Exits - Numbers or Names ?
Firstly, some background for my non-US readers .... In the US, there are these huge highways called Interstates. Their name usually starts with an I. For example, the Interstate that passes through Raleigh is I-40. This highway goes all the way from the East Coast to California (does not reach the West Coast though). On these Interstates, there is an "exit" every one mile.
For example, if you are driving on I-40 and going westwards from Raleigh, you will pass Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro etc ... If you want to go into one of these cities, you will take an exit which takes you to a smaller road that leads into the city. If you want to get back on the highway, you take an "on-ramp" which is the reverse of the "exit ramp".
Now, these exits are numbered - The numbers increase as you move Eastwards or Northwards. And then it gets re-set once you pass a State border. For example, on I-40, Exit 1 is the first exit (in Asheville, NC) and then you have exits 284-303 in the Raleigh Area and then the final exit is near the beach.
Ok, now on to other stuff ....
Each exit usually has a number and a name. The exit I take to get to home is 295 - Gorman St. I realized something interesting today ... When Americans give directions, they usually refer to the name of the exit, while Indians refer to the exit number.
Have you guys had the same experience ? I wonder if this is a reflection of our races' relative comfort with words and numbers respectively ...
3 Comments:
Stumbled on your blog from Kesari's. Nice blog!
Few other things that I observed/learned after driving around a bit:
-The interstate system is based on Germany's Autobahn and is called The Eisenhover Interstate System.
-Some portions of the interstates in the New England area do not have exits every mile. Also, some toll-portions also don't have that many exits compared to a non-toll interstate.
-Exits are not numbered in California. Instead they have names. This I found out by driving and getting frustrated at the same time. Donno if the entire west coast interstates have this practice.
- East-west interstates are even numbered and the numbering increases as you move north.
- North-South interstates are odd numbered and the numbering increase as you move east.
--Vijay
Hi Anand, thanks for your comment - Interstates in California do have numbers, but they are not as prominently displayed.
Hardly any of the Interstates have exits every mile. The only place you would find that are in urban areas, or possibly along the northeast corridor. Most of the Interstates are free, though some sections are toll roads. The Interstates were started, as pointed out, during the Eisenhower administration and the initial funding, if I am not mistaken, was done with defense dollars. The original design specifications called for curves and grades gentle enough to allow semi-trucks pulling long intercontinental ballistic missiles to go 80mph nonstop. The Feds pay for the roads but they are built by the states, hence the various standards for exit numbering or tolls.
Where I live, in Michigan, near Detroit, the state has a long history of not having toll roads. The only toll road inside the state is the beautiful and majestic Mackinaw Bridge, a five mile long suspension bridge that connects Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas.
I'm not sure if any of the interstates completely traverse the US east/west. If any of them do, it would be I-80. I-75, which is about 3 miles from my house, runs from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Canadian border, to Key West, Florida. The Mackinaw bridge is part of I-75.
In some places, the exits are numbered sequentially. In other places, the exits are numbered according to the mile markers. There is a marker every mile that tells you how far you are from the start or end of that interstate in the state you are in. The speed limit on the interstate varies depending on what state and where it is, urban or rural. In most places it's 70 mph in open areas. Around here the speed limit is usually 70 but the Michigan State Police will usually let you get away with 80 - lot's of tourists come to visit here, gotta be hospitable.
Some exits are named for the streets. My favorite is Bermuda/Mohawk. I always have thought that sounded like a private investigator: Bermuda Mohawk.
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