topic Re: How Did I Never Hear About This??? in Community Chat

How Did I Never Hear About This???

Mersha — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:05:32 GMT

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

IdahoGram — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:10:58 GMT

That's funny, you learn something new everyday they say! It's been that way since Eisenhower established the highway system back in 1956.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Porcelain — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:12:21 GMT

Huh! Something new every day! And looks like if it ends in 5 it's a (mostly) North South route and if it ends in 0 it's East West.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

IdahoGram — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:16:46 GMT

Yup! That's the way it works!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Mersha — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:17:46 GMT

Kudos to those in the know.

I never was good at map reading skills in the those aptitude tests when we were young.

I was not in the loop on this one at all.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Sooner — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:17:39 GMT

Y'all really need to get out more!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Mersha — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:19:20 GMT

@Sooner You knew too, huh?

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Venezia — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:30:27 GMT

The even-numbered Interstates always run East to West.

The odd-numbered run North to South.

(Other US routes follow the same general pattern. US Route 1 is north to south. US 2 east to west, etc., but there are some exceptions.)

Wikipaedia gives a much more detailed explanation!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

on the bay — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:40:38 GMT

@Mersha,

Well, it's you and me!

I never knew this either!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Mersha — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:47:07 GMT

@on the bay

I found this on Facebook and tons of people responding did not have a clue.

It is not just us.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Kachina624 — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:52:22 GMT

It appears that some people don't take many road trips. I've been aware of this for years but I've traveled around the US a lot.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

on the bay — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 04:06:49 GMT

I have taken road trips across the country but I guess I was looking at the land-the endless rows of corn,😳the lakes, the mountains, the barns, the endless flat lands.

And I hate reading maps. It's like trying to read through a mirror.

And I never remember any teacher teaching this.

I guess it's never too late to learn these priceless gems lol!

But I feel somehow I should have known this too!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Mersha — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 04:08:53 GMT

@on the bay Don't forget looking at pretty clouds and sleeping.

I will mention this to my husband and he will look at me increduously and say "how on earth did you not know that?"

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Kachina624 — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 04:24:49 GMT

That East/West map is strange. It shows an I-50 running through New Mexico. It doesn't exist. If it did, I would have crossed it 100 times and would have been well aware. It is also not on any map and I never heard of it. Its not mentioned in a list of NM Interstate highways.

They also missed I-27 which runs between Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Venezia — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 04:42:14 GMT

@Kachina624 - When these Interstates were set up, the government didn't use 50 or 60 to avoid overlap with routes in the middle of the country that already had that number.

I'm sure they thought it would be too confusing for drivers to have an Interstate 50 and a U.S. Route 50.

And they were right!

@Mersha - What an interesting topic!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

phoenixbrd — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 11:15:21 GMT

I've taken many road trips across the US.....car, RV, and motorcycles. I never noticed this pattern....love learning new information! Thanks @Mersha

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

tototwo — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 11:42:54 GMT

Yes, and the interstate highways that bypass or circle a large city are 3 digits and usually begin with a 4 or a 3. Like, a city bypass on Interstate 70 will be 470 or 370, as examples. So if you're driving west on I-80 and want to drive around a large city instead of drive thru it, look for an exit for West 480.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

kaydee50 — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 12:54:51 GMT

I guess the OP has never driven cross country!!

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

Sooner — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 13:46:21 GMT

@Mersha wrote:
@Sooner You knew too, huh?

@Mersha Only since the 1960's. But that's not so long ago.

Also, sections of the highways were built straight enough to land a plane in emergencies.

Re: How Did I Never Hear About This???

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 14:05:54 GMT

@Mersha I didn't know either.

I figure unless you drive all over the country frequently or work for AAA why would you care how the numbers go.