Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[JayhawkCO]

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

They ran out of other numerals at the sign factory.

[GaryV]

10/5/2025:

Why doesn't Canada have an Interstate system like America does?

The US Interstate system took shape to improve cross-country military travel in defense of the nation.  But who would want to invade Canada (other than John Candy?)

Ummm ...

[TheCatalyst31]

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

Caltrans really likes saying "double nickel".

[Henry]

10/5/2025:

Why doesn't Canada have an Interstate system like America does?

Most provinces (mainly ON and QC) do, but they want to cover it up with heavily altered shields.

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

The powers that be in Sacramento were the ones that mandated a colored 55 on car speedometers during the NMSL era, and their highways are relics of that.

[xonhulu]

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

The director of CalTrans is a big Foghat fan.

[Scott5114]

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

The director of CalTrans is a big Foghat fan.

That guy just wants rural drivers to take a slow ride 'cause he's a fool for the city.

[xonhulu]

2025-10-06:
Why are so many flat CA state highways signed at 55 MPH?

The director of CalTrans is a big Foghat fan.

That guy just wants rural drivers to take a slow ride 'cause he's a fool for the city.

https://youtu.be/L7mS1YtAtRI?si=Spcg5Ca98NZnAF9J

[Roadgeekteen]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

[Scott5114]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

The construction of that section of I-35 was funded by a generous donation from the estate of Mr. Lea.

[Great Lakes Roads]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Iowa doesn't exist (Des Moines is missing as a state capitol).

[GaryV]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Because Victoria and Albert was already taken as a museum name in England.

[PColumbus73]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Because the town didn't want to be called 'Limon'

[wanderer2575]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

They thought they might be able to work it into a Burma-Shave verse.

[1995hoo]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

They were afraid of protests if they used Robertee Lee.

[kphoger]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

— Because Duluth is north of the Twin Cities.  Duh.

— Because there's no intersecting US Route or Interstate in Faribault.

— To fit in with the clockwise alphabet scheme:  I-35 SB to Albert Lea, US-169 SB to Blue Earth, I-94 WB to St Cloud, I-35 NB to Duluth, I-94 EB to Eau Claire.

[kurumi]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

The I-35 plan predates Albert Lea, which was a clever placeholder name (it's an anagram for "alterable"). That name first appears in the document "General location of national system of interstate highways, including all additional routes at urban areas designated in September, 1955", which we know as the Yellow Book.

The plan was a little too clever, as entrepreneurs started developing the valuable land near the junction of two interstates, and the name for the new city was already on planning maps. Now it's too late to change anything.

[JayhawkCO]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Because the head of AASHTO at the time was a big fan of English guitarists.

[xonhulu]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Albert Lea watched hours of Tony Robbins videos, achieved self-empowerment, and took control.  You can, too!

[formulanone]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

It was originally supposed to point to Albert Hall.

There was some controversy when Being for the Benefit of Mister Kite! was released, when Harvey Kitel sued for defamation. During the trial, it turns out that he hadn't put on the spectacles properly, so the case was dismissed. But during the media circus that ensued, Minnesota's Transteleporation Cabernet elites quietly picked some random town instead.

[vdeane]

Most provinces (mainly ON and QC) do, but they want to cover it up with heavily altered shields.

Most? ON and QC is 2/10, adding in NB and NS makes it 4/10.  Alberta has a freeway system, but there's nothing to differentiate it (not special shields like QC/NB/NS or special numbering like ON); IMO BC's freeways don't really count as a "system" unless/until BC 17 is fully upgraded.

[Max Rockatansky]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Because calling the store and asking "do you have Albert Lea in a can?" would go over the head of a modern prank recipient. 

[thspfc]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

They misspelled Alan Land.

[PNWRoadgeek]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

Because he's gonna be the next Grand Alan.

[Big John]

Because Albert is the prince wanting to get out of the can.

[Henry]

10/7/2025

Why is Albert Lea the Control City on I-35 south of the Twin Cities?

The construction of that section of I-35 was funded by a generous donation from the estate of Mr. Lea.

In fact, his great-grandson was the deputy mayor of Minneapolis at the time, and wanted to honor his memory by naming a random town after him. After seeing that absolutely nothing existed at the future interchange of I-35 and I-90, he sent a small group of surveyors and builders to construct the new town, and that's how it ended up where it is today.