Interstate or US Highway Changes without AASHTO or FHWA approval

[ssummers72]

What other instances have there been route changes either Interstate or US Highway which was not approved by AASHTO or the FHWA.

In NW Indiana we have an example of this:
US-12 was rerouted to follow US-20 from Bridge St in Gary West to IN-912 and then North along IN-912 back to US-12 Columbus Drive in East Chicago. US-12 used to follow Industrial Highway passing by the Gary/Chicago Airport.

Take Care,
Stephen

[vdeane]

Does I-99 count?

[froggie]

No, since FHWA had to approve I-99 as part of the Congressional legislation.

Stephen:  keep in mind that FHWA approval is not required for U.S. route changes....just for Interstate changes.

[hbelkins]

Agreed. AASHTO is a voluntary organization with no regulatory or enforcement powers. If Kentucky wanted to put US 460 on the Mountain Parkway and end it at I-64, and re-sign the existing US 460 from Salyersville to Frankfort as a state route, it could do so unilaterally without any kind of retribution or punishment. AASHTO approval is just a courtesy, and I'm surprised that more states don't just go ahead and sign routes without seeking AASHTO approval, or doing route alignment changes even if AASHTO disapproves.

[froggie]

Well to be fair, its taken in good faith with both AASHTO *AND* the respective state DOTs.  An honor system, if you will.  But agreed that there is no regulatory/enforcement power.  It'd be dishonoring for a state to change a US route without the request to AASHTO, but there's nothing outright stopping the state from doing it.  And nothing AASHTO could do to prevent it either.

[ssummers72]

From all the researh I have done on the Interstate and US Route Numbering System, I have this understanding:

1. All interstate additions follow this criteria from the FHWA:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/dfitm.htm

The Route itself is approved by the FHWA and the number is approved by AASHTO unless it is legislatively added.

2. All US Route numbering changes are governed by the AASHTO US Route Numbering Committee.

Now, off a tangent here, when the Interstate System was finally ready to receive an official numbering system, the committee sat down and began the task. The first map was made on July 29, 1957 but never came to fruition. The 3 gentlemen that worked on this are:
Fred M. Auer (N.H.), J.P. Mills Jr. (VA) and T.J. Kennedy (BPR). The next map that was created became the numbering system we have today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_August_14,_1957.jpg

An Example from this map is: I-5 on the West Coast was I-1 with and I-1E and I-1W in California at SF and Sacramento.

Stephen

This research has been ongoing since 2002 on the compilation and understanding of the Interstate Highway Route Numbering Changes. I used to have a site on Homestead.com that was the beginning of this research.

[TheStranger]

The most notable US highway extension that AASHTO rejected but ultimately was signed has to be US 377 in Oklahoma along State Highway 99...

[english si]

Now, off a tangent here, when the Interstate System was finally ready to receive an official numbering system, the committee sat down and began the task. The first map was made on July 29, 1957 but never came to fruition. The 3 gentlemen that worked on this are:
Fred M. Auer (N.H.), J.P. Mills Jr. (VA) and T.J. Kennedy (BPR). The next map that was created became the numbering system we have today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_August_14,_1957.jpg

An Example from this map is: I-5 on the West Coast was I-1 with and I-1E and I-1W in California at SF and Sacramento.

While this map has some rather interesting (and perhaps more sensible) things (different route for what is now I-80 in PA, called I-84, with an I-82 going to NYC and I-80 taking the turnpike/I-78 to Philly and NYC; I-82, rather than I-80N for route that's now I-84W), it has I-5 as I-5, not I-1.

[ssummers72]

The map I have a copy of predates the August map, this one was created in July and it was the first inception of then numbering scheme.

Stephen

[Brandon]

The map I have a copy of predates the August map, this one was created in July and it was the first inception of then numbering scheme.

Stephen

I don't think I've seen that one before.  Is there a way you can scan it it and provide a link for us to see it?

[ssummers72]

Brandon,

I have no active web site to post it to.

Stephen

[Brandon]

Brandon,

I have no active web site to post it to.

Stephen

IIRC, Flickr is free, as are several blog hosts (Blogger, Wordpress).  They've proven useful recently to post such things.

[froggie]

I have no active web site to post it to.

Besides what Brandon posted, you could also send it my way to add to the Yellow Book scans and related maps I've posted here...

[kurumi]

Now, off a tangent here, when the Interstate System was finally ready to receive an official numbering system, the committee sat down and began the task. The first map was made on July 29, 1957 but never came to fruition. The 3 gentlemen that worked on this are:
Fred M. Auer (N.H.), J.P. Mills Jr. (VA) and T.J. Kennedy (BPR). The next map that was created became the numbering system we have today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_August_14,_1957.jpg

An Example from this map is: I-5 on the West Coast was I-1 with and I-1E and I-1W in California at SF and Sacramento.

While this map has some rather interesting (and perhaps more sensible) things (different route for what is now I-80 in PA, called I-84, with an I-82 going to NYC and I-80 taking the turnpike/I-78 to Philly and NYC; I-82, rather than I-80N for route that's now I-84W), it has I-5 as I-5, not I-1.

An article from the Deseret News and Telegram (Salt Lake City; Sept. 25, 1957) refers to the 1957 numbers, including I-82S, with a crude map and photo of a new I-15 sign (be sure to scroll left on the overview): http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=55guAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RkgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6749,5057231&dq=interstate-designation&hl=en

[Bickendan]

US 26 through downtown Portland comes to mind. It's officially routed along the SW Market/Clay St couplet and along SW Front Ave (Naito Pkwy) between the Sunset Highway and the Ross Island Interchange; it's signed along I-405, SW Broadway (and SW 5th Ave and SW Sheridan St eastbound), SW 3rd Ave, SW Arthur St now.

Interestingly enough, the 2010 Thomas Guide has it signed on both alignments (except along Naito Pkwy).

[xonhulu]

US 26 through downtown Portland comes to mind. It's officially routed along the SW Market/Clay St couplet and along SW Front Ave (Naito Pkwy) between the Sunset Highway and the Ross Island Interchange; it's signed along I-405, SW Broadway (and SW 5th Ave and SW Sheridan St eastbound), SW 3rd Ave, SW Arthur St now.

There are still a couple US 26 signs posted along the Market/Clay couplet, but I think those have just been overlooked.  ODOT also eliminated US 26 from its duplex with US 101 into Astoria before applying for AASHTO's consent.

Washington state made some US route changes years ago, like eliminating US 197 between Dallesport and Maryhill, adding ALT US 101 near Long Beach, and re-routing US 12 in the Yakima Valley, but only recently got AASHTO approval.

[TheStranger]

Forgot to mention an obvious one from California: the creation of Alternate US 50.

[Bickendan]

There are still a couple US 26 signs posted along the Market/Clay couplet, but I think those have just been overlooked.  ODOT also eliminated US 26 from its duplex with US 101 into Astoria before applying for AASHTO's consent.

I think the objective was to have traffic avoid the construction mess with first the streetcar construction, then sewer repairs, then the Green Line MAX construction, and now PSU's Lincoln Hall rehab. But the reroute has made the right lane of the Sunset into town a mess from the Zoo on in during rush hour.

[andytom]

There are still a couple US 26 signs posted along the Market/Clay couplet, but I think those have just been overlooked.  ODOT also eliminated US 26 from its duplex with US 101 into Astoria before applying for AASHTO's consent.

I think the objective was to have traffic avoid the construction mess with first the streetcar construction, then sewer repairs, then the Green Line MAX construction, and now PSU's Lincoln Hall rehab. But the reroute has made the right lane of the Sunset into town a mess from the Zoo on in during rush hour.

Most people don't know the shortcut.   

--Andy

[vdeane]

NY signed I-695 before it was officially approved by AASHTO (it was spur I-295).

[froggie]

NY signed I-695 before it was officially approved by AASHTO (it was spur I-295).

It's quite possible though that they had FHWA approval.  Which trumps AASHTO approval in the case of Interstates.

[roadfro]

AASHTO approval of Interstate numbers is more of a procedural formality than anything else. I believe FHWA has the ultimate approval on the numbering, unless the number is written into law.

[ssummers72]

Sorry about the delay,

Here are a few scans of the July 29, 1957 map of the first proposed numbering of the Interstate System Route numbering from AASHO.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46257759@N02/sets/72157623271688706/

When I have a chance, I will upload more.

Take Care,

Stephen Summers

[Bickendan]

Some of those make more sense than our current numbers.

[Brandon]

Wow.  That one didn't leave many numbers for expanding the system on the edges, but left a lot of numbers open in the middle.