State Route Oddities

[agentsteel53]

That sure didn't last long because I have a 1935 map that shows it as U.S. 395. It would be consistent with CA-7 originally following what became U.S. 6 in 1936 or so and U.S. 395, all the way to Oregon. Makes sense that some original designation was assigned to that route in 1934, kinda like the CA-44 designation originally applied to U.S. 299 by 1935. Lots of changes in that year.

yes, 1935 is when US-395 was in place.  So a CSAA (norcal) bear 7 is a rarity, as is a bear 95.  bear 195 is easier to find, not just because of the fact that the original lasted for about 4 years, but because they reused the number for the old US-60/70 when that was realigned away from Box Canyon in 1947.

The extension of U.S. 95 south of Quartzite in Arizona didn't come about until the 1960s - I'll have to look at some old maps to narrow that range down some. From Quartzite south through Yuma it was AZ-95 till then, and U.S. 95 terminated at Blythe.

you're right.  1961, I believe.  forgot about that.  there are no old-spec Arizona US-95 shields, alas.

[Mapmikey]

In July 2011 North Carolina designated future I-295 as NC 295 on paper though it was not posted as such when I drove it in October.

http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/traffic/safety/Programs/routes.html

Mapmikey
NC Highways Annex
http://www.vahighways.com/ncannex/route-log/index.html

[xonhulu]

While US 126 still existed, its western terminus was Eugene.  When the highway from the coast was improved in the 60's, it received the OR 126 designation.  However, I don't think ODOT ever intended to extend the US 126 designation over the new road; it ended up going the other way when US 126 was decommissioned in 1972 and replaced with OR 126.  However, between 1965 and 1972 both US 126 and OR 126 simultaneously existed in Oregon.

[txstateends]

Next time I'm near Durand, Illinois (God only knows when that will be), I will have to take a clear picture of the END sign of Illinois Route 70.  The sign isn't where maps say the route ends and even Wikipedia mentions that IL-70 ends at the intersection with IL-75.  However, the END sign is about 1-mile beyond IL-75 in the village center (corner of Center St & Oak St).

You can actually see it here on StreetView.  The END IL-70 sign is right in front of the blue car at the car dealership lot:  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Durand,+IL&hl=en&ll=42.435537,-89.330907&spn=0.002284,0.003449&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.052282,56.513672&vpsrc=6&hnear=Durand,+Winnebago,+Illinois&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.435432,-89.331925&panoid=W3Hm8uAlTxEThWJvYjN25w&cbp=12,4.49,,0,2.55

An interesting OT in this Street View:  All the parking lot lights at the car dealer, both sides of the street, have not only lamps aimed at their lots, but other lamps aimed at the street.  I've never seen a business deliberately shine light on a street or highway before.

[hbelkins]

An interesting OT in this Street View:  All the parking lot lights at the car dealer, both sides of the street, have not only lamps aimed at their lots, but other lamps aimed at the street.  I've never seen a business deliberately shine light on a street or highway before.

Two thoughts. They might either have some sort of agreement with the city to provide street lighting there in exchange for a monetary concession somewhere else, or they consider it a worthwhile investment to cut down on the possibility of vandalism.

[vtk]

I know car dealerships often provide indirect but ample street lighting, probably to deter vandalism.  Local to me, there is a pharmacy which, between its interior lighting and outdoor signage, provides plenty of indirect light to the adjacent streets.  So much so, when the pharmacy is closed, the intersection is jarringly dark.

Edit: one of the roads there has been reconstructed, and now features streetlights.

[Scott5114]

I seem to recall reading that I-540 was preceded by an AR-540, in much the same way as how a segment of future I-49 in southwest Arkansas is carrying the AR-549 designation for now.

[US71]

I seem to recall reading that I-540 was preceded by an AR-540, in much the same way as how a segment of future I-49 in southwest Arkansas is carrying the AR-549 designation for now.

Yes. The original AR 540 was along the Ft Smith segment in the early 1970's (AHTD has a photo somewhere). It was later resurrected along the north leg of 540 from I-40 to US 71 at Mountainburg.

[texaskdog]

Part of Texas 87 was wiped out in the hurricane and has not been fixed.  That was the 1980 hurricane.  So the eastern part and western parts dont connect, yet if youre heading eastbound on the western segment, it turns north and changes numbers.

El Paso has the short segments of US-62 (meaningless duplex with US-180 for hundreds of miles) and US-85 (unsigned thru CO & NM)

and some maps still say "temporary gap". 

[mcdonaat]

How about, in Louisiana, the fact that we have whole and half highways? We have LA 337 AND LA 337-1. We also have LA 840-1, 840-6... LA 840-3 has been deleted, but thats still three highways missing. Used to have LA 99 1/2 too. LA 490 and LA 490 Spur never meet each other. It's a weird system...

[vtk]

In Waldo, Ohio, state routes 47, 98, and 423 terminate at the same point. That might not be odd, but none of the routes overlap. I don't think this is a common situation.

[agentsteel53]

How about, in Louisiana, the fact that we have whole and half highways? We have LA 337 AND LA 337-1. We also have LA 840-1, 840-6... LA 840-3 has been deleted, but thats still three highways missing. Used to have LA 99 1/2 too. LA 490 and LA 490 Spur never meet each other. It's a weird system...

West Virginia seems to do something similar.

I'd love to see a photo of a 99 1/2 shield.

[mcdonaat]

How about, in Louisiana, the fact that we have whole and half highways? We have LA 337 AND LA 337-1. We also have LA 840-1, 840-6... LA 840-3 has been deleted, but thats still three highways missing. Used to have LA 99 1/2 too. LA 490 and LA 490 Spur never meet each other. It's a weird system...

West Virginia seems to do something similar.

I'd love to see a photo of a 99 1/2 shield.

Tried my hardest to get one, but can't find one ANYWHERE!! I'm finally in Baton Rouge for the summer, so I can bug the mess out of the DOTD to get access to photo archives. I have a map that I can scan, and it shows the 99 1/2. Strangely enough, though, LDH maps from 1954 (the year that the numbers were changed) show that 99 1/2 was deleted and renumbered to State Route 2203.

I just think it's funny to see all of these states with only 200 or so state-maintained routes, yet Louisiana has too many to count. The roads that are subject to turnback by the DOTD are in terrible condition, so maybe that's why...

[hbelkins]

How about, in Louisiana, the fact that we have whole and half highways? We have LA 337 AND LA 337-1. We also have LA 840-1, 840-6... LA 840-3 has been deleted, but thats still three highways missing. Used to have LA 99 1/2 too. LA 490 and LA 490 Spur never meet each other. It's a weird system...

West Virginia seems to do something similar.

I'd love to see a photo of a 99 1/2 shield.

Not quite. I have never seen anything like that in WV. You must be referring to the "fractional" county routes, where the denominator indicates a branch off a main route.

You may have routes that branch off a US, state or main county route that are signed like "340/1", "10/22" or "1/1".

[agentsteel53]

you mean in Louisiana, 337-1 is not a spur of 337?  I had always thought that that was the case, like how WV does it.

[agentsteel53]

Tried my hardest to get one, but can't find one ANYWHERE!! I'm finally in Baton Rouge for the summer, so I can bug the mess out of the DOTD to get access to photo archives.

please do.  I'd love to see any and all shield photos, regardless of number.

[mcdonaat]

Tried my hardest to get one, but can't find one ANYWHERE!! I'm finally in Baton Rouge for the summer, so I can bug the mess out of the DOTD to get access to photo archives.

please do.  I'd love to see any and all shield photos, regardless of number.

Sure will!

337-1 isn't a spur of 337, because we also have LA 415 and LA 415 SPUR. My only guess is that 337 used to be 337-2, but the -2 was dropped in favor of just 337. The 840-2, -4, and -5 are still a mystery to me, though.

[texaskdog]

Tried my hardest to get one, but can't find one ANYWHERE!! I'm finally in Baton Rouge for the summer, so I can bug the mess out of the DOTD to get access to photo archives.

please do.  I'd love to see any and all shield photos, regardless of number.

Sure will!

337-1 isn't a spur of 337, because we also have LA 415 and LA 415 SPUR. My only guess is that 337 used to be 337-2, but the -2 was dropped in favor of just 337. The 840-2, -4, and -5 are still a mystery to me, though.

and from your avatar, they dont fear 4 digit routes...and its not like LA is that big of a state!

[agentsteel53]

and from your avatar, they dont fear 4 digit routes...and its not like LA is that big of a state!

Louisiana seems to go up to the three thousands.  do they have 3000+ distinct state routes?  if not, what is the rationale behind which numbers get used?

I know Shreveport has an important bypass (freeway, even?) which is a 3xxx so it's not like the high numbers are for lower-classification routes.

[mcdonaat]

and from your avatar, they dont fear 4 digit routes...and its not like LA is that big of a state!

Louisiana seems to go up to the three thousands.  do they have 3000+ distinct state routes?  if not, what is the rationale behind which numbers get used?

I know Shreveport has an important bypass (freeway, even?) which is a 3xxx so it's not like the high numbers are for lower-classification routes.

From driving around, the 1955 renumbering made the state better. However, it left a confusing mess of numbers that even I cannot understand. There are no 2xx routes, and no 2xxx routes. I have no clue why at all, though. We also have the XXX-X routes, most of which are roads that should be city roads. Some, like 1208-3 (connects LA 488 to US 165/167/71, and then US 165 BUS/LA 1) are important, but others, like 798-3, connect a state road to a city street. Louisiana has confused me to death, but I've just learned to grow with it (LA 3285 is 0.8 miles long, LA 1 is 436 miles long, but LA 1242 is 0.2 miles long, while LA 3132 is 10 miles long).

We don't fear 4-digit state routes... we embrace some 6-digit routes too (LA 1208-3 being an example over in the shield gallery).

[NE2]

The size-of-number-not-corresponding-to-importance issue also applies to some extent in Kentucky, though they seem to find low numbers for the most important routes (e.g. KY 4). For example, the bypass for KY 94 around Hickman is KY 1099, KY 1934 is a major partially access-controlled route in southwestern Louisville, and KY 3005 is a bypass of Elizabethtown.

[mcdonaat]

Same thing here, but only the east-west routes. LA 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are all super important, but LA 1 is a major road, LA 3 is about 90 miles long and twisty, LA 5 is about ten miles long, LA 7 doesn't exist anymore, and LA 9 is a rural route

[NE2]

Same thing here, but only the east-west routes. LA 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are all super important, but LA 1 is a major road, LA 3 is about 90 miles long and twisty, LA 5 is about ten miles long, LA 7 doesn't exist anymore, and LA 9 is a rural route

There seems to be a rough grid in Louisiana, much like Kentucky. I'm talking about newer roads (KY 4 is a loop around Lexington, much like LA 3132).

[mcdonaat]

Same thing here, but only the east-west routes. LA 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are all super important, but LA 1 is a major road, LA 3 is about 90 miles long and twisty, LA 5 is about ten miles long, LA 7 doesn't exist anymore, and LA 9 is a rural route

There seems to be a rough grid in Louisiana, much like Kentucky. I'm talking about newer roads (KY 4 is a loop around Lexington, much like LA 3132).

From the looks of it, KY 4 was deleted in the 1940s when US 460 was extended, but the state changed the route to KY 40. KY 4 (the current one) was built in the 1950s, so the number was available for use. Interestingly enough, LA 3132 is a temporary designation, meant to ultimately be replaced by a full I-220 (which never happened). It's going to be replaced, from I-49 to I-20, as I-49, while the current I-49 north of 3132 is changing to I-149. The segment to the east of I-49 will hopefully be changed to I-169 or I-369.

[kphoger]

There are no 2xx routes, and no 2xxx routes. I have no clue why at all, though.

Not true.
Here's a Kentucky route log, and I see plenty of 2xx and 2xxx routes in there.
http://bunkerblast.info/roads/