Youthful Misconceptions

[roadman65]

I used to believe that all of the NJ Turnpike was I-95 until we went to Pennsylvania and I saw I-95 intersect US 1 south of Trenton. 

[vtk]

I used to think that freeways had to have interchanges with every state route they crossed. Furthermore, I thought they couldn't have interchanges with county roads in rural areas.

[Central Avenue]

I used to think that freeways had to have interchanges with every state route they crossed.

I did, too. I also thought that they could only have interchanges with state/US/Interstate routes, which was silly because even as a kid I lived near the I-270/Morse Road interchange in Columbus.

[vtk]

I used to think that freeways had to have interchanges with every state route they crossed.

I did, too. I also thought that they could only have interchanges with state/US/Interstate routes, which was silly because even as a kid I lived near the I-270/Morse Road interchange in Columbus.

I-270 also lacks interchanges with state routes 104, 317 (by Eastland), 257, and 745.  I was certainly aware of the last two, but I strongly believed/hoped an interchange would be built for them someday.  I think it was the construction of the New Albany Bypass without an interchange at OH 605 that finally convinced me there was no such rule.  As for no rural interchanges with non-state-routes, it took a bit of travel to make me aware of counterexamples. 

[Central Avenue]

Funny, I remember noticing as a kid that OH 317 didn't have an interchange with I-270 near Eastland, but convincing myself it technically didn't count against the supposed "rule" because those two routes already have an interchange in Gahanna.

(Of course, in reality, anyone wishing to go from OH 317 near Eastland to I-270 could easily take I-70 eastbound, but my 10-year-old self didn't think about that.)

[empirestate]

On a related note to youthful misconceptions, I actually have a few memories of how I became aware of and curious about things having to do with roads. I have a vague recollection of the first time I realized that a freeway was different because it doesn't have traffic lights. I can hear, as a young kid in the back seat, shadowy echoes of my parents discussing 490, 590, and other assorted 90s, not knowing what they were, but then years later discovering them on a map and noting in real life the difference in sign shapes between I-490 and NY 590. I even remember mentioning it do my dad, who said he hadn't really noticed or wondered why (he may have been placating me though).

I had a teacher in high school who was struck by my observation that you could tell you were inside city limits because the street name signs changed from green to blue.

(For really early perceptions, as a toddler I can recall watching the telephone lines going past the car window, only dipping into view periodically as the lower part of the catenary cycled mesmerizingly by...and forming connections of sense to place by the sound of a certain bridge deck as we drove over it.)

[US12]

I thought the overhead guide signs on the Chicago Sky way carried sewer water because they looked like pipes.

[roadman65]

I found another interesting memory of the old red colored Florida US 1 shields.  I always new that the US 1 in FL was the same one as the one in NJ, but when I saw the red shield, I doubted that for a short while.

[formulanone]

Likewise, I used to think all the US 1 shields were red, because it was "important". Didn't realize the rest of the state used colored shields until the early 90's (and that the rest of US did not use them), when they were in their sunset.

[roadman65]

I used to think that all left turn signals had to be signed that way, until visiting Virginia once.  Then I saw intersections that had them with no signs.  I believed that they would confuse all drivers from my homestate of New Jersey since we had few left turn signals and had them all signed. I even actually thought, at the time, that all states other than New Jersey did not use common sense as we are one of the few states that use two signal heads for left turns.  Virginia and the others I always noticed them having the one head, as the MUTCD only requires each state to unless double turn lanes that I know now.  I often wondered  what would happen if the red bulb burned  out that there would be no back up light.

[Laura]

I used to try and design "missing interchanges" along the interstates in Maryland. I would always put them in what I thought were logical places (typically near large subdivisions, lol) and would grossly misjudge how much space they would need to take for them.

[brownpelican]

When the '84 World's Fair was going on in New Orleans, I thought the Crescent City Connection was one of the rides after looking at a map of the fair in The (Pascagoula) Mississippi Press.

[hbelkins]

Here's one. When I was young and saw signs for a resident engineer's office, I thought that the engineer actually lived there -- it was their residence -- and i wondered why the state highway department paid for an engineer's home.

I still don't understand why they are called "resident engineers." At least Kentucky doesn't use that term anymore.

[Alps]

Here's one. When I was young and saw signs for a resident engineer's office, I thought that the engineer actually lived there -- it was their residence -- and i wondered why the state highway department paid for an engineer's home.

I still don't understand why they are called "resident engineers." At least Kentucky doesn't use that term anymore.

Project engineer is typically just a guy assigned to work on the engineering for the project - i.e. behind the drafting table/computer. Site engineer, same thing, but works on several projects specializing in site design. For lack of a better term, what else would you call an RE?

[hbelkins]

In Kentucky, the term "resident engineer" was used for the supervisor of the construction inspectors, who are not required to be PE's. In my district we had four resident engineers' offices, with each headed by a PE. They supervised the inspections; project development was done either in the district office (rarely) or by consultants.

KYTC reorganized a few years ago and now construction (inspection) and maintenance functions are together. There are four sections in each district and the section supervisor (a PE) is in charge of the construction inspectors and also the maintenance garages in each area. In Kentucky state government terminology, they are section supervisors. Informally they are called section engineers. There are two Project Delivery and Preservation (construction and maintenance) branches in each district, and the branch managers are PEs.

What would I call a resident engineer? In Kentucky I would have used the term "chief inspector" or something similar. Even though I am a journalist by education, the meaning of the term "residency" escapes me.

[empirestate]

It is probably derived from some old jargon among the professions; for example, you also have resident physicians. I would not be surprised if the term originates back in old academia amongst all the other stuffy learned men.

(And for its part, NYSDOT also calls its sub-regional offices "residencies".)

[Takumi]

(And for its part, NYSDOT also calls its sub-regional offices "residencies".)

So does VDOT.

[Jordanah1]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

[NE2]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

Classy.

[J N Winkler]

Resident historically has not been tied as strongly to private home dwellings as it is now.  The term resident engineer is also used in Britain, with the same meaning as the traditional US usage.  Resident was also the standard translation for the cognate Russian term (Rezident) for the KGB official attached to the Russian embassy in a particular country and having responsibility for all KGB agents operating in that country.  I am sure the British also used resident (or a closely related word) for the local representatives they posted to princely states in India under paramountcy.

In any case, cryptic expressions are regrettably not uncommon on highway signs.  "Fuel, mileage, proration."  "Green River ordinance enforced."  "Zoned for development."  "Saddle mounts must stop" (this on Interstates where animals are not allowed).  Need I go on?

Edit:  More on resident:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_%28title%29

[agentsteel53]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

rah rah states rights!  did you kill a Mexican today?

[kphoger]

As a young child, I assumed all countries' license plates were the same dimensions as in the U.S.  Every so often, I would make foreign license plates for my Big Wheel; I specifically remember making Zaïre.

[Brandon]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

Hey now, at least they're paved!  Can't say the same for IDiOT's freeways.

[kphoger]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

Hey now, at least they're paved!  Can't say the same for IDiOT's freeways.

Huh?  Illinois has non-freeway toll roads?  Maybe I'm reading this wrong......

[NE2]

being from wisconsin, i despise paying illinois to use their roads, and i refer to their toll roads as
'Nazi toll booths/roads'

Hey now, at least they're paved!  Can't say the same for IDiOT's freeways.

Huh?  Illinois has non-freeway toll roads?  Maybe I'm reading this wrong......

No, the fictional "IDiOT" has freeways. Perhaps "IDiOT" is the transportation department in New America?