Freeways that were formerly signed Interstates but now are not in the system?

[myosh_tino]

so there indeed was a time when I-980 was a segment of CA-17: 1976 (or 1981, depending on your perspective) to 1984. 

I don't think CA-17 was ever routed over what is now I-980 and I think you misunderstood TheStranger's post. 

The quote that refers to Chapter 292 in 1981, Chapter 928 in 1986 and Chapter 106 in 1998 refers to the routing of I-980.  What caught my attention was this statement...

In 1981, Chapter 292 defined this route by transfer from Route 24: "Route 17 in Oakland to Route 580."

I think this statement confirms your original suspicions that I-980 used to be CA-24 prior to 1981.

I believe this also explains why there's a WEST banner on the I-980 exit sign. If you look closely at this photo from the AARoads Gallery...

... you can see a greenout patch under the I-980 shield and it appears to be about the same width as a 2-digit California route shield... probably a CA-24 shield!

I also found this on Kurumi's 3-Digit Interstates website for I-980...

Construction began in 1964, but a lawsuit helped delay completion of the freeway until 1985. When it opened, it was signed CA 24 for a few years before I-980 signs went up.

[agentsteel53]

Also an old section of  I-44 (old 66) near Devil's Elbow that's now Missouri Route Z.

Z was I-44, a full freeway?  I had always thought it was a four-lane expressway.  all those at-grade crossings must be more recent, then.

[TheStranger]

I think this statement confirms your original suspicions that I-980 used to be CA-24 prior to 1981.

What still intrigues me:

1. How did it take 5 years for the legislative definition to be updated, when the interstate funding for the route was already granted in 1976?
2. Assuming the only open section of what is now 980 was from 580 to 30th Street or so...if westbound was signed as "[implied TO] Route 17 South", do we have any idea what eastbound was signed like between there and 580?  I know there are 980 shields out there now in that direction, but not sure about pullthroughs.

I have to admit, it'll be intriguing to see what happens to the route designation (if anything) once the Caldecott becomes a full four-bore setup...

[Scott5114]

next time I am up there (maybe this Saturday), I will take a look.  I checked briefly to see if I have any photos of that segment of 580, but I cannot find any offhand.  Anyone else got one?

Just bring a ladder and a crowbar and peek at it yourself

[US71]

Also an old section of  I-44 (old 66) near Devil's Elbow that's now Missouri Route Z.

Z was I-44, a full freeway?  I had always thought it was a four-lane expressway.  all those at-grade crossings must be more recent, then.

44 on a technicality. It's was Route 66 MK II, but got taken over by 44. The Freeway section on top of the hill was one of the last sections completed in Missouri, but the old section was posted as 44 for a while.

[roadman65]

Was not the US 6 Freeway in Willamanic, CT originally I-84 until the state scrapped the second proposed alignment of I-84 that would have taken it to Providence, RI.

[Alps]

Was not the US 6 Freeway in Willamanic, CT originally I-84 until the state scrapped the second proposed alignment of I-84 that would have taken it to Providence, RI.

Meant to be, but never signed to my knowledge.

[kurumi]

Was not the US 6 Freeway in Willimantic, CT originally I-84 until the state scrapped the second proposed alignment of I-84 that would have taken it to Providence, RI.

Yes, and it was signed that way. Willimantic had a signed interstate and lost it ... have any other cities? I can only think of those along US 22 in PA, after I-78 was moved. But the eastern I-84 wasn't moved a few miles away, it was taken away.

[kendancy66]

Wikipedia claims the existing segment of NC 147 in Durham, North Carolina was originally built as I-40, but has no sources for it.  Anyone know if this is the case?

I drove with my friend on Durham Freeway a couple of times in the mid 1970's. This was his route for driving from Winston-Salem to Raleigh via Durham in order to drive on freeways as much as possible.  This was before I-40 was built from I-85 to Raleigh which opened in early 1980's.  He would drive to Durham on I-85, exiting at Gregson Street, and drive south to a entrance ramp to the Durham freeway.  It was so long ago that I can't remember more specific directions, but I am pretty sure the freeway ended just north of this on ramp.  I thought that this Durham freeway was signed as I-40, and specifically recall trailblazers and/or reassurance signs for I-40 in Durham for this freeway.  However after reading the other posts in the thread that said that this freeway wasn't signed as I-40 on maps, makes me wonder if freeway was only signed as To I-40 on the freeway between Durham and Research Triangle Park.

[Alps]

Was not the US 6 Freeway in Willimantic, CT originally I-84 until the state scrapped the second proposed alignment of I-84 that would have taken it to Providence, RI.

Yes, and it was signed that way. Willimantic had a signed interstate and lost it ... have any other cities? I can only think of those along US 22 in PA, after I-78 was moved. But the eastern I-84 wasn't moved a few miles away, it was taken away.

The disconnected piece of I-84 was signed? You of all people would be able to point me to the proof. (:

[cpzilliacus]

I-895 in Baltimore, MD was signed I-95 up until the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985.  I know this is still in the system, but the section of I-895 south of I-695 is not technically an interstate according to FHWA.  The pull through signs at US 1 SB along I-895 always showed it as I-95 proper and I believe still do to this day.

When was it signed as I-95? I seem to remember that when I was a kid it bore no number at all, just the "Harbor Tunnel Thruway" name, and that the I-895 designation was applied a few years before the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened. 

I-895 was  always signed as "TO I-95" - even prior to the opening of I-95 between I-495 and I-695 (as Steve Anderson calls it, "Between the Beltways," when the southbound trailblazers directed traffic onto Md. 295 southbound (Baltimore-Washington Parkway).

When I-95 was open between Between the Beltways, northbound I-95 traffic was directed to follow the Outer Loop of I-695 to I-895 and southbound I-895 traffic was directed to the Inner Loop of I-695 to return to I-95.  Then the short extension of I-895 from U.S. 1 to I-95 was completed, which obviated that slightly circuitous route via I-695.

[PHLBOS]

For a brief period in the 1960s, the freeway section of what is now US 1 between the Tobin Bridge in Boston and Revere (aka the Northeast Expressway)was signed as I-95.

there was a surviving sign well into the 2000s.

Yes.  It was on the northbound Tobin Bridge, and read "TO 95 NORTH".

The Northeast Expressway/Tobin (originally Mystic River or Mystic) Bridge was a common (for the time) case where construction of the roads started BEFORE the Interstate Highway Act became law.  While the road was 'officially' considered to be I-95 from the time the IHA became law in 1956 through 1974-75; 95 signage outside of the "TO 95 NORTH" signage along the northbound Tobin Bridge (which IIRC still remain to this day) was scarce.

In anticipation of the original connection w/I-93 being completed in the early 70s, large signage for I-95 North and South were included.  The then-new signage directing those to the Tobin/Mystic Bridge originally read "95 NORTH-Charlestown-Revere" further north, just before one got on the bridge; there was another pull-through sign that originally read "95 NORTH-Chelsea-Revere".  The I-95 shields on those signs were replaced with US 1 shields in 1975.  Note: the original 1950s era overhead thru-signage at the then-incomplete interchange read "CHARLESTOWN-MYSTIC BRIDGE" with no route number.

At the same interchange, signage directing those to the Central Artery originally read "95 SOUTH-Boston-Cape Cod".  The I-95 shields for those southbound signs were very short-lived.  By the time the I-93 northbound connections actually opened to traffic, the I-95 shields were replaced with MA 3 shields (with wide Series E(?) numerals).  The I-93 shields ultimately replaced the MA 3 shields in 1977.

Further back at the originally configured Charlestown exit (pre-Central Artery North Area (aka CANA) Project) from the southbound Expressway; there was an older-style sign directing through-traffic to the left that read "BOSTON-95 SOUTH".  That 95 South sign remained until the late 80s when the sign was then masked with a board that read "Boston-93 North and South".  Needless to say, this sign was sacrificed during the fore-mentioned CANA Project.  

When much of the Northeast Expressway from Carter Street to Cutler Circle (MA 60) was reconstructed in 1975; all of the then-new steel overhead signs for the the southbound highway did NOT include ANY route number for the road but all the northbound signage originally read "NORTH 95 TO 1 - NH-Maine".  When the switch from I-95 to US 1 became final, many of the northbound signs just had the shields swapped over to read "NORTH 1 TO 95 - NH-Maine"; although one sign was missed at the expressway entrance ramp from eastbound MA 16.  That sign was ultimately knocked down in an accident during the 1980s and was never replaced until all the overhead signs were replaced in the 2000s.

I'm not 100% sure if it's still there today but just before the above-mentioned ramp from 16 East but right after the Expressway overpass; there was a small green sign w/white lettering that read "RTE. 95" with a 45 degree right-turn arrow.  The last time I was at that interchange a few years back, that small sign was still there; nearly 30 years after the changeover from I-95 to US 1.

There may be an I-95 shield under here: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=42.39215,-71.034636&spn=0.014104,0.033023&gl=us&vpsrc=0&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.392028,-71.038677&panoid=CLeTCHdr_lV-3dr2p__t9g&cbp=12,176.39,,0,-18.52

There probably was.  It's also worth noting that it appears that the entire sign was masked recently.  The old lettering (for the control destinations) likely orginally read "MYSTIC BRIDGE-BOSTON".

I'm not sure if any of the old signs approaching MA 99 that originally read "95 - City Sq.-Boston" with the 95 shields long gone are still around.

[bugo]

The southern end of I-530 will likely fit this criteria.  They're building an extension to Monticello, and the spur will be orphaned.  It will likely revert to US 63-65-79 or become an I-530 spur.

[Alps]

I'm not 100% sure if it's still there today but just before the above-mentioned ramp from 16 East but right after the Expressway overpass; there was a small green sign w/white lettering that read "RTE. 95" with a 45 degree right-turn arrow.  The last time I was at that interchange a few years back, that small sign was still there; nearly 30 years after the changeover from I-95 to US 1.

I'm not sure if any of the old signs approaching MA 99 that originally read "95 - City Sq.-Boston" with the 95 shields long gone are still around.

#1: I've NEVER seen that sign! Street View is fuzzy. I demand to know more.
#2: Still around as far as I know.

[roadman65]

I-895 in Baltimore, MD was signed I-95 up until the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985.  I know this is still in the system, but the section of I-895 south of I-695 is not technically an interstate according to FHWA.  The pull through signs at US 1 SB along I-895 always showed it as I-95 proper and I believe still do to this day.

When was it signed as I-95? I seem to remember that when I was a kid it bore no number at all, just the "Harbor Tunnel Thruway" name, and that the I-895 designation was applied a few years before the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened. 

I-895 was  always signed as "TO I-95" - even prior to the opening of I-95 between I-495 and I-695 (as Steve Anderson calls it, "Between the Beltways," when the southbound trailblazers directed traffic onto Md. 295 southbound (Baltimore-Washington Parkway).

When I-95 was open between Between the Beltways, northbound I-95 traffic was directed to follow the Outer Loop of I-695 to I-895 and southbound I-895 traffic was directed to the Inner Loop of I-695 to return to I-95.  Then the short extension of I-895 from U.S. 1 to I-95 was completed, which obviated that slightly circuitous route via I-695.

I have to disagree with you on this!  I have been around since 1965 and I saw the Harbor Tunnel Thruway signed as I-95 in a few places with my own eyes.

[Beltway]

When I-95 was open between Between the Beltways, northbound I-95 traffic was directed to follow the Outer Loop of I-695 to I-895 and southbound I-895 traffic was directed to the Inner Loop of I-695 to return to I-95.  Then the short extension of I-895 from U.S. 1 to I-95 was completed, which obviated that slightly circuitous route via I-695.

I have to disagree with you on this!  I have been around since 1965 and I saw the Harbor Tunnel Thruway signed as I-95 in a few places with my own eyes.

I've been around the area since 1969, and I agree with cpzilliacas.  It was signed as "TO I-95".  Even before the HTT was opened, I-95 was planned for a different corridor passing in or near the downtown.

[NE2]

I'm not 100% sure if it's still there today but just before the above-mentioned ramp from 16 East but right after the Expressway overpass; there was a small green sign w/white lettering that read "RTE. 95" with a 45 degree right-turn arrow.  The last time I was at that interchange a few years back, that small sign was still there; nearly 30 years after the changeover from I-95 to US 1.

#1: I've NEVER seen that sign! Street View is fuzzy. I demand to know more.

I see nothing on Bing's "streetside" imagery, which is better quality than fuzzy Google.

[PHLBOS]

I'm not 100% sure if it's still there today but just before the above-mentioned ramp from 16 East but right after the Expressway overpass; there was a small green sign w/white lettering that read "RTE. 95" with a 45 degree right-turn arrow.  The last time I was at that interchange a few years back, that small sign was still there; nearly 30 years after the changeover from I-95 to US 1.

#1: I've NEVER seen that sign! Street View is fuzzy. I demand to know more.

I see nothing on Bing's "streetside" imagery, which is better quality than fuzzy Google.

The sign in question (again, the last time I saw it was about 5 years ago) was a small (18"x24" or 24"x30"), non-standard (likely made by the MDC) rectangular sign (longer side vertical) and was likely located partially inside the overpass.  The "RTE. 95" lettering of the sign was equivalent to MUTCD Series A.  It was one of those signs that if one blinked, they missed it.

Due to its location, for a pic, one would need to set the flash on and snap it at an angle to avoid the glare bleaching out the sign legend.

[TheStranger]

Ancient thread but decided to revive it specifically after thinking about the example of I-40 in Winston-Salem:

- built in the 1950s originally as a planned reroute of US 158 (which does use part of its mileage), assigned I-40 in 1958 during the opening of the road
- US 421 added as a concurrency in the 1960s
- removed from Interstate system in 1992 as part of I-40 being moved to a southern bypass, and redesignated as Business I-40
- Business I-40 designation completely removed in 2020, so route is now solely US 421 and given the name of Salem Parkway as well

Are there any other examples of existing freeway between 2012-2021 that were removed from the Interstate system but still in use?

[mgk920]

Has I-124 in Tennessee been formally removed from the I-system?

Mike

[US 89]

Has I-124 in Tennessee been formally removed from the I-system?

FHWA maps say it's still I-124. It just isn't signed as such.

[bing101]

so there indeed was a time when I-980 was a segment of CA-17: 1976 (or 1981, depending on your perspective) to 1984. 

I don't think CA-17 was ever routed over what is now I-980 and I think you misunderstood TheStranger's post. 

The quote that refers to Chapter 292 in 1981, Chapter 928 in 1986 and Chapter 106 in 1998 refers to the routing of I-980.  What caught my attention was this statement...

In 1981, Chapter 292 defined this route by transfer from Route 24: "Route 17 in Oakland to Route 580."

I think this statement confirms your original suspicions that I-980 used to be CA-24 prior to 1981.

I believe this also explains why there's a WEST banner on the I-980 exit sign. If you look closely at this photo from the AARoads Gallery...

... you can see a greenout patch under the I-980 shield and it appears to be about the same width as a 2-digit California route shield... probably a CA-24 shield!

I also found this on Kurumi's 3-Digit Interstates website for I-980...

Construction began in 1964, but a lawsuit helped delay completion of the freeway until 1985. When it opened, it was signed CA 24 for a few years before I-980 signs went up.

I seen maps where I-980 was intended at one point to be part of the Southern crossing an alternate for Bay Bridge and San Mateo bridge but that was called off.

[bing101]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_244
CA-244 was initially supposed to be an expanded freeway for I-880 Beltline freeway in Sacramento prior to parts of the Beltline extension being cancelled and I-880 Beltline being renamed at I-80 and Business 80 being renamed as hidden CA-51.

[TheStranger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_244
CA-244 was initially supposed to be an expanded freeway for I-880 Beltline freeway in Sacramento prior to parts of the Beltline extension being cancelled and I-880 Beltline being renamed at I-80 and Business 80 being renamed as hidden CA-51.

244 was never meant to be either I-880 or I-80 though.

For that matter, Business 80 in Sacramento is still debatable whether it can fit in this; the US 50 segment I think is the majority of hidden I-305 and the rest of I-305 covers the 1960s I-80 (US 99E) along 29th/30th, south of E Street.

[vdeane]

Has I-124 in Tennessee been formally removed from the I-system?

FHWA maps say it's still I-124. It just isn't signed as such.

They even put exit numbers in.  Makes it fairly obvious where I-124 is and where it's just US 27.