Map Facts

● Interstate Design
● Mile Markers
● Interstate Signs
● Truckers in Construction Zone Facts

Interstate Design 

● The interstates were originally designed to be able to run military equipment from coast to coast on flatbed trailers at sustained speeds of 75 mph. 

● Did you know that if you're on interstate 5,  you have 5% of the U.S. left to the west of you?  If you are on interstate 95,  you have 95% left to the west of you? 

● If you are on interstate 20,  you have 20% of the U.S. left to the south of you?  If you are on interstate 90,  you have 90% left to the south of you? 

● ALL  [or mostly all]  interstates going east or west have EVEN numbers.  ALL interstates going north or south have ODD numbers. 

● If a city bypass has an even number it loops  [called a LOOP]  back to the same interstate. i.e. I-440 ends back up on I-40.

● If a city bypass has an odd number it does NOT loop  [called a SPUR]  back to the same interstate.  i.e. I-540 does not come back to I-40. 

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Mile Markers

● Did you know that ALL mile markers go down as you head south and go up as you head north? 

● ALL mile markers go down as you head west and up as you head east? 

● If you are in Tennessee at the 300 mile marker on I-40 heading west,  you have 300 miles to the Arkansas border. 

● If a mile marker looks like this:  195|5  what does it mean?  It means you are at the 195 and 5 tenths mile marker.  The use of the tenths in a mile marker can be very helpful if you are broke down to allow police or other help pinpoint your exact location. 

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Interstate Signs

● Did you know that if the exit number on an interstate sign is on the top right of the sign that you will exit to the right no matter if it says exit only or not?  See the illustration:

                              

● The same rule applies if it was on the left side!

Truckers in Construction Zone Facts

Why are Truckers made to get into the left lane in some construction zones?

One : the right lane many times is put up in a hurry with VERY soft temporary blacktop and trucks can an DO topple over if in that lane.

Two: the left lane many times will have what truckers call a "jersey barrier" (concrete wall) that is narrow and the government would rather pros be in that situation and thereby lessen SOME of the potential danger as truckers usually will be more watchful.

IF they have truckers in the left lane and it is NOT a construction zone it is because they want to even the wear of the freeway out and thereby lengthen the life of that stretch as much as possible.

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