How come there is no Interstate 1, 2, 3, ....31, 32, 33, 34, etc ?

[roadman65]

Actually Pharr and Brownsville are still close enough to have one interstate serving both.

As far as I-2 goes, it is a waste right now of a good number as I-97 is in Anne Arundel County, MD.

I had no idea of a planned I-47 and would there be a I-147?  BTW I-476 in PA is longer than I-2, and so it I-287 in NJ- NY.

[RoadPirate]

Oh man that whole I-73 & I-74 mess. I can see I-73 from Bluefield, WV to Flint, MI, but not any further south. I-74 east of Cincinnati makes no sense. Better to extend I-68 west from Morgantown, WV to Cincinnati via upgraded US-50 & OH-32. I agree that upgraded US-74 through NC should be I-38. Myrtle Beach to Wilmington could be part of I-101. The current I-73 & I-74 in NC could be I-99, more logical than the one in Penn. Maybe extend that up to Roanoke but no need to go any further north.

If you don't live or travel on the east coast you may not understand the need for an I-101 along the SE coast. Traffic on I-95 is horrible especially in the DC area. A new interstate from Savannah to Wilmington, DE is essential. It would serve the fast growing cities in the coastal Carolinas and Virginia while providing badly needed relief in DC and Baltimore. I-81 is not much of an alternative because of all the truck traffic and only two lanes each way. Florida and Georgia have done a great job with I-95, but VA & NC could use some improvement. SC's section of I-95 is so bad that it hardly qualifies as an Interstate anymore.

[RoadPirate]

Don't know of a planned I-47 either however the Indian Nation Turnpike in Oklahoma would be logical. Could be extended south to Beaumont, TX and north to Tulsa, Topeka and perhaps Lincoln, NE.

[roadman65]

Yes US 74 from Charlotte to Wilmington should have a straight interstate, but not turn back to Myrtle Beach.  And I-74 south of I-40 is nauseating.  Have I-38 run along US 74, even from Asheville would be nice.

[tidecat]

If we're fixing I-73 and I-74, couldn't the easternmost section of proposed I-73 in South Carolina become an extension of I-20?

[SP Cook]

There are routes that could get interstate numbers, but should they?  Should any stretch of freeway be an interstate?

No.

I think there are several problems. 

1- "Interstate" is a good sound bite.  Pol says "I am going to build I-whatever".  That is a lot easier than "I am going to see that US whatever is improved to a standard similar to an interstate, with no-at grade intersections".

2- "Interstate" is a brand people understand.  The to layman, "Interstate" means a safe high speed road with no stop lights, no at-grade intersections, and adequate provision for steep grades.   Other types of highway, even a US, can vary from a de facto interstate to something only slightly less, to one with at grades, hick town speed traps, and stop lights, to good 2 lane, to city street, to inadequate rural road.   Sign makers and map makers (and the idiots who make GPS devices) have not learned to distinguish.  Some US routes are good for cross country travel.  Some, even if far shorter than the interstate, are not. 

One thing I think could be done is a signage that could convey "interstate quality".  Let us take the 73-74 idiocy.  Rather than renumbering US 220, just have a sign that says "Interstate Quality Road, next XX miles" and, more importantly "END Interstate Quality Road - Watch for stop lights and at grade intersections".  I would say to put a blank blue sign below the shield on roads that are de facto interstates, same size as the directional.  So [SOUTH] [US 220] [blank blue] would convey to the motorist that the road might as well be taken as an interstate.  Perhaps even generally acceptable words for lesser forms of thru highways (such as WV's use of "corridor" to mean "rural expressway with at-grades and stop lights" ) with a similar color bar indicating that status.

3 - "Interstate" is a standard they really cannot vary from.  Lets look at Corridor L in WV.  When built (as a mixed 2 and 4 lane, then upgraded to a full 4 lane, with at grade intersections) it was a very acceptable road for the purpose.  THEN the "something must be done" idiots got a stop light at every intersection.  THEN the hick towns created speedtraps and lobbied for ridiculous SLs.  THEN the greedy landowners got driveway permits to created 100s more at grade intersections.  That cannot happen with an interstate, and the public knows, and wants, that.

[hotdogPi]

What about MA 2, which is a freeway, but not Interstate standard (because of at-grades) between exits 27 and 33?

[RoadPirate]

What about MA 2, which is a freeway, but not Interstate standard (because of at-grades) between exits 27 and 33?

A good route number for MA-2 would be I-92. While we're at it NH-101 could be I-94. For those I-standard purists I only advocate redesignation for those highways that meet Interstate standards. MA-2 isn't there yet but could be with a nominal investment. Mostly it needs improved ramps that meet high speed standards. Only that portion from Greenfield to Concord really close to qualifying. As for NH-101 that portion from Manchester to Hampton qualifies now.

[bob7374]

What about MA 2, which is a freeway, but not Interstate standard (because of at-grades) between exits 27 and 33?

A good route number for MA-2 would be I-92. While we're at it NH-101 could be I-94. For those I-standard purists I only advocate redesignation for those highways that meet Interstate standards. MA-2 isn't there yet but could be with a nominal investment. Mostly it needs improved ramps that meet high speed standards. Only that portion from Greenfield to Concord really close to qualifying. As for NH-101 that portion from Manchester to Hampton qualifies now.

An I-x93 would work just as well for NH 101. As for MA there are other routes that would be better served by an interstate designation than MA 2. MA 3 for one between Braintree and Cape Cod, either as an extension of I-93 or an I-x93, and perhaps MA 24 which has been studied for inclusion into the Interstate system. 

[RoadPirate]

An I-x93 would work just as well for NH 101. As for MA there are other routes that would be better served by an interstate designation than MA 2. MA 3 for one between Braintree and Cape Cod, either as an extension of I-93 or an I-x93, and perhaps MA 24 which has been studied for inclusion into the Interstate system.

All true. However when it comes to designating routes as Interstates there is no zero sum game. There is no reason MA-2, MA-3 and MA-24 as well as other such as MA-140 and MA-146 can't all be designated. As long as they meet Interstate standards and are directly connected to the Interstate System they can be designated as Interstates.

[roadman65]

If we're fixing I-73 and I-74, couldn't the easternmost section of proposed I-73 in South Carolina become an extension of I-20?

If NC had their way it would.  I read someplace on line, that NC wants I-20 to come over to Wilmington, but SC does not probably because they are so hell bent on I-73, a road which they seem to not be in a hurry to get funding for, get built.

I think I-73 should go no further south than I-95.  To get to MB head south to Florence to a I-20 extension east, or simply have I-73 terminate at the I-20 extension to avoid a dog leg on I-95.

I-74 should be a full US 74 corridor upgrade from Charlotte to Wilmington and have I-32, or I-38 to it! 

[wdcrft63]

If we're fixing I-73 and I-74, couldn't the easternmost section of proposed I-73 in South Carolina become an extension of I-20?

If NC had their way it would.  I read someplace on line, that NC wants I-20 to come over to Wilmington, but SC does not probably because they are so hell bent on I-73, a road which they seem to not be in a hurry to get funding for, get built.

I think I-73 should go no further south than I-95.  To get to MB head south to Florence to a I-20 extension east, or simply have I-73 terminate at the I-20 extension to avoid a dog leg on I-95.

I-74 should be a full US 74 corridor upgrade from Charlotte to Wilmington and have I-32, or I-38 to it!

Myrtle Beach draws a lot more visitors from the north than from the west, so I-73 actually does make sense as a connection from I-95 southbound to MB. It's frustrating that SC is too cheap to build it. At the present time, neither NC nor SC is interested in extending I-20 to Wilmington.

I strongly support having an "I-32" across southern NC from I-26 to Wilmington: this is an idea whose time will come. The I-74 section from I-77 (Mt. Airy) through Winston-Salem to I-73 should be I-173 (or maybe I-177).

[roadman65]

It would have to be a first even digit.  Any interstate connecting two other interstates has to be even, except in New York with I-495, but that is a long story of how that got to be.

[wdcrft63]

It would have to be a first even digit.  Any interstate connecting two other interstates has to be even, except in New York with I-495, but that is a long story of how that got to be.

Fine with me. But I can think of exceptions: I-385 in SC, I-390 in NY and I-135 in KS connect two other interstates. Another rule often ignored.

[roadman65]

Yes unfortunately, they are.  Then again with I-135 it serves as a spur into a city. Though that city is Salina, it still is a straight line branch.

[hbelkins]

I don't think Bud Shuster had anything to do with I-99 being named after him. That would be a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decision -- as was the decision in West Virginia to name one of the ARC Corridors and the entire ARC network after Robert Byrd.

[roadman65]

I don't think Bud Shuster had anything to do with I-99 being named after him. That would be a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decision -- as was the decision in West Virginia to name one of the ARC Corridors and the entire ARC network after Robert Byrd.

I don't think Bud Shuster had anything to do with I-99 being named after him. That would be a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decision -- as was the decision in West Virginia to name one of the ARC Corridors and the entire ARC network after Robert Byrd.

Just like it was The State of New Jersey naming the IZOD Center at the time of its opening after the sitting governor at the time.   Still in both cases, I think ego of the person named played a big part indirectly.

[MVHighways]

What about MA 2, which is a freeway, but not Interstate standard (because of at-grades) between exits 27 and 33?

A good route number for MA-2 would be I-92. While we're at it NH-101 could be I-94. For those I-standard purists I only advocate redesignation for those highways that meet Interstate standards. MA-2 isn't there yet but could be with a nominal investment. Mostly it needs improved ramps that meet high speed standards. Only that portion from Greenfield to Concord really close to qualifying. As for NH-101 that portion from Manchester to Hampton qualifies now.

An I-x93 would work just as well for NH 101. As for MA there are other routes that would be better served by an interstate designation than MA 2. MA 3 for one between Braintree and Cape Cod, either as an extension of I-93 or an I-x93, and perhaps MA 24 which has been studied for inclusion into the Interstate system.

Agree with above... MA-2 could also be I-x95 (due to interchange with I-495, although I forget if it has to be meeting an interstate at its terminus or not). MA 3 should be an extension of I-93 - they'll need to change the exit numbers soon anyways with Mass. switching to mileage (as the 2012 MUTCD revision says, by 2022); be it I-93, I-x93 or something different, it should be an interstate. NH 101 should be I-x93 as the above says, or if they wanted to extend it to perhaps through Southern VT to Albany NY and make the whole thing a new interstate I-92...

It could be a lot of things.

Don't even get me started about I-95/MA 128.

[roadman65]

I think that MA 3 should be I-93.  Its much better than making MA 24 such as some are proposing, or promising.  The rest of I-93 back to I-95 should revert back to MA 128 as people from the area still call it such.

[MVHighways]

I think that MA 3 should be I-93.  Its much better than making MA 24 such as some are proposing, or promising.  The rest of I-93 back to I-95 should revert back to MA 128 as people from the area still call it such.

The stretch from when I-95 abandons 128 to the "Braintree Split" should be 128. If I-93 were to head down MA 3 to the Cape, the only road would be US 1 and bringing back the 128 designation there I would have no issue with, a 128/US-1 concurrency, and perhaps an I-x95 or I-x93, much like I-95/US 1/MA 128 multiplex past Canton.
(However, it is still a source of confusion why people haven't switched to calling it I-95 yet - blame their 1970s counterparts who got angry about I-95 running through Boston proper).

And as for it being MA 3 heading down to the Cape - why does US 3 suddenly end and become MA 3 anyways?? The big point here is, I-93 should run to the Cape.

Another concept I thought of involving 95/128, to the north, would start in NH, plexing I-89/93 past 89's current end, then bringing I-89 down the Everett Turnpike where the majority of I-293 is, converting the remaining 293/NH 101 plex to an E-W I-x89 or changing 293 to an E-W from N-S marking road. I-89 would continue down the Everett Turnpike, and plex with US 3 starting at Nashua, enter Massachusetts, and at the end of the existing US 3 freeway (where 3 plexes with 95/128), I-89 would end. I could go into more detail on the fictional highways section. It would be much less confusing if I-89 was extended past Concord, NH and terminated at Burlington, MA; and if I-93 continued past Braintree, MA to Cape Cod.

[roadman65]

I think we are threading water here and going into fictional territory here, so I will cease going any further.  However, I will say this these ideas we have are all sensational.

No more, lets keep it to why numbers are missing from the existing grid.  Anybody care to open a new thread in fictional highways I would be glad to contribute.

[MVHighways]

I think we are threading water here and going into fictional territory here, so I will cease going any further.  However, I will say this these ideas we have are all sensational.

No more, lets keep it to why numbers are missing from the existing grid.  Anybody care to open a new thread in fictional highways I would be glad to contribute.

Open thread about I-89 southern extension and I-93 to the Cape:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=15713.0

[tidecat]

The simplest reason that numbers are missing from the existing network is that so far there hasn't been the need for 99 primary routes.  You could use up a few more numbers by getting rid of the duplicates (I-84, I-86, I-88) and splitting some routes that use significant multiplexes (I-94 could be I-92 north of the Indiana Toll Road, and not overlap I-90 in the Chicago area), but that really only works for the east-west routes.

The biggest drawbacks are a carryover from the US Highway System about "major routes", and the original intent to not duplicate numbers used on US Highways in a state.  Both systems having more routes in the North and Midwest made it difficult to assign interstates between 50 and 62.  The insistence on "major" route numbers also led to a lot of gaps in numbering, especially with I-35 running through Kansas City and I-55 running through St. Louis.

[mrose]

If CA 99 is ever upgraded, I believe the logical number should be "9", in the same way that I-8 was chosen because it superceded US 80 and I-44 and I-55 were chosen when they superceded US 66. There is a mnemonic link in the number to the road's history preserved in the new number.

[Zzonkmiles]

If CA 99 is ever upgraded, I believe the logical number should be "9", in the same way that I-8 was chosen because it superceded US 80 and I-44 and I-55 were chosen when they superceded US 66. There is a mnemonic link in the number to the road's history preserved in the new number.

I feel this way about the proposed I-3 in Georgia. I-18 would make more sense because it would be directly north of I-16, which should make that a bit easier to remember. I don't know if there are any state routes with the number 18 along I-3's route, but choosing numbers that are easy to remember because they correspond with some other historical or local fact is good practice, though fitting in with the grid numberwise is obviously the best practice.