TX Interstate numbering questions

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

The auxiliary loop routes of I-10 in Texas are numbered 410 and 610 respectively. Why skip "210"?

Also, when I-20 was moved to the new freeway section between Terrell and I-635 in 1986 (?), why didn't the former I-20 alignment (US 80 and Spur 557) remain in the Interstate system? The freeway was signed as I-20 for nearly 30 years, so I don't see why it couldn't have become a 3di, say I-420. Was it/is it not up to I-standard? Seems like an obvious gap in the "IH" system (as dey say in Texas)...

[Chris]

410 - San Antonio
610 - Houston

210 - El Paso?

[FreewayDan]

410 - San Antonio
610 - Houston

210 - El Paso?

810 - Beaumont-Port Arthur (via SR 73, just a thought)

[Darkchylde]

210 - El Paso?

That actually sounds like a plausible reason.

[Scott5114]

I'm not sure of how it was back when they were doing the interstate system originally, but you definitely wouldn't want to commission an I-420 now. Reason being, "420" is a number with connotations referencing marijuana. (If you see an ad looking for roommates that mentions "420 friendly" or something, that means they're okay with marijuana use.) So if you did have an I-420, you'd have the same problems you'd have with US-666 and the various Route 69s. (TX-69 was renumbered to TX-112, with TxDOT specifically noting it was to avoid theft of the "69" signs.)

I imagine this may have some reason as to why the loop of Fort Worth is I-820...

[FreewayDan]

I'm not sure of how it was back when they were doing the interstate system originally, but you definitely wouldn't want to commission an I-420 now. Reason being, "420" is a number with connotations referencing marijuana. (If you see an ad looking for roommates that mentions "420 friendly" or something, that means they're okay with marijuana use.) So if you did have an I-420, you'd have the same problems you'd have with US-666 and the various Route 69s. (TX-69 was renumbered to TX-112, with TxDOT specifically noting it was to avoid theft of the "69" signs.)

I imagine this may have some reason as to why the loop of Fort Worth is I-820...

The 820 numbering may have to do with a certain radio station that broadcasts from Fort Worth:
www.wbap.com/listenlive.asp

The same may have to do with I-610 in Houston:.
http://www.sportsradio610.com/

Overall, I think its coincidental.

[Greybear]

You're correct in that line of thoughthe, FreewayDan.

Fort Worth businessman and philanthropist Amon Carter owned radio station WBAP 820AM at the time that TxDOT was considering and designing a loop round Fort Worth. It was through his suggestions and some influence that the loop was designated I-820, which is sometimes referred to as "Loop 820" or simply "820."

The northwest segment of the loop is officially designated as the Jim Wright Freeway after former United States House Speaker Jim Wright.

[timhomer2009]

Maybe I-420 was rejected because it would have been east of I-820

[national highway 1]

I'd say that Loop 375 in El Paso should get I-210 (because of unsigned I-110. [why is I-110 unsigned?])
And that Loop 8 in Houston should get I-810.

[TXtoNJ]

I'd say that Loop 375 in El Paso should get I-210 (because of unsigned I-110. [why is I-110 unsigned?])
And that Loop 8 in Houston should get I-810.

I'd say IH-245 for the Beltway, and IH-810 for the Grand Parkway

[Brandon]

It's not the 3dis that bug me about Texas, it's that they got I-45 as an intrastate interstate.  That should've been numbered I-39 and I-45 should've been used for the I-49 corridor.  Someone (LBJ?) had some considerable political pull, IMHO.

[Sykotyk]

Yeah, it's unfortunate that there's a huge amount of available 2dis out west and out east there's only a handful left (41 {soon to be taken}, 47, 51, 53, 61, 63, and 67) out east.

I'd love to see US75/US69 brought up to interstate standards to Big Cabin (I-44), and then the Kansas US69 completed just west of Joplin and run I-45 from Houston to Dallas to Kansas City. Then, given Fort Worth I-35 by itself and change I-35E into a I-35 3di.

Of course, with US71 coming up to interstate standards quickly from Joplin to Kansas City, it's rather redundant, but I'd still like to see the US69 freeway brought further south. Or, alternatively, complete I-45 north along the Indian Nation to US 75 to Tulsa, and up US169 to Kansas City that way.

Pipe dreams, but at least I-45 would make more sense.

Sykotyk

[bugo]

I don't know why they don't extend I-45 north along US 75 to end at the Oklahoma border.  It could also end at US 69 if it has to end at a "major junction."  I don't support US highway truncation, but if they did this they could truncate US 75 to US 69 at Atoka.

[national highway 1]

Umm...Why is I-110 in El Paso unsigned?

[leifvanderwall]

If you are talking about the Patroit Freeway , I imagine the Texans prefer the US 54 labeling. Many times when a 3di is proposed with a US route , eventually the US route gains favor. Examples The old I-124 in Tennessee and the old I-296 in Gd Rapids,MI

[mightyace]

Examples The old I-124 in Tennessee and the old I-296 in Gd Rapids,MI

I'm guess you meant that these are unsigned as well because our host's Interstate Guide lists them on the Unsigned Interstates page.

http://www.interstate-guide.com/unsigned.html

[bugo]

If you are talking about the Patroit Freeway , I imagine the Texans prefer the US 54 labeling. Many times when a 3di is proposed with a US route , eventually the US route gains favor. Examples The old I-124 in Tennessee and the old I-296 in Gd Rapids,MI

I-444/US 75 is another good example.

Is I-345 signed as I-45 or US 75?  Or is it signed 45 SB and 75 NB?

[agentsteel53]

I-110 is, like I-980 in the bay area, one of those useless interstate numbers, on an already perfectly well-signed numbered route, that just serves to obfuscate things.  There's no real reason to have the last mile of the CA-24 freeway be given an interstate shield, and same with the US-54 freeway in El Paso.

[Sykotyk]

I-45 signage ends at I-30. US-75 continues north. Southbound shows US-75 until I-30 and then to I-45. Anything further from I-30 has 'TO' markers on it from what I can remember. it's been a while since being on that stretch.

[national highway 1]

why was I-110 TX made an interstate in the first place? Just so TX could get a second border crossing interstate (the other is I-35, Laredo)?
And, if I-45 is extended north along US 75 into OK and KS, does this mean it will take over its only (unsigned) child route I-345? Why make the southernmost section of US 75 I-345?

[Chris]

Technically, I-35 ends just half a mile before the Mexican border.

[national highway 1]

still, it is 'within range' of the Mexican border

[BigMattFromTexas]

410 - San Antonio
610 - Houston

210 - El Paso?

El Paso already has the near pointless I-110, prolly could use a different one, most likely 210...
BigMatt

[national highway 1]

410 - San Antonio
610 - Houston

210 - El Paso?

El Paso already has the near pointless I-110, prolly could use a different one, most likely 210...
BigMatt

I-210 Could be Loop 375 in El Paso

[Scott5114]

410 - San Antonio
610 - Houston

210 - El Paso?

El Paso already has the near pointless I-110, prolly could use a different one, most likely 210...
BigMatt

I-210 Could be Loop 375 in El Paso

It could be, but isn't. Please keep fictional highway musings in the "fictional highways" section.