In the vast majority of the US, rural highways are more known by their numbers than any name they might have. While many urban freeways have names, in most cases they are better known by their number. Conversely, highways that are surface streets in cities are usually better known by street names locally. Where are there exceptions to this-rural highways or urban freeways better known by their names instead of their numbers, or surface streets within cities better known by their number?
Some ones I know about:
Chicago is probably the most obvious exception to freeways being known by numbers-the "expressway" names Dan Ryan, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Stevenson, etc. are much better known locally than I-90, I-94, I-290, I-55 etc.
In Omaha, US 75 south of I-80/I-480 is named the Kennedy Freeway and US 75 N. of I-480 is named the North Freeway and those names are usually preferred over US 75.
In Springfield, Mo., the US 65 freeway is rarely referred to by its name of the Schoolcraft Freeway. Yet the US 60 freeway usually is referred to by its name of the James River Freeway.
In an example of a surface street known by its number instead of its name-in my hometown of Lincoln, NE 2 running along the south part of the city is officially called "Nebraska Highway" on street signs put up by the city, but is always called "Hwy 2" locally. In fact, many people likely wouldn't even be able to tell somebody where "Nebraska Highway" is. However, US 6 and US 34 on their surface streets through Lincoln are known by their street names instead of their numbers.
U.S. 23 through Gwinnett County, GA, is known as Buford Highway.
U.S. 61 through Memphis is Third Street, while U.S. 51 is Elvis Presley Blvd.
Here in Jackson, MS 25 is known as Lakeland Drive. Once it gets away from the urban areas, it begins to take on the MS 25 name. Had U.S. 51 kept its original alignment, it still would be known as State Street.
In the Bay Area, several freeways' names are still in popular usage (Bayshore Freeway and Central Freeway for 101, Eastshore Freeway for 80, Nimitz Freeway for 880, MacArthur Freeway for 580). The Cypress Freeway appellation for the segment of 880 between 80 and 980 was mostly used when the structure actually was being rebuilt (and the original had been demolished due to Loma Prieta damage) but hasn't been used much since the 1997 reopening.
The numbered streets are almost always referred to by their names and not highway numbers (Route 82/El Camino Real, Route 238/Mission Boulevard).
In Sacramento, the Capital City Freeway name is used - but usually to refer to the standalone Business 80 (Route 51) segment. The "WX Freeway" name is still used at times to refer to the segment of Business 80/US 50 that is concurrent with Route 99.
Route 160 ran down Freeport Boulevard and 15th/16th Streets until the early part of this decade, but I don't know if it was ever commonly identified as such. Route 16 runs down Jackson Road and part of Folsom Boulevard, but rarely gets mentioned in traffic reports.
Quote from: huskeroadgeek on July 23, 2010, 12:54:54 AM
In the vast majority of the US, rural highways are more known by their numbers than any name they might have. While many urban freeways have names, in most cases they are better known by their number. Conversely, highways that are surface streets in cities are usually better known by street names locally. Where are there exceptions to this-rural highways or urban freeways better known by their names instead of their numbers, or surface streets within cities better known by their number?
In Alaska and Hawaii, highways are almost always called by name rather than number, except for Hawaii's Interstates, which until recently were mostly unnamed (and some of the names, like "Queen Liliuokalani Freeway," do not exactly roll off the tongue even for Hawaiians). Indeed, until just before statehood Hawaii didn't have a widely-used route number system; when troops from the mainland kept getting lost on Oahu's unnumbered roads in the runup to World War II, a temporary numbering system had to be created for them. Alaska has only twelve numbered routes, and has many significant, state-maintained highways without signed route numbers.
One gets the sense that Alaska and Hawaii set up their route numbering systems largely to conform to lower-48 practices, and if left to their own devices would as soon do without signed route numbers.
Yukon is just like Alaska in that the numbers seem to be an afterthought... in fact until the mid-80s, Yukon routes did not have numbers, just a unified "Northwest Highway System" shield.
I-184 in Boise is almost universally referred to as "The Connector"- I imagine most Boiseans wouldn't even know what an I-184 was
I don't know if this is common practice since I'm not a Phoenician, but when I'm down there (roughly 1.5 times a year) I have a tendency to refer to the 60 as "the Superstition" and the 51 as "the Piestewa" while referring to all other highways by number- I have no idea how I slipped into that. I'm also not a Salt Laker, but I tend to call SR-154 "the Bangerter" while calling other routes by number. I think this may be a product of my formative years in Chicago (my father is a religious "go by the name, not by the number" person)- if the route has a name I tend to eventually slip into calling it by name.
I can't off the top of my head think of a major highway in Colorado or Wyoming I refer to by name- although due to the lack of major roads and major towns in Wyoming you'll often hear people avoid names and numbers altogether and just say "the road to Cody" or "the road to Casper" or "since the road to Cody is bad, take the road up to Sheridan and then the road to Cody" or "the road through Meteetse to Cody is closed so take the road through Greybull" without being able to tell you the route number. This works because there's usually only one intelligent way to get from A to B- there can be confusion between I-25->I-80 or 287-I-25 (the debate is bitter on which way is faster, it's almost a perfect 50-50 split- I'd say displaced Coloradans tend to believe in the interstate route while native Wyomingites tend to believe in 287, while folks from other places fall on either side of the pot) when people call it "the road to Denver," but at least in Laramie it's connoted that you'd omit Denver and say "the road to Fort Collins" for 287 and "the road to Cheyenne" for I-80.
Quote from: huskeroadgeek on July 23, 2010, 12:54:54 AM
In Springfield, Mo., the US 65 freeway is rarely referred to by its name of the Schoolcraft Freeway. Yet the US 60 freeway usually is referred to by its name of the James River Freeway.
James River Freeway actually begins as MO 360, so it's not
all US 60, though JRF seems to primarily refer to the US 60 portion.
In Ohio, people tend to refer to freeways & highways by the number instead of the name. Ohioans refer to the highway by the number alone (instead of "The ..." or "I-..."), and will say something like "Take 670 west to 315 north and then 270 east to 23 north". There is no distinction made between interstate, US, and state routes, but thanks to the exclusive (non-duplicity) numbering system, it's not necessary.
Quote from: corco on July 23, 2010, 02:18:33 AM
I can't off the top of my head think of a major highway in Colorado or Wyoming I refer to by name...
Some long-time Denverites still refer to I-25 south of downtown as "the Valley Highway" (which was its name prior to becoming a segment of the interstate). US 36 between Denver and Boulder is commonly referred to as "the Turnpike" (because when it was first built it was a toll road). Most people refer to US 6 west of downtown as "6th Avenue". US 285 between I-25 and Santa Fe Dr (US 85) is usually just called "Hampden" (even though it's actually aligned with Jefferson through part of Englewood, few people are aware of that. They think of 285 as "Hampden", wheras the actual Hampden Av. is referred to as "Old Hampden"). Even west of Santa Fe, some people still refer to US 285 as Hampden, but where it becomes a freeway, it seems people are more likely to refer to it by number. I have some additional details at the bottom of this page: http://usends.com/Explore/Colorado/colloquialisms.html
QuoteSome long-time Denverites still refer to I-25 south of downtown as "the Valley Highway" (which was its name prior to becoming a segment of the interstate). US 36 between Denver and Boulder is commonly referred to as "the Turnpike" (because when it was first built it was a toll road). Most people refer to US 6 west of downtown as "6th Avenue". US 285 between I-25 and Santa Fe Dr (US 85) is usually just called "Hampden" (even though it's actually aligned with Jefferson through part of Englewood, few people are aware of that. They think of 285 as "Hampden", wheras the actual Hampden Av. is referred to as "Old Hampden"). Even west of Santa Fe, some people still refer to US 285 as Hampden, but where it becomes a freeway, it seems people are more likely to refer to it by number.
That got my brain jogging sufficiently- yeah I hear it referred to it as the Turnpike too. Another one in that area would be SH-119, often called "The Diagonal"
In New York, the Thruway is usually referred to by name rather than number. I'm pretty sure that just about everything in NYC would be known by name rather than number as well.
Calling the Merritt Parkway "the 15" is a faux pas in Fairfield County.
Quote from: deanej on July 23, 2010, 12:43:09 PM
I'm pretty sure that just about everything in NYC would be known by name rather than number as well.
With the suffix dropped in most cases. "The Cross Bronx", "The Gowanus", "The Cross Island", etc.
Some names get shortened further. The Hutchinson River Parkway is "The Hutch". The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is "The BQE". The Bronx River Parkway is "The BRP".
Quote from: kurumi on July 23, 2010, 01:59:20 PM
Calling the Merritt Parkway "the 15" is a faux pas in Fairfield County.
Heh. Can't say I've ever heard anyone do that. I daresay most of us aren't even aware that "the Parkway" has a number!
In the Tri-State Area (NY, CT, NJ) most highways/parkways are known by their names, but once you get out of Fairfield County most highways in Connecticut are known by their number. I always found it weird that I switch between the two when driving from home to New York because most of the time I would follow 84 to 684 to the Hutch. I suppose in NYC and in Westchester County most parkways don't have numbers so their is no alternative for them to be called.
Just listen to a traffic report on WCBS-880 (NYC) and the only mention of a number you'll here is I-80 (NJ), I-287 (NJ), and (sometimes) I-95 (CT). The rest is all names, as previously noted.
Similarly, in the Boston area, you'll hear traffic reporters and locals refer to the inner beltway as Route 128. MassHighway eliminated most 128 signage from I-95's BGSs (and altogether on the I-93 portion), but old habits die hard. (Route 128 is named the Yankee Division Highway).
Quote from: shadyjay on July 23, 2010, 06:35:43 PM
Similarly, in the Boston area, you'll hear traffic reporters and locals refer to the inner beltway as Route 128. MassHighway eliminated most 128 signage from I-95's BGSs (and altogether on the I-93 portion), but old habits die hard. (Route 128 is named the Yankee Division Highway).
you'll get references to the Southeast Expressway (MA, not US 3 heading out of Boston) and until recently it was inevitable that the Central Artery (I-93) was clogged. Now it's the Big Dig that's backed up.
In the St. Louis area, I-170 used to be referred to on traffic reports by it's name (Inner Belt). At least in casual conversation, MO 364 is usually referred to by name, such as "The Page Avenue Extension," "Page Extension" or sometimes just "Page Avenue," even though the Page Avenue designation technically ends at I-270.
The Illinois side of the St. Louis area generally seems to go by number over street names, such as "203" instead of "Nameoki Road" and "157" or "159" over whatever the local street names are.
LA freeways tend to go both ways, if memory serves.
Portland: The three that are primarily known by their names are the Sunset (US 26), the Banfield (I-84/US 30) and the Stadium (I-405). I-5 isn't referred by its names anymore (the Baldock, the Eastbank and the Minnesota), and I-205 (East Portland/Veterans Memorial) and OR 217 (Beaverton-Tigard) have never been called as such as far as I know.
Quote from: Bickendan on July 24, 2010, 05:12:11 AM
LA freeways tend to go both ways, if memory serves.
I think it's more notable when a freeway in LA is never known by a name, only # - my guess is that it would apply to certain newer routes like the toll highways in Orange County (73, 241, 261), and shorter freeways like 23 and 133.
The only thing that is confusing to me about switching from name to number is the amount of confusion that is created by the change. Some Interstates begin on one named route and then move to another and if it isn't signed correctly it could cause a problem. I think it is easier to follow route numbers than named routes.
Quote from: iwishiwascanadian on July 24, 2010, 02:11:42 PM
The only thing that is confusing to me about switching from name to number is the amount of confusion that is created by the change. Some Interstates begin on one named route and then move to another and if it isn't signed correctly it could cause a problem. I think it is easier to follow route numbers than named routes.
In the Bay Area, that isn't an issue (while the Eastshore name used to apply to both 80 and what is now 880, this hasn't been the case since the late 1960s). The route names almost only correspond to one segment of one route and not multiple separate routes (i.e. all of the Eastshore is 80, all of the Bayshore is 580, all of the MacArthur is 580, and the Nimitz and 880 are the same thing in entirety).
In metro Los Angeles...the Santa Ana Freeway, Ventura Freeway, and Hollywood Freeway all are portions of US 101 AND another route. The San Diego Freeway is both all of 405, plus 5 south of Irvine. With that, I can see where the confusion comes up - one reason why the numbers have been used more in the Southland in recent years.
I think the first freeway to go without a name in the LA area is the 605 - built in the mid-1960s, they didn't bother calling it the San Gabriel River Freeway, even though that was the most sensible name for it.
Most freeways were originally named for the towns they served, in one direction anyway.
one exception was the Ramona Freeway: it was named after Ramona Boulevard, as opposed to the small town of Ramona, which is in the hills east of San Diego (nowhere near where the freeway goes). This exception was renamed to the more logical San Bernardino Freeway in the early 60s. Other somewhat geographically accurate names are the Foothill Freeway (210, which is named after Foothill Boulevard, which in turn is named after the fact that the road goes along the foothills of the San Gabriel range), and the Golden State Freeway (US-99 north of the East LA interchange which goes to the rest of the Golden State).
However, even this was found confusing as they were intuitive in one direction only - after all, why would one get on the Santa Monica Freeway if he wanted to drive from Culver City to downtown LA? The driver was supposed to know that the freeway came from Santa Monica in his case.
also, given that there were some major name/number mismatches (the Hollywood and Ventura freeways, for example, which became 101, 134, and 170, with neither named route keeping its number through their interchange) California just gave up on the names.
incidentally, a lot of freeways (especially outside of LA) were named after people ... you could not expect to find General MacArthur at the end of the MacArthur Freeway, or chief justice Earl Warren at the end of the Warren Freeway, and I have no idea who James Lick is, but maybe he licked you at a strategic point on US-101, which is why that and I-80 are so poorly signed these days in San Francisco.
average Californians still remember this sort of thing, and having all the old signs around certainly helps. That said, the decommissioned surface street stretch of US-101 between La Jolla and Camp Pendleton is known universally as "the 101" - even though it hasn't been US-101 since the 1950s to 1960s when they built the new freeway in segments, and certainly not since 1966 when the route was truncated to Los Angeles.
A combination of names, numbers and colloquialisms are used in south Florida. Here are a few examples:
"The 18-mile stretch," US 1 from Florida City to Key Largo will be heard very often. It is the newer and newest sections of the Overseas Highway, while "US 1 down in the Keys at milemarker xx" is used on the extremely beautiful road between Key Largo and Key West.
"The Don Shula" as in the Don Shula Expressway, tolled FL 874, will be heard more than the state route number. Same goes for the Snapper Creek Expressway (FL 878), "the Dolphin" Expressway (FL 836).
"Julia Tuttle" is the causeway between Miami and Miami Beach on Interstate 195. "MacArthur" is the causeway further to the south, and east of the terminus of Interstate 395, connecting the two downtowns.
"The Palmetto," FL 826, will also be used instead of the state route number, and include directions like, "the east-west Palmetto" or "northbound" or "southbound."
"The Turnpike Extension" will be a reference to the 47-mile Homestead Extension of the Florida's Turnpike (hidden FL 821).
I-75, I-95 and I-595 are called by their route numbers. "State Road 84" is never called anything but and to my knowledge never signed anywhere as "Everglades Blvd."
I-75 from Exit 19 (FL 869 and Interstate 595) is usually thought of and rolled into the "Alley," as in Alligator Alley, even though the toll road does not begin until west of Exit 26 for US 27.
US 27 is called by its route number.
"Krome Avenue" (FL 997) is never called by its route number.
"Kendall" (FL 94) or "Kendall Drive" is really North Kendall Drive, since it is the northern line of the suburb. The road travels entirely east-west.
Most major east-west 6- and 8-lane highways are always called by name, "Commercial" (Blvd.), "Broward Blvd.," "Sample (Road)," and so on. If the street is east of the main dividing highway on the street grid, "East" will be usually added as a reference.
"Atlantic" is a bit confusing since Atlantic Blvd. is a main east-west route in northern Broward County (the street grid divider for the Pompano Beach, Margate and cities west) and Atlantic Avenue in a main east-west route in Delray Beach in south Palm Beach County (and the street grid divider for Delray Beach and west into unincorporated Palm Beach County).
"South Dixie (Highway)" and "US 1" are often interchangeable in Miami-Dade County while "Federal" or "Federal Highway," is used for US 1 in Broward County are often heard interchangeably.
US 441 is well-signed but the name of the street is NW 7 Avenue in Miami-Dade County and State Road 7 in Broward County. US 441 and street names will be often heard interchangeably. "FL 7" as in State Road 7 is oddly signed in only one place in Broward County at Commercial Blvd. with no reference to US 441 on the overhead gantries.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 24, 2010, 02:25:52 PM
average Californians still remember this sort of thing, and having all the old signs around certainly helps.
And a few new signs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymondyue/4793004642/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/143595488/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_s_etc/3872045157/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymondyue/4736821515/
I'm fascinated that the Eastshore and Nimitz names get as much use as they do in the Bay Area, since combined they have less signage for them than the Capital City Freeway name here in Sacramento!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 24, 2010, 02:25:52 PM
I think the first freeway to go without a name in the LA area is the 605 - built in the mid-1960s, they didn't bother calling it the San Gabriel River Freeway, even though that was the most sensible name for it.
IIRC, there are signs along I-605 naming the freeway just that. I know the Thomas Guides call the freeway the San Gabriel River Freeway.
Quote from: Bickendan on July 24, 2010, 07:00:47 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 24, 2010, 02:25:52 PM
I think the first freeway to go without a name in the LA area is the 605 - built in the mid-1960s, they didn't bother calling it the San Gabriel River Freeway, even though that was the most sensible name for it.
IIRC, there are signs along I-605 naming the freeway just that. I know the Thomas Guides call the freeway the San Gabriel River Freeway.
The freeway name is signed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigmikelakers/1806935499/
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2054%2F1806935499_e5c77754da_z.jpg&hash=1108d9b5d21fe9a5a2dc48331f94e2914b80d689)
Quote from: shoptb1 on July 23, 2010, 08:47:11 AM
In Ohio, people tend to refer to freeways & highways by the number instead of the name. Ohioans refer to the highway by the number alone (instead of "The ..." or "I-..."), and will say something like "Take 670 west to 315 north and then 270 east to 23 north". There is no distinction made between interstate, US, and state routes, but thanks to the exclusive (non-duplicity) numbering system, it's not necessary.
Though in the case of Columbus, highways within the outerbelt are refered to by name. You don't say US 23, you say High St or Morse Rd, or Indianola Ave, or 4th or 3rd St. Unless the road is a freeway, thus "no name," we'll use the name of the street.
In (and around) Philadelphia, only numbers you'll hear is I-95, 202, 422, 322, and US 1 (south from the Blue Route and north from the Turnpike).
Everything else has a name.
In Jersey, I-295, 42, 55 (not sure about I-76/676). Everything else named.
In the Cleveland Area, most freeways are referred by route number and most surface streets are referred by name.
Exceptions:
I-90 through downtown is referred to as The Innerbelt
I-90 between SR 2 and I-271 is referred to as The Euclid (/Wickliffe) Spur
I-90 between The Innerbelt and E. 140th St. is referred to as The East Shoreway
SR 2 between I-90 in Euclid and roughly SR 91/SR 640 in Eastlake is referred to as The Lakeland Freeway
SR 2 between The Innerbelt and Lake Avenue is referred to as The West Shoreway
And The Ohio Turnpike is referred to as The Turnpike
The majority of the aforementioned named freeways are known as their names due to the multiplexes on said freeways.
It's either name or number or in some cases both in Pittsburgh. I-70 and I-79 are just that, the three 3dis and PTC roadways are always referenced by their names, and PA 28 and PA 65 are either "Route ##" or their name(s).
Total mix here in Hampton Roads...
I-64 is always called "64", I-664 "664" (except the bridge-tunnels, which are always referred to by name). However, 2 of the named freeways, the MLK Fwy (US 58) and Western Fwy (VA 164) are called by their names, but the Humelsine Pkwy, Va Beach - Norfolk Expy, and Hampton Roads Beltway are not.
However, US 258 is always just "Mercury [Blvd]", VA 169 "Fox Hill [Rd]", US 58 "Virginia Beach Blvd", and VA 143 "Jefferson [Ave]".
And US 60 is called "Route 60", as are VA 5 (John Tyler Hwy - I have heard a few people who live on it call it that, but most don't) and US 17 (George Washington Memorial Hwy)
Oh and despite VDOT's intentions, the Hampton Roads Beltway NEVER gets any mention as such.
In Orlando.....
-The toll roads, except the Turnpike, are called by their numbers (408, 417, 528, 429).
-Orange Blossom Trail is OBT (north and south added, if no major intersecting road is stated along with it)
-FL 50 is mostly referred to as Colonial (West and East added to describe which part of town, if no major intersecting road is stated along with it)
-436 is used more than its name, Semoran Blvd
-434 is the collective name for that road, but it can be called Alafaya south of Oviedo.
-US 17/92 is acknowledged only as a duplex; its triplexes go by their respective street names.
-I-4 is I-4, not common to just call it "4".
-Other numbered routes are just known for their street names, for the most part. (You won't hear someone say "423 and 438" instead of "John Young and Princeton".)
^^^
And of course Orlando is probably the only place other than Southern California where people often refer to freeways with "the", as in "the 408". This only applies to the toll roads. I-4 is, as you stated, always I-4.
And people here in Brevard still often call 528 "The Beeline".
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2010, 09:14:04 AM
^^^
And of course Orlando is probably the only place other than Southern California where people often refer to freeways with "the", as in "the 408". This only applies to the toll roads. I-4 is, as you stated, always I-4.
And people here in Brevard still often call 528 "The Beeline".
Absolutely! There is no shortage of "the" toll roads around here.
And to add to the discussion, here in Brevard County, it's a mix based on local custom:
US-192 is always 192 (no US and not New Haven Ave.)
SR-520 is always 520 (again, just the number).
US-1 is always US1 (with the US and never Harbor City Blvd)
SR-A1A is always A1A
All other roads are called by the local name. You'll never hear someone call Babcock St. SR507, or Palm Bay Road CR516 for instance.
The bridges are usually referred to by the bridge name, not road name or highway number.
Northerners sometime come here and call them all "route", and you'll see some of the more stupid ones (almost always from NJ I'll bet) write 192 as "1-92".
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2010, 03:29:23 PM
Northerners sometime come here and call them all "route", and you'll see some of the more stupid ones (almost always from NJ I'll bet) write 192 as "1-92".
not 1&92? :-D
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2010, 09:14:04 AM
^^^
And of course Orlando is probably the only place other than Southern California where people often refer to freeways with "the", as in "the 408". This only applies to the toll roads. I-4 is, as you stated, always I-4.
They do that here in Phoenix; the traffic reporter "Detour Dan" will talk about "the 17" or "the 60." The exceptions are the two main loop freeways, Loop 101 and Loop 202. Because the loop freeways have different names depending on what stretch you're talking about, he'll refer to "the 101/Price/Pima Freeway" for the segment running from I-17 east, then south through Scottsdale and Tempe, for example, or "the 101/Agua Fria Freeway" for the section running west of I-17, then bending south through Peoria and Glendale to tie into I-10. Loop 202 is "the 202/Red Mountain Freeway" or "the 202/San Tan Freeway" depending on if it's north or south of the 60. (Confused? It helps to have a road map of the Phoenix area.)
the quote doctor makes a house call...
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 26, 2010, 03:34:19 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2010, 03:29:23 PM
Northerners sometime come here and call them all "route", and you'll see some of the more stupid ones (almost always from NJ I'll bet) write 192 as "1-92".
not 1&92? :-D
:-D Wouldn't 1&9-2 better state a bypass/alternate of 1&9?
Quote from: florida on July 26, 2010, 04:24:35 PM
:-D Wouldn't 1&9-2 better state a bypass/alternate of 1&9?
no, that would be A1&9A. or, on the gulf coast, G1&9A.
Standard practice in New York State is to use only the route number on most signs, as per the Manual. However there is an exception in the five-boroughs of New York City. Most BGS's there have both the route shield and route name on the top line of the sign (as was also seen in Los Angeles). This deal between NYC and NYSDOT has been for over 40 years, since the 1960's.
Interesting history there. Prior to the BGS era that began circa 1960, all signing in NYC was by road name only. With the coming of the 1964 Worlds Fair, there was a major rebuilding of highways in Queens including upgrading of existing ones to Interstate status. When the new signing went up with numbers only there was a serious revolt in the NYC media. New Yorkers just couldn't accept the infamous Long Island Expwy. being signed as only "495" or the Brooklyn-Queens Expwy. as just "278". So after several years of controversy NYSDOT finally agreed to post both number and name in NYC only, (not on Long Island). A major resigning project was done circa 1972 and the practice continues in the present era.
And I might add, New Yorkers continue to refer to these roads as the "L.I.E." and the "B.Q.E."
Quote from: corco on July 23, 2010, 10:18:13 AM
QuoteSome long-time Denverites still refer to I-25 south of downtown as "the Valley Highway" (which was its name prior to becoming a segment of the interstate). US 36 between Denver and Boulder is commonly referred to as "the Turnpike" (because when it was first built it was a toll road). Most people refer to US 6 west of downtown as "6th Avenue". US 285 between I-25 and Santa Fe Dr (US 85) is usually just called "Hampden" (even though it's actually aligned with Jefferson through part of Englewood, few people are aware of that. They think of 285 as "Hampden", wheras the actual Hampden Av. is referred to as "Old Hampden"). Even west of Santa Fe, some people still refer to US 285 as Hampden, but where it becomes a freeway, it seems people are more likely to refer to it by number.
That got my brain jogging sufficiently- yeah I hear it referred to it as the Turnpike too. Another one in that area would be SH-119, often called "The Diagonal"
And there's another in there: US-85 through Englewood and Littleton is always called Santa Fe Drive. Not to mention the other state highways that run on streets (Wadsworth, Kipling, Sheridan, Colorado,...)
How about highways named after entertainers or celebrities? Presidential or political names do not count.
The most obvious first: Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis,TN
Andy Devine Ave in Kingman,AZ
Don Knotts Blvd in Morgantown, WV
Rex Allen Drive in Willcox, AZ
Garth Brooks Blvd in Yukon, OK
Lee Trevino Drive in El Paso,TX
Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert, CA
Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, CA
OTHERS ????????????
A couple I know of:
Porter Wagoner Blvd. in West Plains, MO.
Buck Owens Blvd. in Bakersfield, CA
Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Clarksville, TN
Isn't there also a Danny Thomas Drive in Memphis?
I'm waiting to see of there is a "who is" Danny Thomas question next.
1996 Univ of FL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel has the southern part of FL 293 near Destin, FL named for him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wuerffel
Two from my hometown of Columbia, Mississippi: Walter Payton Drive and Eagle Day Ave. (which is a renamed part of Park Ave. and will be referred to by residents as such until sometime in the 2080s).
On I-65 from just before Lafayette, through downtown, and to I-465 south, the highway is signed as Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds highway. But NO ONE calls it that. It's pretty much a joke around here. Many people will use "the dogleg" for the I-865 section and the I-65/I-70 merge are known as "the splits" and the actual splits are either the north split or south split.
I'm curious about circuit loops. Some use beltway, some use inner and outer loops. Some may use clock notation. We use two directions. Direction and side. I-465 northbound on the east side.
Quote from: citrustaco on July 30, 2010, 01:08:58 PM
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
really? he's nowhere near dead. he's not even old. he's in the prime of his life. he's 51 and actively making music.
don't you have to at least be over the hill to have something named after you??
I don't think any musician younger than Keith Richards should have anything named after him until Keith Richards dies. (Which may never actually happen.)
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 30, 2010, 01:39:43 PM
really? he's nowhere near dead. he's not even old. he's in the prime of his life. he's 51 and actively making music.
Gosh, I didn't realize Babyface was already 51
Quote
don't you have to at least be over the hill to have something named after you??
There was a bill introduced in the Michigan Senate (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(tpmz0svnacgbfh4530vv1qag))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2010-SB-1269) to name part of I-475 the "Mark Ingram Memorial Highway," despite the fact that the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner is very much alive and well. (FWIW, the floor summary and analysis show it as the "Mark V. Ingram II Freeway," so one can hope the actual bill's text has been amended despite not being shown on the page to which I linked.)
Quote from: allniter89 on July 29, 2010, 08:51:19 PM
Isn't there also a Danny Thomas Drive in Memphis?
Yes(Danny Thomas Blvd.), and in fact it is part of US 51 just like Elvis Presley Blvd. It runs right by the St. Jude Children's Hospital that he founded(right at the I-40 interchange just E. of downtown).
Quote from: citrustaco on July 30, 2010, 01:08:58 PM
On I-65 from just before Lafayette, through downtown, and to I-465 south, the highway is signed as Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds highway. But NO ONE calls it that. It's pretty much a joke around here. Many people will use "the dogleg" for the I-865 section and the I-65/I-70 merge are known as "the splits" and the actual splits are either the north split or south split.
I'm curious about circuit loops. Some use beltway, some use inner and outer loops. Some may use clock notation. We use two directions. Direction and side. I-465 northbound on the east side.
There's also the Sam Jones Expressway and I have on occasion refered to the area between the North and South Split as the Spaghetti Bowl (or Mixing Bowl). And then there was the time David Letterman wanted to get I-465 named for him. I would admit, I would have liked to refer to 465 as "the Letterman."
Quote from: florida on July 26, 2010, 05:45:49 AM
In Orlando.....
-The toll roads, except the Turnpike, are called by their numbers (408, 417, 528, 429).
-Orange Blossom Trail is OBT (north and south added, if no major intersecting road is stated along with it)
-FL 50 is mostly referred to as Colonial (West and East added to describe which part of town, if no major intersecting road is stated along with it)
-436 is used more than its name, Semoran Blvd
-434 is the collective name for that road, but it can be called Alafaya south of Oviedo.
-US 17/92 is acknowledged only as a duplex; its triplexes go by their respective street names.
-I-4 is I-4, not common to just call it "4".
-Other numbered routes are just known for their street names, for the most part. (You won't hear someone say "423 and 438" instead of "John Young and Princeton".)
I've heard on quite a few occasions FL-417 referred to as the GreeneWay or Central Florida GreeneWay.
FL-528 is usually the Beachline or the Beeline (older name).
FL-408 is usually "the 408". Haven't ever heard FL-429 referred to as "the 429" by anyone.
And FL-414 (John Land Apopka Expressway) is relatively new, and I don't live near that area so I'm not sure what the locals have chosen to call it.
US-1 in the Keys is usually called and signed as "Overseas Highway".
In Central Florida, especially the Orlando area, when referring to a non-toll road, most times we say the route number instead of the name. But in Miami-Dade, their streets are all on a grid and it's all numbers for them, but for the expressways they mostly reference the name instead of the number - Palmetto, Dolphin, Airport, Gratigny, Don Shula, Snapper Creek ... kinda threw me off when I expected them to call them by route number.
Quote from: AstareGod on July 30, 2010, 05:47:37 PM
I've heard on quite a few occasions FL-417 referred to as the GreeneWay or Central Florida GreeneWay.
it's formally called that.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/FL/FL19914172i1.jpg)
Though apparently this trailblazer is a tough find.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/FL/FL19914171i1.jpg)
QuoteFL-528 is usually the Beachline or the Beeline (older name).
it was signed as such in the 70s.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/FL/FL19735282i1.jpg)
This might be off-topic, so I apologize, but I do like the way Maryland signs their highways with the shield and the name on the BGSes. I find that to be a nice bonus to already good signage.
Quote from: sandiaman on July 29, 2010, 05:52:46 PM
How about highways named after entertainers or celebrities? Presidential or political names do not count.
The most obvious first: Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis,TN
Andy Devine Ave in Kingman,AZ
Don Knotts Blvd in Morgantown, WV
Rex Allen Drive in Willcox, AZ
Garth Brooks Blvd in Yukon, OK
Lee Trevino Drive in El Paso,TX
Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert, CA
Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, CA
OTHERS ????????????
Sam Walton Blvd -- Bentonville, AR
John Q Hammons Blvd -- Springfield, MO
A couple come to mind in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan:
Knight St, no number. Vancouver.
Sea to Sky Highway, BC 99 north of Vancouver.
Upper Levels Highway, BC 1, 99. Metro Vancouver.
Coquihalla Highway, BC 5.
Yellowhead South, BC 5 north of Kamloops.
Okanagan Connector, BC 97C.
Okanagan Highway, BC 97.
Caribou Highway, BC 97.
John Hart Highway, BC 97.
Alaska Highway, BC 97, YT 1, AK 2/AK A1.
(Stewart-)Cassiar Highway/Deese Lake Highway, BC, YT 37.
Liard Highway, BC 77, NT 7.
Spirit River Highway, BC, AB 49.
Northern Woods and Water Route, BC 49, AB 49, 2, 55, SK 55, 9, MB (secondary) 283, 10, 5, 68. This may qualify for a named route changing numbers the most times (the TCH doesn't count).
Klondike Highway, AK 98, YT 2.
Haines Road, AK 7, YT 3.
Robert Campbell Highway, YT 4.
Dempster Highway, YT 5, NT 8.
Canol Road, YT 6, no number in NT.
Atlin Road, YT 7.
Tagish Road, YT 8.
Top of the World Highway, no number in AK, YT 9.
Nahanni Range Road, YT 10, no number in NT.
Silver Trail, YT 11.
Takhanni Hot Springs Road, YT 14.
Faro Road, YT 15.
Hay River Highway, NT 2.
Yellowknife Highway, NT 3.
Ingraham Trail, NT 4.
Fort Smith Highway, NT 5.
Fort Resolution Highway, NT 6.
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road, NT 8 Ice.
Inuvik-Aklavik Ice Road, no number.
Dettah Ice Road, no number.
Jean Marie River Connector, no number.
Nahanni Winter Road, no number.
Gameti Winter Road, no number.
Deline Winter Road, no number.
Wahti Winter Road, no number.
Coleville Winter Road, no number.
Contwoyto Ice Road, no number (arguably NT 4 Ice), only overland route to NU.
Crowchild Trail, portion of AB 1A. Calgary.
Stony Trail, entirety of AB 201. Calgary.
Whitemud Drive, portion of AB 2 and AB 14. Edmonton.
Deerfoot Trail/Queen Elizabeth II Highway, freeway portion of AB 2 from AB 3 to Edmonton.
Glenmore Trail, AB 8 (and a bit beyond). Calgary.
Scarcee Trail, no number. Calgary.
Macloed Trail, AB 2A (number may be decommed). Calgary.
Spruce Meadows Trail, AB 22X (future AB 201). Metro Calgary.
Shaganappi Trail, no number. Calgary.
Bedington Trail, no number. Calgary.
Memorial Drive, no number. Calgary.
Edmonton Trail, AB 2A (decommed?). Calgary. Not a freeway/expressway.
Crowsnest Highway, BC and AB 3. Even gets its own special shield.
Anthony Henday Drive, AB 216. Edmonton.
Stony Plain Drive, AB 16A. Edmonton.
Yellowhead Highway, BC, AB, SK and MB 16. TCH, duh.
Groat Road, no number. Edmonton.
Capilano Freeway (formerly Wayne Gretzky Drive), no number. Edmonton.
Sherwood Park Freeway, may have a secondary number (AB 6xx). Edmonton.
Terwilliger Drive, no number -- yet. Edmonton (looks like a freeway under construction ala Clark County 215).
St Albert Trail, AB 2 north of Edmonton.
Grizzly Trail, AB 33.
Mackenzie Highway, AB 35, NT 1, NT 1 Ice.
Circle Drive, no number, SK 16. Saskatoon.
Ring Road, SK 1, 6. Regina.
Louis Riel Trail, SK 11.
And the list is incomplete -- I can't remember what the Dinosaur Trail's number in AB is offhand ;)
I've the feeling most of these routes are known by their name and not their number.
Yes, around Washington D.C., both Maryland and Virginia have both name and route-shield on their signs, especially on the Capital Beltway and other highways in that vicinity.
Quote from: thenetwork on July 24, 2010, 11:35:14 PM
In the Cleveland Area, most freeways are referred by route number and most surface streets are referred by name.
Exceptions:
I-90 through downtown is referred to as The Innerbelt
I-90 between SR 2 and I-271 is referred to as The Euclid (/Wickliffe) Spur
I-90 between The Innerbelt and E. 140th St. is referred to as The East Shoreway
SR 2 between I-90 in Euclid and roughly SR 91/SR 640 in Eastlake is referred to as The Lakeland Freeway
SR 2 between The Innerbelt and Lake Avenue is referred to as The West Shoreway
And The Ohio Turnpike is referred to as The Turnpike
The majority of the aforementioned named freeways are known as their names due to the multiplexes on said freeways.
Don't forget "The Jennings" (OH 176 - Jennings Freeway)
Here in Angelo, everyone calls US 67 either Houston Harte (which is its name) or "the Loop". But after I emailed the people who BUILT it, they told me that Loop 306 starts/ends at Business 67 (Sherwood way) and then it continues South and goes around San Angelo, then interchanges with US 67 again on the North-East side. So it would be wrong to call Loop 306 Houston Harte Expressway. The main thing I was trying to say is, here people always call US 67 Houston Harte and a majority of them don't know what highway they're actually driving on.
And in San Antonio I-410 is signed on I-10 as 410 - Connally Loop:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_WYYeXvkUoUE%2FS-iX7SxC68I%2FAAAAAAAAFHg%2F6n6bT4KX_SI%2Fs800%2FSANY0797.JPG&hash=08d5495d11968e42155f2cc0a687340c41dcf219)
BigMatt
In Austin this weekend...Loop 1 is signed as "MoPac Boulevard" off of US 183, SH 71 is "Ben White Boulevard"...on the other hand, while 183 is signed for "Research Boulevard" off of Interstate 35, this seems to specifically refer to the surface frontage road and not the freeway.
Rarely used, but there is the Wilbur Mills Freeway in Little Rock (aka I-630)
There is the North Belt Freeway (AR 440) near Little Rock
Also John Paul Hammerschmidt Highway (I-540 from Alma to Bentonville, then US 71 to the AR-MO state line)
Quote from: sandiaman on July 29, 2010, 05:52:46 PM
How about highways named after entertainers or celebrities? Presidential or political names do not count.
The most obvious first: Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis,TN
Andy Devine Ave in Kingman,AZ
Don Knotts Blvd in Morgantown, WV
Rex Allen Drive in Willcox, AZ
Garth Brooks Blvd in Yukon, OK
Lee Trevino Drive in El Paso,TX
Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert, CA
Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, CA
OTHERS ????????????
There's a Bob Hope Drive in the Palm Springs area; it actually crosses Frank Sinatra Drive.
Quote from: hm insulators on August 03, 2010, 07:07:35 PM
There's a Bob Hope Drive in the Palm Springs area; it actually crosses Frank Sinatra Drive.
Also in that area: Monty Hall Drive. Must have been a heck of a deal to get that street named for him.
Isn't there a Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville, KY? I remember seeing something with "The Greatest's" namesake off of I-65 in Downtown Louisville.
Quote from: sandiaman on July 29, 2010, 05:52:46 PM
How about highways named after entertainers or celebrities? Presidential or political names do not count.
The most obvious first: Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis,TN
Andy Devine Ave in Kingman,AZ
Don Knotts Blvd in Morgantown, WV
Rex Allen Drive in Willcox, AZ
Garth Brooks Blvd in Yukon, OK
Lee Trevino Drive in El Paso,TX
Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert, CA
Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, CA
OTHERS ????????????
Guy Lombardo Avenue (was Nassau CR 88 when that system existed) runs through Freeport, NY
Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 23, 2010, 06:40:17 PM
Quote from: shadyjay on July 23, 2010, 06:35:43 PM
Similarly, in the Boston area, you'll hear traffic reporters and locals refer to the inner beltway as Route 128. MassHighway eliminated most 128 signage from I-95's BGSs (and altogether on the I-93 portion), but old habits die hard. (Route 128 is named the Yankee Division Highway).
They'll often just refer to it as "The Expressway"
US 12, (along with it's "friends" (US 18, 14, 151)) is referred to as "The Beltline" in Madison sometimes separated into "West Beltline and South Beltline
Milwaukee almost never refers to its freeways by name. It, however uses the names of the interchanges between freeways for reference points.
you'll get references to the Southeast Expressway (MA, not US 3 heading out of Boston) and until recently it was inevitable that the Central Artery (I-93) was clogged. Now it's the Big Dig that's backed up.
West Virginia:
Most every 4-lane road has a name (only half of them being named after you-know-who), generally a dead politician or after a particular war. No one ever uses any of them. If you asked somebody where the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway or the Cecil Underwood Expressway was, they would not know.
All interstates are simply "I-##" or "##", as I-64 or 64.
Despite almost no signage to encourage this (the only signage is on the mile markers) most Appalachian highways are called "Corridor *". Corridor G, L, D, H are always called this by locals, rather than US 119, 19, 50 or 33. The exception is US 460, which is called "four-sixty" and rarely "Corridor Q".
The WV Turnpike is always "the turnpike", never "I-64/77".
All other roads in the state are simply "Route #", never "US" or "WV" or whatever. The exception being US 52 in Wayne County. US 52 was moved about 8 miles west between Kenova and Crum in the mid-70s. The new road (which may someday be four-laned as a part of the I-73/73 foolishness) is signed as "US 52" but is always called "The Tolsia Highway", while the old road, now signed as "WV 152" is generally "Old 52" to locals.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 07, 2010, 09:08:04 AM
(only half of them being named after you-know-who)
no, I do not. Likely not Robert E. Lee, as WV was a union state - in fact, it specifically seceded from VA in 1862 so that it could join the union! Hm, famous West Virginians - so famous that half the place would be named after them? Mary Lou Retton, still alive. Chuck Yeager, still alive but so awesome that I wouldn't object if they renamed the entire country to Yeagerland...
I think you haven't given that train of thought a Byrd bath...
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2010, 09:14:04 AM
^^^
And of course Orlando is probably the only place other than Southern California where people often refer to freeways with "the", as in "the 408". This only applies to the toll roads. I-4 is, as you stated, always I-4.
And people here in Brevard still often call 528 "The Beeline".
"The 401," for example, is apparently normal usage in Ontario, and I've heard "the" in front of numbers on traffic reports in the Buffalo area (the two times in my life I was there....) Canadian influence in Buffalo?
Hearing a TV character who's supposedly spent her entire life in Connecticut say "the 95" used to make me want to throw things at the TV.
Quote from: SignBridge on July 29, 2010, 04:16:08 PM
Standard practice in New York State is to use only the route number on most signs, as per the Manual. However there is an exception in the five-boroughs of New York City. Most BGS's there have both the route shield and route name on the top line of the sign (as was also seen in Los Angeles). This deal between NYC and NYSDOT has been for over 40 years, since the 1960's.
Interesting history there. Prior to the BGS era that began circa 1960, all signing in NYC was by road name only. With the coming of the 1964 Worlds Fair, there was a major rebuilding of highways in Queens including upgrading of existing ones to Interstate status. When the new signing went up with numbers only there was a serious revolt in the NYC media. New Yorkers just couldn't accept the infamous Long Island Expwy. being signed as only "495" or the Brooklyn-Queens Expwy. as just "278". So after several years of controversy NYSDOT finally agreed to post both number and name in NYC only, (not on Long Island). A major resigning project was done circa 1972 and the practice continues in the present era.
And I might add, New Yorkers continue to refer to these roads as the "L.I.E." and the "B.Q.E."
I didn't know that history. It may also be a factor that lots of New York area expressways have been through a couple of number changes, including a major overhaul of Interstate numbering in about 1973 - did you know that I-78 used to end in the Bronx, after a swing down by Kennedy? Which brings to mind that Rand McNally maps of the right vintage show a distinction between signed and unsigned Interstates - black-and-white markers for the former, red-and-white for the latter. I forget exactly how the legend defined "unsigned" - "markers not erected," maybe - but you'd see the red markers on some roads that had been in place for decades, not just on unbuilt segments.
You are correct on both issues Michael. In the 1960's I-78 included the Clearview Expwy. which led to the Throgs Neck Bridge to the Bronx. It was supposed to be extended south to JFK Airport, but that was never built. During the big resigning project of the early 1970's, the Clearview Expwy. was changed to I-295.
And I do remember those maps you mentioned indicating theoretical Interstates with "markers not erected". They showed the New Jersey Tpk. like that, as I-95, with no markers. And so it goes...........
anyone got a picture of a New York state-named I-78?
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 07, 2010, 10:27:36 AM
I think you haven't given that train of thought a Byrd bath...
he's been dead for a month. these things take time.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 08, 2010, 12:46:17 AM
he's been dead for a month. these things take time.
Heh. The entire APD system in the state is signed for him as well as at least one of the APD routes itself and numerous other roads/public works. And that's while he was still alive and functioning. No need to name anything after him after his death since so much was named for him while he was alive.
And speaking of him, I was totally stunned at the governor's choice of an unknown to succeed him in the Senate. I would have bet both my houses on Congressman Rahall being named to that seat, since he was basically Byrd's adopted son. What was Manchin thinking? That he wants to run for the seat himself and didn't want a strong incumbent already in it?
Manchin tried to claim that the law said a special election did not have to be held until the 2012 general election (when both his and Byrd's term expire anyway), but was rebuffed by the courts, and thus named an unknown to the seat until this November's election. The placeholder's father is a longtime political hack who is now a federal judge and is elligiable for retirement in 2011, and the placeholder will be appointed to that slot.
The next big mess is when, and its probably a when, not an if, Manchin get the Senate seat this November. WV does not have a Lt. Gov., and the state Constitution is quite confusing on how long the President of the State Senate (a part time job, more or less just the majority leader of the part-time legislature) gets to "act" as governor.
Anyway, working from memory, I am certian I am missing many:
Highways:
Entire Appalachian Corridor System - RCB Appalachian Highway System
Corridor H - RCB Expressway
Corridor G - RCB Freeway
US 22 - RCB Highway
"New" 5th St. Bridge in Huntington - RCB Bridge
South Valley Drive in Beckley - RCB Drive
Schools:
Consolidated HS in Harrison County - RCB High
Main building at Marshall U Medical School - RCB Center for Rural Health
WVU Med School - RCB School of Medicine
Main Building at WV School of Osteopathic Medicine - RCB Health Center
Building at MU Graduate College in South Charleston - RCB Hall
MU Program to fund transfer of DoD research to private sector - RCB Institute
Lumber Research at Concord U - RCB Wood Technology Program
Pharmacy program at U of Charleston (a private school) - RCB School of Pharmacy
Consolidated Off-Campus instruction center in Beckley - Erma (wife) Byrd Center
Others:
RCB Federal Courthouse, Charleston
RCB Federal Courthouse, Beckley
RCB Lock & Dam, Ohio River near Pt. Pleasant
RCB Lodge at Ogalby Park (Wheeling's city park)
Byrd had no sons and a very contensious relationship with his daughters, only one of which (a Muslim convert) attended his funeral. I'm no psychologist, but the source of this weird narcisism is probably in that fact somewhere.
no, I do not. Likely not Robert E. Lee, as WV was a union state - in fact, it specifically seceded from VA in 1862 so that it could join the union!
[/quote]
Actually, there had been attempts long before the civil war to establish a new state in the area - Google "Vandalia Colony" or "Westsylvania" to learn of two efforts. The civil war gave them the opportunity to finally get it on June 20, 1863, facilitated by the "Restored Government of Virginia" made up of northwest Virginians recognized by Lincoln's government.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 08, 2010, 07:47:34 AM
Byrd had no sons and a very contensious relationship with his daughters, only one of which (a Muslim convert) attended his funeral. I'm no psychologist, but the source of this weird narcisism is probably in that fact somewhere.
Thought I read during the coverage of his death and funeral that he had a son who died in a car wreck, and the death of that son is what caused him to disassociate himself from racial prejudice and brought him to support the same Civil Rights Act which he had opposed.
News to me. Without getting more political than this forum deserves, Byrd's views on civil rights never changed, IMHO. The media wanted despiratly to come up with some "Damascus Road" story relative to him and his past, but it just was not there.
Anyway, again working from memory, things not named for RCB:
I-64, KY to Charleston - Cecil Underwood Expressway (Underwood was governor, 1956-60 and again 1996-2000, the state's youngest and oldest governor)
I-64, Beckley to Virginia - Hullett Smith Highway (Smith was governor, 1964-68)
I-68 - Vietnam Veterans Highway
I-70 - National Freeway
I-470 - USS West Virginia Highway (the USS WV was sunk at Pearl Harbor)
I-77, Ohio to Charleston - Korean Veterans Highway
I-77, Princeton to Virginia - Hugh Ike Schott Highway (Schott was a sometime politician and local media mogul)
I-79, Jennings Randolph Highway (Randolph was the other Senator, 1950-early 80s, and father of St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jay Randolph)
Corridor L - Mountaineer Expressway
that is horrific that so many things were named after him. how many things are named after Chuck Yeager, who has the following things going for him?
1) not a Klansman
2) not a politician
3) exceeded speed of sound in level flight before any other human
4) oh yeah not a Klansman OR a politician
I think the honor of Most Awesome West Virginian, After Whom We Name Everything and the Cross Streets, has been severely misapplied.
Getting pulled over for speeding on the Chuck Yeager Highway would seem just so wrong.
Quote from: kurumi on August 09, 2010, 11:42:30 AM
Getting pulled over for speeding on the Chuck Yeager Highway would seem just so wrong.
Wouldn't the minimum speed there have to be Mach 1.0?
Nah... mach's not a usable measurement! :P
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg695%2F2362%2Fyeagerhwy.png&hash=8b5045433d51cadb31192b8f3253404cbb2f856f)
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 09, 2010, 01:42:33 PM
Nah... mach's not a usable measurement! :P
Wouldn't the route be more appropriately named the "Chuck Yeager Speedway"? :D
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 09, 2010, 10:43:38 AM
how many things are named after Chuck Yeager, who has the following things going for him?
Actually three, that I can think of.
- Charleston's airport, CRW
- the northern most bridge on the WV Turnpike
- the honors scholarship program at Marshall University (The Society of Yeager Scholars)
If you read Yeager's first autobiography, he seriously considered (he is a very conservative Republican) moving back to WV and running for Senate, but did not think he could win and thought that having not lived in the state since he was 17 would be used against him.