Most pretensious highway designations

[TEG24601]

How about OR-213/82nd Avenue in Portland which is also labeled as "Avenue of the Roses", or Front Street in Portland being "Natio Parkway" (pronounced like NATO).  Then again, a fried of mine was trying to get 42nd Ave. in Portland renamed Douglas Adams Boulevard.

[Pete from Boston]

It's not the name itself — I get the motivation behind the name — but until the recent construction there, the Ari Halberstam Memorial Ramp from the FDR Drive to the Brooklyn Bridge had no fewer than nine signs informing motorists of its name. For a ramp.  Granted, it is a long ramp, but it's still a freaking ramp.

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

(not counting any and all memorials to politicians or sports figures)

My nominee (which I just saw for the first time yesterday afternoon):  Greater Hazelton Chamber Of Commerce Beltway, which now adorns the signs on I-81 for Exit 141 in Hazelton, PA.  And the signs are in Clearview, which makes a bad idea even worse.

I always though Lafitte-Larose Highway (LA 3134) was rather pretentious, since it reached neither Lafitte nor Larose, and in fact does not even lead to Larose (though it was planned to do so for many years, by cutting straight through the Barataria basin marshes).

A few years back it was renamed "Leo Kerner/Lafitte Parkway" for the longtime mayor of Jean Lafitte, which roughly coincided with the removal of the proposed extension from DOTD's route maps. Though this would have substantially reduced the driving distance to Grand Isle from the New Orleans area, I can only imagine the environmental mitigation headaches that would have resulted if the route had been constructed as planned.

[Alps]

How is Bud Shuster naming I-99 after himself not the most pretentious?

It is, but the OP did specifically exclude politicians.

Still, is there any other case where a politician named the road AFTER HIMSELF? That's a level beyond "memorial."

[NE2]

Still, is there any other case where a politician named the road AFTER HIMSELF? That's a level beyond "memorial."

Wikipedia claims PA Governor Bob Casey named it after Shuster. So does the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1998):

Green-and-white road signs proclaim I-99 "the Bud Shuster Highway," so named by former Gov. Bob Casey, a Democrat.

So unless Shuster calls himself 99...

[Ned Weasel]

3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in Kansas City, MO is obnoxious in a few ways. One, it's not a "memorial highway", because it doesn't memorialize anything, since the "3-Trails" are I-49, I-435, and I-470, and even if they weren't extant trails, can you really have a memorial to something nonliving? Two, it's not a "highway" at all, but an interchange. Three, what's with the hyphen in "3-Trails"??

I thought it was called a "Memorial Highway" to memorialize all the people who died in vehicular collisions on an interchange that used to be so God-awful that someone thought it would be really helpful to put call boxes on every ramp and divide the interchange into several "zones," each designated by a letter of the alphabet.

[briantroutman]

So unless Shuster calls himself 99...

I heard he used to dress up like Barbara Feldon on weekends.

[1995hoo]

For some reason this thread is making me recall the late, unlamented ethanman62187 and I-366.

(Totally off-topic.....speaking of ethanman62187, note the first post and other users' replies....)

[Brandon]

For some reason this thread is making me recall the late, unlamented ethanman62187 and I-366.

(Totally off-topic.....speaking of ethanman62187, note the first post and other users' replies....)

I-366, the Ethanman62187 Memorial 85 mph Highway. <ducks>

[bugo]

How is Bud Shuster naming I-99 after himself not the most pretentious?

Did he seriously name it after himself?



A lot of people around here mistakenly believe that Congressman Harold Rogers (R-KY) renamed the Daniel Boone Parkway as the Hal Rogers Parkway after himself, but that's not true. Former Gov. Paul Patton (D-KY) was responsible for that name change. Rogers was taken totally by surprised when the sign was unveiled at a ceremony to note the removal of the tolls from the Daniel Boone Parkway. Rogers had secured a federal appropriation to pay off the bonds on the toll roads and he drove a bulldozer to knock down a toll booth at that ceremony. Then the state officials surprised him by announcing that the road was renamed for him.

As a (supposed) descendant of Daniel Boone, I find the removal of his name offensive and intolerable.  He is far more famous than some two bit Kentucky buttfuck politician.

[bugo]

Any "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr" street.  Call it "King Street" and be done with it.

I've noticed that streets named for African American civil rights leaders are often named using the person's full name, and not just their last name.  I also think "President Clinton Avenue" in LR should be "Clinton Avenue".

[NE2]

Don't forget the Reverend, you insensitive clod.

[bugo]

3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in Kansas City, MO is obnoxious in a few ways. One, it's not a "memorial highway", because it doesn't memorialize anything, since the "3-Trails" are I-49, I-435, and I-470, and even if they weren't extant trails, can you really have a memorial to something nonliving? Two, it's not a "highway" at all, but an interchange. Three, what's with the hyphen in "3-Trails"??

I thought it was called a "Memorial Highway" to memorialize all the people who died in vehicular collisions on an interchange that used to be so God-awful that someone thought it would be really helpful to put call boxes on every ramp and divide the interchange into several "zones," each designated by a letter of the alphabet.

Wrong end of KC.  The interchange in question, which I call and will always call the "Grandview Triangle" is south of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and the "alphabet loop" is the loop around downtown KC (I-35/I-70/I-670/Alt I-70/US 24/US 169/US 71/US 40 and probably some other US routes that I forgot.)

[bugo]

Don't forget the Reverend, you insensitive clod.

Sorry.  I guess that makes me a full member of the Ku Klux Klan, at least in the eyes of some moonbat PC douchebags.

[bugo]

I always disliked 'President Clinton Ave.' in downtown Little Rock.
Name it William J Clinton Ave or Bill Clinton Ave.

We KNOW he was president.  We dont' drive up President JFK Blvd. or out on President(s) Roosevelt Rd.

107 in NLR is locally known as "JFK" and not "Kennedy" or "John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Parkway".

[bugo]

I usually consider memorial highway designations obnoxious, since they tend to not be used by any actual person and the signs just serve to clutter the roadside with meaningless information. Most of the time the figures so named are so obscure that nearly nobody passing by will know who they are. On freeways it means the state gets to pay for two BGSes that impart exactly zero relevant information to the public.

I also don't care that much for highways named after state troopers. Yes, it's sad when someone dies while serving the public, but they are not otherwise significant figures, and wouldn't have had a road named after them if they had served until age 65 and retired with full honors.

A couple of specific examples from I-35 in Oklahoma, and both of them have to do with politicians, despite the thread. One of them is something along the lines of "Dr. James M. and Representative Mena D. Hibdon Memorial Highway"–sure, okay, stick the state rep up there, whatever, but why are we mentioning her husband too? Was he that good of a doctor? Another one is "Helen Cole Memorial Highway", sure, supposedly it's because she was some sort of state legislator, but it probably has a lot more to do with the fact that her son is the current US Representative.

3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in Kansas City, MO is obnoxious in a few ways. One, it's not a "memorial highway", because it doesn't memorialize anything, since the "3-Trails" are I-49, I-435, and I-470, and even if they weren't extant trails, can you really have a memorial to something nonliving? Two, it's not a "highway" at all, but an interchange. Three, what's with the hyphen in "3-Trails"??

The only good thing about memorial highways is that ODOT publishes more historic information about them than non-memorial highways, so that's useful, at least.

Oklahoma is really bad at this.  The interchange between I-44/OK 66 and Harvard Avenue, a half frontage road slip ramp "diamond" and half modified folded diamond, is named after somebody I've never heard of (and I would wager than 99% of the drivers who drive by the sign have any idea of who he is/was.)  Many bridges in the Cowboy State are named after presumably cops and politicians, even lowly concrete girder bridges in poor shape.  I'd be mad if somebody named that sort of bridge after me. 

[PHLBOS]

(not counting any and all memorials to politicians or sports figures)

While not a highway and certainly not a politician nor sports figure but Philadelphia's East River Drive was renamed Kelly Drive decades ago after actress Grace Kelly who later became Princess of Monaco.

[roadman65]

Any "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr" street.  Call it "King Street" and be done with it.

I've noticed that streets named for African American civil rights leaders are often named using the person's full name, and not just their last name.  I also think "President Clinton Avenue" in LR should be "Clinton Avenue".

In Newark, NJ when High Street was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, the guide sign on I-280 EB dentoted it as King Boulevard at first, but then it was changed to the full name.  It is funny that you should mention it, as I was wondering about that.  Then in some areas in Florida where there is a road named after the wonderful civil rights leader his initials were used on a construction VMS just in the same manner as John F. Keneedy.

I am not a racist by any means, It is just interesting that Dr. King is not just known as a simple last name.  It might be that the name "King" is also a monarch in many governments, and many just want people to know that it is a person and not the title as King Blvd. King Street, etc. might suggest that.  Look at the Outerbridge Crossing for example as many do not know it was named after Ugenis Outerbridge, the first Port Authority chairman, but as a geographic thing.  However, Mr. Outerbridge is a lay person unlike the Reverend who was an important icon in history.

[Road Hog]

David Letterman Bypass 

The Lorena Bobbitt Cutoff.

[roadman65]

Also, to point out the toll road near Dallas, TX is President George Bush Turnpike and not Bush Turnpike or George Bush Turnpike.

On the same note, it has to do with how the name is used in culture and by whom.  Ronald Reagan does not need a descriptor as we all know that he was President as he is known for being that.  If you named a street after Al Sharpton and called it Sharpton Boulevard, it would fly as there as you would know instantly it was named for him as Sharpton is not a name used in any other sense and he is the most famous person known with the name.  In a whole we know who Sharpton is so it says a lot in the sir name use.   Give it a few years, people will know who Obama is and therefore any road named after him could be Obama Street, Avenue etc.  The current use of President Barrack Obama in the streets named after him are done as he was only began to be known the past few years as taking oath. Then think about Justin Bieber how you would name a street after him.  How would you do it?  It would have to be whole name as not many refer to him in common talk as just Bieber, but Jon Bon Jovi on the other hand you would most likely name the street Bon Jovi Road or whatever as his sir name is commonly known.

It is all how they are known as in culture that suggest that.

[Big John]

I usually consider memorial highway designations obnoxious, since they tend to not be used by any actual person and the signs just serve to clutter the roadside with meaningless information. Most of the time the figures so named are so obscure that nearly nobody passing by will know who they are. On freeways it means the state gets to pay for two BGSes that impart exactly zero relevant information to the public.

I also don't care that much for highways named after state troopers. Yes, it's sad when someone dies while serving the public, but they are not otherwise significant figures, and wouldn't have had a road named after them if they had served until age 65 and retired with full honors.

A couple of specific examples from I-35 in Oklahoma, and both of them have to do with politicians, despite the thread. One of them is something along the lines of "Dr. James M. and Representative Mena D. Hibdon Memorial Highway"–sure, okay, stick the state rep up there, whatever, but why are we mentioning her husband too? Was he that good of a doctor? Another one is "Helen Cole Memorial Highway", sure, supposedly it's because she was some sort of state legislator, but it probably has a lot more to do with the fact that her son is the current US Representative.

3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in Kansas City, MO is obnoxious in a few ways. One, it's not a "memorial highway", because it doesn't memorialize anything, since the "3-Trails" are I-49, I-435, and I-470, and even if they weren't extant trails, can you really have a memorial to something nonliving? Two, it's not a "highway" at all, but an interchange. Three, what's with the hyphen in "3-Trails"??

The only good thing about memorial highways is that ODOT publishes more historic information about them than non-memorial highways, so that's useful, at least.

Oklahoma is really bad at this.  The interchange between I-44/OK 66 and Harvard Avenue, a half frontage road slip ramp "diamond" and half modified folded diamond, is named after somebody I've never heard of (and I would wager than 99% of the drivers who drive by the sign have any idea of who he is/was.)  Many bridges in the Cowboy State are named after presumably cops and politicians, even lowly concrete girder bridges in poor shape.  I'd be mad if somebody named that sort of bridge after me. 

Georgia is known for this too.  Interchanges and bridges being named and signed for people you never heard of.

[Henry]

I usually consider memorial highway designations obnoxious, since they tend to not be used by any actual person and the signs just serve to clutter the roadside with meaningless information. Most of the time the figures so named are so obscure that nearly nobody passing by will know who they are. On freeways it means the state gets to pay for two BGSes that impart exactly zero relevant information to the public.

I also don't care that much for highways named after state troopers. Yes, it's sad when someone dies while serving the public, but they are not otherwise significant figures, and wouldn't have had a road named after them if they had served until age 65 and retired with full honors.

A couple of specific examples from I-35 in Oklahoma, and both of them have to do with politicians, despite the thread. One of them is something along the lines of "Dr. James M. and Representative Mena D. Hibdon Memorial Highway"—sure, okay, stick the state rep up there, whatever, but why are we mentioning her husband too? Was he that good of a doctor? Another one is "Helen Cole Memorial Highway", sure, supposedly it's because she was some sort of state legislator, but it probably has a lot more to do with the fact that her son is the current US Representative.

3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway in Kansas City, MO is obnoxious in a few ways. One, it's not a "memorial highway", because it doesn't memorialize anything, since the "3-Trails" are I-49, I-435, and I-470, and even if they weren't extant trails, can you really have a memorial to something nonliving? Two, it's not a "highway" at all, but an interchange. Three, what's with the hyphen in "3-Trails"??

The only good thing about memorial highways is that ODOT publishes more historic information about them than non-memorial highways, so that's useful, at least.

Oklahoma is really bad at this.  The interchange between I-44/OK 66 and Harvard Avenue, a half frontage road slip ramp "diamond" and half modified folded diamond, is named after somebody I've never heard of (and I would wager than 99% of the drivers who drive by the sign have any idea of who he is/was.)  Many bridges in the Cowboy State are named after presumably cops and politicians, even lowly concrete girder bridges in poor shape.  I'd be mad if somebody named that sort of bridge after me. 

Georgia is known for this too.  Interchanges and bridges being named and signed for people you never heard of.

Also in VA...same thing.

[cbeach40]

They built the road, and the interchange. But I can't help but laugh every time I see the exit for Bass Pro Mills Road on Highway 400 just north of Toronto.

[elsmere241]

Avenue of the Americas.  Come on, what's wrong with 6th Ave.?

It is 6th Avenue.  It is called by most New Yorkers as such even though the street signs say otherwise.

Don't the signs say both now?  That's my recollection.

[PHLBOS]

Apparently the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel was recently inadvertently renamed the Hugh Grant Tunnel by a MTA employee:

http://secondavenuesagas.com/2013/08/02/great-moments-in-mta-typos-the-hugh-grant-tunnel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SecondAveSagas+%28Second+Ave.+Sagas+%7C+Blogging+the+NYC+Subways%29

Opening Excerpt:

When the state of New York forced the MTA to rename the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel after one-time Governor Hugh Carey, I derided the move. It replaced a useful geographical name with the moniker of someone who served the state over 30 years ago. He had a long and distinguished career, but did we truly have to name a piece of infrastructure after him?

This week the move came back to bite the MTA in a rather hilarious way. As the Advance of Staten Island noticed, while programming in a service alert earlier this week, a hapless MTA employee accidentally termed it the Hugh Grant Tunnel.