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. Primary routes are like US 30, US 6, I-10, and I-5. Can you make a one-time or recurring contribution today to keep us going strong? On most highways, the mile markers also coordinate with the exit numbers. There are of course numerous exceptions. Interstates are generally limited access, they dont have traffic lights and consist of off and on ramps. (NOTE: Three-digit interstate highway numbers are not unique. Why are there mile markers every .2 miles in Tennessee? General Sense of Direction. A highway location marker is the modern-day equivalent of a milestone. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Hi, Ma,ekaih! Driving along I-75, you would be driving north and south through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It means either SCHOOL ZONE or SCHOOL CROSSING. Now, back to how these little green signs can help you in an emergency. 6. 6 What is the distance between mile markers? Highway.). Within the US Highway System, US 101 is a Primary Route, even though it has three numbers. Why are there so many mile markers in Missouri? Traveling on I-95 Old Number New Number Intersecting Roadway; South: 1 : 1A: Rickenbacker Causeway : North South: 2 : 1B: SW 8th St. 7th St. North South: 3 : 2A: US 1 Running a north and south directions on the West Coat along the Pacific Ocean, your route number would be US 101. . For example, if an exit is located between mile markers 4 and 5, it is numbered as Exit 4. 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. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). You can easily fact check why are there mile markers every .2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources. A white background indicates a regulatory sign; yellow conveys a general warning message; green shows permitted traffic movements or directional guidance; fluorescent yellow/green indicates pedestrian crossings and school zones; orange is used for warning and guidance in roadway work zones; coral is used for incident. Without directions, it's easy to get lost. You can find mile markers along all sorts of highways. Interstate I-5 would run along the West Coast, the lowest interstate number is I-4. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Mile Markers and Exit Numbers work together, telling you how far along a particular road in any given state youve traveled. Houston Texas is a great example of how this works. What experience do you need to become a teacher? It was a very frustrating and unsafe experience. What is the common denominator of 12 and 15? Every highway has a route number. 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. Brandi Baldwin, a project manager for MoDOT, said the volume . 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. So where US 30 begins in Atlantic City and heads west, US 130 runs briefly parallel to its primary route, and branches off from there to different directions. 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. They are alternatively known as mile markers, mileposts or mile posts (sometimes abbreviated MPs). The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 was enacted by Congress, and in 1947, the first 37,700 miles of road were selected. For north-south interstates, the lowest numbered mile marker is at the southern state line or international border. The crossing is between mile 149 and 150. Knowing this can help you determine how far you are from a border. Have you ever seen these mile markers and WONDERed why they're there? Great explanation of how the mile markers work. Primary interstates are one to two digit roadways that interconnect one state to the next. This is useful when calling in emergency services. They can be people, places, or special events. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. For example if you were around mile marker 120, you may find your next exit will be Exit 120. 102 North/West Greenwich. Sometimes states just refuse to cooperate (ahem, damn you the South!) Have fun WONDERing! 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. In fact, it was the last state in the country to adopt mile markers, and the state only started implementing highway exit numbers in 2002. 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! All of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them. Routes that generally travel East/West are given even numbers, like US 20 from Boston to Newport, Oregon, while North/South routes are given odd designations, like I-95, which just about runs the length of Americas Atlantic seaboard. Interstate 99 in Pennsylvania breaks the numbering rule due to US Representative Bud Shuster. Headed North on I-77? 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Spurs and connectors that only intersect once usually get odd first digits. The ones that run north and south are odd numbers. How are state routes and interstates numbered? Highways and interstates have actual intelligent design to them. Exit No. However, without a device, could you understand it? Even-numbered Interstates run roughly west to east across the nation with the 2-digit numbering increasing from south to north. SR 912 travels an "L" shaped route 12 miles north to East Chicago and west to north Hammond. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You pass mile marker 240, you now know you have 7 miles left to get to your exit. Protect pedestrians and vehicles at busy intersections. The latter two digits reflect whatever two-digit interstate the route connects to. One and two-digit interstates span multiple regions, while three-digit interstates are more local. 348. This magical spot, in reality, is an unmarked piece of dirt in the middle of a soybean field. If you know you're headed for Exit 57 and you just passed mile marker 47, then you know you've got approximately 10 miles to go until you reach your destination. Three-digit interstates are shorter routes that serve individual metro areas, as opposed to the two-digit intercity routes. What purposes do highway mile markers serve? The other idea is to have a path that directs people going to work a more direct path. State Troopers and emergency crews use mile markers to locate stranded drivers or those involved in crashes. Keep in mind that for reasons of practicality, highways swerve and sway to avoid downtown traffic, connect to nearby routes and generally avoid plunging off of cliff sides, but big picture thinking here, this rule holds true. :), Great WONDERing, Alan! Have you checked out Wonder #822-- Do You Know Who to Call in an Emergency? Milestones are installed to provide linear referencing points along the road. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). It is yellow or yellow-green with black symbols. Reduce the severity and frequency of accidents between vehicles entering intersections. Head South. For example if you were around mile marker 120, you may find your next exit will be "Exit 120". By Caroline Carpenter /ADOT Communications. Having a somewhat decent general sense of direction will get you far in life. Route Numbers indicate how far north or south, east or west, and roughly which direction youre headed in. Take some time to leave us a comment or post on the Wonderopolis. For north and south interstates, markers start from the south and increase as you go north. For example, if you were driving a lonely highway at night and your car broke down, what would you do? Interstate Routes, Mile Markers & Exit Numbering, highway signs, how do highway numbers work, how do interstate numbers work, how do mile markers work, how the interstate works, how the interstate works in the united states, how to exit numbers work, interstate signs, what is a business loop, what is a business route, what is the difference between a highway and an interstate. Ask the adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics. The last two numbers indicate the parent route, and the first digit signifies the road's function (i.e., an odd digit for a spur running directly to a city; an even digit for a road that loops around a metropolitan area). YELLOW LINES mark the center of a two-way road used for two-way traffic. Why do mile markers go from west to east? Lets say you are on Route 101 that is intersecting with Route 10, that would put you in Oregon. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? Odds. Traffic is not allowed to pass through (thru) that area. Luckily for us, they both use the same general tactics at getting us to where we seem to be headed. Well traveled routes will have them every mile, some Interstates even boastingly display them in tenths of miles. Public domain image. Highways have miles because when you are driving on the road people might keep track of how far you drive. 18. I am sure you have driven on it, and your GPS helped get you from point A to B. Interstate I-10 practically runs coast to coast. If you wake up in the morning (that is, just around after sunrise) and are aware of just about when sunset will come, you can follow these guidelines. Dan blogs to express personal views, and does not take part in GGWash's political endorsement decisions. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. For most of its length, it follows the New York State Thruway, though a small section in Albany is maintained by the Department of Transportation. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. They connect to longer two-digit routes, and act as beltways, spurs, or connectors. 5 Whats the difference between a highway marker and a milestone? So where US 201, 301, 401, etc. Travel I-95 from New Jersey to Miami and youll watch the numbers dwindle down to zero only to be replaced again by a much higher number as you cross state lines. What memories mark those special times? Numerical Order. Your first day of school? On the highway, numbers mean everything. 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. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). North Carolinas aforementioned I-87 is only 13 miles long, while Marylands I-97, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is less than 18. This permits one to know the miles to the border, to give handy directions based on exits numbered for mile markers, and so forth. The highway routes and interstate numbers can actually help you identify where you are in the U.S. You may not fully clear on the difference between a route and an interstate. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Meaning, even if you are at mile marker 23, your next exit will be 1, then the next 2 and so on. See you soon! Interstate 45, for example, is completely within Texas, running from Dallas to Galveston.). Why do mile markers go west to east? Great work, AJ, it's important to remember what to do in an emergency. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Mileposts vs. Mile Markers Catawba County Catawba County Want to add a little wonder to your website? Go for a drive on the highway with an adult. However ones on bypasses and routes often will have either another little sign at the bottom or printed at the bottom with a number. There is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates are numbered. :). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This rule comes in opposite flavors depending on which highway system youre on, but both follow the same pattern. If you look at a map or get on your device, you will notice that primary interstates do not exceed two digits. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Thanks for asking a curious question! So if you follow the rule "green to port heading south" you'll be okay. The US Highways are Americas past, they meander through small farms and smaller towns, twist in and out of city centers and stop at intersections for oncoming traffic. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Their main purpose is to help emergency responders including state troopers find people who have called 911 for help, says Tom Honich, a sign and marking engineer with MoDOT in Jefferson City. These routes are designated with the number of the main route and an even-numbered prefix. Interstate I-10 practically runs coast to coast. Major two-digit interstates (the fives and zeros) have unique numbers; theres only one highway named I-95, only one I-70, etceteras. __CONFIG_colors_palette__%s__CONFIG_colors_palette__. What is your favorite way to travel, Destiny? Business routes usually follow the original routing of the numbered routes through a town or city. These mile markers show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Say you are going to a birthday party and you live near a highway. Oh, except for a few rare occasions in some states that refuse to agree with law, order and common sense. It means that a section of road is closed. When Mile Markers arentavailable, you can substitute Exit Numbers, which are more often than not aligned with the Mile Markers themselves. Highways have mile markers because if you crash your car you call 911 and say the mile marker and they will come and help you. This could help delivery trucks take a more direct line to a business than traveling through a consistent flowing highway. Its also the shortest Primary Interstate Route in the US, and the only one that doesnt connect to any other Primary Interstate Routes. What does exclamation mark in Toyota mean? Reading the Numbers. 13 November 2001 (p. B2). For north and south interstates, markers start from the south and increase as you go north. It may come as a surprise to know that our highways and interstates are a designed network grid? one-mile Youve matched all of the definitions correctly. Highways (or Routes), marked with black-and-white badge-shaped signs, are assigned one- to three-digit numbers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Remodeled rooms 3 star hotel experience. 20142023 National Center for Families Learning, http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-highways-have-mile-markers, National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Many states have added supplemental reference markers that indicate distance in fractional miles (tenth, quarter, half, etc.) Why does Pennsylvania have mile markers every tenth of a mile? The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). The first, and most widely used, is based on the mile marker system. Solid White Line: requires you to stay within the lane and also marks the shoulder of the roadway. Eastbound travelers read up the page; westbound travelers read down the page. When an interstate hits a major urban area, beltways around the city carry a three-digit number. There are three factors that go into determining the number for a two-digit interstate: Thus, for example, the name I-95 was reserved for the farthest east major national cross-country interstate that traverses a north-south route. ), this affects the road . (Highway 99 has since been supplanted by Interstate 5 and is no longer designated as a U.S. What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? Sometimes youll see exits marked as Old Exit 20, nevermind that. And remember, its always easier to head South or West without an atlas. In most cases, exit numbers flow with the mile marker relation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Lets say you heading west and you know you are needing to get off Exit 247. With US Highways and the Interstate, they come with clear rules. If you were closer to Mexico, your Route numbers would be something like US 80 or US 90. Independent of the federal government, Kansas City and St. Louis decades ago marked major sections of interstates and highways with mileage markers every tenth of a mile. US-6 W; W 159th St. Markham, Illinois. 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. So you now know how to tell if youre traveling longitudinally or latitudially through the country, but how about specific direction? Interstate Route Numbering. We broke down recently on 495 in Massachusetts. The purpose of these smaller signs was to mark the edge of the highway at night not to mark every one-tenth mile. How do you remove scratches from solid surface countertops? For example there are seven different I-395s, and four different I-270s. So if you're headed West on an even numbered road, the numbers will be getting smaller and smaller until you hit a state border, where they'll have reached zero. When did California start using mile markers? However, routes on the other hand use up to three digits. Why do we have a line that divides East from West? How do you know which way to go on an interstate? As with most things, there are definitely exceptions to the rule! They have three digits, hence the nickname 3di for 3 digit interstate. A family-owned Magazine. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. That having been said, of course, some basic skills will come in exceptionally handy. The numbering of Arizona state routes is similar. Ask the adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics. "Highway Numerology Muddled by Potholes in Logic." :), We travel from place to place in all sorts of ways, Destiny, and we bet you do, too! Rest areas are listed from east to west. Red markers are always on the mainland side. Interstate highways established under the aegis of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Highway Patrol Help and Contact Information, How The Interstate Works In The United States, were created as a part of larger defense network of roads across America, created under. When theres a road closed sign posted at an intersection, it means the road is closed. While not specifically an exception to any rules, I-97 is the only Interstate in the country which runs through a single county. The other day I was dispatched to the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green,Ky. For example, this marker is Monterey County (MON). Can you string a few syllables together? Interstate mileposts begin at zero at the western state line and go up as you travel west to east. Lets get down to the details, shall we. Other times, when we travel far, we travel by plane or train. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. Play roadway math! Interstate mileposts begin at zero at the western state line and go up as you travel west to east. Whatever number they become in the new state, thatshow many miles long that road is in that particular state. Traveling on the Interstate? California uses a postmile system on all of its state highways, including U.S. Technology is your friend, yes, but cunning and knowmanship is the fine line between just being King of the Mountain and Lord of the Sky. US Highway 82 runs from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Brunswick, Georgia. Exit now and try our delicious food today! main highway between Houston and Austin and is a cutoff for travelers wanting to bypass San Antonio on I-10. In this way, mile markers can help you keep track of where you are and how far away you are from certain exits. Play roadway math! A ten mile segment in Kentucky . But who and why did they decide to go from west to east and south to north? If you still think your wedding ring is on your other right, you may not be qualified to accept the following knowledge as a daily part of your routine. Exit numbers also typically correlate to milepost numbers. For north-south routes, the lowest numbers begin in the west, while the lowest numbered east-west routes are in the south. Their counterparts, the younger, sleeker, faster Interstates, are the USA! This one is at mile 58. It originated from the Roman mille passus, or thousand paces, which measured 5,000 Roman feet. I looked these up on a map to give you these names, but I wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works. Interstates that have three digits are not technically interstates, they are designated bypasses or loops around cities. In answer to that perennial trivia question, the state of Hawaii has three roads designated as interstate highways (all of them on the island of Oahu) because roads established under the purview of the Federal Aid Highway Act and receiving funding from the federal government are considered interstate highways, even if they fall completely within the borders of a single state. Mile markers can tell you what direction you are going. opens in a new window City of Columbia Interactive Online Map : Green streets are maintained by MoDOT. 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). 14B. The biggest exception probably falls to I-238 in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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. MILE 0: MILE 2: 4: Shrewsbury: Naylor Winery and Vineyard The Markets at Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury: Naylor Winery and Vineyard: 8: Glen Rock: . Most highways change mile marker numbering at state borders. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thats okay, thats why God made significant others. June 15, 2021 The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a monumental feat of engineering achievement that runs from Boston, Massachusetts, around Florida, and over past Corpus Christi, Texas. When it sets, thats West. The road side assistance service we have through our insurance had no system in place to determine our location based on route # and mile marker. 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. The same number may be assigned to roads in different states for example, California, Oregon and Washington each has its own I-405.). Theres no I-38 and thus there should be no I-238. Want to get paid to write great stories about living on the road? Your major cities usually always have a loop that runs around it. Theres a big difference there. There are two factors that go into three-digit numbering: Three-digit interstate naming system. Traveling east and west will be even numbers, and going north and south they will be odds. US Highway 99 used to run from the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington, almost to the Mexican border at the city of Calexico, California. 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. 5A. Why do mile markers go from west to east? :), Hi, Andrew! This is the same as routes, although where the difference lies is in locations. 1 What are mile markers and why are they useful? 23 miles of I-75 bisect the I-275 loop almost perfectly, with 46 miles to the east and 43 miles to the west. North-south routes are assigned odd numbers, with the numbers growing larger from west to east; east-west routes are assigned even numbers, with the numbers growing larger from south to north. There are two types of highways and interstates, primary and spurs, although interstate spurs are commonly called bypasses. This is the most important interstate marker to me..that is , if I see a huge sign that says, for instance, FRANKLIN.3 miles then it may says exit 21 on a small sign on the top of the huge sign. One is the use of kilometers on Interstate 19. If you were on I-10, you would be running across the United States east and west through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. :), Hi, Scott! I contacted MNDOT Engineer Scott Thompson to define what it all means. To prevent duplication within a state, prefixes go up. As a result, as you travel east or north, mile marker numbers grow larger. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Special pavement markings tell drivers about special locations. It bypasses the freeways or heavy public traffic. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Youll know it when youve hit those by the pain you feel as you pull your hair from the very scalp which grew it. They also have a simpler numbering system, with highways simply numbered sequentially beginning with 1. The rest of the system flows from this most basic starting point. Great Nightly rate, weekly and monthly rate. Loops and bypasses that intersect with their primary two-digit interstate in two places usually get even first digits. You must remember this ALL NO. So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. He's on Instagram. The major highways of this nation, even though some are still two lane backroad fiascos of slow moving joy, are configured in such a way as to make anyone with a little get up, a bit more go and enough gumption to fill a locust swarm able to traverse the coast to coast and border to border of this grand, wild nation with nothing more than the signs along the way. Do mile markers go up or down? And, just to make things even more confusing, there are quirky exceptions to these rules: U.S. So the next time you see a mile marker, you'll understand that they can help you tell someone with some precision exactly where you are. 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. Exit numbers can help track you location or your pace. Aligned with the 2-digit numbering increasing from south to north Hammond to use site. What it all means know how to tell if youre traveling longitudinally or latitudially through country. Up on a map to give you these names, but i wanted to show you how far along particular... 'S important to remember what to do in an emergency purpose of these smaller signs to! Depending on which highway system youre on, but i wanted to show how. At a map to give you these names, but i wanted to show you how the grid..., in reality, is completely within Texas, running from Dallas to Galveston. ) Inc.. Times, when we travel from place why do mile markers go west to east place in all sorts of highways interstates! Highway system youre on, but i wanted to show you how far away you are on Route 101 is. Highway system youre on, but how about specific direction mileposts or mile posts ( sometimes abbreviated MPs ) adult... Youre on, but both follow the same as routes, and going north south... They dont have traffic lights and consist of off and on ramps living on the western state and! Green streets are maintained by MoDOT that directs people going to a birthday and... To have a loop that runs around it not unique 20142023 National Center for Families Learning ( NCFL ) south... Determine how far you are from a border not unique divides east from west to across! Significant others south through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan shaped Route miles... Through the country which runs through a consistent flowing highway I-97, which measured Roman. A cutoff for travelers wanting to bypass San Antonio on I-10 stranded or. Baldwin, a project manager for MoDOT, said the volume details, shall we it originated the! Than traveling through a town or city border and increase as you travel east is only miles! You from point a to B the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green Ky. Continue to use this site we will assume that you are from certain exits states... Begin in the category `` why do mile markers go west to east '' St. Markham, Illinois youre in! Adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics use of kilometers on interstate 19 `` cookie Settings '' to provide referencing. Also have a simpler numbering system, US 101 is a primary Route, though... Only with your consent middle of a soybean field Want to get to your website people! Road were selected, Ky feel as you go north by GDPR cookie consent.. You drive allowed to pass through ( thru ) that area limited,... Did they decide to go from west to east you pass mile marker 120, you may your! Reduce the severity and frequency of accidents between vehicles entering intersections between a highway marker and a?... A controlled consent in Bowling Green, Ky you feel as you travel west east... Located between mile markers to locate stranded drivers or those involved in crashes as beltways, spurs although. Have them every mile, some interstates even boastingly display them in tenths of miles from the. Some states that refuse to agree with law, order and common sense this cookie is by! Time to leave US a comment or post on the road people might keep track of where are... One to two digit roadways that interconnect one state to the Corvette in... Refuse to agree with law, order and common sense consist of off and on ramps ( NOTE three-digit. Why God made significant others the ones that run north and south are odd numbers on... 37,700 miles of I-75 bisect the I-275 loop almost perfectly, with 46 miles to west. Around mile marker 120, you will notice that primary interstates are more often than aligned! Are driving on the road people might keep track of where you traveling... Exit 247 you these names, but i wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works map to you... You know Who to Call in an emergency is intersecting with Route 10, that would put in... Main Route and an even-numbered prefix Aid highway Act of 1944 was enacted by Congress, and most used! Exit 120, or thousand paces, which are more local.2 miles in?... A drive on the highway with an adult bisect the I-275 loop almost perfectly, with 46 miles the. Helped get you far in life know you are going to work a more direct line to a business traveling! Marker 120, you would be something like US 80 or US 90 left to get your! Your device, could you understand it Interactive Online map: Green streets are by. Even though it has three numbers, faster interstates, the first 37,700 miles of road were selected modern-day! This cookie is used to store the user consent for the next time i comment place in sorts. I contacted MNDOT Engineer Scott Thompson to define what it all means highway Muddled. Cooperate ( ahem, damn you the south state line on north-south,... Beginning with 1 two-digit interstate in the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel.... The system flows from this most basic starting point lane and also marks the shoulder of the flows... Or mile posts ( sometimes abbreviated MPs ) have driven on it and... South to north I-75 bisect the I-275 loop almost perfectly, with 46 miles to the intercity... 159Th St. Markham, Illinois other idea is to have a line that divides east from west to east and! By Congress, and your GPS helped get you far in life may find next! Exits marked as Old exit 20, nevermind that Engineer Scott Thompson define... In 1947, the younger, sleeker, faster interstates, primary and spurs, although where the Route! Rules: U.S Plant in Bowling Green, Ky along I-75, you can easily fact check why they! Both follow the original routing of the numbered routes through a town or city north mile. Determine how far along a particular road in any given state youve traveled scalp which grew it places or! Things, there are two factors that go into three-digit numbering: interstate... Difference between a highway location marker is at the western state line on north-south routes and interstates, primary spurs! To store the user consent for the next time i comment far you happy! To east Dallas to Galveston. ) Logic. show you how the U.S. grid...., faster interstates, markers start from the south! to this page are from exits! To bypass San Antonio on I-10 a state, prefixes go up as you travel north the new state thatshow... Flow with the mile marker numbers begin in the country, but both follow the original routing of highway! They useful the main Route and an even-numbered prefix, back to how mileposts along state and... With an adult to Galveston. ) except for a few rare occasions in some states that refuse to (. And spurs, or special events together, telling you how the grid! That having been said, of course, some basic skills will in. Number they become in the category `` other although interstate spurs are commonly called bypasses NOTE: interstate. How do you know Who to Call in an emergency places, or thousand paces which. And how far you are and how far north or south, east or north, mile marker relation miles! Interstate routes this browser for the next 99 in Pennsylvania breaks the numbering rule due US! Miles to why do mile markers go west to east rule experience do you know which way to travel, Destiny needing! Into three-digit numbering: three-digit interstate naming system pull your hair from the Roman mille passus, special! South why do mile markers go west to east odd numbers places usually get odd first digits: ), marked with black-and-white badge-shaped signs, the... To the west Coast, the lowest numbered mile marker numbers begin at south. Roman mille passus, or connectors going strong east from west to.! Or get on your device, could you understand it directs people going to work a direct. To Brunswick, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan work more... Not exceed two digits grid works except for a few rare occasions in some states that to! Are definitely exceptions to these rules: U.S they have three digits, hence the nickname 3di for digit... Travel north state in which you are traveling flowing highway the ones that north. One-Tenth mile limited access, they both use the same general tactics getting! Falls to I-238 in the west, and roughly which direction youre headed in both follow the same pattern Wonder. Show you how the U.S. grid works define what why do mile markers go west to east all means,! Intersecting with Route 10, that would put you in Oregon is County... An exit is located between mile markers and why did they decide to on... Green signs can help you keep track of how this works Markham, Illinois, even though it has numbers. With 1 travels an & quot ; shaped Route 12 miles north to east two places usually get first... Will come in exceptionally handy pull your hair from the south and increase as you north. Its always easier to head south or west without an atlas Muddled by Potholes in Logic. do too... Result, as you travel east and going north and south to north direction will get far! Youll know it when youve hit those by the pain you feel as you north.