Vague routings of US 64 and US 79 through Memphis: a comparison of online maps

[bugo]

A comparison of several online mapping applications

Note: All the maps show US 64 running along I-55 from Marion to the I-40/I-55 split.

Google Maps shows US 79 hopping onto I-40 at the Hughes exit. It shows US 64 crossing the Memphis-Arkansas bridge then going straight onto Crump Blvd, left onto 3rd, through the maze of one way streets in downtown Memphis (Is it even possible to follow these routes through that area just using signs? I would be surprised if it were.) onto Union then north on East Parkway then east on Summer Avenue then east on Stage Road towards the edge of the city. The Summer/Stage split is where US 64 and US 79 split.

Bing has US 79 hanging a right onto US 70 and heading towards West Memphis. US 64 crosses the bridge and follows Crump to Danny Thomas Blvd. US 64 turned east onto Union Avenue which it follows all the way to East Parkway northbound then east on Summer Avenue to the split with US 70 and US 79.

Mapquest is a little fucked up. It shows US 79 running along the same roads as Bing does. What is weird is that at the I-40/55 split in Arkansas, US 64 is shown following I-40 into Memphis, exiting off at Danny Thomas and heading north. It shows US 64 following North Parkway east of Danny Thomas Blvd. East of there US 64 is shown following Summer Avenue as the other map services show.

Yahoo Maps shows US 79 following the old route into West Memphis, where it merges into I-55 and crosses the river. It follows the Crump-Danny Thomas-Union-E Pkwy-Summer route. US 64 follows the same route as US 79 through Memphis until they split at Summer and Stage.

Which one is correct? The US 64 routing over the DeSoto bridge makes me wonder if 64 hasn't really been rerouted. It wouldn't make much sense to reroute it though.

Of course none of these US routes that follow interstates in Arkansas are signed.

[hotdogPi]

What about OpenStreetMap?

[bugo]

I didn't check OSM. Feel free to do so and paste the results here. I was comparing commercial mapping services, which OSM doesn't fit the definition of.

[Mapmikey]

US 79 is posted in the field to join I-40 at the Hughes exit - https://goo.gl/maps/B8pyC

The Aug 2014 GMSV shows US 64-79 exiting I-55 at Crump, turning left on 3rd, then turning right on Union.  The turn of US 64-79 left onto Parkway is also marked.  The turn onto Summer is NOT marked EB.  The Summer/Stage split is signed all around.

Returning the other way, only US 64 is marked at the turn from Union onto SB 2nd.  All routes are marked on the turn from 2nd to Patterson and Patterson to 3rd SB.  All are marked to turn from 3rd to Crump and to enter I-55 NB.

I believe official Tennessee Maps moved the routes from 2nd/3rd to Danny Thomas a few years back.  Given how Memphis and Chattanooga routes have been posted in the field it is not surprising the old Memphis routing is what is posted (as of summer '14 anyway).

Mapmikey

[US71]

A comparison of several online mapping applications

Note: All the maps show US 64 running along I-55 from Marion to the I-40/I-55 split.

Google Maps shows US 79 hopping onto I-40 at the Hughes exit. It shows US 64 crossing the Memphis-Arkansas bridge then going straight onto Crump Blvd, left onto 3rd, through the maze of one way streets in downtown Memphis (Is it even possible to follow these routes through that area just using signs? I would be surprised if it were.) onto Union then north on East Parkway then east on Summer Avenue then east on Stage Road towards the edge of the city. The Summer/Stage split is where US 64 and US 79 split.

Bing has US 79 hanging a right onto US 70 and heading towards West Memphis. US 64 crosses the bridge and follows Crump to Danny Thomas Blvd. US 64 turned east onto Union Avenue which it follows all the way to East Parkway northbound then east on Summer Avenue to the split with US 70 and US 79.

Mapquest is a little fucked up. It shows US 79 running along the same roads as Bing does. What is weird is that at the I-40/55 split in Arkansas, US 64 is shown following I-40 into Memphis, exiting off at Danny Thomas and heading north. It shows US 64 following North Parkway east of Danny Thomas Blvd. East of there US 64 is shown following Summer Avenue as the other map services show.

Yahoo Maps shows US 79 following the old route into West Memphis, where it merges into I-55 and crosses the river. It follows the Crump-Danny Thomas-Union-E Pkwy-Summer route. US 64 follows the same route as US 79 through Memphis until they split at Summer and Stage.

Which one is correct? The US 64 routing over the DeSoto bridge makes me wonder if 64 hasn't really been rerouted. It wouldn't make much sense to reroute it though.

Of course none of these US routes that follow interstates in Arkansas are signed.

Going by signage in the field, 79 appears to jump on I-40

[froggie]

Given the abysmal state of route signage in most Tennessee cities, I've found TDOT's maps to be the most accurate representations of the route system.  TDOT's maps show all four US routes that cross the river (61, 64, 70, and 79) cross on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge (I-55), then continue on Crump.  US 61 turns right on South 3rd, while 64/70/79 continue on Crump and turn left at Danny Thomas, then exit and turn right at Union Ave.  They follow Union Ave to East Parkway, then north on East Parkway to North Parkway/Sumner Ave, then east on Sumner Ave until US 64 splits off at Stage Rd.

So Bing and Yahoo are correct when it comes to within Memphis.  Arkansas is so many levels of screwed up that I don't know where to begin.

[codyg1985]

There is a SR 1 (secret state route for US 70) mile marker on Danny Thomas, FWIW. https://www.google.com/maps/@35.136672,-90.046361,3a,17.7y,230.38h,73.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1svG9xPINwCbLzGcwkV7mxXw!2e0