AASHTO Numbering Decisions 1967-87

[Mapmikey]

A former prolific poster on this forum alerted me that AASHTO Numbering decisions from 1967-87 can now be viewed on a wikipedia page: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Minutes_from_the_American_Association_of_State_Highway_and_Transportation_Officials


I've only been looking through some of these for a little while and already all kinds of nuggets I wasn't aware of:

US 13 was formally requested to extend southwest to Abbeville SC
US 270 was formally requested to extend north to I-70 Goodland KS
US 287 was formally requested to follow US 89 to Canada
US 251 was formally proposed in Illinois
VA 360 was requested to be US 360 ALT originally

I'm sure there's more to be learned...

Mapmikey

[Mapmikey]

Here is a doozy from 1971:

Proposed extension of US 163 north to Yellowstone NP, following mostly today's US 191 (except would use WY 530).  Not so unusual I suppose but they also proposed US 163E and US 163W.

163E would use current US 191 from I-80 north to US 189-191 jct while 163W would use US 30 to Kemmerer and US 189 north to 189-191 jct...

Mapmikey

[froggie]

Also of note, from the November 1975 meeting:

- Elimination of I-70S inside the Beltway (the unbuilt "North Central Freeway").
- Elimination of unbuilt I-95 inside the Beltway (though curiously "from I-295" instead of from the 3rd St Tunnel)
- Not sure if this was a typo or not, but it suggests that I-395 inside the Beltway was "conditionally approved as I-895" at first.
- Creation of I-97, I-197, I-297, "I-68" (later unsigned I-595), I-195, I-270, and I-370 in Maryland, as well as extending I-695 from I-95 to I-97.

In the November, 1972 meeting, Florida requested (but was denied) a US route along FL 50.

[Mapmikey]

Apparently there used to be an I-70A and an I-70N in Columbus OH

Also, ND-SD tried to renumber US 85 as an extended US 385...

In June 1974 there was an I-53 conditionally approved for a route that would encompass I-155 and I-180. 

[Mapmikey]

In the November, 1972 meeting, Florida requested (but was denied) a US route along FL 50.

In June 1975 Texas and NM tried to get a new US route from Dallas to Elida NM via mostly TX 114

[route56]

Apparently, the Kansas Highway Commission/Department of Transportation had applied for business interstate designations. All of them were rejected, apparently because all of the routes were duplicated.

[Mapmikey]

If you think US 321 into Tennessee is weird...

In June 1978, Tennessee tried to get US 74 extended, leaving NC at the I-40 crossing, then using TN 32 to current US 321 which it would've followed more less to I-40 west of Knoxville, then went northeast from there to end at US 25W Clinton.

[Brandon]

Apparently there used to be an I-70A and an I-70N in Columbus OH

Current I-670?

In June 1974 there was an I-53 conditionally approved for a route that would encompass I-155 and I-180. 

Let me guess, Illinois tried for this with backing from boosters and politicians from Peoria.

[froggie]

Some others not yet mentioned, by month:

June, 1968
- Texas was denied an extension of US 90 from Van Horn north along TX 54 to US 62/180.
- Nebraska was denied a rerouting of US 75 between Omaha and Blair via NE 133.
- AASHO ratified the deletion of I-278 and addition of I-195 in New Jersey.

June, 1969
- Appears to be the month where AASHO gave its rubber stamp to the Interstate designations/extensions designated by the 1968 Howard-Cramer amendment (which added 1,500 miles to the system).  Of note:
     - Milwaukee to Green Bay was designated as "I-57"
     - What is now free CO 470 in Denver was designated "I-470"
     - The "northeast quadrant of a route in Phoenix", as I-410
- I-96 and I-196 in Michigan were swapped.
- Several Interstate redesignations in the New York City area, including the official removal of I-495 west of I-278/BQE.

October, 1969
- Action deferred on redesignating US 164 along today's US 163 from US 160/Kayenta, AZ to today's US 191, then north along today's US 191 to I-70/Crescent Jct, UT.  Similar actions at the same time were also deferred on extending US 160 west along its existing route to US 89 (at the time, it followed today's US 491 to Monticello then today's US 191 to Crescent Jct), and extending US 666 to Monticello (later approved, then turned into US 491).
- US 48 was "reserved" for what is today's I-68 between Morgantown and Cumberland.
- Former I-281 near Syracuse became I-481.
- I-87 was relocated from today's I-684 onto the NYs Thruway (approved by Congress in the 1968 Highway Act and by FHWA in September, 1969).  This is when I-684 was designated.
- I-410 around New Orleans was designated, using in part the old I-310 (later reinstated when 410 was dropped).

The extension of US 13 into SC mentioned above by Mapmikey was denied twice...in 1968 and 1969.


I'll do more of this detailed look-by-month later.

[Mapmikey]

In Oct 1983 the US 9 Truck in Delaware was approved.  I have seen board posts that suggest the US 19 Truck in Pittsburgh was the only Truck route ever approved by AASHTO.

Utah tried to get US 666 extended northwest twice, mostly using UT 95 and UT 24:
  In June 1985 they tried for an endpoint of I-70 near Richfield
  In May 1987 they tried for an endpoint of US 89 Sigurd


There are some shenanigans in the Wilmington DE area in the 1970s that require detailed reading...

Mapmikey

[Rover_0]

Some others not yet mentioned, by month:

October, 1969
- Action deferred on redesignating US 164 along today's US 163 from US 160/Kayenta, AZ to today's US 191, then north along today's US 191 to I-70/Crescent Jct, UT.  Similar actions at the same time were also deferred on extending US 160 west along its existing route to US 89 (at the time, it followed today's US 491 to Monticello then today's US 191 to Crescent Jct), and extending US 666 to Monticello (later approved, then turned into US 491).

So I was right in thinking that US-163 was originally planned as US-164. A N-S US-164 would have made much more sense than an out-of-place US-163, personally. </tangent>

Also, it never got past UDOT (and doesn't show up here), but San Juan County also suggested around this time that US-163 get extended west to I-15 west of Hurricane. So not only would 163 have been out of place, it may not have even have ran the right direction (which is the reason why it wound up with its number in the first place)!

I still think that 1980s plan for 163 would be a good one--provided it becomes 164.

Utah tried to get US 666 extended northwest twice, mostly using UT 95 and UT 24:
  In June 1985 they tried for an endpoint of I-70 near Richfield
  In May 1987 they tried for an endpoint of US 89 Sigurd

Mapmikey

I recall seeing both plans as well.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

How many times Oklahoma attempted to get that extension of US 377 approved before giving up and signing it without official recognition?

[Mapmikey]

How many times Oklahoma attempted to get that extension of US 377 approved before giving up and signing it without official recognition?

This appears at least 9 times from 1969-88.

[Alex]

The notes involving the I-895 concept in Wilmington were revealing.

At the June 1978 meeting, the renumbering of I-95 through Wilmington as I-595 was disapproved while the relocation of I-95 over I-495 to the east was approved.
At the October 1978 meeting, conditional approval was given to the southern portion of I-95, from DE 141 to US 202 (Concord Pike?) as I-195 and the northern portion of I-95 from US 202 north to the PA line as I-395
At the June 1979 meeting, the conditional designations of I-195 and 395 were collectively renumbered as I-895.
By the November 1980 meeting, I-895 reverting to I-95 and the restoration of I-495 were approved.



The October 1979 meeting has the request to design I-296

The May 1984 meeting includes the approval of I-195 for the Center Leg Freeway in DC and the redesignation of I-695 as I-395 along the Southeast Freeway. This change was reflected on the Downtown Washington inset on Rand McNally atlases.

[froggie]

Continuing my earlier breakdown:

June, 1970
- Elimination of US 164 entirely, extension of US 160 (as it exists today), extension of US 666 (now US 491) to Monticello, and creation of US 163 instead of US 164.
- Original I-105 and I-110 near downtown Los Angeles (the minutes erroneously say San Francisco) eliminated.
- Baton Rouge version of I-410 LA eliminated (odd that it happened after the New Orleans version was approved) and I-110 Baton Rouge added.
- I-420 Monroe, LA eliminated.
- Maryland I-170 and I-395 added.
- I-80 moved out of Cleveland onto the Ohio Turnpike with I-480 taking its place.
- I-79 and I-279 swap in Pittsburg, except that I-279 only follows Parkway North.  I-76, which had already been on Parkway East, extended along Parkway West to today's I-79/I-376 interchange.
- I-479 Pittsburgh renumbered as I-876 (today's I-579).
- I-178 and I-378 PA eliminated.
- I-110, I-345, and parts of I-410 and I-610 TX all added, as is I-180 WY.
- Includes a list of then-existing US routes entirely within one state, ranging from US 92 FL to US 377 TX.

November, 1970
- (of note to Alex) Former US 13A Wilmington becomes mainline US 13, with old US 13 becoming BUSINESS US 13.  US 202 eliminated between I-95 and I-295.
- Proposal to eliminate US 34 from its duplex with US 66 in Chicago, from Ogden Ave/Harlem Ave (today's US 34 terminus at IL 43) to Jackson Dr/Michigan Ave (Michigan Ave was US 14 at the time).  Unclear of disposition as no action is mentioned in the minutes, though US 34 is shown as truncated on the 1972 IL map.
- Proposal to eliminate US 136 in Indianapolis and reroute US 36 and US 421 to the I-465 loop.  Unclear of disposition as no action is mentioned in the minutes.
- Proposal to eliminate US 641 between Marion, KY and Henderson, KY.  Though no action is mentioned in the minutes, was likely approved as 1970 KY map shows 641 duplexed with US 60, but 1971 KY map shows US 60 alone north(east) of Marion.
- US 57 Texas created.
- US 380 Texas eliminated from Old Glory to Cisco (replaced by TX 283 and part of TX 6) and instead routed east from Old Glory to Greenville (ending at today's I-30/TX 302 interchange).
- Action deferred on a Connecticut request to reroute US 7 onto what was then planned as a new freeway between I-84 and I-95.
- By request of the National Park Service, US 441 be "discontinued" through Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  Intended purpose was to ban commercial truck traffic through the park.

June, 1971
- ALT US 30 in Illinois eliminated.
- US 54 truncated from Chicago to US 36 Pittsfield, IL.
- New York was denied eliminating US 15 between Rochester and Painted Post.
- US 104 in New York eliminated.
- Utah/Wyomin were denied a US 163 extension, as noted by Mapmikey above.

December, 1971
- Illinois initially submitted but later withdrew a request to eliminate US 150 west of Danville.
- US 213 in Maryland eliminated.
- Minnesota was denied eliminating US 61 north of Wyoming, MN (they were successful in 1990).
- US 371 in Minnesota eliminated.
- US 73 eliminated north of Winnebago, NE (had extended along today's US 75/77 to US 20).
- US 99/US 99E/US 99W eliminated north of Ashland, OR (i.e. most of Oregon).
- Oregon was denied an ALT US 101, would have used OR 42S and OR 42 from Bandon via Coquille to US 101/OR 42 south of Coos Bay.
- Both US 106 and US 611 in Pennsylvania eliminated.
- US 466 eliminated.
- I-80S OH-PA redesignated as I-76.  Related changes resulted in creation of I-376, I-579, and an extended I-279 (along Parkway West) in Pittsburgh.

[bulldog1979]

To go with the archive, there is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_U.S._Roads/Resources/AASHTO_minutes which has a summary chart of all of the requests as well.

[bob7374]

Interesting to note that the relocation of I-95 around Boston, the extension of I-93 to Canton, and the re-designation of the NE Expressway as US1 was approved at the June 1975 AASHTO USRN meeting, though if I remember correctly, I-95 and I-93 shields up along their new routes in the fall of 1974. Also, for a short time what became extended I-93 was designated as I-95, but it appears this was not along enough to get an application sent for approval.

[pianocello]

November, 1970
- Proposal to eliminate US 34 from its duplex with US 66 in Chicago, from Ogden Ave/Harlem Ave (today's US 34 terminus at IL 43) to Jackson Dr/Michigan Ave (Michigan Ave was US 14 at the time).  Unclear of disposition as no action is mentioned in the minutes, though US 34 is shown as truncated on the 1972 IL map.

I have been wondering for years why 34 ended at a state route instead of back at La Grange Rd. Now I know.

December, 1971
- Illinois initially submitted but later withdrew a request to eliminate US 150 west of Danville.

Weird, I wonder why they would withdraw that request. It's not like 150 serves any major purpose in Illinois.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Last page of June 1985 meeting: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why did they approve THAT?

[admtrap]

Well, US 69 Alt isn't THAT bad, is it?   

[roadman]

From June 1975 :

Relocation of US 1 onto the Northeast Expressway between Revere and Boston.

[Brandon]

November, 1970
- Proposal to eliminate US 34 from its duplex with US 66 in Chicago, from Ogden Ave/Harlem Ave (today's US 34 terminus at IL 43) to Jackson Dr/Michigan Ave (Michigan Ave was US 14 at the time).  Unclear of disposition as no action is mentioned in the minutes, though US 34 is shown as truncated on the 1972 IL map.

I have been wondering for years why 34 ended at a state route instead of back at La Grange Rd. Now I know.

December, 1971
- Illinois initially submitted but later withdrew a request to eliminate US 150 west of Danville.

Weird, I wonder why they would withdraw that request. It's not like 150 serves any major purpose in Illinois.

In many ways, IDOT chose the wrong route to truncate.  US-66 should've been truncated there instead of US-34 in retrospect.

As for US-150, why not just eliminate it from the state completely?  Why just end it at Danville?  US-150 is fairly redundant as it comes in from Indiana.

Then, I saw an approval to truncate US-136 between US-41 and Indy that was never acted upon.  It was based on a proposal to truncate US-136 east of what is now I-74 (Exit 152).

[PHLBOS]

From November 1975:

I-93 Extension Approved: Beginning at the present terminus of I-93 South in Quincy, thence southwesterly overlapping State Road 128 to the intersection of I-95.

The extension of I-93 to the Braintree Split & the re-routing of I-95 onto 128 are logged in the fore-mentioned June 1975 report.

Personally, I didn't see any I-93 shields along the Central Artery & Southeast Expressway when my family went on a summer trip to Cape Cod circa 1975.  I started seeing them pop up about a year later.

[froggie]

Continuing on:

June, 1972
- US 91 relocated between Pocatello and Idaho Falls onto its present routing, along what had previously been US 191.  Prior to this, US 91 was concurrent with I-15.  This also eliminated the old BUSINESS US 91's in Blackfoot and Idaho Falls.
- US 227 in Kentucky eliminated.
- US 17 relocated onto I-95 between Ridgeland and Pocatiligo, SC.
- US 240 in Maryland/DC eliminated.
- Related to US 91 above, US 191 eliminated between Idaho Falls, ID and Brigham City, UT.
- US 30S eliminated between Burley, ID and Granger Jct, WY.  US 30N between the two junctions redesignated as US 30.
- Proposed extension of US 163 to Yellowstone, mentioned above by Mapmikey was again denied.
- I-76 and I-676 swapped in Philadelphia.
- I-81E PA redesignated as I-380.  I-84 also extended along the route to I-81 (I-84 had previously ended at I-81E).

November, 1972

- US 202 relocated onto its current corridor between Danbury and Avon, CT.  Previously, it had used a CT 53/CT 302/US 6/CT 10 routing. (Kurumi's website says this actually happened in May, 1974.  AASHO approval is what took place in 1972.)
- As I noted above, Florida was denied a US Route along FL 50.
- US 64 eliminated between Taos and Santa Fe, NM and instead extended to US 550/Farmington.
- US 9 relocated from Cape May, NJ to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.
- US 30S eliminated between Delphos and Mansfield, OH, with US 30N becoming US 30.

[Revive 755]

June 1982:  Illinois tries to get a business route for I-72 in Champaign.  Given that I-20 got a business spur in Florence, SC, I am curious as to why I-72 couldn't have one.

November 1975:  US 460 is wiped out west of the Indiana border.

November 1975:  Relocation of I-35 from the east leg and current route of I-670 to I-35's present route is conditionally approved, creation of I-670 was deferred.

June 1979:  Redesignating part of I-270 as I-255 in Illinois and Missouri is approved subject to FHWA concurrence.

June 1983:  California replaces I-180 with I-580, everyone's favorite I-x38 is created.

June 1983:  'US 52' in Connecticut and Massachusetts is replaced with I-395

October 1983:  Apparently US 73 did enter Missouri at one time, as cutting US 73 back into Kansas was approved.

December 1984:  I-39 in Illinois is rejected.  The "I-72 Spur" into Champaign is rejected again

May 1987:  The extension of I-72 west of I-55 in Illinois is rejected - it appears in this plan I-72 would have gone up IL 336 (I-172 today) to Quincy.

May 1987:  The I-64 extension to Wentzville, MO is approved.