Road World Mandela Effect Examples

[Max Rockatansky]

Today in the Westside Parkway thread someone brought up the oddly widely believed notion that CA 58 between Barstow and Bakersfield is slated to become an extension of I-40.  In reality the corridor hasn't been explored as a potential Interstate since the late 1960s.  Despite the actual knowledge being out there the myth about I-40 being extended still persists.  Is there any other similar phenomena in the road world in other locales?

[Rothman]

That Interstate Maintenance (IM) funding is still apportioned.

[Scott5114]

A widely believed one, mostly outside the road community, is the belief that one mile out of every five miles of Interstate must be perfectly straight to allow planes to land. (Nobody who espouses this belief stops to consider that this would make constructing an Interstate in places like West Virginia borderline impossible.)

[kurumi]

Exit 14 on CT 2, a "skipped" sequential exit number in Marlborough, was or was not set aside for a future CT 66 freeway. One of those things we might like to be true, but I haven't found evidence of it.

When mileage-based numbering comes in (a good thing overall), the handful of "missing" exit numbers and their suggestion (true or false) of hidden road history will be erased.

[kenarmy]

People swear US 51 is State St. (the whole thing) but it hasn't been like that it in over 50 years. And google maps also shows this.....

Also, I'm not sure if US 51 used Old Jackson Road, or Old Canton Road.

[citrus]

The exit numbers on I-95 in NJ, approaching the George Washington Bridge, are derived from an extension of the exit numbers on I-80, which once was, or maybe still is, multiplexed to the bridge itself.

The Chicago Skyway is not actually part of I-90.

[andrepoiy]

Yonge Street being the longest street in the world.... an inaccurate statement made by Genius World Records. They confused the (former) Ontario Highway 11 and the street name...

[froggie]

Also, I'm not sure if US 51 used Old Jackson Road, or Old Canton Road.

The 1928 state map shows 51 west of the railroad north of Gluckstadt, so it's quite possible it used Old Jackson Rd initially...this changed no later than 1932.  I have seen no indications anywhere that 51 may have used Old Canton Rd.

[Mapmikey]

Also, I'm not sure if US 51 used Old Jackson Road, or Old Canton Road.

The 1928 state map shows 51 west of the railroad north of Gluckstadt, so it's quite possible it used Old Jackson Rd initially...this changed no later than 1932.  I have seen no indications anywhere that 51 may have used Old Canton Rd.

Researching this...didn't fnd a definitive answer right off, but I did find that the Mississippi Highway Dept laid out a numbered state route system in 1921 - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021031870&view=1up&seq=106&skin=2021&q1=canton

route numbers were 10-53.  No map and I am not familiar enough with all the towns and counties of MS to know if there was a definitive numering scheme or not.

In the following biennial report, they lay out the Federal Aid routes (1-28) - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021031870&view=1up&seq=137&skin=2021&q1=canton, then say that isn't enough for a state highway network and lay out routes the state should have (listed as paragraph numbers 30-61)

Then no word on a state route system in several reports after that.

BTW, the 1921 Automobile Blue Book directs travelers north out of Jackson to go via Tougaloo Sta, which is on today's US 51 and therefore was not on Old Canton Rd.  So there is an excellent argument that US 51 never used Old Canton Rd.

However, it might have used Old Town Crossing/Magnolia Rd right along the railroad instead of today's alignment (1905 topo shows a road immediately adjacent to RR from Tougaloo to Madison that seems to track with the 1921 instructions).

[jeffandnicole]

A widely believed one, mostly outside the road community, is the belief that one mile out of every five miles of Interstate must be perfectly straight to allow planes to land. (Nobody who espouses this belief stops to consider that this would make constructing an Interstate in places like West Virginia borderline impossible.)

Even when people find examples of a perfectly straight stretch of highway, there's often bridges, signs, trees, or other obstacles in the way.

[SkyPesos]

The Chicago Skyway is not actually part of I-90.

Would that be the case with the US routes "through" Yellowstone too? Asking it because I saw some posts here stating that US 20 is discontinuous because of Yellowstone.

[Max Rockatansky]

The Chicago Skyway is not actually part of I-90.

Would that be the case with the US routes "through" Yellowstone too? Asking it because I saw some posts here stating that US 20 is discontinuous because of Yellowstone.

It is along with US 191, US 89 and US 287.

[kenarmy]

Also, I'm not sure if US 51 used Old Jackson Road, or Old Canton Road.

The 1928 state map shows 51 west of the railroad north of Gluckstadt, so it's quite possible it used Old Jackson Rd initially...this changed no later than 1932.  I have seen no indications anywhere that 51 may have used Old Canton Rd.

Researching this...didn't fnd a definitive answer right off, but I did find that the Mississippi Highway Dept laid out a numbered state route system in 1921 - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021031870&view=1up&seq=106&skin=2021&q1=canton

route numbers were 10-53.  No map and I am not familiar enough with all the towns and counties of MS to know if there was a definitive numering scheme or not.

In the following biennial report, they lay out the Federal Aid routes (1-28) - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021031870&view=1up&seq=137&skin=2021&q1=canton, then say that isn't enough for a state highway network and lay out routes the state should have (listed as paragraph numbers 30-61)

Then no word on a state route system in several reports after that.

BTW, the 1921 Automobile Blue Book directs travelers north out of Jackson to go via Tougaloo Sta, which is on today's US 51 and therefore was not on Old Canton Rd.  So there is an excellent argument that US 51 never used Old Canton Rd.

However, it might have used Old Town Crossing/Magnolia Rd right along the railroad instead of today's alignment (1905 topo shows a road immediately adjacent to RR from Tougaloo to Madison that seems to track with the 1921 instructions).

Due to its proximity, how it aligns with Old Jackson Road, and the naming, it would seem obvious US 51 used it. Thanks for clearing that up.

*side note*: US 72 and US 78 are swapped and in the wrong position in the state map.

[cbeach40]

That the gap in US-2 was ever or would ever be signed through Canada.

[SkyPesos]

Similar to CA 58 as I-40 in the op, I-73 in Ohio and Michigan, and I-74 east of I-75 in Ohio. Pretty sure the last time this was considered for both states was in the 90s. ODOT is doing upgrades on OH 32 between I-275 and Batavia, and a study regarding US 23 between I-270 and Waldo, but I highly doubt they have anything to do with I-74 and I-73 respectively.

[sprjus4]

^ I-73 and I-74 were real proposals... I-40 really wasn't, at least to the extent I-73/74 got.

[Occidental Tourist]

The Golden Gate Bridge is part of US 101.

The Arroyo Seco Parkway was the first freeway in the US.

[kenarmy]

The Golden Gate Bridge is part of US 101.

The Arroyo Seco Parkway was the first freeway in the US.

It's not US 101??? I probably should know that as a roadgeek but wow.

[sprjus4]

^ I just learned this too. But yes, apparently, according to state law, US-101 does not legally cross the bridge.

Under the California Streets and Highways Code § 401, the Golden Gate Bridge is legally not part of US 101. The portion of US 101 starting from Los Angeles ends at "the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge" and then resumes at "a point in Marin County opposite San Francisco" to the Oregon state line. The bridge itself is maintained by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District instead of Caltrans.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_101_in_California

[Rothman]

I'd Ankrom a shield on the bridge.

[Max Rockatansky]

^ I just learned this too. But yes, apparently, according to state law, US-101 does not legally cross the bridge.

Under the California Streets and Highways Code § 401, the Golden Gate Bridge is legally not part of US 101. The portion of US 101 starting from Los Angeles ends at "the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge" and then resumes at "a point in Marin County opposite San Francisco" to the Oregon state line. The bridge itself is maintained by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District instead of Caltrans.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_101_in_California

Yes, the legislative description of 101 and 1 do not include the Golden Gate Bridge since it is not a state maintained structure.  I believe the AASHTO has the Golden Gate Bridge in it's Route definition of US 101 (easily verified on the AASHO database I suspect) which would mean it is not a gap in the highway.  CA 1 has signage directing traffic towards the Golden Gate Bridge and even some multiplexed shields with US 101 on both sides of the structure.

[formulanone]

I'd Ankrom a shield on the bridge.

Eh, it would probably just get stolen or vandalized, not unlike the End US 1 shield in Key West.

By the year 2050, I'm pretty sure California will just have a few signed Interstates and some leftover bits of Pacific Coast Highway for tourism purposes. Everything else will go back to local control. [/'chasm]

[Max Rockatansky]

I'd Ankrom a shield on the bridge.

By the year 2050, I'm pretty sure California will just have a few signed Interstates and some leftover bits of Pacific Coast Highway for tourism purposes. Everything else will go back to local control. [/'chasm]

That's probably incredibly unlikely.  The CTC mainly is only interested in getting rid of urban surface mileage.  The surface routes in mountainous areas and deserts almost never come up for relinquishment.  In particular a lot of high elevation roadways require Caltrans maintenance otherwise they wouldn't be able to stay open during snow storms.  Also, the local authorities have to accept CTC relinquishment agrees and can't be forced by the state.  Given the state is pushing so highly I doubt many county governments are going to be thrilled about the prospect of maintaining expensive facilities with no clear access to future funding that will likely not come from current revenue streams. 

[Rothman]

^ I just learned this too. But yes, apparently, according to state law, US-101 does not legally cross the bridge.

Under the California Streets and Highways Code § 401, the Golden Gate Bridge is legally not part of US 101. The portion of US 101 starting from Los Angeles ends at "the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge" and then resumes at "a point in Marin County opposite San Francisco" to the Oregon state line. The bridge itself is maintained by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District instead of Caltrans.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_101_in_California

Yes, the legislative description of 101 and 1 do not include the Golden Gate Bridge since it is not a state maintained structure.  I believe the AASHTO has the Golden Gate Bridge in it's Route definition of US 101 (easily verified on the AASHO database I suspect) which would mean it is not a gap in the highway.  CA 1 has signage directing traffic towards the Golden Gate Bridge and even some multiplexed shields with US 101 on both sides of the structure.

Yeah, I was wondering if AASHTO had a definition.  I'd consider that as overriding as CA's definition seems to just determine maintenance of the facility.

[RobbieL2415]

Exit 14 on CT 2, a "skipped" sequential exit number in Marlborough, was or was not set aside for a future CT 66 freeway. One of those things we might like to be true, but I haven't found evidence of it.

When mileage-based numbering comes in (a good thing overall), the handful of "missing" exit numbers and their suggestion (true or false) of hidden road history will be erased.

Wasn't there also a number set aside for a CT 83 freeway?