Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[kphoger]

6-20-26:
Whenever a highway gets realigned significantly enough that it noticeably affects the mileage, all of the mileposts and exit numbers (if there are any) have to be replaced and renumbered starting from the start of the new alignment and all the way downstream to the end/state line to reflect the new mileage, which is very time-consuming and expensive for DOTs. What are some ways DOTs can use to save money when updating the mileage of the realigned highway?

Raise taxes every time any route gets a new alignment.

[PNWRoadgeek]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

[kphoger]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

I-69

[Big John]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

the low-way system.

[GaryV]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

The irrational fractional system.

[formulanone]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Narkways: with speed traps every 5280 feet to save money on installing permanent mile markers.

[ModernDayWarrior]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Trumpways. The shields would all be orange.

[MikeTheActuary]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Whatever the corporation that buys the naming rights says.

[MikeTheActuary]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

The yellow brick roads.

[kurumi]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Wherein we find out the Transportation Secretary is a huge weeb: the new network is called "Let's Drive!"

There are no route numbers; instead, use the more than 1,000 Pokemon images. US 1 becomes Bulbasaur, etc.

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

Either federally maintained dirt/gravel roads or wooden plank roads

[NE2]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Beltways. They go around in circular arguments.

[xonhulu]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

The wayhigh system. It would be designed & only used by stoners.

[kphoger]

Trumpways. The shields would all be orange.

It'll be huge.

[cockroachking]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

Trumpways. The shields would all be orange.

Like this?

     

[TheCatalyst31]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

The Trans-51st State Highway Network.

[GaryV]

Trumpways. The shields would all be orange.

It'll be huge.

A huge expense, when they have to repaint the lines every 2-3 weeks.

[The_Ginger]

6-23-2026: If we created a new highway system in the US, what would we call it?

We wouldn't, as it would have no names or numbering schemes for maximum way-finding capability.

[hotdogPi]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

I'll start:

US 5 was numbered that because it high-fives I-91 and the Connecticut River a bunch.

We on this forum know US 66 was originally US 60; it changed away from 60 because people interpreted 60 as a speed limit.

[kphoger]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

Easy.  US-400 got its number because it was originally supposed to extend all the way to future US-0.

[The_Ginger]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 121 and US 119 were numbered as such because bigwig West Virginia businesspeople wanted numbers that people would easily remember.

[1995hoo]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

....

US-1 runs through multiple areas known for rude or aggressive drivers, including the DC area, New York, Baltimore, Miami, and Boston. So it was numbered based on a popular one-fingered gesture used in those areas as a means of communication with other drivers.

[JayhawkCO]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US69 started when two people were hungry.

[PNWRoadgeek]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

I'll start:

US 5 was numbered that because it high-fives I-91 and the Connecticut River a bunch.

We on this forum know US 66 was originally US 60; it changed away from 60 because people interpreted 60 as a speed limit.

US 101 came from a CalTrans employee trying to teach a "Button Copy 101" lesson.

[Big John]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 86 was not approved as it got 86ed in the process.