Is your freeway "the 5", "I-10" or "80"?

[zephead]

I found an interesting discussion (to me, at least, being a major roadgeek) on some random blog (http://patterico.com/2008/06/25/survey-do-you-call-your-local-freeway-the-10-or-i-10-or-10/) about how you refer to your local highways/freeways. They had a good discussion going too, until it died out and eventually got closed due to spam. What you call the freeways doesn't seem like that big of a deal until you give or get directions from someone from out of state. ;)

I've lived in SoCal most of my life, and of course, the vast majority of our freeways are referred to as "the [number]", such as the 60, the 5, and the 101 for CA 60, I-5, and US 101. Many freeways (usually closer to LA) are also called by name, which would make those numbers the Pomona Freeway, the Golden State/Santa Ana Freeway, and the Hollywood/Ventura Freeway, respectively. Pretty much the only qualification for getting a "the" is the fact that it's a freeway-standard road. State Routes on surface streets, such as Beach Blvd (SR 39) and Whittier Blvd (SR 72) are almost never referred to by number.

Of course, this is different from residents of No(r)Cal (:p) and apparently the rest of the country, who refer to their freeways as "15", "40", or "80", with names and/or "I-[number]" also interchangeably used.

As stated in the blog, I would also like your opinions on where the "the" starts and stops, and whether it's used in any other part of the country, just to prove to ourselves that we're not crazy (even though we are). :D

[SactoGuy18]

Here in Sacramento, CA, we just call it the "5", "50", "80", and "99". :)

[iGary]

"50" "301" "I-97" (sans "the").

Seems like a California phenomenon to me.

[tobefirst]

No "the" here either in St. Louis. We also call one of our major highways by its old U.S route number instead of the new(er) Interstate number. You can tell the difference between someone who has lived in St. Louis for a long time and someone who is visiting/just moved by whether they call it Highway 40, or I-64.

[garybUK]

i call our Motorways M60 / M56 / M67 / M62 ;) depending which one i'm on....

They are also (though unofficially in the UK) called E roads, an E road can form parts of many national and cross border roads to form a E- Road ....

The E05 will take you from Greenock, Scotland to Algeciras, Spain via many national roads.

[r.j.s]

Here, it is just "190" or Highway 190, since there is a Business Loop 190, also called Veteran's Memorial, that is parallel to the highway.

[SLC Flyfishing]

We call them I-15 and I-80 in Salt Lake City, but we refer to I-215 as simply "215".

SLC

[QuarterSwede]

We just call it by number in Colorado (25, etc). In Northern Virginia where the rest of my immediate family lives also that way for Interstates (95, etc.). However the exception is Route 1. Everyone just calls it that because saying "1" leaves people wondering exactly what you're talking about ... "One what?"

[mkrishnan]

In Detroit, we referred to them by a mix of number and name -- like the Lodge (John C. Lodge Freeway) was always called that way (and almost never called M-10). I-94 and I-96 were sometimes called that way and sometimes called by their names. I-75 I usually called I-75.

In Florida, oddly, I-10, I called I-10, but I-95 and I-295 I just called the 95 and 295.

In Chicago, I don't use the interstates that much but usually refer to them by name (particularly the Dan Ryan and the Skyway).

[ipodtoucher]

"114" "460" "i-81"

[ucfgrad93]

We just call it by number in Colorado (25, etc).

I generally refer to them with their I designation. I-25, I-70, etc.

[lozanoj83]

like the OP, in LA I call them the 105, 405 (living nightmare/death trap), 110, 605, 5, 101, the 2 and the 91.

However here in Riverside since I attend UCR, its the 60, 215, 15 and 91

[wordmunger]

Here, it's just "77" and "85" -- no Is or thes.

[7on]

In Kansas it's four-thirty-five (435) or eye-thirty-five (i35) or eye-seventy (i70).

[GimmeSlack12]

In SF I call them "The 280" and "The 101". I live in the Presidio.
To the OP you're near the 60 and the 5? Sounds like a Diamond Bar resident perhaps?

[Tanglewood]

My old roommate from Dallas used to bring this up. I always put 'the' in from of the number whether it be a state route (the 163, the 52, the 78) or an interstate (the 5, the 15, the 8). He was from Dallas so he always referred to the interstates with "I-<number>".

It really almost gets down to the pop, soda, or coke discussion when it comes to soft drinks.

[dmr727]

I put "the" in front of freeway names. For example, I take the 55 to work.

I think this is mainly a Socal thing. I've never heard it done elsewhere.

[yg17]

No "the" here either in St. Louis. We also call one of our major highways by its old U.S route number instead of the new(er) Interstate number. You can tell the difference between someone who has lived in St. Louis for a long time and someone who is visiting/just moved by whether they call it Highway 40, or I-64.
Then there's also 270 (never heard anyone use I-270). I just call it what it is....a parking lot ;)

[zephead]

To the OP you're near the 60 and the 5? Sounds like a Diamond Bar resident perhaps?

Nope, the 60 and the 5 is East LA, you're thinking of the 60 and the 57. Either way, I live way out in Moreno Valley near the 60 and the 215. :)

[Rapmastac1]

We call them I-15 and I-80 in Salt Lake City, but we refer to I-215 as simply "215".

SLC

I second this, exactly.

[rdowns]

In the greater NYC area, we have names for all of our expressways and parkways (we don't have no stinking freeways). Other than I-95, we rarely refer to any by number.

Some of them are:

Long Island Expressway
Grand Central Parkway/Northern State Parkway
Southern State Parkway
Belt Parkway
Cross Island Parkway
Gowanus Expressway
Cross Bronx Expressway

Trucks are not allowed on our parkways.

[raggedjimmi]

Just "motorway" here. Occasionally "the motorway" or with certain passengers "the motorway".

[sfh]

it's "80" and "5" never "the 80 or the 5" SO-Cal is crazy about "the"

[themoonisdown09]

I say "75" or "the interstate I get my speeding tickets on" for "I-75".

[zephead]

In the greater NYC area, we have names for all of our expressways and parkways (we don't have no stinking freeways). Other than I-95, we rarely refer to any by number.

Oddly enough, we do have one expressway: the Corona-Pomona Expressway (CA 71). I don't exactly know why it's the lone expressway in the land of freeways, but it probably has something to do with it not being entirely a freeway, since in certain parts it's one lane in each direction and it has a regular street intersection with Mission Blvd. Nevertheless, we still just call it the 71.

[GimmeSlack12]

Nope, the 60 and the 5 is East LA, you're thinking of the 60 and the 57. Either way, I live way out in Moreno Valley near the 60 and the 215. :)

Out in the IE huh? I went to UC Riverside. Partied in MoVal plenty of times.

[MacNut]

We call them highways or interstates around here. But when giving directions we just use the number.

[bassproguy07]

I-10 for me, but I live in Houston, TX so idk what yall are talkin bout with the five, I do know 880, 580, and highway 1 in california. I drive those often when I am out there

[tkidBOSTON]

Around Boston MA...

I-90 = "The Pike"
I-93 = "93"
I-95 = "128" for the loop around Boston and "95" for southern MA
Rt-9 = "Route 9"
Rt-1 = "Route 1"

Those are the major roads I find myself on out here... I know there are others on here from the greater Boston area and perhaps they'll add some more.

[northy124]

I call mine the M25 & M40 :D (M = Motorway)

[evilgEEk]

It's "I-84" for the main interstate, and "Connector" for the stretch of interstate that connects (get it??) to downtown.

[OutThere]

In my general driving area I drive on (some more than others):

I-90: "The Pike" (in Mass/Connecticut) or "The Thruway" (in New York)
I-87: "The Northway", north of Albany, "The Thruway" south of Albany and north of Westchester, and the "Major Deegan" south of Westchester or "87"
I-684: "684"

and the non I-# roads:

The Hutchinson River Parkway: "The Hutch"
The Taconic State Parkway: "The Taconic"
among many other NYC area named highways.

[EricNau]

Here in Sacramento, CA, we just call it the "5", "50", "80", and "99". :)
Indeed. Although, one exception would be the Capital City Freeway.

[bradl]

Agreed with the others here in Sacramento.

My other home in Vegas, we call the 215 Beltway "the 215", Interstate 15 "I-15", and US hwy 93/95/I-515 "US 95". They're all the same highway until they intersect I-15 at the Spaghetti Bowl.

My hometown (Omaha) calls US hwy 6 "Dodge street", I-80 "Interstate 80", I-680 is "I-680", I-480 "I-480", and I-29 "Interstate 29". Go fig.. :confused:

BL.

[d_and_n5000]

Around here, highways with numbers get called their numbers (no 'the') and interstates are called I-xx. So State Rd. 3 is "3", State Road 9 is "9" and Interstate 69 is "I-69".

[gauchogolfer]

Growing up in Texas we always called them I-35, etc. Same in Colorado (I-70).

Here in CA it's "the 101".

[benflick]

In Cincinnati and it's surrounding areas there is:
I-275...."275"
I-75...."75"
I-74...."74"
I-71...."71"
:D

[jodelli]

In Detroit, we referred to them by a mix of number and name -- like the Lodge (John C. Lodge Freeway) was always called that way (and almost never called M-10). I-94 and I-96 were sometimes called that way and sometimes called by their names. I-75 I usually called I-75.


Can verify this; state freeways are recognized by the 'name' as in 'the Lodge' and 'the Southfield' and almost never by their numbers.

In my home town on the other side of the river the local crosstown xway is by name E C Row. The Macdonald-Cartier Freeway from here to Toronto is almost always just 401. It is definitely 'The 401' when widening out to close to 20 lanes in TO.

[mahashel]

+1 Coloradoan that uses "I" when referring to interstate highways.
However, there are some disturbingly accurate titles that can be used in place of the actual number, which locals will immediately recognize as the intended highway.
example: I25 can also be called "the parking lot" or "death row". :rolleyes:

[Crawn2003]

101 a.k.a. The Parking Lot
CA-37 - My life line between North Bay and East Bay
CA-12 - My way to the ocean
The 80 - Where all those other highways take me

Crawn

[FrankieTDouglas]

In Louisiana, I get on Highway 80 until I reach "Eye-20" (interstate 20). If I want to go to New Orleans, I get on 165 (highway 165) and head south until I reach "Eye-10" (interstate 10).

[Stridder44]

Here in Sacramento, CA, we just call it the "5", "50", "80", and "99". :)

Indeed. When I used to live in Sacramento it was just called the "50", etc. I moved down to SoCal and now when I come back up to visit family I call it "the 50" or "the 80" without even realizing it.

[2056]

born and raised in arizona and we definately put "the" in front of everything
the 8, the 10, etc

[11800506]

In the DC area we just refer to them directly by the number. For example:
"270", "495" and "95". Seems to be more of an east coast thing

[SactoGuy18]

Indeed. Although, one exception would be the Capital City Freeway.

I've heard it quoted as both "Business 80" and "Cap City Freeway" on KFBK's radio traffic reports.

[ph0rk]

The interstate is I-40, the other two are either I-85 and I-95 or just 85 and 95. I-40 can also be just 40, but not as often.

State highways are just "54", "55", "64", and "70".

I guess we don't bother with fancy names here.

[alexlovesmacs]

I use the 91.

[lozanoj83]

Out in the IE huh? I went to UC Riverside. Partied in MoVal plenty of times.

You went to UCR?
Awesome! Im a freshman with my major being Computer Engineering. What class year were you?

[me_94501]

101, 880 (or "The Nimitz"), 238, Highway 17, Highway 24, Highway 13, Interstate 80.

[Melrose]

In my area, you just say "390" for the big one, "I-86" for the smaller one. In smaller locales, you just call it by the route number (eg: 15, 15a, 246, 256, 21, 20a, 5&20, etc)

[jessica.]

Funny this thread should come up.
I've spoken to countless people from Northern Cal and all the way east of California and found that So. Cal. people are the only ones who tend to put "the" in front of highways. Once I started realizing this by way of a buddy of mine (who is not from California), I was more aware of myself and tried to stop using "the" in front of highway names. I've even begun correcting people. My "location" is a total joke that I stuck on a few days back as a joke really.

Honestly, I'd like to say that putting THE in front of highway numbers somehow caters to the overall pertentious nature of so. cal. people finding themselves more important than the rest of the world. Perhaps this is my perception of the very area I was born and raised in, but it is my perception to have. ;) Either that or we're just attached to the word "the" and we find it to be so important that is must go before just about everything. "the oc" "the 5". :p

[zephead]

Let me offer my perspective on this whole "the" issue.

Another thing we from SoCal do is we have a tendency to abbreviate things - LA, OC (no one who lives there calls it "the OC" :rolleyes: ), the IE (Inland Empire - San Bernardino, Riverside, surrounding cities), PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, note the lack of "the"), heck, SoCal is even one.

In the 50s and 60s when a lot of the freeways were being built, a lot of people called the freeways by name - the Santa Ana Freeway, the Pasadena Freeway, the Pomona Freeway, all obviously needing "the" since they're nouns and you wouldn't say "take freeway", you'd say "take the freeway". But the names have slowly fallen into disuse probably because the number shield takes up a lot less space on the signs, and the names and numbers to everybody here are synonymous, so "Santa Ana" and "5", and "Pomona" and "60" are easily interchangeable. Plus, the numbers are easier to say. So the abbreviations boil down like this:

"the Santa Ana Freeway" > "the Santa Ana"
"the 5 Freeway" > "the 5"

Apparently, you East Coasters still use "the" with your freeway expressway/parkway names - The Lodge, The Pike, The Hutch, you just haven't gotten lazy and used the numbers yet. :p

[Randman]

In Florida, oddly, I-10, I called I-10, but I-95 and I-295 I just called the 95 and 295.

I usually hear 95 used with an I so maybe it's the number of digits.

Up till last year I was in Singapore where I worked for 8 years and the major roadways go by abbreviations rather than full names or nicknames.

Example: People use PIE (pee eye E) instead of Pan-Island Expressway.

[Melrose]

Forgot to mention in Rochester there's two routes that loop around the city - Called, you guessed it, The Outer Loop and The Inner Loop.. Both branch off I-390 to become I-490 and I-590 - well, actually, 590 only goes up one side I guess and other routes combine to make the loop - but I can't remember which one is inner or outer... I can find my way onto them and know where they go I just don't know which is which... weird.

[NC MacGuy]

Just straight up numbers with the occasional South, North, East, West tacked on for clarification.

Example:
I can take 40 to 95 to go to NY or Florida.

[LumbermanSVO]

As a truck driver I use the I/US/(state name) plus the number. There are WAY too many highways I travel to call them all "The" of by just the number.

It drive me nuts when a local gives me directions using nicknames that can't be found on a map or road sign.

[furcalchick]

in south florida, we only really use 'the' for florida's turnpike. everything else is i-(interstate number).

[Aaon]

In New Mexico I always say "I-25" and "I-40." Here in the Chicago area though people seem to refer to freeways by name, like "The Indiana Toll Road" instead of I-80/90, or the Dan Ryan Expressway, etc.

[Q-Dog]

I have driven US Interstate 10 from end to end, and only in Southern California do it hear it called "the 10." Everywhere else, it is I-10. I work with folks from SoCal, and they call it "the 10" even though we are nowhere near "Kal-ee-forn-yah."

[it5five]

I always put "the" in front of the numbers

"the 101", "the 17", "the 202", "the 10"

I live in Phoenix, AZ, so it may be a SoCal phenomenon that migrated over here.

[firstapple]

Well, I don't live in CA, but here in MI mine is I-96

[ajwchin]

Here in NC it's I-40, I-85, US-1

[apsterling]

The 101, the 51 and the 202... yeah, I use the. But if it's an interstate I say the I-4 or whatever.

[JML42691]

In means of local roads here, it varies by what road:

The Expressway (I-93 south of the city through the Braintree Split)
Route 3
24 (Route 24)
123
139
3A
93 (All of I-93 except for the part referred to as the expressway)

[jessica.]

Here in NC it's I-40, I-85, US-1

Not when I'm there! I'm bringing THE back with me. You all have ZERO chance with me!
:p

[apsterling]

I always put "the" in front of the numbers

"the 101", "the 17", "the 202", "the 10"

I live in Phoenix, AZ, so it may be a SoCal phenomenon that migrated over here.

Don't forget the 51. Sometimes the 101 gets called the Loop 101 too.

[it5five]

Don't forget the 51. Sometimes the 101 gets called the Loop 101 too.

That's right. Poor 51. I hardly ever take it though and I forget it exists sometimes.

[neiltc13]

The motorways near me are called the M90, M9 and M8. I've never heard anyone refer to any of them simply as "the 90" or "the 9".

[OutThere]

As a truck driver I use the I/US/(state name) plus the number. There are WAY too many highways I travel to call them all "The" of by just the number.

It drive me nuts when a local gives me directions using nicknames that can't be found on a map or road sign.

Funny thing is that in Massachusetts I-90 is often clearly indicated by a pilgrim hat and "MassPike". :D

[Azmordean]

I've noticed traveling in California the "the" phenomenon you refer to. This was mainly in the bay area and the central coast. Particularly "the 101" and "the 5" (I guess since these are the primary north-south routes). I've never encountered that anywhere else though.

Here in Virginia, we seem to use just the number. "Take 81 North" or "Traffic on 95 is awful today." I've never heard formal highway names used, except for 495, which, of course, is often called "the beltway."

[zephead]

Sorry, had to come back and bump this...

Last month, I went to a truck driving school, and here I am sitting in Amarillo, TX with my lead driver (since I'm still a student) waiting for a load to take somewhere.

In just about 2 weeks out on the road, I've been to a good amount of states: started out in California and went to Texas, went north to Iowa, east to Ohio, south to Georgia and the Carolinas, and slightly north and then west to Amarillo, TX.

Talking to people from a bunch of different states, I haven't yet heard anybody say "I-#" or "US-#", everyone just says the number. Even my trainer who does it when he's giving me directions, i.e. we were driving down the I-75 in Georgia and we passed I-16. A couple miles later, I saw an exit for GA-16. So I used that as an example and I asked him if he could say "I-#" or "US-#" if he's giving me directions and he said something like "no, because you're already supposed to know which one it is." =/

My first day, we stopped at a truck stop off of I-10 on US 95 in Arizona and there were signs pointing US 95 one way, and Arizona 95 another way. So if someone says "take 95", how are you to know which 95 to take unless it's somehow clarified? It's confusing enough having different highways with the same number (CA stopped that almost 50 years ago), but even more confusing when no distinguishment is made.

Another thing, we were talking to this guy at a truck stop and he said he was "driving 80 in the rain" and I said "that's crazy, you can't be going 80 mph in the rain!" and he said "no, 80! I-80!" :o

[LumbermanSVO]

Sorry, had to come back and bump this...

Last month, I went to a truck driving school, and here I am sitting in Amarillo, TX with my lead driver (since I'm still a student) waiting for a load to take somewhere.

Fellow large car driver here. If you don't mind me asking, who are you driving for? I gave up on training students after only 5, WAY too stressful.

As far as highways go, I always write down the proper name. US-95, AZ-95, and so on. no point in getting mixed up just because I'm lazy :)

[FX120]

Depends on the road for some reason, Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 are almost always referred to as "I-5" and "I-205" respectively, yet for some reason Interstate 405 is always referred to by simply "405". US Routes and state highways are typically named out with "highway" in front of their number, such as "Highway 26", although simply "26", or "the sunset highway" would also be acceptable.

[Mr. Giver '94]

I'm in SoCal too so we just say the number, but with a "the" in front of it.

The 5, The 210, The 118, The 710, The 91, The 2, The you get the picture...

And then there are specific names that are used interchangably with the numbers... The Hollywood Freeway, The harbor Freeway, etc.

[zephead]

Fellow large car driver here. If you don't mind me asking, who are you driving for? I gave up on training students after only 5, WAY too stressful.

As far as highways go, I always write down the proper name. US-95, AZ-95, and so on. no point in getting mixed up just because I'm lazy :)
I'm driving for CRST. They paid for CR England to train us though, which was a little weird, but it worked out pretty well. Had to sign my soul away for 8 months for the "free" training but at least it was nothing out-of-pocket, because I had hardly anything in them, lol.

Another thing I'm gonna have to get used to is exit numbers. Being from CA, I've never used them in my life, but I've gotta say, the whole mile/exit system makes a lot of sense when you really look at it. So does the metric system, but I don't see the US going metric anytime soon. :p

I'm in SoCal too so we just say the number, but with a "the" in front of it.

The 5, The 210, The 118, The 710, The 90, The 2, The you get the picture...

And then there are specific names that are used interchangably with the numbers... The Hollywood Freeway, The harbor Freeway, etc.

The names are easier to use at the Hollywood Split: name-wise, it's a regular interchange; the Hollywood Fwy (N/S) and Ventura Fwy (E/W) meet. Number-wise, it's...
----170----
101----134
----101----

:eek:

[puckhead193]

Everyone says the name on long island...like the L.I.E. (long island expressway) or the northern state parkway.
Long islanders don't say 495 when referring to the L.I.E. Although we do give our main roads abbreviations.. like deer park ave. is 'D.P.A' and the L.I.E.
The only major roads we use the numbers are (at least in my part of long island) are 347 and 110.
I'm sure its in some billy joel song :p

[hexonxonx]

I generally refer to them with their I designation. I-25, I-70, etc.

Same, I-70 or I-25.

[Chundles]

Public highways get names:

The Hume Highway
The Princes Highway
The Sturt Highway
The Stuart Highway etc.

Toll roads get numbers:

M5, M7, M4, M2 etc.

[LethalWolfe]

When I'm back in the Midwest, or I'm talking about the Midwest, I just use the number. When I'm in LA, or I'm talking about LA, I put 'the' in front of the number. Go figure.

And the names like Hollywood Freeway or Santa Monica Free is effing crap because if you don't know the area then the names are useless. At least they've started putting directions (NSEW) on the signs now.


Lethal

[Kamera RAWr]

Where I lived in Washington, we only had I-5 (only major highway around) and thats exactly what we called it... I-5. Now I'm on SoCal and they say "the 5".

[yojitani]

This is a really interesting observation and question! I use '80' since '80' is the nearest interstate.

[samiwas]

This is a very interesting discovery. I was at work the other day in Atlanta with some people who are here from LA. When getting directions, they kept saying "OK, so do we take the 75 or the 85?" I, knowing what they were getting at, was able to respond. But other just looked at them like "what are you talking about?" No one in Atlanta, or the south for that matter, says anything other than "75 or "85" (that I've heard). The "the-" thing is definitely a California thing.

[blackfox]

Here in Portland, OR we have two major Interstates nearby - I-5 and I-84.

Though I certainly can't speak for everyone living here, I (and others I know) usually refer to I-5 as such, but I-84 is just 84.

[4God]

Well for me here it's the 101, the dreaded 405, the 134 and the 710.

[djellison]

Here in the UK - it's always M.

M69, M6, M1 etc.

[Love]

We have a few highways in my area: the 22, the 66, 22X, and the Trans-Canada Highway One.

[zephead]

Funny thing about parkways that I just noticed... In SoCal (esp. Orange Co.) we have parkways too, but the label "parkway" is really just a fancier way of saying "boulevard" or "avenue". So it doesn't get a "the" like it would on the east coast - you'd just say "take Barranca Pkwy, turn right on Culver (Dr), then left on Alton (Pkwy).

[LumbermanSVO]

I'm driving for CRST. They paid for CR England to train us though, which was a little weird, but it worked out pretty well. Had to sign my soul away for 8 months for the "free" training but at least it was nothing out-of-pocket, because I had hardly anything in them, lol.

Another thing I'm gonna have to get used to is exit numbers. Being from CA, I've never used them in my life, but I've gotta say, the whole mile/exit system makes a lot of sense when you really look at it. So does the metric system, but I don't see the US going metric anytime soon. :p


I think you'll eventually find that California does a lot of weird/stupid things when compared to the rest of the country, especially in the trucking industry. ;)

When the 34-restart came into effect they didn't want to honor it and were shutting drivers down if they had used it in the last 7 days. they finally decided it was a good rule when the feds threatened to pull their highway funding. They are kinda funny like that.

How do you like CRST so far? Trucking in general?

[mags631]

Originally from Northern California (the "real" Northern California, not the Bay Area), and I refer to the highways without "the": 5, 299, 101, and 1.

Edit: 299 = "two-ninety-nine" and 101 = "one-oh-one".

[aloofman]

Oddly enough, we do have one expressway: the Corona-Pomona Expressway (CA 71). I don't exactly know why it's the lone expressway in the land of freeways, but it probably has something to do with it not being entirely a freeway, since in certain parts it's one lane in each direction and it has a regular street intersection with Mission Blvd. Nevertheless, we still just call it the 71.

Only a fellow road geek would know this, but part of SR 79 is signed as the "Ramona Expressway" for some reason. That one is really puzzling, since it's really just a highway with no grade separations. One thing to remember is that the Socal freeway system was originally intended to be even bigger than what was built. There were supposed to be freeways running through Beverly Hills, down Beach Blvd, down La Cienega, etc. That's why there are so many state highways that are just regular streets. They were numbered that way to be freeways, but for various reasons they were never rebuilt as freeways.




Perhaps this is my perception of the very area I was born and raised in, but it is my perception to have. ;)

It is just your perception. If you hadn't been raised to hate Socal, your parents would have had to move to Nevada or something. :p



I think you'll eventually find that California does a lot of weird/stupid things when compared to the rest of the country, especially in the trucking industry. ;)


On the other hand, we finally started posting exit numbers on our signs. Sometime before you die, they might all have numbers on them!

Another reason that most people don't use the official names (like "San Diego Freeway") or "I-xx" is that many of them are confusing and don't exactly correspond to numbers. Examples:

- The names often only apply to a segment of a numbered freeway, so you have to know which segment is named what in order to know where it is. Interstate 10 is called the Santa Monica Freeway between the beach and downtown LA. In the short East LA segment where it's the same road as Interstate 5, it's the "Golden State Freeway". East of that it's the "San Bernardino Freeway." Similarly, the 91 is variously called the Gardena Freeway, Artesia Freeway, and Riverside Freeway. Way too complicated. Just use the number.

- Don't get me started on the various places that have dedicated a freeway to someone, but no one ever uses the name. Part of the 10 is the "Rosa Parks Freeway", but no one calls it that. And no one calls the 105 the "Glenn Anderson Freeway". Ever.

- In some places (for example, the 210), it's confusing to use "I-210" because only part of the 210 is an interstate and the rest is a state highway. The last eastern section of the 210 freeway is only a state highway, but the rest of it west of Glendora is an interstate. Also, the 110 is an interstate south of downtown, but only a state highway north to Pasadena. Again, easier to just use the number.

- Most confusingly, some freeway names stretch across multiple freeway numbers. The Hollywood Freeway is the 170 in the Valley and continues as the 101 the rest of the way downtown. The Ventura Freeway is the 101 until you get to the 170 interchange (yeah, that same interchange) then continues on as the 134 to Pasadena.

I think the only difference is that we're using "the" instead of putting "freeway" at the end. You have to make clear to people that you're talking about a freeway and when we say "the" we all know what we mean. Even if it's not common outside California, I'm puzzled that other people would think it's weird.

[Zombie Acorn]

In Kansas it's four-thirty-five (435) or eye-thirty-five (i35) or eye-seventy (i70).

Agreed. I call all of the 2 digit highways by i81, etc. 435 is just 435.

[GeeYouEye]

101, 280, 380, 580, 680, 780, 880, 980, I-80, Highway 1, 24, 17 or Highway 17, "Ashby" north of 24 and "13" south of 24, San Pablo (for 123), El Camino Real (for 82), 84, 92, 85, 238 where it's an interstate and Mission when it's not, 237, Mission (for 262). Occasionally 880 will be replaced by "The Nimitz", and the 80-580 overlap with "The Eastshore Freeway". Less commonly, 101 on the peninsula will be replaced by "The Bayshore Freeway".

But never "The" before a number.

[iShater]

As other mentioned, the Chicagoland freeways are referred to often by a name that covers a stretch of it.

I STILL don't know them, and prefer I-94 to "The Bishop Ford" or whatever the heck it is called. Traffic news on the radio is useless to me. :o

[Tomorrow]

I find the Dallas area a bit peculiar in that almost all the major highways have (and are referred to by their) names, in addition to the numbers.

I-35 = Stemmons
I-30 = R.L. Thornton
I-635 = LBJ
US-75 = Central Expressway
SH-190 = George Bush
US-175 = C.F. Hahn
I-45 = Julius Schepps

etc.

[zephead]

Only a fellow road geek would know this, but part of SR 79 is signed as the "Ramona Expressway" for some reason. That one is really puzzling, since it's really just a highway with no grade separations.
Ahh, I should've caught that, especially since Ramona Expy isn't too far from where I live in Moreno Valley. Cajalco's also confusing because from the 215, it's signed as Cajalco Expy, but once you get on it, it's just Cajalco Rd. Both Ramona and Cajalco are probably only labeled "Expressway" for the same reason OC has "Parkways" - to make regular streets sound fancy. :rolleyes:

[Xavier]

We say '33' or '315' instead of I or US

[Antares]

As others probably already said (didn't read all the posts), we name our expressways in Chicago....The Kennedy, Edens, Iisenhower, Stevenson, Tri-State, Bishop Ford, etc....instead of saying 90, 94, 294, 55, etc..... Heck, we even sometimes abbreviate the names..."Ike" instead of Isenhower, for example. Which can make things confusing for people not from the area. Traffic reporters often don't say the official number designations, I55, I90, etc. for example. And when people do say the numbers they usually leave off the "I."

[zephead]

I think you'll eventually find that California does a lot of weird/stupid things when compared to the rest of the country, especially in the trucking industry. ;)

When the 34-restart came into effect they didn't want to honor it and were shutting drivers down if they had used it in the last 7 days. they finally decided it was a good rule when the feds threatened to pull their highway funding. They are kinda funny like that.

How do you like CRST so far? Trucking in general?

Yeah, from what I hear, California's like another planet...
- the speed limit for trucks is 55, not 65 like almost everywhere else
- the "40 ft from kingpin to center of rear axle" law
- the whole exit number thing
- "the 5" "the 405" "the 10"
- different US Route signs, which I think are better because they
----- have an actual shape instead of being inside a black box
----- have "US" in them, which is way more patriotic than all the other states! :p kidding!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/US_101_%28CA%29.svg/82px-US_101_%28CA%29.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/US_101.svg/88px-US_101.svg.png

How do you like CRST so far? Trucking in general?
I like the driving part! :p My trainer's a real stiff though, he's not friendly, but he's not mean either. He lets me use his appliances and gave me a key to the truck, so he's not all that bad. I just had to understand that he's not here to be nice and friendly, he's here to teach me.

[SiXAXiS]

In vegas we call them 95, 215, I-15...

[LumbermanSVO]

On the other hand, we finally started posting exit numbers on our signs. Sometime before you die, they might all have numbers on them!

How long until you guys get around to putting up mile marker posts every mile? You know, like every other state. ;)

Yeah, from what I hear, California's like another planet...
- the speed limit for trucks is 55, not 65 like almost everywhere else

Oregon and Illinois both have a statewide 55MPH truck limit. Washington is 60. a bill was just signed in Illinios that will get rid of the split limit in the rural areas of the state, a similar bill took effect in Ohio a few months ago. We can thank OOIDA for both of these victories. I've heard that once all the bridges on the interstates are replaced in Oregon then their split limit will go away.

- the "40 ft from kingpin to center of rear axle" law

There are several other states that have similar laws, check the front of your trucker atlas for the details. Get yourself a tape measure and meansure from the center of the kingpin to the nose of the trailer, most are 3ft. If it is 3ft then you just have to measure 10ft from the rear fo the trailer to the center of the rear axle to be legal, a lot easier than measuring 40ft ;)

Idaho is a crazy state for axle laws once you get off the interstate, and for good reason. When you get your permit make sure you measure accurately and use the right numbers. They WILL enforce the length laws there. They also allow you to go up to 37,000lbs(as long as you are under 80k gross) on the trailer so you can slide the tandems all the way up.

[DrewDaHilp1]

Here in my part of Ohio everyone I know just refers the freeways as either
"I-##" or "##" if its a State Route, we say "SR-##" or again "##" which I guess you would have to know the nearby freeways to know which is a State Route and which is the Interstate.

[dukebound85]

in co: its i-25 or i-70

in ny, its the northway or the thruway

[ipodtoucher]

Agreed. I call all of the 2 digit highways by i81, etc. 435 is just 435.

I either call it 81 or tractor trailer hell.... and 66 traffic hell hahahaha:p

[aloofman]

How long until you guys get around to putting up mile marker posts every mile? You know, like every other state. ;)


Let's be reasonable now. Caltrans can't be expected to label all of their roads. :p

Maybe count call boxes instead. Those are fairly evenly spaced except in mountain areas. :D

[leomac08]

los angeles is the capital of freeways

i take the 405 aka "the mississippi river of LA."

the 73 (toll road of the OC)

the 105 and 110, "take you to LA"

the 5, is called the "long snake"

15 "toll to las vegas"

[LumbermanSVO]

Let's be reasonable now. Caltrans can't be expected to label all of their roads. :p

Maybe count call boxes instead. Those are fairly evenly spaced except in mountain areas. :D

Too bad they don't put the mile markers on those call boxes. ;)

[aloofman]

i take the 405 aka "the mississippi river of LA."


That's a weird nickname. Boats move on the Mississippi!

[zephead]

los angeles is the capital of freeways
(nicknames here)

To be totally honest with you, I've never heard any of those names. True, taking the 105 to the 110 does take you to LA, and the 73 is a toll road, but there are other toll roads (241, 261, 133, 91 FasTrak). And there's no toll on the 15 to Las Vegas.

You're right about one thing though: LA really is the capital of freeways. :D

[canes960]

To be honest I-69 South

[leomac08]

That's a weird nickname. Boats move on the Mississippi!

yup!, cars in the 405 move like boats.

To be totally honest with you, I've never heard any of those names. True, taking the 105 to the 110 does take you to LA, and the 73 is a toll road, but there are other toll roads (241, 261, 133, 91 FasTrak). And there's no toll on the 15 to Las Vegas.

You're right about one thing though: LA really is the capital of freeways. :D

i know, the 15 is not a toll, but it's the only way that a person from LA can go to vegas! :D

and yup, LA is the capital of freeways!!!!:D:D:D:D:D