I noticed traveling that locals use either the number or the local highway name when talking about traffic, giving directions, etc.
Growing up in Wisconsin, most everybody used numbers. "Oh, take 94 and get off on J, then take a left."
Once I moved to Portland, it was names. "Heavy traffic inbound on the Banfield."
Then my wife, being from Southern Cal. uses "the" on roads such as "the 91".
What type of highway "dialect" do you use in your region?
Everyone in Rochester, NY uses the road name. Some probably don't even know what the numbers are.
Up in Seattle it's mostly numbers with about 20% of the population prefixing with "the" due to the California influx. Mostly it's I-5, I-90, I-405, 167, 520,* 512 etc
In central Idaho nobody uses names or numbers but towns. To get from McCall, ID to Sun Valley, one might say
"Take the highway up to Banks, turn onto the cutoff road over to Lowman, and then turn left on that road to Stanley and then when you get to Stanley turn right and head down to Ketchum." (use "up" despite McCall's northerly orientation to Banks because you always head "up" to Boise for some reason).
In Boise people are aware of "important" numbers like 84 and 55, but if you tell somebody to take 20/26 you'll get weird looks. I-184 is the Connector no matter what, and I-84 is about 50/50 "I-84" and "the freeway" so I guess names are used frequently.
It's really confusing for tourists but we like it that way.
*520 is generally referred to as "the 520 bridge"
In Philadelphia its both. The TV traffic report people call I-676 in Philadelphia the Vine Street Expressway, which is the road name. They use the same for I-76 and call it the Schykill Expressway and I-476 and call it the "blue route" which its really called the Mid-County Expressway.
i.c.
They use names for state freeways in Detroit like
The Lodge (M10)
The Southfield Freeway (M39)
I think there are a couple more as well, but my head is still foggy
The interstates have names too but people just call them by their number
Here in Northern CA, we never use names (very few people even know what they are). I-80 is the only one that gets an I prefix, the rest are generally just called by their number (ex. Take 580 to 101 and then exit at San Pedro.)
Well, it depends in Georgia. Several state routes are known -- and referred to -- by either their local name or their highway number.
Example #1: Georgia State Route 314 is called Hwy. 314, 314 or West Fayetteville Road.
Example #2: US 19/41/SR 3 is called 19/41, Hwy. 19/41, Northside Drive, Metropolitan Parkway (or by its old name, Stewart Avenue), North Central Avenue, Old Dixie Road, Old Dixie Highway, Old Dixie or Tara Boulevard -- it just depends upon where you are on 19/41.
Be well,
Bryant
I only identify with the route number.
Being the huge roadgeek I am, I try to fit as many names in for the routes as I possibly can in normal conversation. I sometimes tend to call everything that's not an interstate just "highway" (i.e. "Highway 26" for US 26, "Highway 8" for OR-8). Occasionally, if I'm feeling particularly Washington-y (lived there for 2 years), I'll refer to Washington state highways as "SR", as the locals do.
I couldn't stand that Idaho way of doing things, though. Give me a number, I say. :biggrin:
-Alex (Tarkus)
In detroit, we call them both ways. Example, take M-14 to the Jeffries, then to the Davison, on to I-75, 'till you get to M-15
When I lived in the Orlando area, numbers were used for the expressways and freeway (i.e. the 408 for the East-West Expressway or the 417 for the Greeneway). For the arterial roads, however, the road name was used. I lived off of Florida 436 but it was always referred to by its street name, Semoran Boulevard.
I forgot that a lot of Washingtonians refer to highways as "SR" particularly on Puget Sound/Vancouver area freeways (SR 14/500/16/167/etc).
As a roadgeek I try to refer to everything as it is- so I'll refer to Idaho 55 as State Highway 55, not "The Road up to Boise" and Highway 86 in Oregon as "Oregon Route 86"
Both names and numbers are used in Pittsburgh. The Interstates are referred to by their names with the exception of I-79, Ohio River Boulevard and the Allegheny Valley Expressway are called "Route 65" and "Route 28" respectively.
In SE IL and SW IN, for the most part, roads are just referred to as the route number, although that is troublesome due to the proximity of I-64 to SR 64. Though, anything that is named was named in the last few years after some obscure politician.
all numbers in MI. like "oh just take 96 to 275."
I prefer route numbers. Unfortunately, in Henrico County there are none except for interstates, US highways, and Virginia primary routes, so it was initially pretty hard for me to get around here since I grew up with numbers.
In Louisiana virtually all freeways are referred to by number, usually "I (something or other)" since most of them are Interstates. Some of them don't even have official names so far as I know (like I-10 thru BR). The only freeway grade facilities that are commonly called by their names are generally those which are not Interstates: this includes the Earhart Expressway (not an interstate), Westbank Expressway (not a signed interstate), and the Pontchartrain Expressway (existence predates interstate status). With the latter, the name is generally used to refer to the US 90B section, but most traffic reporters and some locals use the name to refer to the I-10 section also.
I dare you to find anyone in the New Orleans area not a viatologist who knows the numerical designation of Earhart Expressway.
Surface roads with numerical designations are almost always called by their name in urban areas, by route number ("Highway 25" or "LA 25") in rural areas. The name of Airline Highway (US 61), though, is often taken to encompass its whole length, even the rural sections - as in "Take Airline Highway from Laplace to Gonzales."
Quote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on February 05, 2009, 10:42:54 PM
I dare you to find anyone in the New Orleans area not a viatologist who knows the numerical designation of Earhart Expressway.
Not a
what? :red:
In Oklahoma City the Lake Hefner Parkway (SH-74), the Northwest Expressway (SH-3), and the Broadway Extension (US 77) are referred to by name. The section of I-40 through Downtown is known either as I-40 or "the Crosstown". Everything else is referred to by number exclusively.
I think Tulsa uses names more often than number, but I'm not sure...
To UPS, I always call the Earhart LA 3139, being the road junkie that I am.
In Delaware its a hodgepodge: Delaware 2 is always called Kirkwood Highway, U.S. 202 is called Concord Pike mostly, but some people call it "202". Dupont Highway is only called "13", even though part of it is U.S. 40 as well. U.S. 40, the Pulaski Highway, is always simply called "40". Delaware 3 is called just by its name Marsh Road. Delaware 92 is called Naamans Road mostly. Delaware 7 is called "7" on the stretches that are not "Limestone Road".
Delaware 1 is "1", Interstate 95 is "I-95" or "95". The others are "295 and "495". Other routes always go by their numbers. Delaware 896 is 896, no matter what (outside of Newark). Though in Newark its "New London Road" north of downtown, its never mentioned on its goofy bypass alignment, and south of Delaware 2/4, its always called "896". Delaware 4 is "4" west of Newport and "Maryland Avenue" east of Newport.
Delaware 9 goes by its names north of New Castle but by "9" south of it. U.S. 301 is only mentioned south of Middletown by locals.
When I lived in San Diego, I got used to the "The xx" freeway number thing. But they don't use that in NorCal.
In Pensacola and Mobile everything is either "Highway xx" or just its number. The freeways are called I-x or Interstate-x.
One thing I learned from my visit to the Twin Cities is that noone refers to the Crosstown Highway by its number, Minnesota 62. In fact its shortened to just "The Crosstown" my friend told me.
Quote from: Southern Illinois SKYWARN on February 05, 2009, 10:00:35 PM
In SE IL and SW IN, for the most part, roads are just referred to as the route number, although that is troublesome due to the proximity of I-64 to SR 64. Though, anything that is named was named in the last few years after some obscure politician.
That's a similar problem with persons not familiar with Metro Atlanta, as well. Georgia State Route 85 (SR 85, Georgia Highway 85 or Highway 85) and I-85 (sometimes just called 85) are in close proximity to one another, only, maybe, a few miles apart at the north end of Highway 85.
Be well,
Bryant
Also from near Pittsburgh. Most of my life, I've called roads by their number. Interstates were given the I- prefix (I-80 to 358 to 19 to 62, etc).
When I moved to Pittsburgh, I-376 is called the Parkway East, and I-279 south/west of the city is called the Parkway West. Some people also call I-279 north of town Parkway North, but not usually. Further out of town after the I-279/I-79 interchange, US22 heads west, and although the new freeway isn't called it, a lot of people still call it the Steubenville Pike (the old road is now called Old Steubenville Pike).
If you're on the southside of the city, most refer to which route you come into the city at, the Fort Pitt Tunnel (or Tubes, as some say), the Liberty Tunnel, or go around the West End Bridge.
From my travels, and spending a lot of time in LA, I do like the LA fashion. Nobody calls it the Pomona Freeway, it's "the 60". The 5, 405, 605, 101, 10, 710, 210, 91, 57, etc.
In New York, I can't stand that a lot of the roads people call by their name, rather than the interstate (New Jerseyians do it, too, with the Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway, etc).
Sykotyk
In CNY, we use both. For example, I-81 and the Thruway (I-90) I've never heard it referred to as "I-90".
Quote from: aaroads on February 06, 2009, 12:51:54 AM
One thing I learned from my visit to the Twin Cities is that noone refers to the Crosstown Highway by its number, Minnesota 62. In fact its shortened to just "The Crosstown" my friend told me.
Actually that's mostly older locals; my school is off of 62, and I never hear any of my friends call it Crosstown. I call it 62 as well, but I'm fluent in both uses :spin:. "Crosstown" died out of official use following 1988, when Hennepin County 62 was upgraded into MN 62, and all the "Crosstown Expressway" signs came down (if I remember reading correctly).
But in Edina is Bredesen Park, at the center of which is a sign listing trail maps. This map still has 62 labeled as "Crosstown 62," having not been updated anytime recently.
Otherwise, to my knowledge there is no other name for a freeway in the entire state of Minnesota that's well known. I-35 is the Red Bull Highway, but you essentially have to go online to actually find that out. It's on rest area signs as well, but it's doubtful too many people actually notice. A couple years ago the idea of naming I-494/694 the "Ronald Reagan Beltway" was toyed with by the Minnesota State Legislature. It fortunately failed though. :biggrin:
:offtopic: I don't get the whole Reagan love-fest we had here in MN a couple years ago, considering he lost Minnesota in both his elections. :offtopic:
Quote from: Scott5114 on February 06, 2009, 12:12:45 AM
Quote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on February 05, 2009, 10:42:54 PM
I dare you to find anyone in the New Orleans area not a viatologist who knows the numerical designation of Earhart Expressway.
Not a what? :red:
Hmm, a
Viatologist. Never heard of that. Via is latin for "road". Fancy word for "roadgeek"?
QuoteI sometimes tend to call everything that's not an interstate just "highway" (i.e. "Highway 26" for US 26, "Highway 8" for OR-8).
I've never used Highway 8 (or 10 for that matter) in conversations with the locals here in Portland. I'm pretty sure a numerical designation would have them scratching their heads unless I clarified by saying "Canyon Road (TV Highway) or Beaverton Hillsdale Highway".
We generally just say things like "Take 17 up to Goosley," 17 being US-17 or George Washington Mem. Hwy., and Goosley being Goosley Rd., VA-238. But there are also cases where a road is better known by its name, not route number. Examples being US-258, just called "Mercury [Blvd.];" and VA-169, just called "Fox Hill [Rd.]." Not really any rhyme or reason, some roads are just better known for their name or number.
Though since here on the peninsula we only have one interstate, I-64 (though there's I-664 too, but it doesn't go anywhere important so we never have to refer to it in conversation), we often just call it "the interstate" or even just "the highway," though sometimes it does get referred to as I-64.
Here in Tennessee, the interstate are generally referred to as "I" number.
As for the surface roads, in Nashville, they are always referred to by street. i.e. Franklin Road not US 31, Old Hickory Blvd. not TN 254.
Outside Nashville, the important roads sometimes get referred to by number. i.e. US 31 south of Nashville
But, mostly they get referred to by name, especially to Tennessee's secondary highways.
in NOLA its like this...
I-10: "The I-10" 90% of the time
U.S. 61: "Airline" or "Airline Hwy" even though its officially Airline Dr.
U.S. 90 Bus: On the westbank it's either "Westbank Expy" or "the westbank (usually by Westbankers)" and on the eastbank its usually simply referred to as either the "Riverbound" or "Lakebound Expy" depending on what direction you're heading even though its officially the Pontchartrain Expy.
U.S. 90: Takes on the name of whatever street it travels until it crosses the Huey P.
The Earhart is the Earhart, I don't even know what number it is.
I-610: "610"
Around St. Louis, freeways were referred to by number. The exception was I-170, which seemed to be referred to by number if there was a problem on it, or as the Inner Belt if it was being used as a reference for a perpendicular road. I don't know if the Page Avenue Extension/MO 364 goes by name or number. Non-freeways go by the street name if it differs from the number or letter.
Omaha seems to use numbers for freeways except for US 75 south of I-80; I think that one more commonly goes by its name of the Kennedy Freeway. The US 75 freeway north of I-480 may also go by its name.
Quote from: NOLANOLA504 on February 07, 2009, 12:08:28 AM
U.S. 61: "Airline" or "Airline Hwy" even though its officially Airline Dr.
Well, it _was_ Airline Highway for many, many years.
In Mississippi, most people call the interstates "I-XX" and U.S. and state highways "Highway XX" or just "XX." County roads have either names or numbers depending on the county, but I am not sure what people call those with numbers since the counties I have lived in use names.
In New Orleans's suburbs, it can vary. Mandeville goes by the number, while Covington and Slidell may go by both, and most Southshore suburbs go by the name with the exception of the Interstate. New Orleans goes almost exclusively by street name, with Interstate 10 being "The Interstate" and the others going by number. "Take Elysian Fields up to the Interstate, over to Chef Highway..."
Quote from: mightyace on February 06, 2009, 09:32:40 PM
Here in Tennessee, the interstate are generally referred to as "I" number.
As for the surface roads, in Nashville, they are always referred to by street. i.e. Franklin Road not US 31, Old Hickory Blvd. not TN 254.
Outside Nashville, the important roads sometimes get referred to by number. i.e. US 31 south of Nashville
But, mostly they get referred to by name, especially to Tennessee's secondary highways.
I often hear locals in East Tennessee who refer to state and US routes by their number plus the word "highway" at the end of the name. In Chattanooga, for example, one might say, "Take the second exit on 153 Highway." That convention was a new one for me when I moved into the area a few years ago. Also, most people tend to give you strange looks if you happen to substitute "US" or "SR" for the more familiar word "highway."
Sacramento traffic reports use "Capital City Freeway" for the standalone (hidden Route 51/former I-80, US 40, US 99E) segment from I-80 to Route 99, but numbers for just about everything else, though I-80 is always referred to as going across the "top of the town" (through Natomas).
In the Bay Area, I can think of a few commonly used names:
the Bayshore Freeway (US 101 from I-80 to San Jose)
the Eastshore Freeway (I-80 and sometimes I-580 in the East bay)
the Macarthur Freeway (I-580 from I-80 to Route 238)
the Nimitz Freeway and Cypress Freeway (all of I-880; for the latter, specifically the original and replacement structures between I-980 and I-80 that, under the original alignment, once abutted Cypress Street)
The Junipero Serra Freeway is I-280 from Route 1 in SF (where the JSF continues for about one more mile to 19th Avenue) to San Jose, but that name is rarely mentioned on the news or on reports.
We ususally use numbers for freeway and mixed for regular
Quote from: Scott5114 on February 06, 2009, 12:12:45 AM
In Oklahoma City the Lake Hefner Parkway (SH-74), the Northwest Expressway (SH-3), and the Broadway Extension (US 77) are referred to by name. The section of I-40 through Downtown is known either as I-40 or "the Crosstown". Everything else is referred to by number exclusively.
I think Tulsa uses names more often than number, but I'm not sure...
I-44 is usually called I-44. Skelly Drive usually refers to the frontage roads along I-44. OK 51 east of downtown is called either the Broken Arrow Expressway or "BA". US 169 is "169". US 75 is usually referred to by its number, as is I-244. The downtown loop is either referred to as the "IDL" for "Inner Dispersal Loop" or by number, I-244 for the N and W legs and US 75 for the S and E legs. 64/412 west is called the Keystone Expressway or the Sand Springs Expressway. OK 11 near the airport is "Highway 11." Turnpikes are usually referred to by name. LL Tisdale Parkway is "Tisdale."
Indiana in general I believe just uses the number with either I, US, or SR coming before. The only major highways that are refered to by name are the Borman Exwy (NW Indiana), Sam Jones Exwy (Indianapolis), and Lloyd Exwy(Evansville). And in the case of the Borman and Lloyd both highways carry multiple numbers so refering to them by name is just easier.
Most state highways in Nevada have names, but the use of the name versus the number is somewhat mixed.
- For state routes on urban arterials, the street name is always used (most urban state routes are not consistently signed, thus most people are unaware they are state highways).
- For other state routes, each has a name assigned to it. Some of these names are in common use, such as Mt. Rose Highway (SR 431), Geiger Grade (SR 341), Lamoille Highway (SR 227), Kyle Canyon Rd (SR 157). Other highways may just be referred to as "SR ##" or "Highway ##", i.e.: SR 140 (Denio-Adel, OR Road), SR 208 (Topaz-Yerington Road), SR 722 (Carroll Summit Road, old US 50), etc.
- Rural US highways are generally referred to by number, even though some have internal, signed or colloquial names (US 50 "The Loneliest Road in America", US 6 "Grand Army of the Republic Highway", US 93 "Great Basin Highway", US 95 "Veterans' Memorial Highway", etc.).
- Urban freeways are referred to by number. The exception is I-215/CC-215, which is often referred to as simply "the Beltway".
Speaking of freeways, California's vernacular for freeways has been adapted to how Nevadans refer to their freeway numbers. In Reno and northern Nevada, one might say "take 80 to 395". In southern Nevada and the Vegas area, 'the' is often appended before the number, as in "take the 15 to the 95".
Well, all of Wisconsin uses numbers, but many in Milwaukee refer to I-894 as the "Bypass". and there are those in Madison that refer to the handful of US Routes going around the city as the Beltline ;)
Chicago doesn't go by number: Edens, Kennedy, Ryan, Skyway, Tri-State, etc. The only one to get recognition for it's number is I-57.
U.S 67/277 -- Houston Harte Expressway