More US Routes than Ohio

[roadman65]

In Ohio you have quite few US routes that change directions at state lines.

US 68 runs N-S, but changes yo E- W in Kentucky.

US 62 runs E-W, but becomes N-S in Pennsylvania.

US 35 runs E-W, but N- S in Indiana.

US 33 runs E-W, but N-S in Indiana.

US 42 is N- S, but E- W in Kentucky.

Any other states have more routes changing g cardinal directions at state.lines?

[wanderer2575]

You missed US-24 changing to north-south in Michigan.

[Mapmikey]

Also US 52 changes in Ohio from WV where it is posted N-S.

[pderocco]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

[GaryV]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but ...
I-69 and I-196 in Michigan - they switch directions midway through.

[wanderer2575]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but ...
I-69 and I-196 in Michigan - they switch directions midway through.

Which I'm okay with, because they don't change back.  On the other hand, I would oppose signing I-94 as north-south between Milwaukee and Chicago because it is signed east-west on both sides of that stretch.

[Dirt Roads]

Nowhere near as many, but West Virginia is a beneficiary of Ohio's confusion:

• US-35 changes from East-West in Ohio -to- North-South in West Virginia
• The aforementioned US-52 changes from East-West in Ohio -to- North-South in West Virginia
• US-250 changes from East-West in Ohio -to- North-South in West Virginia
• Plus, US-250 changes from North-South in West Virginia back-to East-West in Virginia

Plus, US-33 used to be posted as "North-West" -to- "South-East" in Ohio.  That changed over to "East-West" in West Virginia as well.  Nowadays, ODOT agrees with West Virginia.

[paulthemapguy]

US52 is marked as east-west in North Dakota, but north-south in Minnesota.
Then, US52 is marked as north-south in Iowa, but east-west in Illinois.

[zzcarp]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

I-295 in New Jersey is signed North-South. Crossing into Pennsylvania, it is signed East-West

I-76 used to have its short stretch in Nebraska signed as north-south as opposed to Colorado as east-west, but they changed it some time between 2022 and 2024.

[Quillz]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

CA-18 isn't signed with cardinal directions at all since it has sort of a question mark shape and it's not really clear if it's considered north-south or east-west. (Although historically, it would have been the latter).

As an aside, I've always liked the inner/outer concept instead of cardinal directions for beltways and other loops. Seems to have not really caught on, though.

[thenetwork]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

CA-18 isn't signed with cardinal directions at all since it has sort of a question mark shape and it's not really clear if it's considered north-south or east-west. (Although historically, it would have been the latter).

And then there is the QEW in Ontario, who only signs their "cardinal direction" as the final control city -- nevermind a simple North-South labeling would suffice.

[PColumbus73]

South Carolina following the US/Interstate numbering system, so US 52 is signed East-West, but North-South in North Carolina. Similar with US 178, and 276.

[GaryV]

And then there is the QEW ... signs their "cardinal direction" as the final control city -- nevermind a simple North-South

From Toronto, the QEW runs SW then SE then nearly E, then S, then SE, and finally E.

[pderocco]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

CA-18 isn't signed with cardinal directions at all since it has sort of a question mark shape and it's not really clear if it's considered north-south or east-west. (Although historically, it would have been the latter).

As an aside, I've always liked the inner/outer concept instead of cardinal directions for beltways and other loops. Seems to have not really caught on, though.

How about CW and CCW on the signs? Takes a little more room than a single letter.

[Quillz]

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

CA-18 isn't signed with cardinal directions at all since it has sort of a question mark shape and it's not really clear if it's considered north-south or east-west. (Although historically, it would have been the latter).

As an aside, I've always liked the inner/outer concept instead of cardinal directions for beltways and other loops. Seems to have not really caught on, though.

How about CW and CCW on the signs? Takes a little more room than a single letter.

What do those stand for?

[hotdogPi]

How about CW and CCW on the signs? Takes a little more room than a single letter.

What do those stand for?

Clockwise and counterclockwise

[Quillz]

How about CW and CCW on the signs? Takes a little more room than a single letter.

What do those stand for?

Clockwise and counterclockwise

I would probably stick with "inner" and "outer" in that sense, although I guess it works.

[kphoger]

Neither one is more helpful than North/South/East/West.

[wanderer2575]

They're both needed, really.  "I-270 northbound innerbelt at US-40" describes the spot.

[pderocco]

They're both needed, really.  "I-270 northbound innerbelt at US-40" describes the spot.

You always need disambiguation if two routes cross each other more than once, which doesn't just happen with beltways. US-1 and I-95 cross several dozen times.

The only problem I have with "inner" and "outer" is that I'm used to thinking about "inner belt" as a separate road from "outer belt", since I grew up in the Boston area, which originally planned to have both, along with the "circumferential" route 128. But people could get used to any of these choices. I do like the idea of there not being points where directions quietly change.

[kphoger]

I do like the idea of there not being points where directions quietly change.

I would like that idea a lot better if the road were somewhat straight.  But, with a beltway, there are points at which the real-life direction changes, so I think it's entirely appropriate for the signs to match reality.

You always need disambiguation if two routes cross each other more than once, which doesn't just happen with beltways. US-1 and I-95 cross several dozen times.

This happens on transit networks too.  For example, in Chicago, the Blue Line L has two Harlem stations and two Western stations.  And back when the Pink Line was just a branch of the Blue Line, the Blue Line had three Western stations.

[Tendies]

US-101 was (and probably still is) inconsistently signed both N/S and E/W between CA-134 and Santa Barbara, although it seems most of the E/W signage has been replaced in favor of N/S signage.
CA-02, CA-47, and CA-96 are also signed as both N/S and E/W at different parts. Officially, they are E/W, N/S, E/W, respectively.
The northern end of US-101 in Washington hooks around and inverts direction on itself. Signage goes from N/S, to E/W, to S/N. It used to be signed consistently N/S, but it led to confusion and was thus changed
On the other hand, we have AZ-73, which is U shaped, but maintains consistent N/S signage, meaning that entering from the "southern" terminus, you'd be headed geographically south on a northbound route.

I guess states choose directions based on the dominant axis of the road within the state, but not the entire route, or whether it's odd or even. I wonder if there are examples of that in the Interstate system.

CA-18 isn't signed with cardinal directions at all since it has sort of a question mark shape and it's not really clear if it's considered north-south or east-west. (Although historically, it would have been the latter).

As an aside, I've always liked the inner/outer concept instead of cardinal directions for beltways and other loops. Seems to have not really caught on, though.

Technically, CA-18 is north/south, according to Caltrans. It is actually signed as E/W on its "northern" part where it runs consistently E/W for many miles before curving back around and doing its own thing. Could've sworn I've also seen N/S signage for CA-18 on google before but I couldnt find it again.
I do like CW/CCW and inner/outer, however such signage, while more accurate, is too sophisticated for the average person to understand.

[akt85]

Not quite the same, but US 280 in Alabama is signed East/West but is one of the Florida Short Routes as the road runs Northwest/Southeast past Columbus, Georgia then runs East/West past Richland.

[LilianaUwU]

US 321 should be signed east-west in Tennessee, but it of course isn't.

[fillup420]

US 321 should be signed east-west in Tennessee, but it of course isn't.

hard agree. US 321 should switch from N/S to E/W at the King St/Hardin St intersection in Boone NC.

Although really, 321 should just be truncated to that point, and it could be US 370 from I-40 west of Knoxville to US 421 near Vilas NC.

whilst in Boone, I have always felt that US 421 throughout NC should be signed as North West/South East. whats the aversion to having 2 directional banners?