The first *100 year milestone* in US route history

[usends]

Another 100 year milestone: on Aug. 3, 1925, the Joint Board on Interstate Highways held their second meeting (and this would turn out to be their last).  Maps showing all routes that had been requested for inclusion in the US highway network were sent to each of the states for review and approval (before submitting the entire proposal to the Dept. of Agriculture).

[usends]

Another 100 year milestone: on Oct. 30, 1925, the Joint Board on Interstate Highways submitted their final report to the Dept. of Agriculture.  This included a map showing the proposed "United States Highways", a list of the numbers that they recommended for each route, and a diagram of the proposed US highway shield.  The report urged the Secretary of Agriculture to approve, and to delegate to AASHO the authority to oversee the proposed system.

[usends]

Another 100 year milestone: on Nov. 18, 1925, the Secretary of Agriculture approved the report from the Joint Board on Interstate Highways.  As a result the JBIH was dissolved, and AASHO's executive committee was given responsibility for finalization (and ongoing administration) of the system of United States numbered highways.

[usends]

US 30 is the only route that has remained coast-to-coast for the entire first century of the US highway system.  But if the Joint Board's 1925 plan had been implemented, US 30 wouldn't have run coast-to-coast...

When the system was initially envisioned, US 30 was to go only as far west as Salt Lake City.  US 20 was proposed as a coast-to-coast route, passing through Yellowstone, dropping down to Pocatello ID, and then following today's US 30 all the way to the Pacific coast at Astoria OR.  But western states protested the facts that 1.) drivers had to pay to pass through Yellowstone, 2.) the highway through Yellowstone was closed in the winter, and 3.) overall the proposed route was rather indirect. 

So, the next 100-year milestone is this: on Jan. 14, 1926, AASHO changed the route of US 30 such that, instead of going to Salt Lake, it would go to Pocatello and then on to Astoria.  Thus when the US highways were inaugurated later in 1926, it was US 30 (not US 20) that ran from coast-to-coast.  (Of course Salt Lake interests were not thrilled about losing their connection to US 30.  That's why US 30 got split into 30N and 30S between WY and ID, with 30S being more indirect but passing close to SLC.)

[pderocco]

US 30 is the only route that has remained coast-to-coast for the entire first century of the US highway system.  But if the Joint Board's 1925 plan had been implemented, US 30 wouldn't have run coast-to-coast...

When the system was initially envisioned, US 30 was to go only as far west as Salt Lake City.  US 20 was proposed as a coast-to-coast route, passing through Yellowstone, dropping down to Pocatello ID, and then following today's US 30 all the way to the Pacific coast at Astoria OR.  But western states protested the facts that 1.) drivers had to pay to pass through Yellowstone, 2.) the highway through Yellowstone was closed in the winter, and 3.) overall the proposed route was rather indirect. 

So, the next 100-year milestone is this: on Jan. 14, 1926, AASHO changed the route of US 30 such that, instead of going to Salt Lake, it would go to Pocatello and then on to Astoria.  Thus when the US highways were inaugurated later in 1926, it was US 30 (not US 20) that ran from coast-to-coast.  (Of course Salt Lake interests were not thrilled about losing their connection to US 30.  That's why US 30 got split into 30N and 30S between WY and ID, with 30S being more indirect but passing close to SLC.)

How close does a road have to get to the coasts to be considered coast-to-coast?

[Quillz]

US 30 is the only route that has remained coast-to-coast for the entire first century of the US highway system.  But if the Joint Board's 1925 plan had been implemented, US 30 wouldn't have run coast-to-coast...

When the system was initially envisioned, US 30 was to go only as far west as Salt Lake City.  US 20 was proposed as a coast-to-coast route, passing through Yellowstone, dropping down to Pocatello ID, and then following today's US 30 all the way to the Pacific coast at Astoria OR.  But western states protested the facts that 1.) drivers had to pay to pass through Yellowstone, 2.) the highway through Yellowstone was closed in the winter, and 3.) overall the proposed route was rather indirect. 

So, the next 100-year milestone is this: on Jan. 14, 1926, AASHO changed the route of US 30 such that, instead of going to Salt Lake, it would go to Pocatello and then on to Astoria.  Thus when the US highways were inaugurated later in 1926, it was US 30 (not US 20) that ran from coast-to-coast.  (Of course Salt Lake interests were not thrilled about losing their connection to US 30.  That's why US 30 got split into 30N and 30S between WY and ID, with 30S being more indirect but passing close to SLC.)

How close does a road have to get to the coasts to be considered coast-to-coast?

Very subjective. I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible. But on the other hand, it if just reaches a major coastal city, it could count, I think that's more a case of meeting the definition in spirit. Like I don't believe either US-60 or US-70 reached the actual Pacific Ocean, they ended at what is today the East LA Interchange, but that would be "good enough," I suppose.

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

[Scott5114]

I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible.

I'm not sure referring on literal sight is the best idea, since that would mean a coast-to-coast route could become not coast-to-coast just by someone planting a row of trees at one terminus.

[Quillz]

I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible.

I'm not sure referring on literal sight is the best idea, since that would mean a coast-to-coast route could become not coast-to-coast just by someone planting a row of trees at one terminus.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned most people would probably look at more in terms of spirit, i.e. reaching a coastal city. If there is some kind of official definition, I don't know it.

[usends]

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

The Boston terminus of US 20[e] is roughly as far from the Atlantic as US 30's Astoria terminus is from the Pacific.

[kphoger]

To me, a highway is truly coast-to-coast if it reaches at least to the last US Route or Interstate on both ends.

US-30 ends at US-101 right by the coast.  And then it ends beyond US-9 at the other end.  So it's good.

US-20 ends at US-101;  even though it's not right by the coast, there is no other US Route or Interstate between there and the coast.  At the other end, though, it doesn't reach I-93.  So, even if there weren't a gap in Yellowstone, I'd still say it's not quite coast-to-coast.  Close, but not quite.

[Mapmikey]

US 66 was coast to coast according to mid—80s amateur geographer Sade.

Which interestingly makes US 12 longer than coast to coast.

[pderocco]

US 66 was coast to coast according to mid—80s amateur geographer Sade.

Yeah, to the coast of Lake Michigan.

[pderocco]

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

The Boston terminus of US 20[e] is roughly as far from the Atlantic as US 30's Astoria terminus is from the Pacific.

Salt should be the deciding factor. As I posted earlier, the water off Astoria is probably salty enough to be considered part of the Pacific. And I'm sure the Delta Basin in Atlantic City is plenty salty. So both roads end within a block or so of the ocean.

[pderocco]

How close does a road have to get to the coasts to be considered coast-to-coast?

Very subjective. I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible. But on the other hand, it if just reaches a major coastal city, it could count, I think that's more a case of meeting the definition in spirit. Like I don't believe either US-60 or US-70 reached the actual Pacific Ocean, they ended at what is today the East LA Interchange, but that would be "good enough," I suppose.

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

There's also a matter of scale. US-20 is the longest route in the country, so rejecting it because of the 2.3 miles between Kenmore Square and the Charles River Dam (or 2.1 miles to the Fort Point Channel) seems nitpicky. But I wouldn't say Beacon St goes to the coast, even though it's a lot closer than US-20.

[Rothman]

How close does a road have to get to the coasts to be considered coast-to-coast?

Very subjective. I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible. But on the other hand, it if just reaches a major coastal city, it could count, I think that's more a case of meeting the definition in spirit. Like I don't believe either US-60 or US-70 reached the actual Pacific Ocean, they ended at what is today the East LA Interchange, but that would be "good enough," I suppose.

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

There's also a matter of scale. US-20 is the longest route in the country, so rejecting it because of the 2.3 miles between Kenmore Square and the Charles River Dam (or 2.1 miles to the Fort Point Channel) seems nitpicky. But I wouldn't say Beacon St goes to the coast, even though it's a lot closer than US-20.

Yellowstone gap...

[pderocco]

How close does a road have to get to the coasts to be considered coast-to-coast?

Very subjective. I'd say it should be within sight of an ocean, if we are taking "coast to coast" as literally as possible. But on the other hand, it if just reaches a major coastal city, it could count, I think that's more a case of meeting the definition in spirit. Like I don't believe either US-60 or US-70 reached the actual Pacific Ocean, they ended at what is today the East LA Interchange, but that would be "good enough," I suppose.

US-20 is a good example. Literally ends within sight of the Pacific Ocean in Newport, OR, then goes all the way to Boston, MA. Very much a case of coast-to-coast.

There's also a matter of scale. US-20 is the longest route in the country, so rejecting it because of the 2.3 miles between Kenmore Square and the Charles River Dam (or 2.1 miles to the Fort Point Channel) seems nitpicky. But I wouldn't say Beacon St goes to the coast, even though it's a lot closer than US-20.

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

[kphoger]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

[Quillz]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

[Rothman]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

Heresy.

[mgk920]

Salt and TIDE water.  The Salt Lake City area in Utah is salt water, but has no tides.  Yes, the Lake Michigan shoreline in Illinois and Wisconsin does look to many like a coastline, but it is fresh water.

Mike

[pderocco]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

[Rothman]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Doesn't change the fact that there's a gap.

[Max Rockatansky]

Wasn't the Yellowstone gap the whole reason western US 20 was changed to US 30 by the time the US Route System was finalized in 1926?

[Quillz]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Doesn't change the fact that there's a gap.

What's intersecting is a gap is officially acknowledged for US 2. Not sure about 20. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Yellowstone gap...

Yes, we all know about that.

But the point is, can a highway be coast-to-coast if it has a gap in it?

If the number resumes and the gap is acknowledged in the definition, I don't see why not. I-95 was noted for being the longest south-north interstate even though it also had a gap for a long time.

It's not as though US-20 ended at West Yellowstone, and someone noticed, "Hey, look, there's another US-20 on the other side of the park! What an amazing coincidence!"

Doesn't change the fact that there's a gap.

What's intersecting is a gap is officially acknowledged for US 2. Not sure about 20.

Yellowstone National Park isn't part of the route description for US 20.  The segment west of the park even in 1940 was described as beginning at West Yellowstone (see photo 8):

https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/11/us-route-20-over-targhee-pass-to-west.html?m=1