Diagonal Routes...North-South or East-West?

[Rover_0]

I've been wondering, how does your state primarily mark diagonal (either US or State) routes--N-S or E-W?  Or do they switch in-route?  How should diagonal routes be labeled?

Here in Utah, it seems the majority of diagonal state routes are labeled East-West.  Four cases in point:  UT-31, UT-59, UT-62, and UT-95.  UT-31, UT-62, and UT-95 are especially "steep" in portions (appears to be N-S), while UT-59's mileposts actually start at the southeast end and increase as you go northwest, though the signs say "East UT-59" and "West UT-59."  I always thought that UT-95 was labled N-S, until I saw signs that said otherwise.

I also was impression that UT-62, from US-89 near Junction to the UT-22 junction north of Antimony, was labled E-W, while from UT-22 to UT-24 (northeast end) UT-62 was labled N-S, with the majority of the route's direction going in a NNE-SSW manner.  However, some looks at Google Maps' Street View seem to show that UT-62 is marked E-W from the time it leaves UT-24.

As for US routes, there really aren't any, though US-491 (former US-666), despite being a N-S route for most of its national length, is labled E-W for its 18 or so miles in Utah.  If AASHTO managed to let UDOT extend then-US-666 to Richfield, then it would no doubt be E-W, and rather diagonal.

[hbelkins]

If the state has any kind of system, it should follow it.

For the US routes, one would think the numbering convention would be followed, but not quite. US 42 is an east-west route in Kentucky but is a north-south route in Ohio.

[rawmustard]

Probably Michigan's best example is M-115. I've seen photos where it's signed N-S closer to Clare, while it's signed E-W closer to Frankfort. Probably the only other existing trunkline that comes close to being diagonal is M-50, but it is signed E-W as that is the direction it trends, probably moreso when it extended all the way to US-31. I can't say for certain how M-76 was signed, but it was decommissioned long before the trend to include directional tabs with every reassurance marker. Other than those, there really aren't any other diagonal trunklines in Michigan.

[74/171FAN]

Virginia has VA 30 which is signed east-west from US 1 in Doswell to VA 33 in West Point but south of West Point to its end at US 60 it's signed north-south(including the VA 33 multiplex)

[Michael]

New York's I-88 is diagonal, but is more east-west, and is signed accordingly.  US 11 remains signed north-south, even though it almost turns east-west north of Watertown.  NY 3 changes direction in the middle of it's route, and signs reflect that.  The northern (eastern) end of NY 326 is signed north-south for .7 mile, while the rest of the route is east-west.

[mightyace]

A long time ago, I remember seeing both "SOUTH" and "EAST" and/or "S-EAST" on top of a OH 37 sign somewhere.

That was over 30 years ago, so I don't remember where let alone whether the practice is still in use today.

[Duke87]

Randomly, it would seem. CT 106 is north-south. CT 107 and CT 136 are east-west. CT 35 is north-south, despite the fact that it's continuous with east-west NY 35.

Connecticut also has several state routes which are generally L-shaped. CT 22 actually switches from north-south to east-west midway due to this. It has a west end and a south end. What's the direction of index there, eh?


I'd say the best methodology for diagonal routes is to compare the latitude and longitude of their endpoints. Whichever component is greater gets the directional signage. Although, continuity is also important. CT 35 should be signed east-west to be continuous with NY 35 even if it is kinda more north-south. L-shaped routes should just be avoided wherever possible.

[kurumi]

From the CT highway log:
Officially NS: 40 72 106 107 110 113 120 131 136 150 US202 213 254 262
Officially EW: US1A 22 31 67 74 128 156 185 194 215 216 218 322 337 354

I know that the following are sometimes signed opposite from the log direction: 72 202 22 31 67
72's direction arises from its historical alignment.
354 being considered east-west is a surprise. Looks more N/S to me.

Aren't/weren't there some routes in Ohio marked NE/SW?

Also: I-820 isn't diagonal, but at TX 183 you can choose southbound or westbound: photo at http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix20.html#820tx

[wytout]

I think that in CT we generally keep one set of cardinal directions in place for an entire route. Route 2 and Route 9 are nearly parallel NW to SE diagonal routes.  Route 2 is marked E-W for it's entirety and Route 9 is marked N-S for it's entirety.  Route 9 DOES have a more NNW to SSE physical routing than Route 2. 

One MA State route that always fascinated me as a kid was N-S marked Route 28, Which heads steeply diagonally NNW to SSE to the cape, heads dead south from the Bourne Bridge, then the fun begins.  The road turns ENE While maintaining the SOUTH directional on signage.  It continues generally East and slightly to the north for about 30 miles to Chatham where it turns heading NNW then pretty much dead north to terminate at the Orleans Rotary where it meets US6 and MA 6A, all the while being marked SOUTH.  Essential the southern-most 40 miles of this road are marked consistently with the rest of the route, but at no time is the road actually travelling in the direction that the signage says it is. 

[Chris]

How about US 101? It clearly runs east-west in the San Fernando Valley to past Santa Barbara, but I think it's signed as north-south.

[RoadWarrior56]

Check out US 321 in eastern Tenessee.  It changes direction from north to south!

[ctsignguy]

A long time ago, I remember seeing both "SOUTH" and "EAST" and/or "S-EAST" on top of a OH 37 sign somewhere.

That was over 30 years ago, so I don't remember where let alone whether the practice is still in use today.

At one time, Ohio DID use tabs labelled N-EAST, N-WEST, S-EAST, and S-WEST for diagonal routes...that practice was ended sometime in the 1980s (prolly Federal pressure as usual), although you could still find them out in the wilds as late as the late 90s....

(used to have those four tabs too.....*snifflesob!*

[getemngo]

One MA State route that always fascinated me as a kid was N-S marked Route 28, Which heads steeply diagonally NNW to SSE to the cape, heads dead south from the Bourne Bridge, then the fun begins.  The road turns ENE While maintaining the SOUTH directional on signage.  It continues generally East and slightly to the north for about 30 miles to Chatham where it turns heading NNW then pretty much dead north to terminate at the Orleans Rotary where it meets US6 and MA 6A, all the while being marked SOUTH.  Essential the southern-most 40 miles of this road are marked consistently with the rest of the route, but at no time is the road actually travelling in the direction that the signage says it is. 

Michigan's M-123 is similar.  It starts off south of Trout Lake as a standard N-S route, occasionally trending NW-SE.  Then, in Paradise, it turns due west while still being signed NORTH.  After a few more miles it bends southwest, and in the last few miles through Newberry you're heading due south when the directional tabs say NORTH!  The "northern" terminus also happens to be at M-28, a highway that it already crossed 20 miles to the east.

[andytom]

How about US 101? It clearly runs east-west in the San Fernando Valley to past Santa Barbara, but I think it's signed as north-south.

US-101 does have a section labeled East-West in WA across the north part of the Olympic peninsula.  10 yrs ago (the last time that I was up there) that wasn't the case.  It was all North-South, but it swapped direction in Port Angeles.  You always left Port Angeles going south on US-101 no matter whether you were actually travelling east or west.

--Andy

[Alps]

In NJ, most of the diagonal routes are north-south, even if the diagonality is questionable.  208, 23, 17, and 15 are all roughly parallel NW-SE and signed N-S.  NJ 94 is WSW-ENE and yet is still signed N-S.  NJ 18 used to be signed east-west when it was NJ S-28, but now it's north-south like the others.  The exceptions are NJ 3 and NJ 49, which run WNW-ESE and are signed east-west.

[Mergingtraffic]

Also, in CT US-1 & I-95 are signed North & South and in CT actually run East & West. The state police refer to it as East & West.

But I think roads should be signed based on their ending points.  Even though I-95 is technically East & West in CT, if you driveit long enough you will end up at a designation that is SOUTH or NORTH of here. So, N&S signage is correct!

I would say the same for US-101 in CA!

[Mr. Matté]

NJ's diagonal county routes are mixed on diagonals.  537 which pretty much is diagonal is signed E/W while 571 switches directions in every new county.

[Duke87]

Also, in CT US-1 & I-95 are signed North & South and in CT actually run East & West. The state police refer to it as East & West.

I could have sworn I saw a sign somewhere once referring to Route 1 as East versus West. I think it was in Mystic...

[Hellfighter]

The only Example that comes to mind is M-10/Lodge Freeway, which at glance, goes more east-west than north-south, especially the northern section, yet MDOT signs it as North-South.

[florida]

FL 24 is signed east/west along its entire diagonal self.
FL 200 is signed north/south (I believe).
The diagonal part of FL 405 is signed east/west (on approaches from FL 407 and US 1), but the rest is signed north/south, and there are no direction tabs on signs along US 1 in downtown Titusville.

[SSOWorld]

US 52 is a prime example

It is marked N-S in Iowa and Minnesota (MN is marked only St. Paul Southeastward, but it is marked E-W in North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio (dunno about east of there, but I'm sure there's more Nouth-South markings (WV?, VA?, NC?)

[hbelkins]

US 52 is a prime example

It is marked N-S in Iowa and Minnesota (MN is marked only St. Paul Southeastward, but it is marked E-W in North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio (dunno about east of there, but I'm sure there's more Nouth-South markings (WV?, VA?, NC?)

US 52 is N-S in all three of those states you mentioned. Not sure how it's signed in South Carolina.

[rawmustard]

The only Example that comes to mind is M-10/Lodge Freeway, which at glance, goes more east-west than north-south, especially the northern section, yet MDOT signs it as North-South.

Dang, I had forgotten about M-10. Probably the reason that is N-S is because US-10 was N-S when it occupied the Lodge (and all the way to Bay City).

[froggie]

I could have sworn I saw a sign somewhere once referring to Route 1 as East versus West. I think it was in Mystic...

Years ago, there was one coming off the Hammonasset Beach connector at Exit 62 in Clinton.  Haven't been back there since '01 though.

US 52 is N-S in all three of those states you mentioned. Not sure how it's signed in South Carolina.

According to Mike Roberson, it's signed both E-W and N-S within South Carolina.  My one experience, in Cheraw, it's signed north-south.

[Chris]

US-101 does have a section labeled East-West in WA across the north part of the Olympic peninsula.  10 yrs ago (the last time that I was up there) that wasn't the case.  It was all North-South, but it swapped direction in Port Angeles.  You always left Port Angeles going south on US-101 no matter whether you were actually travelling east or west.

--Andy

Is the northbound part from Olympia to Port Angeles signed south? That would be odd  It turns south later across the peninsula though.