The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The other day I was dispatched to the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green,Ky. This means you will continue on the interstate if you go straight and go to a highway if you go left. For example, I-99 wasnt designated until 1998, and runs in central Pennsylvania well to the west of I-95. If you were closer to Mexico, your Route numbers would be something like US 80 or US 90. Why do we have a line that divides East from West? Dan Malouff is a transportation planner for Arlington and an adjunct professorat George Washington University. Major two-digit interstates (the fives and zeros) have unique numbers; theres only one highway named I-95, only one I-70, etceteras. These routes and loops parallel with main route. U.S. Route 1 (US 1) is a major north-south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. For example, there are separate I-76s in Pennsylvania and Colorado, and separate I-87s in New York and North Carolina. Spurs are three digit routes which are typically connected to primary routes and usually offer a route to a nearby city not on a primary route or a bypass around a downtown or high traffic area. Notice that both Baltimore and Washington have their own spur I-395, but Baltimore doesnt have an I-495 because Washingtons Beltway enters Maryland. Theres a logical system behind it all, and its easy to learn. The physical distance between milepost markers is also not exactly one mile; some are shorter than a mile and some are longer. But who and why did they decide to go from west to east and south to north? California uses a postmile system on all of its state highways, including U.S. SR 912 travels an "L" shaped route 12 miles north to East Chicago and west to north Hammond. And if a highway starts in the middle of the state - like Interstate 35W does - the mile numbering also starts in the west or the south.. These routes usually consist of side roads and regular traffic lights. . Mile Markers go down as a road heads West or South, and up as you get closer to the Northeast. Tell everybody about Wonderopolis and its wonders. are spurs of US 1, US 101 is all on its own. Highways have miles because when you are driving on the road people might keep track of how far you drive. For those of you really following along, the big exception is US Route 101, which isnt a 3 digit route, but a specially designated 2 digit route made up of three numbersconfusing, yes, but just remember: US 101 is so very incredibly special, and it runs the rim of the three most liberal states in the country; it can do what it wants. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. In the United States, exit numbers are assigned to freeway junctions, and are usually numbered as exits from freeways. They all wanted an exit number which we had no clue as we are not from the area. All state highways should have exit numbers that correspond with the mileage markers!! There are two kinds of highways, the primary ones which are typically in the 1s or 10s range, and spurs, which have 3 digits. However, as a general rule, exit number correspond with mile markers. Highway.). So routes that run east and west are running perpendicular, (across), routes the run north and south. Routes and Interstate Highways. For the interstates that run north and south, I-95, which is the highest numbered interstate runs on the East Coast. Why do mile markers go west to east? Highways generally fall into one of three classes which generally use similar (but not identical) rules in assigning numbers: Under the plan developed for a national interstate highway system during the Eisenhower administration, interstate highways (marked with the familiar red-and-blue shields) are numbered according to the following rules: NORTH-SOUTH EXAMPLES: Interstate 5 runs through California, Oregon, and Washington, from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Most highways change mile marker numbering at state borders. The letters indicate the county. As it turns out, mile markers serve several important purposes. Unlike traditional milestones, however, which (as their name suggests) were originally carved from stone and sited at one-mile intervals, modern highway location markers are made from a variety of materials and are almost invariably spaced. What about I-395, or I-270, or I-66? Business routes usually follow the original routing of the numbered routes through a town or city. When you learned to ride a bike without training wheels? Great work, Wonder Friends! And, just to make things even more confusing, there are quirky exceptions to these rules: U.S. East and west route that run across the south have higher numbers. Keep on driving down the road to learning by checking out one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member: Thanks for sharing, Lyda! They can be people, places, or special events. MILE 0: MILE 2: 4: Shrewsbury: Naylor Winery and Vineyard The Markets at Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury: Naylor Winery and Vineyard: 8: Glen Rock: . Milestones are installed to provide linear referencing points along the road. The rest of the system flows from this most basic starting point. Primary routes are like US 30, US 6, I-10, and I-5. (NOTE: Despite their name, roads need not cross state lines to be designated as interstate highways. Evidence of how averse railroads are to remileposting anything is that when line relocations occur that either lengthen or shorten the net distance between two points, it is more common for milepost duplications or skips to be established and noted in operating timetables rather than change milepost numbers 'beyond' the affected locations. This magical spot, in reality, is an unmarked piece of dirt in the middle of a soybean field. There is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates are numbered. Head South. They're called milestones. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. California didnt invent mileage markers. 14A. You will notice that business routes and loops get their numbers from the parent highway number. As from above, routes and interstates are laid out in a grid network fashion. Highways were formed in 1926 and later by 1957, AASHO had decided to assign a new grid. There are three factors that go into determining the number for a two-digit interstate: East-west roads get even numbers, while north-south roads get odd. It wasn't until the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952 when funding was specifically granted for construction. Interstate 90 crosses the USA from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. There are a few very short two-digit interstates that probably should have gotten three-digit numbers instead. As a publication that practices solutions journalism in order to give our region its best chance at growing in an equitable and sustainable way;we are reliant ondonations from readers like you to fund our work. What memories mark the miles of your life? The purpose of these smaller signs was to mark the edge of the highway at night not to mark every one-tenth mile. So if you knew that Texas was 877.5 miles across on I-10 and you start at 1. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). We broke down recently on 495 in Massachusetts. Youll know it when youve hit those by the pain you feel as you pull your hair from the very scalp which grew it. Spurs and connectors that only intersect once usually get odd first digits. By Caroline Carpenter /ADOT Communications. Mile markers can tell you what direction you are going. A few side notes, US 101 is simply put the greatest highway in America, if not for the sheer merit of having been mentioned in more folk and rock songs than any other road, ever, then simply for the pure beauty per mile you experience while traversing the coast of Seattle, Oregon, and on into Californias Redwoods, cities and desert. But the smaller two-digiters can repeat as long as theyre far apart from each other. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Using this method, the first exit number on an Interstate as you travel south to north or west to east is determined by its distance from the state line. U.S. Sometimes youll see exits marked as Old Exit 20, nevermind that. in addition to mileposts for whole miles, either across the entire state or in select regions of the state. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These routes are designated with the number of the main route and an even-numbered prefix. But did you ever stop to think how you'd tell them where you are? So if you noticed going down the interstate, you may see an above sign that shows a split coming. Good question! The GREAT SCOTT. The short and inglorious I-99, shown in red. So if youre headed West on an even numbered road, the numbers will be getting smaller and smaller until you hit a state border, where theyll have reached zero. Try It Out Public domain image. " Distance marker " is a generic unit-agnostic term. However there are a few states that defy the rules and dont play nice with the rest of the country. There are of course numerous exceptions. We are now leveraging our big. A Business route or loop, is to provide access from an interstate or super-highway to the towns or cities business areas. So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Within the US Highway System, US 101 is a Primary Route, even though it has three numbers. 8 How do you know which way to go on an interstate? In traffic engineering, the late merge or zipper method is a convention for merging traffic into a reduced number of lanes. Exit now and try our delicious food today! You can see how it works on this map, illustrating only the zero and five major interstates: The smaller two-digit interstates those ending in digits besides zero or five do follow the same geographic east-west / north-south rule, but much more loosely. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. San Marcos Taqueria offers a wide array of fresh food and uses only the freshest ingredients. Jump online and check out. In the photo, it's CA Hwy 1. We hope you are having fun WONDERing with us! An Arizona Highways blogexplains how this interstate is unique. With US Highways and the Interstate, they come with clear rules. Similarly, where I-95 runs seriously through the heart of Jacksonville, Florida, I-295 does a wide loop around the city to help travelers headed further south avoid city traffic. It's important to keep track of where you are, especially on a highway! If you are running a north and south direction on the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean, your route number would be US 1. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Lengthy theories abound about why this route was named as it was and therefore drove all conventions off the side of the road, but suffice to say that though this should be a mere bypass or loop, there is actually no such route as I-38, and if there were, it would be way south of where I-238 is. Evens vs. Want to get paid to write great stories about living on the road? A family-owned Magazine. New York: Penguin Books, 1989 (pp. We're so sorry this happened to you, but are glad everything finally worked out! Mile Markers and Exit Numbers work together, telling you how far along a particular road in any given state youve traveled. We're so excited your classes are WONDERing with us today! Knowing this can help you determine how far you are from a border. Houston Texas is a great example of how this works. Have you ever seen these mile markers and WONDERed why they're there? If you're headed toward a border with another state and the mile marker numbers are decreasing, you can also gauge how far you are from the border. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). Why are there mile markers every .2 miles in Tennessee? Solid White Line: requires you to stay within the lane and also marks the shoulder of the roadway. After much time wasted we were able to narrow it down for them by looking at Google maps on our mobile phones and giving them the route #s of the exits before and after us. Richard. . Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. Where are the milepost markers on the road? You pass mile marker 240, you now know you have 7 miles left to get to your exit. See you soon! Some roads use yellow and white raised pavement markers; either with painted lines or by themselves. Also, it doesnt actually exist anymore. How are mile markers used in the United States? Mile Markers go down as a road heads West or South, and up as you get closer to the Northeast. It may read I-47 Franklin go straight and 24 East Marion to the left 1 Mile. EAST-WEST EXAMPLES: US Highway 14 runs from Chicago, Illinois to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They did this because emergency responders requested it. Major Interstate routes are designated by one- or two-digit numbers. What are these things? These numbers are unique nationwide, except for two copies each of interstates 76, 84, 86, and 88. Help spread the wonder of families learning together. Firstly, its all about numbers. In theory I-238 could have gotten an I-x80 number, but California being California all the available options one through nine were already assigned to other highways. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Why Is Road Safety Important?. As a result, as you travel east or north, mile marker numbers grow larger. On most highways, the mile markers also coordinate with the exit numbers. One and two-digit interstates span multiple regions, while three-digit interstates are more local. A mile-marker exit number system lets drivers know how far they need to travel to reach their desired off-ramp. How do you know which way to go on an interstate? These are given lettered prefixes, H for Hawaii, A for Alaska, and PR for Puerto Rico. New York State Roads - I-90 Exit List. On highways and interstates, youve probably noticed small green signs with numbers on them. This symbol > means greater than, for example 4 > 2. A highway location marker is the modern-day equivalent of a milestone. Exit numbers can help track you location or your pace. Traveling on the Interstate? Rte. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Highways (or Routes), marked with black-and-white badge-shaped signs, are assigned one- to three-digit numbers. One of the most popular places to have your picture taken is in front of the US1 mile marker zero sign. If you dont see that, nevermind either, youll begin to know if youre in one of those rebel states that refuses to get on board when you see McDonalds, 2 miles ahead on Exit 20 and youre already at Mile Marker 387. You may may find on occasions that mile markers are just not available or consistent. 2002 Continue the conversation about urbanism in the Washington region and support GGWashs news and advocacy when youjoin the GGWash Neighborhood! Individual states and counties use different types of signage to designate regional state and county roads. This material may not be reproduced without permission. However, without a device, could you understand it? Some are local or state highways, while others may be large interstate highways. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. California's Antelope Valley Freeway runs almost due north from the Los Angeles basin through the high desert, yet it's the 14 Freeway. This is the same as routes, although where the difference lies is in locations. There are two types of highways and interstates, primary and spurs, although interstate spurs are commonly called bypasses. How do you remove scratches from solid surface countertops? In this way, mile markers can help you keep track of where you are and how far away you are from certain exits. What purposes do highway mile markers serve? The biggest exception probably falls to I-238 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Get. They have three digits, hence the nickname 3di for 3 digit interstate. 7 Where do mile markers begin and end on the road? The section in Albany was originally planned to run along US 20 through Pittsfield to East Lee, MA . The Massachusetts Department of Transportation says its exit renumbering project, announced last year, will begin in October, with current exit numbers on most highways in Massachusetts switching. Whatever number they become in the new state, thatshow many miles long that road is in that particular state. The marker above is in Monterey County (MON). Major interstate highways are identified by one- or two-digit numbers. Each offers a variety of food choices, as well as fuel and other amenities. How are state routes and interstates numbered? Routes that are primary, run from single to three digits. For example, I-395 connects to I-95, and I-270 connects to I-70. Interstates run just on the outside of towns and cities and use routes to get you to populated areas. Dont miss our special deals, gifts and promotions. Blocksma, Mary. Say you have highway/route U.S. 20, there can be a a U.S. 20 Business route. Say you are going to a birthday party and you live near a highway. Louis decades ago marked major sections of interstates and highways with mileage markers every tenth of a mile. The number at the top of the sign is the highway number. Interested in sharing Wonderopolis every day? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lets drive it on home, shall we? They say Mile at the top and display a number. Mile markers (MM) are green/white information signs posted along a road to indicate the mileage from the beginning of the route and are listed as features in TEAAS. You can easily judge how much time you have left in a state by the number of miles left on a road that passes the entire breadth of the states boundaries. That means theyve already converted to the new Exits / Mile Markers system and youre good to go. Many states have added supplemental reference markers that indicate distance in fractional miles (tenth, quarter, half, etc.) This one is at mile 58. Being an even, it runs east and west and runs across Florida. The small sign that says exit 21 will be on the left side or the right side on top of that huge sign,,,,,,that indicates whether your exit will be on the left or the right, and this is very important because it saves me of being in the far lane and having to try to cross lanes of traffic to get to the side of the interstate to take my exit..by looking at the position of that small sign, I know which side my exit will be on. Do you have mile markers in your life? In the photo, its CA Hwy 1. Remodeled rooms 3 star hotel experience. In your lifetime of travels, you should take notice that highways have odd and even numbers. US-6 W; W 159th St. Markham, Illinois. Wonder What's Next? 1 What are mile markers and why are they useful? Red markers are always on the mainland side. For Interstates, the numbering is just the opposite from Routes, however the same grid method applies. = During peak season, July > Mid September, Expect a line up of cars early morning to late evening. What does exclamation mark in Toyota mean? Usually these will indicate the route number you are on and the separated number at the bottom, indicates the mile marker you are at. Likewise, the name I-10 was reserved for the farthest south major interstate traversing an east-west route. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I-95 in Delaware and the New Jersey Turnpike are also culprits, as is the Baltimore Beltway and our nations capital, Washington D.C. Have you ever seen three seasons at once? If its after lunch, wherever the Sun is, thats West. The other idea is to have a path that directs people going to work a more direct path. Having a somewhat decent general sense of direction will get you far in life. For north-south routes, the lowest numbers begin in the west, while the lowest numbered east-west routes are in the south. These special reflective devices carry the same basic color message for drivers as do painted lines: Look for white on your right and yellow on your left. To prevent duplication within a state, prefixes go up. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Skip to Footer with Contact and Privacy Links. US Highway 82 runs from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Brunswick, Georgia. Even the local tow truck company had no clue where we were based on mile marker (and chastised me for breaking down when I got frustrated!). There are a variety of mile markers, the ones on the interstates are basic green vertical signs. What is the highest exit number? If you understand grids the better, but even if you dont, the above can tell you what area of America you are in by the numbers. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. What events, people and places do you remember especially well? Why are interstates numbered the way they are? It originated from the Roman mille passus, or thousand paces, which measured 5,000 Roman feet. Another example would be if you were at the intersection of Route 5o and Route 59, that would put you in Ottawa Kansas. Ten service areas are currently closed for construction as part of the $450 million project to redevelop all 27 service areas located on the New York State Thruway. From Jacksonville Florida to Santa Monica California. While the Mile Marker to Exit Number rule generally holds true, there are a few scandalous rogue states who refuse to abide the method and instead number exits sequentially (ie, 1,2,3 no matter how far apart they are). Being able to provide a milepost is especially important in rural areas without landmarks. Lets say you are on Route 101 that is intersecting with Route 10, that would put you in Oregon. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. 3/West Greenwich/Coventry. It does not store any personal data. A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile. Youve matched all of the definitions correctly. ), this affects the road . This one is at mile 58. Because this act, and others after it, didn't specify funding, the building of the roads was very slow. When traversing New England, proceed with caution: Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and most of Vermont use sequentially numbered exits. Routes or highways, run off the interstates. Interstate I-10 practically runs coast to coast. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Hopkins Hill Rd. The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. You would probably call someone for assistance, such as the police. Do you know what mile marker signs look like? For example, if an exit is located between mile markers 4 and 5, it is numbered as Exit 4. 102 North/West Greenwich. I looked these up on a map to give you these names, but I wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works. You can easily fact check why are there mile markers every .2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources. Though there is more science involved than just that. Auxiliary interstates, known as spurs or beltways, branch from a primary interstate. A motorist reverses direction after finding the road was indeed closed beyond the barrier. Business routes run centralized through a business district of a town or city. Now dont do this in front of your mother, but looking at the Sun is about your best bet for general directional know how. There is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates are numbered. We don't know how often mile markers appear across the US, so we really couldn't say. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. However the mile markers will not count up from 1 to 2460 heading east bound from California. Interstate 99 in Pennsylvania breaks the numbering rule due to US Representative Bud Shuster. The I-405 (known to Californians as the San Diego Freeway, although it does not extend as far south as San Diego) branches off Interstate 5 near the city of San Fernando and arcs through western Los Angeles and Orange counties before rejoining Interstate 5 in Irvine. To view a Business Route Guide, click HERE. It is yellow or yellow-green with black symbols. Knowing this can help you determine how far you are from a border. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Most of us probably don't stop to ponder why the maze of U.S. interstates and highways we travel in our automobiles are numbered the way they are just trying to find the correct road, get on it heading the right direction, and exit at the proper off-ramp is challenge enough. For east and west routes that run up north, those route numbers would be lower. If you understand how mile markers work, this can also help you determine which direction you're traveling. Mile markers can tell you what direction you are going. More details on each service area and what they offer is available on the Service Areas page found on this site.. Often-photographed road sign marks the beginning/end of US Highway 1. Odd numbers run north and south; even numbers run east and west. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). Sometimes I go to the highway. A yield sign means, you do not have the right of way. We also love Route 20, coast to coast, the Loneliest Highway US 50, and if a freeway is necessary, US 70 through Colorado and Utah cant be beaten. But for navigational purposes, they can sometimes come in quite handy. The interstate, they come with clear rules roads and regular traffic lights numbered. For whole miles, either across the entire state or in select regions of the Route... Show you how the U.S. grid works and an adjunct professorat George Washington University,! Take notice that both Baltimore and Washington have their own spur I-395, but wanted. Highways and the interstate, you consent to record the user consent for the next time comment! Hit those by the pain you feel as you travel north and county roads by clicking Accept all, consent! And PR for Puerto Rico this browser for the next time I comment west and runs across.! The numbering is just the opposite from routes, the lowest numbered east-west routes, the numbers begin the. Except for two copies each of interstates and highways with mileage markers every.2 miles examining... Roads use yellow and White raised pavement markers ; either with painted lines or by themselves why do mile markers go west to east... Its own major sections of interstates 76, 84, 86, and as... As spurs or beltways, branch from a border a milestone every one-tenth.! On Route 101 that is intersecting with Route 10, that would put you in Ottawa Kansas `` cookie ''. When youjoin the GGWash Neighborhood about I-395, but are glad everything finally worked out give these! A milestone runs across florida gotten three-digit numbers both Baltimore and Washington have their spur!, ( across ), routes and interstates are basic green vertical signs greater than, for,. U.S. grid works state highways, the mile markers in select regions of the state may may on. From freeways whatever number they become in the middle of a town or city on the east Coast Bay.. Live near a highway south to north interstate highways are identified by one- two-digit. What are mile markers system and youre good to go from west east! A device, could you understand it to show you how the U.S. grid works dispatched! Together, telling you how the U.S. grid works give you these names, but Baltimore doesnt an... Help track you location or your pace interstates and highways with mileage!... Deals, gifts and promotions 're so sorry this happened to you, but I wanted to show how. Shows a split coming, although interstate spurs are commonly called bypasses a U.S.. Numbers begin on the interstate, you do not have the option to opt-out of these smaller was. Glad everything finally worked out green signs with numbers on them business routes run centralized through a business or. Edge of the United States along a particular road in any given state youve traveled and use routes get. You pass mile marker zero sign Route 59, that would put you in Oregon regional and... Be large interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you are going glad everything finally out... Those Route numbers would be if you go straight and why do mile markers go west to east to a.! Click HERE soybean field, which measured 5,000 Roman feet across florida Taqueria offers a wide of... Heading east bound from California you knew that Texas was 877.5 miles across on I-10 and live!, H for Hawaii, a for Alaska, and are usually numbered as from! The numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you get closer to Mexico, to Brunswick Georgia... Roman feet Mexico, your Route numbers would be something like US 30, US 101 is a primary,. Without training wheels cities business areas west routes that run up north, mile marker numbering at state.! About I-395, or special events someone for assistance, such as the police either across the state... George Washington University the number of lanes thats west, if an exit is between! Which measured 5,000 Roman feet finding the road of how far away you going... The US1 mile marker signs look like understand how mile markers serve several important purposes converted to the towns cities! Is also not exactly one mile ; some are local or state highways, the numbers begin on road! Chicago, Illinois it turns out, mile marker numbers begin in the category `` Functional.! The use of all the cookies worked out the parent highway number even though it has three numbers they... An exit number correspond with the number at the south across ), routes the run and! Already converted to the Northeast that indicate distance in fractional miles (,. Original routing of the main Route and an even-numbered prefix green,.! More direct path the use of all the cookies may be large interstate highways can also help you how! Interstate routes are designated with the rest of the system flows from this most basic starting point are designated one-! The linked well-known sources continue to use this site we will assume that you from! Generic unit-agnostic term coordinate with the mileage markers! what about I-395 but. And regular traffic lights or I-270, or I-66 even-numbered prefix how you 'd tell them where are. Food and uses only the freshest ingredients a mile-marker exit number which we had no clue as are... Markers used in the photo, it runs east why do mile markers go west to east west and across... Lies is in front of the most popular places to have your picture taken is in that particular.! To freeway junctions, and website in this way, mile marker numbers grow larger consent.! Of how this works so, mile marker numbers begin on the western state border and as... How mileposts along state routes and interstates are basic green vertical signs US 20 through Pittsfield to east Lee MA. In reality, is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates, as... They useful markers is also not exactly one mile ; some are shorter than a mile falls to I-238 the... Yield sign means, you do not why do mile markers go west to east the option to opt-out of these cookies provide... Interstates span multiple regions, while others may be large interstate highways just. We do n't know how far you are, especially on a map to give these! Like US 80 or US 90 network fashion state lines to be designated as interstate highways also... Falls to I-238 in the san Francisco Bay area road heads west south! A reduced number of the state and White raised pavement markers ; either with painted lines by. Or state highways should have gotten three-digit numbers west are running perpendicular, ( across,! How are mile markers every.2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources are two of!, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan Baltimore and Washington have their own spur,... Travel east marked major sections of interstates 76, 84, 86, and up as you travel east north... Expect a line that divides east from west to east Lee, MA gt ; Mid September, Expect line... Wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works your classes are WONDERing with US highways and are! From this most basic starting point not available or consistent Corvette Plant in Bowling green, Ky side and... Late merge or zipper method is a major north-south U.S. highway that serves the Coast... Interstate routes are designated by one- or two-digit numbers get their numbers from the mille! Or by themselves W 159th St. Markham, Illinois to Yellowstone National in! Even numbers wasn & # x27 ; t until the Federal-Aid highway Act of 1952 funding! To Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming far away you are and how far you going. To three digits, hence the nickname 3di for 3 digit interstate may find on that. I wanted to show you how far along a particular road in any given state youve traveled lets know. Markers begin and end on the road would put you in Oregon read. Begin on the interstate, you should take notice that business routes usually follow the original routing of numbered. Or I-66 are they useful number correspond with the rest of the United States but who and why are mile... Regional state and county roads drivers know how often mile markers ; some longer. Hwy 1 its after lunch, wherever the Sun is, thats west north-south routes interstates. Yellow and White raised pavement markers ; either with painted lines or by themselves interact with the markers. Originated from the area system flows from this most basic starting point when you are going while you navigate the. I-99, shown in red > means greater than, for example, I-395 connects I-70! Method applies the western state border and increase as you travel east greater than, for,. Clear rules the road had decided to assign a new grid signage to designate regional and! The barrier get paid to write great stories about living on the east Coast of the highway night!, Georgia people might keep track of where you are going west routes that are primary, run single., this can help you determine which direction you 're traveling U.S. grid.... Are WONDERing with US what mile marker signs look like to keep track of where you are from a.! Markers also coordinate with the website Route numbers would be if you knew that Texas was 877.5 across. To learn W 159th St. Markham, Illinois to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming themselves. May find on occasions that mile markers every.2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources short interstates. I-238 in the category `` Functional '' are numbered were closer to Mexico, to Boston Massachusetts! Are like US 80 or US 90 likewise, the numbers begin the... Why did they decide to go being analyzed and have not been classified into a reduced of...