Californians, Beware!

[:) Smiley]

Az, a brief guide to US highway system:

Odd numbers run north-south, even numbers east-west.

Limited-access highways are known as Interstates (I-80, I-15, etc) and have the neat red and blue shield sign. Major roads all end with 5's or 0's. I-5 runs up the west coast, I-95 on the east. I-10 along the south, I-90 up north. 3-digit numbers are for loops and spurs. Hawaii's interstates are numbered H1, H2, etc.

The older system of US routes, such as US 1, US 20, etc, are also federally funded but are normal roads, and have traffic lights and level crossings, though they may also have overpasses. US 1 runs up the east coast and US 101 up the west, otherwise numbering system is similar.

Then there are state highways and county highways. Some cities use numbers for their streets as well. Is this an uniquely American thing?

[Az]

Very interesting, smiley. Thanks
When were the interstates built? and when were the US roads?

[Wittlich]

Meh, that's southern California for you...

[Big Dave]

Originally posted by Azazel
Very interesting, smiley. Thanks
When were the interstates built? and when were the US roads?

The US highways were built in the Eisenhour Administration (in the 1950's), I'm not sure when the Interstate highways were started. I remember riding on them in the 60's to go on vacation and such.

[Japher]

SoCal has the most messed up Freeway system ever. All of the freeways no longer seem to have numbers, but names; Santa Monica Freeway, San Diago Freeway, etc... and they never seem to go where they say they are going since you can be going away from that place just as well. Not to mention that SoCal is almost all freeway with bumper to bumper traffic... I hate that place.

[Barinthus]

They still got numbers... Santa Monica is I-10, San Diego would be I-405...

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Brent
I've lived in Sacramento since 1989, and have never felt a quake.

Yeah it seems that Sac area isn't exactly a fertile quake terrority.

[Japher]

They still got numbers... Santa Monica is I-10, San Diego would be I-405...

Yeah, down there you got all the 5s; 205, 405, 5, 505, etc...

Up here we got the 80s; 80, 85, 87, 280, 680, 880, 17 etc... gets reall confusing

[Chemical Ollie]

Dont worry about the road numbers, after the Big One hit, they will have to be rebuilt anyway.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

also, socalers dont say 'take highway 5', or 'take 5 north' they say 'take the 5'

and they are called freeways down there, not highways. and they look at you funny when you say highway.
also they have toll roads (quite useful i find) but all highways go through LA which sucks.

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Japher


Yeah, down there you got all the 5s; 205, 405, 5, 505, etc...

Up here we got the 80s; 80, 85, 87, 280, 680, 880, 17 etc... gets reall confusing

I remember those from the days I lived in San Jose

BTW don't forget all 10s. 10, 110, 710, 210. There's 101, and 605 too. State routes 19, 2, 60, 57, 134, 170, 118, 27, 91, 55, 39, 1, 72 are also commonly used. Makes your head spin doesn't it?

[Japher]

It makes the song "Do you know the way to San Jose" get really bad if your coming from Redlands or La Hoya or somewhere.

I know from my uncles in Sac it sounds confusing to take the 5 to the 80 to 680 to the 280... use to also have to take the 85, and if the 680 was busy I would then take the 580 over to the 101 to the 85 instead, or the 580 to the 880 to the 85.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
also, socalers dont say 'take highway 5', or 'take 5 north' they say 'take the 5'

and they are called freeways down there, not highways. and they look at you funny when you say highway.
also they have toll roads (quite useful i find) but all highways go through LA which sucks.

we call them freeways in Vegas as well. East coast people think I'm strange using that word.

[Japher]

that's cuz on the east coast they have toll roads, which aren't necessarily "free"...eh?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Azazel
Could someone explain to me the highway marking system in the US?

I-15? US95? WTF?

it's complicated.

I-15 is a freeway (Interstate) has the designation as a north south route. But in realty it goes diagonal. It goes from San Diego to east of Los Angeles then to Las Vegas. Then up into Utah and Salt Lake City, And then north from there (I haven't actually been north of Salt Lake city )

US95 is a north south highway. Mostly highway, but in towns you will find traffic lights- so it isn't a road without stops like freeways are. It kind of follows the colorado river up the Arizona/California Border. It then enters Nevada at Laughlin. Then goes north and intersects with US 93 and they both go into Las Vegas. In Las Vegas it is real complicated because it interacts with our freeway system to get around town. But eventually it heads Northwest out of town past the spring mountains and eventualy to Reno, Nevada. Not sure where it goes frome there, haven't taken it that far