I have a 1958 Sears (Rand McNally) Road Atlas, and it has labeled parts of the turnpikes in Maine and New Hampshire as I-95. As far as I can tell, those are the only highways then labeled as interstates. Were these the earliest highway segments officially posted/designated as Interstates?
The atlas shows other major turnpikes already constructed (Pennsylvania Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, New York State Thruway, etc.) but none of these are designated with an Interstate highway number.
The mapmakers should have known which turnpikes were which highways as of 1957, but they weren't all posted within day 1 or anything. Turnpike agencies took their time.
Quote from: M3100 on May 22, 2021, 02:28:21 PM
I have a 1958 Sears (Rand McNally) Road Atlas, and it has labeled parts of the turnpikes in Maine and New Hampshire as I-95. As far as I can tell, those are the only highways then labeled as interstates. Were these the earliest highway segments officially posted/designated as Interstates?
Keep in mind that for many years, the "middle" part of the Maine Turnpike was not I-95 (it had no public route number) between Portland and West Gardiner. The original plan was for I-95 to follow what is now I-295. Before what is now I-295 was built, I-95 was signed on the Turnpike south of Augusta, but then the designation disappeared after the ME-126 interchange when heading south (in those days the Turnpike was a ticket operation and the interchange at ME-126 was a trumpet connection to the Turnpike - you can still see its remains on Google).
Yes, from 1956 to 1988, the Maine Turnpike between Exits 52 and 103 (then Exits 9 through 14) did not have a designation; that year it became Interstate 495. Same with the Kansas Turnpike was undesignated between Exits 127 and 177 from 1956 to 1987, when it became Interstate 335 (they did that so that the speed limit along that segment could be increased from 55 MPH to 65 MPH). If you ask me, the entire length of the Maine Turnpike should have been Interstate 95 to begin with.
IIRC as late as the early 80's 95 was a super-2 past Bangor.
QuoteYes, from 1956 to 1988, the Maine Turnpike between Exits 52 and 103 (then Exits 9 through 14) did not have a designation
Here's a picture of that: http://www.floodgap.com/roadgap/me/r?95#img_1
Quote from: M3100 on May 22, 2021, 02:28:21 PM
I have a 1958 Sears (Rand McNally) Road Atlas, and it has labeled parts of the turnpikes in Maine and New Hampshire as I-95.
Thought I had a `57 MDOT. Nope. It's a `58. Labels I-95 on the turnpike,
and on US1 Bypass.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 23, 2021, 01:54:13 PM
West Gardiner.
Yes, thank you! :clap: West Gardiner is a separate town from Gahdinah propah (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8Fmbizea4), which is incorrectly cited as 295 (or old 495)'s end a lot.
Quote from: ClassicHasClass on June 03, 2021, 12:43:09 AM
Here's a picture of that: http://www.floodgap.com/roadgap/me/r?95#img_1
Y'mean http://www.floodgap.com/roadgap/me/r?495#img_1 ?
Same one :)
Hm. When I clicked the link last time I didn't see any images. Mandela effect, obviously.