Interstate 35

[ethanhopkin14]

Lets put this topic to a poll:

Do you consider Interstate 35 one continuous route?

or

Do you consider it to be three discontinuous segments interrupted by their evil brothers Interstate 35E and Interstate 35W.......twice?

Thoughts?

[silverback1065]

Lets put this topic to a poll:

Do you consider Interstate 35 one continuous route?

or

Do you consider it to be three discontinuous segments interrupted by their evil brothers Interstate 35E and Interstate 35W.......twice?

Thoughts?

I say it's continuous.

[coatimundi]

As a number, it's continuous. The intention is that the route is all 35, while you're just given choices at two points as to which way to continue on 35. I think all suffixed routes, historically, were intended to be continuous, maybe with the exception of 5W.

[dcharlie]

continuous

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Due to the splits I consider three separate I-35s exist. The southern one from Laredo to Hillsboro, the central one from Denton to Burnsville MN, and the northern one from Lino Lakes to Duluth. There are I-35E and I-35W between Hillsboro and Denton and between Burnsville and Lino Lakes, yes, but no plain I-35 (or I-35C, for that matter).

The same applies to US routes (applying this, for some time US 31 didn't exist in Kentucky at all).

[hotdogPi]

You forgot to add the poll

It's continuous, just like US 19, 25, 31, and 70.

[sparker]

Since both DOT's in TX and MN use the post mileage from the main I-35 alignment on one of the "split" routes (the east branch in both states) as an overall in-state indicator, I would say that the intent was to provide a continuous route along the full corridor (although given the restrictions on I-35E in MN it might have behooved MNDOT to switch the through mileage to 35W!).  In short, it's continuous, IMO.

[roadman]

You forgot to add the poll

It's continuous, just like US 19, 25, 31, and 70.

You can choose both "yes" and "no" on the poll.  Sounds like something that Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister) would set up.

[ethanhopkin14]

You forgot to add the poll

It's continuous, just like US 19, 25, 31, and 70.

You can choose both "yes" and "no" on the poll.  Sounds like something that Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister) would set up.

Frankly I don't care about the poll as much as I do the discussion.  I didn't really want a bunch of yeses and nos, I really wanted to know what you thought and why.  I jut put the poll there because apparently if you mention poll, it has to have a poll. 

[TheStranger]

As a number, it's continuous. The intention is that the route is all 35, while you're just given choices at two points as to which way to continue on 35. I think all suffixed routes, historically, were intended to be continuous, maybe with the exception of 5W.

The Interstate system had way more suffixed spur routes from what I recall (80S/76, 80N/western 84, 15E/western 86, 81E/380, 70S/270).  Not the biggest fan of that.

California's suffixed interstates were all designed to be loop routes (5E/5W, 15E) from what I understand, much like the past 99W/99E split.

[cappicard]

As a number, it's continuous. The intention is that the route is all 35, while you're just given choices at two points as to which way to continue on 35. I think all suffixed routes, historically, were intended to be continuous, maybe with the exception of 5W.

I-35W (now I-135) in Kansas only went from Wichita to I-70 in Salina.


iPhone

[sparker]

California's suffixed interstates were all designed to be loop routes (5E/5W, 15E) from what I understand, much like the past 99W/99E split.

As California was a latecomer to the whole milepost/exit number concept,  the whole idea of "through route" vs. "discontinuous route" probably didn't occur to the old Division of Highways -- even though the planned I-5W would have had a substantial (48-mile) multiplex with I-80.  Even so, if mileage indication would have been a consideration then, the through/continuous mileage likely would have been over I-5E as the more direct route; whether the aggregate mileage of I-5W would have included that 48 miles over I-80 is moot today; the '64 renumbering made it discontinuous in any case.

[swbrotha100]

I believe that if it wasn't for I-69 and its branches in Texas, it would have been easier to eventually eliminate the I-35W/I-35E labels and just use an even number (I-x35) for Texas and Minnesota.

[coatimundi]

I believe that if it wasn't for I-69 and its branches in Texas, it would have been easier to eventually eliminate the I-35W/I-35E labels and just use an even number (I-x35) for Texas and Minnesota.

Who would get it though? This would be extremely controversial in DFW. Dallas is the obvious choice because of larger population and prominence. But it would only stoke Fort Worth's culture of inferiority.

The suffixed I-69's is completely ridiculous. It shows you how bickering among little towns and the attempt to appease them can result in stupid stuff happening with highways.

[amroad17]

Continuous because one of the I-35 branches (I-35E in Dallas and I-35W in Minneapolis) continue with the regular I-35 milemarkers and exit numbers.

[golden eagle]

Instead of an east-west split, why wasn't a 3DI assigned for one of the routes through DFW and the Twin Cities?

[Brandon]

Instead of an east-west split, why wasn't a 3DI assigned for one of the routes through DFW and the Twin Cities?

The problem comes in with the size of the cities involved, or their political pull.  Fort Worth is significantly smaller than Dallas, but has some political pull.  Saint Paul is close in size to Minneapolis.  I can see the I-35E-W split more in the Twin Cities than around Dalls-Ft Worth (which should be the one to get either a different 2di a la I-33, or a 3di a la I-235).

[TXtoNJ]

Instead of an east-west split, why wasn't a 3DI assigned for one of the routes through DFW and the Twin Cities?

Fort Worth and Saint Paul would bitch too hard about not having a mainline interstate pass through them.

If it were up to me, 287 would be upgraded to an interstate all the way to Amarillo (I-38 or I-33 would work, depending on if you wanted to go all the way to Limon/Denver/Colorado Springs/Pueblo or Raton), and 35W south of the 287 split would be a continuation of 38. 35W north of the split would be I-335 to Denton.

[roadman]

You forgot to add the poll

It's continuous, just like US 19, 25, 31, and 70.

You can choose both "yes" and "no" on the poll.  Sounds like something that Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister) would set up.

Frankly I don't care about the poll as much as I do the discussion.  I didn't really want a bunch of yeses and nos, I really wanted to know what you thought and why.  I jut put the poll there because apparently if you mention poll, it has to have a poll. 

So noted.  Just thought I'd point it out.

[ethanhopkin14]

Instead of an east-west split, why wasn't a 3DI assigned for one of the routes through DFW and the Twin Cities?

In both cases, neither town (Dallas, Ft. Worth Minneapolis and St. Paul) wanted to relinquish the I-35 number.  Neither town wanted to be favored over the other.  Believe it or not, I-35W (or I-35E for the sake of example) is still a main line interstate whereas I-335 is an axillary interstate.    Even though visually they look the same (both are on 36" x 24" shields) they are no where near the same politically. 

It isn't just a coincidence that where the two I-35s are, there are also Major League baseball teams that use the state name as their "city" instead of (Dallas, Ft. Worth Minneapolis or St. Paul.  And, at first, both teams played in a suburb of the combined metropolitan area between the two cities (Arlington and Bloominton).   It's because neither town wanted the other to claim it. 

[jbnati27]

I would consider it to be one continuous route, very similar to river with an island in the middle. You still get from the North to the South or vice-versa on the same route or river regardless of which branch you take.

[Bickendan]

Continuous because one of the I-35 branches (I-35E in Dallas and I-35W in Minneapolis) continue with the regular I-35 milemarkers and exit numbers.

I-35E in St Paul has the regular milemarkers and exit numbers, not 35W in Minneapolis.

[amroad17]

Yes.  I stand corrected.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Continuous, precisely because of the exit numbers and because Minnesota (at least) has the actual legal definition of what is I-35 following 35E. I've gotten in Wikipedia spats with people who think otherwise and seem insistent on presenting it as being a broken route.

Going off what Brandon said, in Minnesota's case there really isn't a clear winner. Minneapolis is larger, but St. Paul is the state capital. There really is no way to pick one over the other.

[DevalDragon]

When in doubt, follow the exit numbers.

Going off what Brandon said, in Minnesota's case there really isn't a clear winner. Minneapolis is larger, but St. Paul is the state capital. There really is no way to pick one over the other.