/BL I-80 @ CA 99, Sacramento
The Octopus (intersection, extensively rebuilt 1997-'98): NY 13 @ NY 13A @ NY 79 @ NY 89 @ NY 96, Ithaca (42.44,-76.515 ; http://www.14850.com/web/octopus/ )
Orange Crush: I-5 and CA 22 @ CA 57, Orange
Riverside Junction: I-215 and CA 60 @ CA 91, Riverside
St.-Hubert: QC 112 @ QC 116, Montreal
San Bernardino Split: US 101 @ I-10, Los Angeles
Short Stack: I-10 @ AZ-51 @ AZ-202, Phoenix
The Split: I-80 @ BR-80 and CA 244, Sacramento
The Split: See "The Merge"
The Stack: I-84 @ CT 9, Newington
The Stack: I-55 and I-20 @ US 49, Jackson, MS
The Stack: I-10 @ I-17, Phoenix
Spaghetti Bowl: I-15 @ I-515, Las Vegas
Spaghetti Bowl: I-80 @ US 395, Reno
Spaghetti Bowl: I-10 @ I-110, El Paso
Spaghetti Bowl: I-30 @ I-35, Dallas
Spaghetti Bowl: I-64 @ I-264, Metro Norfolk (?)
Spaghetti Bowl: I-65 @ I-70 (N), Indianapolis
Spaghetti Bowl: I-80 @ US 46 @ NJ 23, Wayne
(See also Henderson Spaghetti Bowl)
Spaghetti Junction: I-35W @ I-94 @ MN-55, Minneapolis
Spaghetti Junction: SH 1 @ SH 16, Auckland, New Zealand
Spaghetti Junction: H1 @ HI 92, Honolulu
Spaghetti Junction: I-85 @ I-285 (NE), Metro Atlanta
Spaghetti Junction: I-64 and I-65 @ I-71, Louisville
Spaghetti Junction (formally Gravelly Hill interchange): M6 @ A38(M), Birmingham, West Midlands, England
(see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_Junction )
Teriyaki Bowl: US 95 @ Summerlin Pkwy, Las Vegas (aka Rainbow Curve)
Tobin Merge: US 1 @ I-93, Boston
Topple Alley: I-5/CA 99 @ US 50/CA 99 (S-to-E only, carrying CA 99 SB), Sacramento
Turcot: A-15 @ A-20 @ A-720, Montreal (see also 12.1 )
West Mixmaster: I-35/80 @ I-235 (W), Des Moines
Zoo Interchange: I-94 @ US-45, Milwaukee
Hawaii generally names all interchanges, and many toll highways name their interchanges as well.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Named_interchanges

Feb 20, 2007

3.6.5 Volleyball

An interchange between two roads whose ramps meet at at-grade intersections on a third level, those at-grade intersections being the only ones in the interchange. Not an official term. See http://www.kurumi.com/roads/interchanges/volleyball.html Jan 3, 2003

3.6.6 One-quadrant ramp

As named by AASHTO (see Question 4.2) in their "Green Book", aka A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (2001 edition: Publication Code GDHS-4, ASIN 1560511567), this describes a simple two-way connecting road between two main roads which themselves are grade-separated. While it is identified as an interchange and displays a main characteristic of one (the separation), it is unusual in that all eight turn movements traverse two at-grade intersections, one at each end of the connector (unless right-turn ramps at one or both of the intersections are employed), whereas generally at least one of the main roads in an interchange only connects to the other with sharp-angled offramps that do not allow cross traffic.
A sampling of locations of these is located at http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/29557225ca80a680 Aug 12, 2004

3.6.7 Truck escape ramps

A discussion of escape ramp construction/composition and locations is at http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/2999858fb0a6548 (6/30/05), and signage standards are at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2c.htm#section2C13 . Jul 19, 2005

3.7 Jersey Barrier

A concrete divider on freeways with a cross-section in the shape on an inverted Y. More information is available at http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Jersey_Barrier.html .

3.8 Mileposts

Mileposts are signs placed every mile on roads which show the mileage from some point along the route (usually a terminus or a political boundary.) The MUTCD standard is to use a green vertical sign with the word "MILE" at the top. Some states use them only on Interstates; others put them on other routes as well. California restarts its mileposts (which it calls postmiles) at each county line, including interstates. Many other states do this too, but not for interstates. Kilometerposts are used in places using kilometers. Images are at http://members.aol.com/rcmoeur/d10.html and http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003/part2/fig2d-13_longdesc.htm . There is also a 1967 publication by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety called "Mileposting". See also 10.3.1 and 10.3.2 .

3.9 Multiplex

When two routes "join up" and are co-signed. Other similar terms used are "concurrency" and "overlap" ("multiplex" seems to be a creation of m.t.r while the others are actually used by DOTs). A secret multiplex occurs when one route is unsigned on the concurrent section. A useless/unnecessary multiplex occurs when one or both of the routes ends while multiplexed; one of them could have ended at the other. A wrong-way multiplex occurs when the 2 routes are signed in opposite directions (e.g. [NORTH] [1]/[SOUTH] [3]). A wrong-way multiplex may also carry a route with a third direction (e.g. [NORTH] [1]/[SOUTH] [3]/[EAST] [2]) - there are many examples of this in the field in various places. A four-direction multiplex is theoretically possible (some individual routes can and do briefly run in or close to the opposite direction of which they are signed, see Question 12.16.1 ) but none has been found yet by m.t.r contributors.

RI-114 actually multiplexes with itself in Pawtucket (it is a transition between two one-way couplets where one couplet has each direction with the oncoming route to the left rather than to the right, due to a circuitous path taken by the northbound routing). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_Route_114#endnote_Pawtucket .
Truck US-19 also does this while traversing a pair of I-279 interchanges in Pittsburgh. http://www.m-plex.com/roads/pamplex/mp_i279_us19_trkus19_us22_us30.html#19
US-250 may also do this at US-19 in Fairmont, WV.

A more detailed guide on multiplexes is located at http://www.m-plex.com/roads/mpguide.html . Mar 8, 2007

3.9.1

Q: Which highway has the most multiplexed routes?

A: I-465 on the east side of Indianapolis, IN, between the US-36/SR-67 and US-40 exits, also carries US-31, US-36, US-40, US-52, US-421, SR-37, and SR-67, for a total of 8 routes on one highway, though only I-465 is posted along this stretch as all other routes following I-465 except I-74 have a sign reading "FOR [route shield][direction]/FOLLOW [I-465 shield]/to Exit [number]" on the onramps where they enter I-465 (see http://illi-indi.com/showFull.php?id=1452§ion=34652 ). The most signposted routes is 7 in GA: US-1, US-23, US-301, SR-4, SR-15, SR-23, and SR-121 just short of the FL line ( http://www.gribblenation.com/papics/outofstate/gatotempole-folkston.jpg ). This is possible because in GA every US highway is usually paired with at least one signposted state route (see 7.6.4 ), so other examples with this many or possibly even more may exist elsewhere in the state.

For Interstates the most along any one roadway is

I-55/64/70 between St. Louis, MO, and East St. Louis, IL (FHWA implies in its route log [see Section 6 intro] that I-44 ends at I-70, but MoDOT states that it goes to the IL border, creating by that reckoning I-44/55/64/70, though this may change with the construction of a new Mississippi R. bridge further north [ http://www.newriverbridge.org/ ]),

and I-39/90/94 in WI.

(In OH, I-77/80/90 and I-77/80N/90, portions of today's I-80/90 and I-90, were briefly proposed when the easternmost portion of today's I-94 was to be the northernmost portion of I-77, but these were never signposted - see http://www.roadfan.com/5758int.html .)

For U.S. highways, it's a tie between many four-route multiplexes, including that on the aforementioned I-465 segment. (US-61/63/64/70/79 used to run on I-55 between West Memphis, AR, and Memphis, TN, possibly with US-63 ending at the AR/TN line, but US-63 was later rerouted.) Sep 13, 2005

3.10 Ramp to Nowhere

Segments of highway or ramp that sit unused, often barricaded. They may be part of a cancelled or a future highway project. Also called Ghost Ramps. A special type is the Evel Knievel Ramp, which stops in mid-air. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unused_highway Feb 8, 2007

[formulanone]

3.11 Roadgeek
  3.12 Super 2
  3.13 Toll highway
    3.13.1 E-ZPass
  3.14 What is the difference between an expressway and a freeway? What is the difference between limited access and controlled access?
    3.14.1 What is the difference between the terms "highway" and "route" when referring to numbering systems?
  3.15 Spur
  3.16 What is the difference between a traffic circle and a roundabout?
    3.16.1 Where is the Magic Roundabout?
  3.17 Bump
  3.18 Cutout
  3.19 Clinch

3.11 Roadgeek

Usually used to mean an m.t.r regular who is not professionally involved with roads. Also used to describe anyone who has a larger-than-average interest in roads. Other similar terms used are "roadfan", "highway enthusiast", "viaphile", "odologist" (see http://www.cbrd.co.uk/reference/dictionary/#o ), and the pun "roads scholar". See http://web.archive.org/web/20040414215828/http://www.ylekot.com/geek.html (no-longer-extant webpage at Archive.org)

A list of roadgeeks by location is at http://www.roadfan.com/roadfan.html . A collection of photographs from various roadgeek meetings is at http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gtg377a/meetings.html . Mar 10, 2006

3.12 Super 2

A controlled-access freeway with two lanes and usually without a center median. Super 4s are undivided 4-lane freeways. A Super 2 Expressway is a Super 2 with occasional at-grade intersections; some states call these Super 2s.

3.13 Toll highway

A freeway that charges a toll. Some people on m.t.r do not use "freeway" to describe a toll highway (see also 3.14). Various states refer to these with various names. Lists of toll facilities are available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tollpage.htm and http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~mn2n/tollroads.html . In the 1800s toll roads were known as Turnpikes (see http://eh.net/encyclopedia/?article=Klein.Majewski.Turnpikes ), a term which resurfaced in the middle of the 20th Century. Interstates specifically may be tolled only if physical improvements are made to them (in which case the toll is used to pay for the improvements), there is reimbursement to the Federal Highway Administration all federal money used in the building process of the stretch in question, or there is an Act of Congress. See also http://www.tollroadsnews.com/ . Mar 8, 2007

3.13.1 E-ZPass

This is one of many Electronic Toll Collection agencies in North America. Go to http://www.e-zpass.info/ for a list and map of E-ZPass-compatible highways, and http://www.e-zpassiag.com/ for a list of all the ETC agencies worldwide as well as contact information. The term "open-road tolling" is used to describe the condition using this system in which motorists do not have to slow to below highway speed to be detected. Apr 5, 2007

3.14

Q: What is the difference between an expressway and a freeway?
What is the difference between limited access and controlled access?

A: According to AASHTO, a freeway is a fully controlled access road, one with no cross traffic. A freeway can be tolled; the "free" refers to the fact that traffic can ideally flow freely. An expressway is a divided highway with no private access BUT occasional traffic lights are allowed; essentially it is a freeway with intersections, usually with traffic signals, in place of interchanges. Major roads should get interchanges where traffic necessitates them. Many states, including California and Wisconsin, use this. This FAQ does too.
However, most east coast states plus others use expressway for the "official" freeway, and freeway is simply an alternate term for the same thing, or absent from the vocabulary altogether. Many of these states use the "official" terms in legal matters but name them differently. There are two cases of an "official" expressway being named a freeway: the Rockaway Freeway in New York City and the State Fair Freeway (K-96) between Wichita and Hutchinson, Kansas.
A special type of expressway is the "Jersey Freeway", an unofficial term used to describe an expressway with no median breaks. As the name implies, these are common in NJ.
For a list of expressways in the US and Canada see http://www.expresswaysite.com/ .

"Limited access" usually refers to freeway grade in common usage; according to AASHTO, however, only "controlled access" refers to freeway grade, whereas "limited access" refers to expressway grade. Some states including FL reverse AASHTO's definitions, and some states such as VA use "limited access" to designate only frequency of access and not specifically highway type.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeway and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressway . Jul 18, 2006

3.14.1

Q: What is the difference between the terms "highway" and "route" when referring to numbering systems?

A: It depends on the local region's tradition. OR actually uses both terms in different contexts (see Question 7.6.4). The term "the" preceding the route number (e.g. "the 405") is only common in S. CA ( http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/a7a6b7d8190d5ade ) and metro Buffalo within the US (it is common in other English-speaking countries). Discussions on the topic: http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/63541a08acbb25df ; http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/450c1b829e05b5f6 ; http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/777d51fb2d8bf9a4 Oct 21, 2004

3.15 Spur

A branch route whose number often contains the same number as the primary route and ends at a specific point away from the mainline. Jan 28, 2002

3.16

Q: What is the difference between a traffic circle and a roundabout?

A: Very generally, roundabouts are small circular roadways built for traffic flow improvement which are designed more meticulously than traffic circles, which sometimes are just the roadway around an obstruction rather than dedicated traffic control. For very detailed information, see http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00-0671.pdf , especially Section 1.5 (this is part of http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00068.htm ), as well as http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part3/part3b2.htm#section3B24 . See also http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Roads_and_Highways/Interchanges/Roundabouts/ and https://www.aaroads.com/kick-off/highway.html#roundabout . (Note that some newer traffic circles are not roundabouts, but small "traffic-calming" devices - see http://dmoz.org/Science/Technology/Transportation/Traffic_Calming/ .)

Roundabouts are often used in Great Britain at interchanges, either as a large roundabout ( http://www.cbrd.co.uk/reference/interchanges/roundabout.shtml ) or two smaller ones on each site of the motorway ( http://www.cbrd.co.uk/reference/interchanges/dumbbell.shtml ). The latter is also gaining presence in the U.S., most notably along I-135 in KS, and on I-70 in Vail, CO. Other locations are listed at http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/browse_frm/thread/fbba5dca747aa3ec (10/17/05).

The term "rotary", found mostly in MA, may refer to either a traffic circle or a roundabout.

The term "roundabout" originated in Great Britain, but is purported to have been coined by an American working abroad there ( http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/85bb8a44f40b98e9 , message ID 1127264917.495082.158470@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com ). Dec 15, 2005

3.16.1

Q: Where is the Magic Roundabout?

A: There are many. The most famous of these is located in Swindon in southern England, and is a roundabout containing five mini-roundabouts within it. The main roundabout carries two-way traffic. For more information, see http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm and http://www.digitalnorseman.com/musings/2002/rndabt.html . A compilation of locations of these roundabouts is located at http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/magicroundabouts/ . Apr 8, 2003

3.17 Bump

This is a term used on m.t.r to describe two routes which resume each other's routings at an intersection, only overlapping within the intersection (ex.: a route which enters an intersection from the west and leaves to the north, and another which enters the same intersection from the south and leaves to the east). This term is also applied to freeway interchanges, even if the routes in question actually cross each other or have a short overlap within the interchange (exs.: I-80/eastern I-76, I-80/I-74). "Cannon" has been suggested as a British equivalent (http://www.cbrd.co.uk/reference/dictionary/#c ). Apr 23, 2005

3.18 Cutout

This refers to a route marker (see Question 10.1) which is cut in its own shape, rather than cut as a square or rectangle with a black background behind the marker shape. All route markers were originally cutouts, and today most Interstate and some state route shields are cutouts, as well as US shields in various places, predominantly CA (see http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~jlin/signs/usa/#US ). Jul 19, 2005

3.19 Clinch

To travel a highway its entire length. This definition is tempered by personal interpretations, such as travelling both directions, traversing ramps, driving vs. riding, and completing in a single trip. . Mar 8, 2007



Other road terms are listed at https://www.aaroads.com/glossary.html . A parody list of terms is at http://www.kurumi.com/roads/bierce.html . Jan 27, 2005