Highway number vs. local name

[Michael in Philly]

For the Chicago area it really depends.

I listen to WGN traffic reports every morning and the only Interstate numbers I hear are 80, 80/94, 57, 355, and 55. They recently (past 2-3 years) switched from saying "the Stevenson" to "55", but I have no idea why.

I sometimes pick up WBBM at night and they seem to consistently use both:  it's "the Stevenson" in Cook County (or east of "the Tristate") and "55" elsewhere.

[Brandon]

For the Chicago area it really depends.

I listen to WGN traffic reports every morning and the only Interstate numbers I hear are 80, 80/94, 57, 355, and 55. They recently (past 2-3 years) switched from saying "the Stevenson" to "55", but I have no idea why.

I sometimes pick up WBBM at night and they seem to consistently use both:  it's "the Stevenson" in Cook County (or east of "the Tristate") and "55" elsewhere.

That's in part because the Stevenson Expy is only from Joliet Rd (Exit 276 C) to LSD.  It was built after the part from Gardner to Exit 276 C.

[BigOkie]

OK 51 in Tulsa, the Broken Arrow Expressway, is almost universally referred to locally as "The BA."  It is rarely if ever referred to as OK 51 (or US 64 over the western section.)

Once it makes it past Broken Arrow though, most people do call it 51, but by that point it's a no longer a limited-access highway, for the most part.  Most people around Tulsa associate the BA with connecting to the Muskogee Turnpike.

Oh, first post by the way.  I tried registering earlier and realized I evidently registered before.  Age is catching up to me evidently.

[pianocello]

For the Chicago area it really depends.

I listen to WGN traffic reports every morning and the only Interstate numbers I hear are 80, 80/94, 57, 355, and 55. They recently (past 2-3 years) switched from saying "the Stevenson" to "55", but I have no idea why.

I sometimes pick up WBBM at night and they seem to consistently use both:  it's "the Stevenson" in Cook County (or east of "the Tristate") and "55" elsewhere.

That's in part because the Stevenson Expy is only from Joliet Rd (Exit 276 C) to LSD.  It was built after the part from Gardner to Exit 276 C.

Yeah, I was able to figure that out a few days after I posted. I also recently heard "294" instead of "Tri-State" so I guess it depends on the reporter.

[corco]

In Phoenix I've noticed the only highway people refer to by name  is US-60- which is either called "The 60" or "The Superstition"

I was listening to 100.7 KSLX traffic reports the other day though, and they were calling I-10 the "I-10 Papago" and the "I-10 Maricopa," I guess to distinguish which part of town they were talking about. In normal practice though I don't know anyone who calls the highways by name except the 60.

[Brandon]

For the Chicago area it really depends.

I listen to WGN traffic reports every morning and the only Interstate numbers I hear are 80, 80/94, 57, 355, and 55. They recently (past 2-3 years) switched from saying "the Stevenson" to "55", but I have no idea why.

I sometimes pick up WBBM at night and they seem to consistently use both:  it's "the Stevenson" in Cook County (or east of "the Tristate") and "55" elsewhere.

That's in part because the Stevenson Expy is only from Joliet Rd (Exit 276 C) to LSD.  It was built after the part from Gardner to Exit 276 C.

Yeah, I was able to figure that out a few days after I posted. I also recently heard "294" instead of "Tri-State" so I guess it depends on the reporter.

For the most part (except Lake County), I-294 is the Tri-State.  Effectively, they mean and are the same thing.

[SidS1045]

the Massachusetts Turnpike is very rarely called I-90.  It is, instead, referred to as "the Pike".

...but more often "MassPike."  The old Turnpike Authority eventually gave in to this usage, even posting it on some signs and toll plazas.  I understand that MassDOT now wants the Turnpike name gone at some point.

Around Boston, the stretch of I-93 north of town is referred to as "93."  South of town, between the O'Neill Tunnel (a.k.a. "The Big Dig") and the "Braintree Split" (junction of I-93/US-1 and MA-3), I-93 is referred to as the Southeast Expressway.  The stretch of the Circumferential Highway (a term never used except possibly by us here) between the I-93/I-95 junction in Canton and the "Braintree Split" is still referred to as "128," even though that desgination was removed over ten years ago and "Begin 128"/"End 128" signs were posted at the I-93/I-95 junction.  The portion of MA-128 which is concurrent with I-95 between Canton and Peabody is still always referred to as "128."  I think if MassDOT tried to retire the "128" name they'd have a revolt on their hands, and not just for historical reasons (it was, after all, America's first beltway).  Something more along the lines of "I-95 exists elsewhere; 128 is all ours."

[D-Dey65]

New York State Route 112 is also named Port Jefferson-Patchogue Highway, but everybody, including the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department calls it "Route 112." Only a few street-name signs refer to it as "Port Jefferson-Patchogue Highway." The ones north of NY 347 call it "Patchogue Road," and the ones south of the Village of Patchogue Line call it "Medford Avenue." Between "Old" Medford Avenue and the Patchogue Village line, I've seen both "Medford Avenue" and "Route 112" used. Too bad I can't seem to convince the Wikipedia administrators of this, and I know some of them are here now.


South Florida isn't the only part of the state to use hidden State Road numbers as street names. Groveland uses "SR 55" for US 19-98, and I think I've seen "SR 500" for Alternate US 27.

[agentsteel53]

the Massachusetts Turnpike is very rarely called I-90.  It is, instead, referred to as "the Pike".

...but more often "MassPike."  The old Turnpike Authority eventually gave in to this usage, even posting it on some signs and toll plazas.  I understand that MassDOT now wants the Turnpike name gone at some point.

for some reason I seem to remember "the Pike" more than "MassPike" or "the MassPike". 

"take exit 16 off the Pike..." or something similar.  but maybe I'm misremembering!

[CL]

Let's see. Salt Lake has two freeways that are called by their names: Legacy Parkway and I-215 (which is sometimes called the belt route along with its numerical designation). Actually, make that three. SR-201 is sometimes called the 21st South Freeway, but that was never formally a name for that freeway. "201" is becoming more common nowadays in any event.

[DBrim]

I've heard "The Pike" more often than "Mass Pike". 

[Ian]

For what it's worth, my grandparents who live in Wellesley always refer to it as "Mass Pike." Probably because that's what's seen on the signs.

[newyorker478]

Freeways in Milwaukee are referred to by number, but US/State routes are referred to by street names.

It's the same way in New York (city). Everyone uses names, not numbers. Also true in southwestern Connecticut of state highways (usually), but we refer to Interstate highways and some US highways by number (US 7 is exclusively "route 7", US 1 is either "route 1" or "the post road", but US 6 and US 202 never have their numbers spoken in Fairfield County).

Don't forget the expressways and parkways (their terms for freeways with some exceptions in the parkways  which for here are obvious as no route number is assigned).  Not only do they have names, they ave acronyms - actually abbreviations for freeway names (Brooklyn Queens Expressway = BQE, Cross Bronx Expressway = CBE, Franklyn D Roosevelt Drive = FDR, etc. (I don't believe all expressways are that way, any New Yorker chime in).

Chicago refers to expressways (their term for the freeways) by name where applicable.  notable exceptions are I-57 and I-80.  Also I-55 is mentioned.  I think they take the Stephenson as from the Tri-State into Downtown, but I'm not sure.

Several cities often look at endpoints as names - especially interchanges
Milwaukee: Marquette, Zoo, Stadium, Mitchell, Hale
Chicago, The Junction (on the Kennedy), The Circle
Boston: The split (I-93 and MA route 3) - someone confirm)

Never ever heard CBE. Also, forgot LIE which is used almost exclusively. Many expwys/pkwys, including Deegan, West Side/Henry Hudson and most of the Westchester/LI parkways do not have abreviations. No roads in Nj do besides the Garden State [i think NJT, or NJTPK, or TP or TPK sounds plain wrong. Turnpike works fine]

[Mike_OH]

In Cincinnati, we have OH 562 is known as Norwood Lateral, I-71 through downtown is Fort Washington Way, there's also Ronald Reagan Highway which is OH 126 with the exception of one mile stretch on the west end of the freeway which is not numbered.  A tourist would get confused listening to the traffic reports.

[vtk]

In Cincinnati, we have OH 562 is known as Norwood Lateral, I-71 through downtown is Fort Washington Way, there's also Ronald Reagan Highway which is OH 126 with the exception of one mile stretch on the west end of the freeway which is not numbered.  A tourist would get confused listening to the traffic reports.

I only visit Cincinnati on occasion and somehow I knew all those. 

[roadman65]

Most roads in Orlando, FL and its surrounding area are called by names rather than number.  For some reason FL 436 is the only exception here other than I-4 (no name) and FL 408.  People will not call FL 436 by its local name that is Semoran Boulevard or Altamonte Drive in Altomonte Springs.  Its the total opposite here, but that may have to do with the fact Altamonte Springs does not use the Semoran name.  It changes from Semoran Boulevard to Altamonte Drive and back to Semoran Boulevard.

The FL 408 used to be called by its name years ago before the shields with numbers were installed.  Now FL 408 is called that, but other toll roads and freeways with names are called by name.  Even the Southern Connector part of FL 417 is called the Central Florida Greeneway or Greeneway by many as well as the Seminole Parkway part of the eastern Orlando Beltway.

[sp_redelectric]

US 30: The only Portland freeway without a name, it'd be an extension of NW Yeon Ave.

I remember when it was first built it was often referred to as "the I-405 Extension", even though it really didn't extend I-405 as it was a spur.  So it makes sense that the phrase stopped being used.  I believe it is officially the "Lower Columbia River Highway" (to distinguish it from I-84, "(THE) Columbia River Highway".  And nobody would use that name.

OR 8: Gales Creek Rd, Tualatin Valley Hwy, Canyon Rd. Known as all three.

East of Forest Grove to Beaverton, "T.V. Highway" (abbreviate "Tualatin Valley").  Forest Grove west to 6, it's "Gales Creek Road" (since it was never an ODOT maintained highway, it is I believe the only example of a state highway number being given to a county road, rather than a state highway number not being removed when the state highway was turned over to county jurisdiction.)  In Beaverton and east to U.S. 26 it's "Canyon Road".

I haven't paid attention to how the 212/224 are called.

Clackamas Highway (which continues on Oregon 224 to the end of the highway in the middle of the Mt. Hood National Forest).  Again, not commonly used, the traffic reporters will just say "Two-Twelve-Two-Twenty-Four".  Even though saying "Clackamas Highway" is a syllable shorter (and three shorter if you say add "Highway" and say "Highway Two-Twelve-Two-Twenty-Four".)

[tdindy88]

A follow up on my post on the first page of this topic, in Indianapolis the interstates are always refered to by number, which isn't a huge surprise to people. 465 recently got named the USS Indianapolis Memorial Highway, but with most memorial highways (such as I-69 Korean War Veterans and I-65 Babyface, not a memorial but still named) those names aren't mentioned. Although, when it comes to junctions, the north and south interchanges of I-65 and I-70 are refered to as the North and South Splits and the part inbetween is occasionally refered to as the Innerbelt or Spaggetti Bowl.

[geoffNOLA]

US 90 BUS (LA)-Westbank Expy

[bugo]

The University of Southern Mississippi has the same problem-they don't like being called "Southern Miss" because they don't like being compared with the University of Mississippi, which is often called "Ole Miss".

Then why do their football helmets say "Southern Miss" on them?

[bugo]

OK 51 in Tulsa, the Broken Arrow Expressway, is almost universally referred to locally as "The BA."  It is rarely if ever referred to as OK 51 (or US 64 over the western section.)

Once it makes it past Broken Arrow though, most people do call it 51, but by that point it's a no longer a limited-access highway, for the most part.  Most people around Tulsa associate the BA with connecting to the Muskogee Turnpike.

Yes, because the BA ends at the beginning of the Muskogee Turnpike.  OK 51 exits off the mainline at the Coweta exit.

I also remembered that sometimes the downtown loop (I-244/444) is sometimes known as the "IDL" (Inner Dispersal Loop, a catchy name if I've ever heard one.)

[kphoger]

In Wichita, everybody refers to I-135 as 'The Canal Route' or 'I-35'.
I-35, on the other hand, is almost never called 'I-35', but 'The Turnpike' instead.

I about blow up when someone gives an out-of-towner directions and says 'I-35' when he means 'I-135'.  My boss insists it's just a matter of local preference, equating it to pronouncing Arkansas Street /ar-KAN-sas/ instead of /AR-kan-SAW/.  I reply that we might as well call it Kellogg Avenue.

[The High Plains Traveler]

In the Twin Cities our freeways do not have names, so they are always referred to by number (except maybe the Crosstown...).

For the highways which run along local streets, it's more of a mixed bag. I've never heard anyone call Snelling Ave "Highway 51". I would say it's about 50/50 between "Arcade St" and "Hwy 61". You're much more likely to hear "Hwy 55" than "Olson Memorial Highway", but you're also more likely to hear "Hiawatha Ave" than "Hwy 55".

In the Twin Cities most freeways are referred to only by number. "The Crosstown", which was the official posted name for then-Hennepin County 62, now MN-62, until the state took it over still sticks even though it hasn't been posted anywhere for years. Another remnant name is "Cedar Avenue" for MN-77. This was a little unusual in that the state upgraded a road to a freeway on a slightly altered alignment and kept the name for the new freeway. The old road was renamed (Old Cedar north of the Minnesota River, Nicols Road south). Over time, with re-signing projects the Cedar Avenue designation began to disappear but it's still known as that colloquially.

Denver only has two freeways I'm aware of that have historic names: I-25 south of downtown, when it was constructed as U.S. 87, was the Valley Highway. I've not heard it called that. The U.S. 6 freeway west of I-25 is also 6th Avenue (coincidence) and most people refer to it as "6th".  I call it the "6th Avenue Freeway" or just "6", which immediately labels me as from out of town. OK, maybe three freeways because the Boulder Turnpike, which ceased to be a toll road by about 1968, is just marked as U.S. 36. But it's "the Turnpike" on the radio traffic reports.

[J N Winkler]

In Wichita, everybody refers to I-135 as 'The Canal Route' or 'I-35'.  I-35, on the other hand, is almost never called 'I-35', but 'The Turnpike' instead.

I wonder if the confusion between I-135 and "I-35" has to do with the fact that I-135 was originally I-35W.  There are also many Wichitans (particularly of an older generation) who still think of the "logical" way to Kansas City as lying entirely on the Turnpike, notwithstanding the fact that one can exit the Turnpike onto free I-35 at Emporia and more than halve the toll while enjoying a higher standard of geometric design (wider median, shallower curves, etc.).

I about blow up when someone gives an out-of-towner directions and says 'I-35' when he means 'I-135'.  My boss insists it's just a matter of local preference, equating it to pronouncing Arkansas Street /ar-KAN-sas/ instead of /AR-kan-SAW/.  I reply that we might as well call it Kellogg Avenue.

I have friends who have gotten lost and had to have themselves led in by phone even after they were given the correct directions, so I have gotten very philosophical about it all.  Some people struggle, for example, with the idea that if you are coming from Topeka and aiming for west Wichita, it is easier and faster to exit the Turnpike onto K-254 at El Dorado instead of one of the "Wichita" exits (K-96, US 54-400, K-15, I-135).

[kphoger]

I've wondered that about I-35W as well, , , but how many years has that been now?  They've gotten over calling the highway to Fredonia K-96, and that was more recent.

I take a variety of routes to/through Kansas City depending on time of day.  Usually, I'm going straight through to Minnesota, but sometimes I stop in to see friends in Olathe.

My routes through Kansas City:

I-135 to Newton; US-50 to Emporia; I-35 all the way through downtown and out the north end.

I-135 to Newton; US-50 to Emporia; I-35 to Johnson County; I-635 & I-29 to the north side; I-35 out the north end.

I-135 to Newton; US-50 to Emporia; I-35 to Johnson County; I-435 around the east side; I-35 out the north end.

Turnpike all the way to the west side; I-435 & MO-152 around the northwest side; I-35 out the north end.

I-35 all the way to Johnson County; I-435 OR I-635 and see above.

I've even completely bypassed K.C. by using US-169 & KS-4 from Des Moines through St Joe (never again).
Once I avoided rush hour going south by using MO-152 west, I-435 south around the west side, then I-35 south, and hardly ever dropped below 80 mph.

I usually do one route up and another back, as the time of day is different and traffic flow patterns are different.

Two things REALLY amaze me:  people who think going through Salina to K.C. saves money over paying a toll on 35, and people who have lived here their whole lives and don't know what highway even going to K.C.

In Wichita, everybody refers to I-135 as 'The Canal Route' or 'I-35'.  I-35, on the other hand, is almost never called 'I-35', but 'The Turnpike' instead.

I wonder if the confusion between I-135 and "I-35" has to do with the fact that I-135 was originally I-35W.  There are also many Wichitans (particularly of an older generation) who still think of the "logical" way to Kansas City as lying entirely on the Turnpike, notwithstanding the fact that one can exit the Turnpike onto free I-35 at Emporia and more than halve the toll while enjoying a higher standard of geometric design (wider median, shallower curves, etc.).

I about blow up when someone gives an out-of-towner directions and says 'I-35' when he means 'I-135'.  My boss insists it's just a matter of local preference, equating it to pronouncing Arkansas Street /ar-KAN-sas/ instead of /AR-kan-SAW/.  I reply that we might as well call it Kellogg Avenue.

I have friends who have gotten lost and had to have themselves led in by phone even after they were given the correct directions, so I have gotten very philosophical about it all.  Some people struggle, for example, with the idea that if you are coming from Topeka and aiming for west Wichita, it is easier and faster to exit the Turnpike onto K-254 at El Dorado instead of one of the "Wichita" exits (K-96, US 54-400, K-15, I-135).