- I thought "Bus." was a route for buses..
- (This is so embarrassing) but I thought county routes where country routes (in a rural sense), so I figured that's why there was none around where I lived since it was pretty populated.
- I thought I-220 was supposed to mean "to" 20. And that was the only 3di around so this made perfect sense.
- I thought toll roads were just a thing of the north (IL, IN, MI)
- I thought US 51 and I-55 were siblings and had some kind of correlation.
- I thought I-55 was the road I used all the way to New Orleans. It still kind of hurts that it isn't.
- I thought MS 25 was named "Lakeland Dr." for its whole route.
- I thought US 49 only went south of Jackson.
- I thought I-69 was something brand new that would get finished quickly :-D.
- I thought higher Interstates were just given those higher numbers because they had tolls. (this is mainly true though-)
I'll add more tomorrow, but here's 6 to start off
- I thought that interstates had to be 6+ lanes because the street right outside my neighborhood is 4 lanes.
- I thought that US 40 (in the St Louis area) was the same as I-40, even though it's clearly marked as I-64.
- I thought that all enhanced mile markers are always colored blue and placed in the median. This was when I moved back to Ohio, as I didn't pay attention to Missouri's enhanced mile markers (green and right side placement) when I lived there.
- I thought that it's required for each lane to get its own overhead traffic signal. This is something that Missouri almost always do, though some states, for example, have two left turn lanes share a single overhead protected left signal.
- I thought I-90 was tolled all the way west to Seattle given how much it's tolled from Illinois eastward.
I thought there was consensus here that bumping a thread with valuable content was better than creating a new duplicate topic. I was surprised at the out of the blue "two presidential administrations" ruling that seemed to be based on one person (not you) bumping threads without new content and shouldn't apply to all posts.
Merge, please.
Quote from: 1 on March 02, 2021, 05:54:13 AM
I thought there was consensus here that bumping a thread with valuable content was better than creating a new duplicate topic. I was surprised at the out of the blue "two presidential administrations" ruling that seemed to be based on one person (not you) bumping threads without new content and shouldn't apply to all posts.
Merge, please.
Agreed, and I did not see anything unusual with a thread he bumped that was only 5 years old, as if creating another thread would've been better given the usual consensus to -not- create new threads when they already exist.
i learned, way back, that interstates didn't have to be marked is such (i.e. alaska).
also that they didn't have to all be speed limit 55 or better (i-25 through pueblo, tho i think thats been fixed, and theres other places)
I understand the OP doesn't want to resurrect an old thread, but in the interest of completeness and because there is likely to be some level of overlap in responses, here is the old thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5700.0
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 02, 2021, 08:02:01 AM
I understand the OP doesn't want to resurrect an old thread, but in the interest of completeness and because there is likely to be some level of overlap in responses, here is the old thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5700.0
Most recent reply was in 2020. That's definitely safe to bump provided that new content is provided imo. A mod can correct me otherwise, if we're going with the "one presidential administration ago" thing.
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 02, 2021, 08:08:10 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 02, 2021, 08:02:01 AM
I understand the OP doesn't want to resurrect an old thread, but in the interest of completeness and because there is likely to be some level of overlap in responses, here is the old thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5700.0
Most recent reply was in 2020. That's definitely safe to bump provided that new content is provided imo. A mod can correct me otherwise, if we're going with the "one presidential administration ago" thing.
There is a big difference from bumping threads of recent years IMO to stuff like bumping a thread that hasn't been replied to in over a decade.
Quote from: 1 on March 02, 2021, 05:54:13 AM
I thought there was consensus here that bumping a thread with valuable content was better than creating a new duplicate topic. I was surprised at the out of the blue "two presidential administrations" ruling that seemed to be based on one person (not you) bumping threads without new content and shouldn't apply to all posts.
Merge, please.
Some people seem to have different thresholds for what they consider "valuable content". The example given in the rules is a project that was talked about now going to construction - news on a specific topic that was discussed and would be of interest to people following it. A lot of the recent bumps seem to be of the "I missed this discussion when it happened, but I'm bored and I really really wanna participate anyways, so here's my 2 cents" variety.
Quote from: vdeane on March 02, 2021, 12:53:35 PM
A lot of the recent bumps seem to be of the "I missed this discussion when it happened, but I'm bored and I really really wanna participate anyways, so here's my 2 cents" variety.
But isn't that the entire point of a thread like this to begin with? Everyone just adding their two cents?
Quote from: kphoger on March 02, 2021, 12:56:05 PM
Quote from: vdeane on March 02, 2021, 12:53:35 PM
A lot of the recent bumps seem to be of the "I missed this discussion when it happened, but I'm bored and I really really wanna participate anyways, so here's my 2 cents" variety.
But isn't that the entire point of a thread like this to begin with? Everyone just adding their two cents?
To be honest, I find list threads boring in general, and mainly follow them to see if any interesting discussion ends up happening. I've dropped quite a few when it becomes clear that such isn't going to happen with that particular thread. This is also why I don't post in them as much as I used to; I don't see a point to shouting something into the void.
I imagine the frequent bumping as of late is also a contributor to why it seems to take twice as long to check the forum than it used to as of late.
Misconception that NCDOT has: odd-numbered 3DIs have to be posted north-south because they are odd-numbered :rolleyes:
Quote
https://twitter.com/NCDOT/status/1201971710989414406
Quote from: PurdueBill on March 04, 2021, 04:07:05 PM
Misconception that NCDOT has: odd-numbered 3DIs have to be posted north-south because they are odd-numbered :rolleyes:
Quote
https://twitter.com/NCDOT/status/1201971710989414406
Gross..
Here's a common misconception: Freeways and Expressway are terms that can be used interchangeably.
Some people and entities (DOTs, cities, states, etc.) seem to think they can name Interstate Highways using the term Expressway as a name suffix - when true Interstates must, by definition, be Freeways. Yes, one usage is as a functional classification, and the other is a formal name, but the two should NEVER be mixed.
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
The alleged "rule" that at least every fifth mile on an interstate highway had to be a straightaway so an aircraft could land on it.
Quote from: SSR_317 on March 07, 2021, 05:49:06 PM
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
The term "freeway" was never intended to imply no tolls. It implies that traffic flows freely because there are no traffic signals, traffic turning sharply off and on, etc. (The reality may be another thing.)
Quote from: wanderer2575 on March 07, 2021, 06:24:21 PM
The alleged "rule" that at least every fifth mile on an interstate highway had to be a straightaway so an aircraft could land on it.
Quote from: SSR_317 on March 07, 2021, 05:49:06 PM
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
The term "freeway" was never intended to imply no tolls. It implies that traffic flows freely because there are no traffic signals, traffic turning sharply off and on, etc. (The reality may be another thing.)
Correct, in that the "free" in "freeway" is for "free-flowing".
Quote from: SSR_317 on March 07, 2021, 05:49:06 PM
Here's a common misconception: Freeways and Expressway are terms that can be used interchangeably.
Some people and entities (DOTs, cities, states, etc.) seem to think they can name Interstate Highways using the term Expressway as a name suffix - when true Interstates must, by definition, be Freeways. Yes, one usage is as a functional classification, and the other is a formal name, but the two should NEVER be mixed.
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
Regional language variation.
*Bear with me*
I used to think US highways and Interstates were "married" and I came up with *crazy* storylines with them for fun.
- For instance, I thought US 40 *divorced* I-70 because it started to parallel US 6 :-D.
- I thought US 30 was jealous that US 6 took I-80 from it, and that's why they just barely have a concurrency.
- I thought US 50 and US 6 were best friends, hence their long overlap.
- I thought US 85 was handicapped.. and that I-25 was cheating on it with US 87.
- I thought US 1 was jealous of US 17, so that's why US 1 swooped back in and made 17 seperate from I-95.
- I thought US 90 and I-10 were "evil" since some of my favorite routes end at it..
- I thought US 36 was US 40's branch route, but 40 disowned it because it was too long and it became jealous.
- Same for US 26 but with US 20. ^
- I thought US 90 was jealous of US 98, like how it no longer terminates at it, parallels I-10,.. so that's why it dipped down to Pensacola to keep up with it.
I have a lot more than this.
Quote from: kenarmy on April 08, 2021, 10:45:40 PM
*Bear with me*
I used to think US highways and Interstates were "married" and I came up with *crazy* storylines with them for fun.
- For instance, I thought US 40 *divorced* I-70 because it started to parallel US 6 :-D.
- I thought US 30 was jealous that US 6 took I-80 from it, and that's why they just barely have a concurrency.
- I thought US 50 and US 6 were best friends, hence their long overlap.
- I thought US 85 was handicapped.. and that I-25 was cheating on it with US 87.
- I thought US 1 was jealous of US 17, so that's why US 1 swooped back in and made 17 seperate from I-95.
- I thought US 90 and I-10 were "evil" since some of my favorite routes end at it..
- I thought US 36 was US 40's branch route, but 40 disowned it because it was too long and it became jealous.
- Same for US 26 but with US 20. ^
- I thought US 90 was jealous of US 98, like how it no longer terminates at it, parallels I-10,.. so that's why it dipped down to Pensacola to keep up with it.
I have a lot more than this.
I thought US 25 and US 41 are married and gave birth to I-75.
I used to think "exit only" meant there was no return access to the freeway.
- Texas applied for US 57 and US 96 at the same time, and some doofus file clerk mixed up the paperwork so that they ended up with each other's number.
- Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee duplicated every US route with a state number so that old "Unreconstructed Rebels" would never have to refer to any road by some accursed Yankee US route number.
- The lack of even Interstate numbers between 44 and 64 (with those two virtually ending at each other) was to allow leeway in case Canada and/or Mexico wanted to establish a coordinated North American freeway numbering system. For example, if Canada wanted a joint numbering system, then the US would subtract 10 from every 2dI from 64 on up, and the Trans-Canada Highway would become Canada 90.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on April 08, 2021, 11:10:47 PM
I used to think "exit only" meant there was no return access to the freeway.
You're not the only one.
Quote from: J N Winkler on March 02, 2021, 01:25:19 PM
Back before lane drop signing was systematized (don't remember offhand whether it was in the 1971 or the 1978 MUTCD), many agencies did use "Must Exit" or similar verbiage in black on white.
Although the existing standard of "Exit Only" in black on yellow is not perfect--for example, foreigners with no experience of driving in the US tend to interpret it as "re-entry is not possible at this interchange"--it works partly because it is uniform in application (exits not involving lane drops generally do not have "Exit Only" while ones that do generally have it).
- Trucks were only allowed on Interstates and US roads, unless the destination was off a US road, in which case they had to remain on interstates and US roads for as long as possible
- The Garden State Parkway went all the way to Florida
- I-78 went all the way to California
- I-95 followed the entire NJTP
- The NJTP's express-local lanes lasted all the way to the end, when in reality at the time they only went to between Exit 8 and 8A (now they go between 5 and 6)
- The "New England Thruway" was just another name for the "Connecticut Turnpike," and the Connecticut Turnpike actually began at the Bruckner Interchange in The Bronx.
- I-90 actually followed NY 912M and the Thruway around Albany
- The Poconos were spelled Poconose for the same reason that Anthony's Nose was called Anthony's Nose
- NJ-27 was contiguous with NY-27
- The (now-defunct) retail store Nine West was named after US-9W
- Every state had a county route system like NJ's
- California was the only state that had "freeways," and every other state had "expressways" instead
- I-69 is only 1 mile long
All interstates are actually inter-state.
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 09, 2021, 08:44:42 AM
All interstates are actually inter-state.
I had that misconception in my early roadgeek days. Back when I lived in the St Louis area, I lived not that far off MO 364. I thought the reason why 364 and 370 aren't interstate highways is because it's only in Missouri, while 270 is an interstate because it's in Missouri and Illinois. Got confused later after noticing my parents driving on I-170, which is in Missouri only, and thought that it will get extended to Illinois in the future with the interstate designation.
The Tri-State Tollway in Chicago is an example of highways that I thought went through multiple states, but really is only in one state.
Quote from: kenarmy on April 08, 2021, 10:45:40 PM
*Bear with me*
I used to think US highways and Interstates were "married" and I came up with *crazy* storylines with them for fun.
You aren't the only one...
https://intertropolisandrouteville.fandom.com/wiki/Intertropolis_%26_Routeville_Wiki
I just want to know how the fuck anyone has enough time for something like this.
Quote from: kenarmy on April 08, 2021, 10:45:40 PM
I used to think US highways and Interstates were "married" and I came up with *crazy* storylines with them for fun.
Yup :-D Growing up off I-70/US 40 in MD, I was mortified the first time heading west to where US 40 ditches I-70 for I-68 :spin: (and then a wounded I-70 turns 90 degrees, drops its speed limit, and beelines to US 30 in Breezewood for a quick rebound...)
Quote from: jmacswimmer on April 09, 2021, 09:27:45 AM
Quote from: kenarmy on April 08, 2021, 10:45:40 PM
I used to think US highways and Interstates were "married" and I came up with *crazy* storylines with them for fun.
Yup :-D Growing up off I-70/US 40 in MD, I was mortified the first time heading west to where US 40 ditches I-70 for I-68 :spin: (and then a wounded I-70 turns 90 degrees, drops its speed limit, and beelines to US 30 in Breezewood for a quick rebound...)
I thought that US 40 is more close with I-64 than I-70 for a while, until finding out later that US 40’s “partner” is actually I-70, and I-64’s is US 60.
Also note that I-64 wasn’t signed on the US 40 freeway in St Louis until the late ‘80s (which I didn’t know about either back then), so US 40’s closest parallel interstate was I-70.
When I was really young I thought that US-12 never left Madison, and was a route created specifically for the Beltline.
I assumed that suffixed interstates were everywhere since I grew up in the Twin Cities and thought it was weird when I was on plain I-35 for the first time. I also thought business interstates were the same "standard" as regular interstates.
Chris
Quote from: jayhawkco on April 09, 2021, 10:41:16 AM
I assumed that suffixed interstates were everywhere since I grew up in the Twin Cities and thought it was weird when I was on plain I-35 for the first time. I also thought business interstates were the same "standard" as regular interstates.
Chris
i'm old enough to remember 80S before it was 76.
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 09, 2021, 08:27:08 AM
- The (now-defunct) retail store Nine West was named after US-9W
I love this!
Here's some more:
- Similar to that ^, I thought I-70 got mad that US 40 was "flirting" with I-64 so that's why 64 terminates at it.
- I thought US 1 and US 101 were opposite twins.
- I thought US 6 was the longest US route, and I had no idea it used to go to LA. Ngl, I'm still kind of heartbroken it isn't.
- I thought US routes not being signed on an interstate concurrency was a sign of an abusive relationship. - Idk what the length would be, but I thought it was a mileage limit for an interstate concurrency and it was way shorter than the one for US routes. Either way, I'm sure I-80/ I-90 would break it XD
- I thought US 49 was lonely since it barely had concurrencies compared to nearby routes.
- I thought branch routes couldn't parallel interstates.
- I thought I-40 was the devil and I hated it.. and I mostly blamed it for the decommissioning of US 66 :-D!
- I thought US 70 and US 64 were in a fight with each other over I-40 and that's why they were pretty close together.
- I thought US 8 was supposed to be 2's child route, but it begged to be a main US route.
Continuing with the relationships thing, I would imagine how sad I-5 would've been after seeing its love US 99 getting killed off.
Quote from: kenarmy on April 09, 2021, 11:03:19 AM
- Similar to that ^, I thought I-70 got mad that US 40 was "flirting" with I-64 so that's why 64 terminates at it.
I had some sort of thing for my I-70 to SF fictional reroute. There was a love triangle between I-70, I-80 and US 40 out west. I-70 got mad at I-80 for flirting with US 40, and wanted it to go back to being with US 30 west of SLC, so I-70 can be on its relationship with US 40 all the way to San Francisco.
Quote from: kenarmy on April 09, 2021, 11:03:19 AM
- I thought US routes not being signed on an interstate concurrency was a sign of an abusive relationship.
We might need to hold an intervention for I-25 then, and put US 85 & US 87 in therapy.
Quote from: GenExpwy on April 09, 2021, 02:40:34 AM
- Texas applied for US 57 and US 96 at the same time, and some doofus file clerk mixed up the paperwork so that they ended up with each other's number.
- Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee duplicated every US route with a state number so that old "Unreconstructed Rebels" would never have to refer to any road by some accursed Yankee US route number.
- The lack of even Interstate numbers between 44 and 64 (with those two virtually ending at each other) was to allow leeway in case Canada and/or Mexico wanted to establish a coordinated North American freeway numbering system. For example, if Canada wanted a joint numbering system, then the US would subtract 10 from every 2dI from 64 on up, and the Trans-Canada Highway would become Canada 90.
US 96 was commissioned almost two decades before US 57 came along (the latter as a "courtesy" connector to Mexican Federal 57). The non-duplication regarding US and Interstate numbers within a particular state accounts for the lack of even numbers from 44 to 64 (although what's now the future southern I-87 could readily had utilized a number from that batch) rather than any pending international codicil. And to tell the truth, I thought much the same in my youth about the state/US overlap in those Southern states mentioned -- this was during the civil-rights movement in the 50's and 60's; I figured that the duplication was there so that if they tried to secede again they'd have a cohesive in-state network if US shields were removed.
Quote from: GenExpwy on April 09, 2021, 02:40:34 AM
- The lack of even Interstate numbers between 44 and 64 (with those two virtually ending at each other) was to allow leeway in case Canada and/or Mexico wanted to establish a coordinated North American freeway numbering system. For example, if Canada wanted a joint numbering system, then the US would subtract 10 from every 2dI from 64 on up, and the Trans-Canada Highway would become Canada 90.
I actually thought of that not that long ago, though without Canada as part of the system. I-70 and US 60 are far away from each other and in different states for the most part that I think number duplication in Missouri wouldn't be that big of an issue. Had I-70 been I-60, I think all the numbers from 64 and up would be lower by default, and I-94 as I-90.
Most drivers drove below the speed limit.
That exit numbers everywhere were based on mile markers. That is, any exit between mile markers 23 & 24 were numbered exit 24, whether is was at 23.1 or 23.9.
Commonly it appears exits are number to the nearest mile marker. So an exit at 23.1 would be exit 23, and an exit at 23.9 would be exit 24.
Quote from: JCinSummerfield on April 12, 2021, 02:03:00 PM
That exit numbers everywhere were based on mile markers. That is, any exit between mile markers 23 & 24 were numbered exit 24, whether is was at 23.1 or 23.9.
Commonly it appears exits are number to the nearest mile marker. So an exit at 23.1 would be exit 23, and an exit at 23.9 would be exit 24.
The former makes more sense to me than the latter for exit numbering.
Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, I used to think orange construction barrels were part of every freeway.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on April 12, 2021, 04:35:14 PM
Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, I used to think orange construction barrels were part of every freeway.
That's hilarious. And I 100% understand why you would think that. :-D :-D
Quote from: SkyPesos on April 09, 2021, 08:54:23 AM
The Tri-State Tollway in Chicago is an example of highways that I thought went through multiple states, but really is only in one state.
What's funny about this is that the Tri-State Highway, of which the Tri-State Tollway is a part, actually connects four states- Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
It's really only known as such in Illinois and Indiana, where there are states on both sides.
Quote from: SkyPesos on April 09, 2021, 08:54:23 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 09, 2021, 08:44:42 AM
All interstates are actually inter-state.
I had that misconception in my early roadgeek days. Back when I lived in the St Louis area, I lived not that far off MO 364. I thought the reason why 364 and 370 aren't interstate highways is because it's only in Missouri, while 270 is an interstate because it's in Missouri and Illinois. Got confused later after noticing my parents driving on I-170, which is in Missouri only, and thought that it will get extended to Illinois in the future with the interstate designation.
The Tri-State Tollway in Chicago is an example of highways that I thought went through multiple states, but really is only in one state.
The Tri-State Tollway is called that because it connects Wisconsin to Indiana via Illinois. It is only in Illinois though but it ends just short of the state line at both ends.
Quote from: thspfc on April 12, 2021, 04:51:40 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on April 12, 2021, 04:35:14 PM
Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, I used to think orange construction barrels were part of every freeway.
That's hilarious. And I 100% understand why you would think that. :-D :-D
I-65 and I-75 have entered the chat
Quote from: SkyPesos on April 09, 2021, 08:54:23 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 09, 2021, 08:44:42 AM
All interstates are actually inter-state.
I had that misconception in my early roadgeek days. Back when I lived in the St Louis area, I lived not that far off MO 364. I thought the reason why 364 and 370 aren't interstate highways is because it's only in Missouri, while 270 is an interstate because it's in Missouri and Illinois. Got confused later after noticing my parents driving on I-170, which is in Missouri only, and thought that it will get extended to Illinois in the future with the interstate designation.
I just assumed that that "rule" didn't apply to 3dis, since they were clearly meant to be local in nature (I knew I-240 in Oklahoma City obviously had no hope of reaching any other state). I think what finally broke the illusion was when I studied a map of Texas and saw I-27.
That the highway builders of the 50s and 60s were solely focused on displacing as many minorities as possible (with the possible exception of Robert Moses).
Quote from: Konza on April 12, 2021, 08:50:46 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on April 09, 2021, 08:54:23 AM
The Tri-State Tollway in Chicago is an example of highways that I thought went through multiple states, but really is only in one state.
What's funny about this is that the Tri-State Highway, of which the Tri-State Tollway is a part, actually connects four states- Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
It's really only known as such in Illinois and Indiana, where there are states on both sides.
Never heard of a Tri-State Highway especially reaching Michigan and I've been traveling back and forth between Chicago and Michigan all my life. The Tri-State Tollway though is called that because it takes you from Wisconsin to Indiana and vice versa via Illinois.
Quote from: SeriesE on April 12, 2021, 02:05:20 PM
Quote from: JCinSummerfield on April 12, 2021, 02:03:00 PM
That exit numbers everywhere were based on mile markers. That is, any exit between mile markers 23 & 24 were numbered exit 24, whether is was at 23.1 or 23.9.
Commonly it appears exits are number to the nearest mile marker. So an exit at 23.1 would be exit 23, and an exit at 23.9 would be exit 24.
The former makes more sense to me than the latter for exit numbering.
When I make my fictional exit lists, I normally round .8 and .9 miles up to the next whole exit number, and everything else down. Though rounding everything up, everything down, or use the 0.5 and above round up, below 0.5 round down rule that's generally used in math class makes sense too. Sometimes, I may change things a bit to reduce the number of exit number suffixes. For example, three exits at mileposts 3.1, 3.6 and 5.2, I might do 3, 4, 5 instead of 3A, 3B, 5 if there's nothing notable in milepost 4 that's worth adding as an infill exit later. .
I used to think that freeways could not duplicate control cities until I seen FDOT use "North Port" twice on two consecutive exits.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on March 07, 2021, 06:24:21 PM
The alleged "rule" that at least every fifth mile on an interstate highway had to be a straightaway so an aircraft could land on it.
Quote from: SSR_317 on March 07, 2021, 05:49:06 PM
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
The term "freeway" was never intended to imply no tolls. It implies that traffic flows freely because there are no traffic signals, traffic turning sharply off and on, etc. (The reality may be another thing.)
While I doubt the rule was ever worded that way or specified in such a manner, I strongly suspect that some planning of the interstate system revolved around creating emergency runways, just as much of the planning for the system was based on civil defense requirements.
How about this one every freeway must have a state route, us route or interstate number. Note in Las Vegas there is a county route CC-215 and its a freeway one of a few that gets a county route designation.
Growing up, I believed in strict hierarchy of the roadway systems. For example, US highways should never have a stop sign at state routes (unless there's a free-flowing right-turn lane ramp so US route traffic doesn't stop). And state routes should never stop at local roads. In fact, it was a downgrade, an embarrassment, when those instances did occur.
Quote from: bing101 on April 13, 2021, 12:36:43 PM
How about this one every freeway must have a state route, us route or interstate number. Note in Las Vegas there is a county route CC-215 and its a freeway one of a few that gets a county route designation.
I believed in an even stronger rule as a kid: every divided highway must have a state, US, or interstate number. If there's a median, there must be a number.
Surprised this one hasn't come up yet: "Highway" does not only mean a freeway. Most of America, the non-roadgeeks, refers to limited-access freeways and expressways as "the highway". In reality, any road or way open to the public for the purposes of vehicular travel is a highway. A narrow, bumpy, old dirt road is just as much of a highway as an eight-lane Interstate.
Quote from: JCinSummerfield on April 12, 2021, 02:03:00 PM
That exit numbers everywhere were based on mile markers. That is, any exit between mile markers 23 & 24 were numbered exit 24, whether is was at 23.1 or 23.9.
Commonly it appears exits are number to the nearest mile marker. So an exit at 23.1 would be exit 23, and an exit at 23.9 would be exit 24.
It actually depends on the state - some states round to the nearest mile marker, others truncate. For example, in Ohio, in
most cases, an exit at mile 23.9 would be exit 23, not exit 24. (This does NOT explain I-71's exit 24 which starts at mile marker 22.9; this is beyond explanation).
Quote from: HighwayStar on April 13, 2021, 12:27:35 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on March 07, 2021, 06:24:21 PM
The alleged "rule" that at least every fifth mile on an interstate highway had to be a straightaway so an aircraft could land on it.
Quote from: SSR_317 on March 07, 2021, 05:49:06 PM
BTW, the term "tolled freeway" is NOT an oxymoron, especially since modern technology allows for non-stop toll systems (don't get me started on the proliferation of tolls... see my avatar).
The term "freeway" was never intended to imply no tolls. It implies that traffic flows freely because there are no traffic signals, traffic turning sharply off and on, etc. (The reality may be another thing.)
While I doubt the rule was ever worded that way or specified in such a manner, I strongly suspect that some planning of the interstate system revolved around creating emergency runways, just as much of the planning for the system was based on civil defense requirements.
I know Switzerland does that.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 13, 2021, 08:05:36 AM
That the highway builders of the 50s and 60s were solely focused on displacing as many minorities as possible (with the possible exception of Robert Moses).
Have you read The Power Broker? Moses displaced as many poors and minorities as he needed to in order to complete his vanity projects.
Quote from: Georgia on May 04, 2021, 03:18:58 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on April 13, 2021, 08:05:36 AM
That the highway builders of the 50s and 60s were solely focused on displacing as many minorities as possible (with the possible exception of Robert Moses).
Have you read The Power Broker? Moses displaced as many poors and minorities as he needed to in order to complete his vanity projects.
Didn't he just say "with the possible
exception of Robert Moses"?
Sorry, misunderstood what the poster meant. Thought he was saying Moses didnt displace minorities.
Too many anti-road activists have the misconception that the US Route system is the same thing as the Interstate system.
Because Indiana duplicates the US Highway grid/numbering system for its state highways, when I was a kid I assumed that every state did that. I remember getting very confused going to other states and being on odd numbered E-W routes and even numbered N-S routes..
Quote from: Georgia on May 04, 2021, 03:29:39 PM
Sorry, misunderstood what the poster meant. Thought he was saying Moses didnt displace minorities.
I'm sure you understand it now, but just in case... He meant that he used to think the highway builders of the 50s and 60s were all focused on displacing minorities, but he now knows that was a misconception–except possibly Robert Moses.
Quote from: Georgia on May 04, 2021, 03:18:58 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on April 13, 2021, 08:05:36 AM
That the highway builders of the 50s and 60s were solely focused on displacing as many minorities as possible (with the possible exception of Robert Moses).
Have you read The Power Broker? Moses displaced as many poors and minorities as he needed to in order to complete his vanity projects.
The "poors"?
I originally thought the US highway designation indicated a high quality road, like expressway grade and higher, since I live in the major California metro areas where US-101 is a full freeway and there are no other US routes nearby.
Quote from: SeriesE on May 05, 2021, 02:49:14 PM
I originally thought the US highway designation indicated a high quality road, like expressway grade and higher, since I live in the major California metro areas where US-101 is a full freeway and there are no other US routes nearby.
Which could be either metro L.A. or the Bay Area; with the former the closest
other US highway is 395, about 75 road miles away from the civic center, and with the latter it's US 50, about 85 road-miles away in West Sacramento. Looking at this has led me to a realization about the other metro area, San Diego -- I can't think of another city that was originally served by 3 or more U.S. highways where
all of them -- or all legs radiating from the city center -- were replaced by Interstate highways! If not for US 24 running along its west side, Detroit comes close!
US 12 still goes to Detroit.
Before I had any recollection of going in any rural areas, I thought that all freeways had to be like 4 lanes or more in each direction. I was surprised to see 2-lane-in-each-direction freeways and thought "wow this highway has fewer lanes than the road outside my house". This was when I was very young.
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
Every US state does have numbered highways, so that's not a misconception...
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
Quote from: ran4sh on May 06, 2021, 11:13:21 AM
Every US state does have numbered highways, so that's not a misconception...
derp!
Quote from: kphoger on May 06, 2021, 11:19:33 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
Quote from: ran4sh on May 06, 2021, 11:13:21 AM
Every US state does have numbered highways, so that's not a misconception...
derp!
Yeah, I caught that after. LOL! I think I'm going to get another cup of coffee.
I meant to say that all states had BOTH numbers and letters.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
That was one of my early misconceptions too, except for Missouri.
Quote from: andrepoiy on May 06, 2021, 10:47:16 AM
Before I had any recollection of going in any rural areas, I thought that all freeways had to be like 4 lanes or more in each direction. I was surprised to see 2-lane-in-each-direction freeways and thought "wow this highway has fewer lanes than the road outside my house". This was when I was very young.
Another one I can relate to, specifically on my first rural trip as a roadgeek on I-55 between St Louis and Chicago. Back then, I thought St Louis was a MUCH larger city than it actually is (like an estimate of 5 million people for its metro population, which is way off), and it's pretty much a given that Chicago is a big city, so I was wondering why I-55 between St Louis to Chicago had the same lane count as the road outside my house, and why it isn't at least doubled.
Quote from: andrepoiy on May 06, 2021, 10:47:16 AM
Before I had any recollection of going in any rural areas, I thought that all freeways had to be like 4 lanes or more in each direction. I was surprised to see 2-lane-in-each-direction freeways and thought "wow this highway has fewer lanes than the road outside my house". This was when I was very young.
Wow! Only in Toronto! :-P
Quote from: andrepoiy on May 06, 2021, 10:47:16 AM
Before I had any recollection of going in any rural areas, I thought that all freeways had to be like 4 lanes or more in each direction. I was surprised to see 2-lane-in-each-direction freeways and thought "wow this highway has fewer lanes than the road outside my house". This was when I was very young.
Another one I can relate to, specifically on my first rural trip as a roadgeek on I-55 between St Louis and Chicago. Back then, I thought St Louis was a MUCH larger city than it actually is (like an estimate of 5 million people for its metro population, which is way off), and it's pretty much a given that Chicago is a big city, so I was wondering why I-55 between St Louis to Chicago had the same lane count as the road outside my house, and why it isn't at least doubled.
[/quote]
I thought the same of Milwaukee. That it was THE big city (despite Chicago being just to the south). I used to also think Milwaukee Mitchell Airport was some huge global hub. :-D
I used to think state highway patrol was only allowed to patrol state highways.
Quote from: kphoger on May 06, 2021, 01:40:08 PM
I used to think state highway patrol was only allowed to patrol state highways.
In Indiana, State Police are supposed to patrol only highways unless asked to patrol a specific area by a local agency. They have jurisdiction everywhere and would pull you over if they happened to be going down a county road on the way somewhere and caught you speeding, but they aren't supposed to just patrol county roads for no reason.
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 06, 2021, 11:51:06 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
That was one of my early misconceptions too, except for Missouri.
The lettered routes in Missouri are secondary state roads.
Growing up in California, and only having traveled to neighboring states as a child, I thought that every state had their own interesting/unique state route shield. It wasn't until I was much older and had traveled extensively did I discover so many states back east with boring generic circles for shields.
Quote from: Big John on May 06, 2021, 02:18:24 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 06, 2021, 11:51:06 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
That was one of my early misconceptions too, except for Missouri.
The lettered routes in Missouri are secondary state roads.
Some counties in Kansas have lettered county roads, though they form part of a street grid and aren't signed with shields.
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 06, 2021, 02:58:34 PM
Some counties in Kansas have lettered county roads, though they form part of a street grid and aren't signed with shields.
Then there's Saguache County, CO. (https://goo.gl/maps/pVLKzeQSZBCR5R6b9)
Quote from: Big John on May 06, 2021, 02:18:24 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 06, 2021, 11:51:06 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 06, 2021, 11:12:12 AM
I used to think that every state had numbered highways, and that all county roads had letter designations.
Then I started taking road trips outside of Wisconsin. :-o
That was one of my early misconceptions too, except for Missouri.
The lettered routes in Missouri are secondary state roads.
I know that. Point is that I thought all other states also used lettered routes for the tier below the primary state routes back then.
Quote from: kphoger on May 06, 2021, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 06, 2021, 02:58:34 PM
Some counties in Kansas have lettered county roads, though they form part of a street grid and aren't signed with shields.
Then there's Saguache County, CO. (https://goo.gl/maps/pVLKzeQSZBCR5R6b9)
(https://i.imgur.com/tDtLen5.jpg)
Yes, I chose that specific one on purpose.
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 06, 2021, 05:48:33 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 06, 2021, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 06, 2021, 02:58:34 PM
Some counties in Kansas have lettered county roads, though they form part of a street grid and aren't signed with shields.
Then there's Saguache County, CO. (https://goo.gl/maps/pVLKzeQSZBCR5R6b9)
(https://i.imgur.com/tDtLen5.jpg)
Here's the only AA Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0196863,-84.481438,3a,20.8y,157.6h,100.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6PnP9gMCjBZnmA_bjDq56A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) I've been on
Quote from: GaryV on May 06, 2021, 07:54:31 AM
US 12 still goes to Detroit.
......then that still makes San Diego unique in that regard, with
zero inbound US highway legs that retain independent status.
That Interstates were supposed to be Interstate....yet the 3dis usually are not
Quote from: sparker on May 06, 2021, 06:59:20 PM
Quote from: GaryV on May 06, 2021, 07:54:31 AM
US 12 still goes to Detroit.
......then that still makes San Diego unique in that regard, with zero inbound US highway legs that retain independent status.
Not zero, but here's some I can think of that had 4+ US routes in their metro area and most of them except one decommissioned from the area.
Los Angeles: 6, 60, 66, 70, 91, 99, 101; only 101 is left.
Seattle: 2, 10, 99, 410; only 2 is left.
Phoenix: 60, 70, 80, 89; only 60 is left.
Quote from: texaskdog on May 06, 2021, 07:01:36 PM
That Interstates were supposed to be Interstate....yet the 3dis usually are not
Along with, at last count, 17 1di's/2di's that only exist (at least technically) within a single state.
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 06, 2021, 05:55:50 PM
Here's the only AA Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0196863,-84.481438,3a,20.8y,157.6h,100.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6PnP9gMCjBZnmA_bjDq56A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) I've been on
Yep. When this forum first opened, I had the misconception that AARoads was based on the Alexandria-to-Ashland Highway. Neither of these turned out to be correct, since the AA Highway doesn't quite make it that far on either end. I still can't quite get used to the numbers KY-9 and KY-10, but it's good that KYTC isn't afraid of renumbering roads to create connectivity.
I didn't used to know that "Jersey barrier" was a reference to the state of New Jersey. I thought it was an actual, official name. It was only a couple of years ago that I realized I could just call it "concrete barrier"! :-D
Quote from: Dirt Roads on May 06, 2021, 07:37:13 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 06, 2021, 05:55:50 PM
Here's the only AA Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0196863,-84.481438,3a,20.8y,157.6h,100.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6PnP9gMCjBZnmA_bjDq56A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) I've been on
Yep. When this forum first opened, I had the misconception that AARoads was based on the Alexandria-to-Ashland Highway. Neither of these turned out to be correct, since the AA Highway doesn't quite make it that far on either end. I still can't quite get used to the numbers KY-9 and KY-10, but it's good that KYTC isn't afraid of renumbering roads to create connectivity.
I thought the forum name was a diss at American Airlines, or AAA with one A purposely left off because we have the larger battery.
It's been a while since I looked this up, but I think "Jersey barrier" refers to a specific type of concrete barrier–not to all concrete barriers in general.
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2021, 01:23:53 PM
It's been a while since I looked this up, but I think "Jersey barrier" refers to a specific type of concrete barrier–not to all concrete barriers in general.
My perception has been that the term "Jersey barrier" has been applied to just about any concrete barrier with a sloping profile -- while "K-rail" applies specifically to those with a
concave profile intended to keep vehicles on their side of said barrier. I don't know if there's a term for straight-sided barriers, but I sure haven't seen those in any recent CA construction (with the prevalence of the Jersey/K variants, straight-sided concrete would seem to be a dead issue).
I just pulled these images from a connector supplier's website:
Jersey barrier
(https://jjhooks.com/images/pages/technical/barrier-profiles-radius/jersey.png)
F-shape barrier
(https://jjhooks.com/images/pages/technical/barrier-profiles-radius/jersey2.png)
Constant-slope barrier
(https://jjhooks.com/images/pages/technical/barrier-profiles-radius/constant.png)
There's also an Ontario Tall Wall
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2021, 04:49:35 PM
Quote from: sparker on May 07, 2021, 04:39:09 PM
"K-rail"
Is that a California-specific term?
Not really; it stems from the profile -- drawing a line from a point on the bottom of the rail structure to the center of the top sill -- that constitutes the spine of the letter "K", while the actual profile of the structure looks a bit like the tines of that letter, with the junction point being the "fold" where the profile becomes more vertical as it rises. That fold has become more pronounced over the years; the "jersey" and "f-shape" profiles show that in the illustrated reply above. The "constant-slope" barriers, at least in CA, tend to be built along more straight stretches of freeway, interspersed with "K-rails" where there's curvature.
I remember thinking that "Exit only" on a freeway sign meant that only the exit went to that road, so you had to take the exit to get to it. Most of the time that's true, but it isn't what the label means.
There was a blues song that went something about driving on "highway 22" on the way to Memphis. And my cousin was confused and said I didn't know Highway 22 went to Memphis. I'm 98% sure she was referring to MS 22, but neither one reaches Memphis anyway and I didn't have time to explain.
Quote from: kenarmy on May 07, 2021, 11:02:15 PM
There was a blues song that went something about driving on "highway 22" on the way to Memphis. And my cousin was confused and said I didn't know Highway 22 went to Memphis. I'm 98% sure she was referring to MS 22, but neither one reaches Memphis anyway and I didn't have time to explain.
Besides the obvious (I-22), which wouldn't have been applicable until after 2010 in any case (presuming the song predated that time), there's TN 22, which is functionally an outflung arc
around Memphis, MS 22, which goes nowhere near Memphis (but could be used to reach I-55 north), AL 22, which conceivably could serve as part of an indirect route -- or even AR 22 east of Fort Smith, which, pre I-40, may have been part of a route back home after the songwriter had a gig in OKC or Tulsa. Lotsa possibilities -- even US 22 if the musician was playing NYC! Unless the writer is asked, such a general reference will likely remain a mystery.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2021, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 02, 2021, 08:08:10 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 02, 2021, 08:02:01 AM
I understand the OP doesn't want to resurrect an old thread, but in the interest of completeness and because there is likely to be some level of overlap in responses, here is the old thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5700.0
Most recent reply was in 2020. That's definitely safe to bump provided that new content is provided imo. A mod can correct me otherwise, if we're going with the "one presidential administration ago" thing.
There is a big difference from bumping threads of recent years IMO to stuff like bumping a thread that hasn't been replied to in over a decade.
The last response was September 10, 2020. Hardly a reason to start a new thread on a topic that had been active over a decade. The threads should be merge so people can see how much is redundant. Or from the same people.
Indiana: Huge misconception that INDOT is decommissioning routes in cities because of the mileage cap. The state isn't near its mileage cap, the state just wants to get rid of what are essentially city streets so they can focus more on highways.
I've lost track of the number of times I've had to correct people on this.
Or it could be like the Journey song, "Don't Stop Believing". The band admitted they knew there was no South Detroit (it's Canada). But they thought it sounded good, so they used it.
In at least one edition of his Driving Interstate 75 guidebook several years ago, Dave Hunter remarked that all states have been required to widen all interstate highways to at least six lanes.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on June 24, 2021, 03:34:19 PM
In at least one edition of his Driving Interstate 75 guidebook several years ago, Dave Hunter remarked that all states have been required to widen all interstate highways to at least six lanes.
That sounds like a far fetched pipe dream. I-75 in the UP have very little traffic for 4 lanes, let alone needing 6.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on June 24, 2021, 03:34:19 PM
In at least one edition of his Driving Interstate 75 guidebook several years ago, Dave Hunter remarked that all states have been required to widen all interstate highways to at least six lanes.
Even I-95 in Northern Maine?
Four lanes + two shoulders
Quote from: 1 on June 24, 2021, 04:18:57 PM
Four lanes + two shoulders
Outer shoulder = "breakdown lane", which is why outer Interstate shoulders are at least 10' width to accommodate a wide variety of stopped vehicles.
I once thought that breakdown lane travel should have kept being allowed on MA 128 after the widening was completed to allow for 10 lanes of travel.