The federal interstate highway system:
We have a new group in our industry that has never owned a 'Truckers' atlas', never seen the United States as a whole, just glimpses of a portion on GPS...
Anyone who has traveled can easily figure mile markers start at the west, or south of the state, ending in the east or north. Then start new in the next state.
But there is more to it..
Except for a few toll roads, all interstates [mile markers] are numbered in the same way, bottom to top, left to right on a map. And as we all know the exit numbers correspond to the mile marker; including A,B,C etc. exits in the same manor.
Even numbered hwy's run west to east. example I-80
Odd numbered hwy's run south to north. example I-57
Now we dig deeper...
Next time you visit a fuel stop, crack open a page of the U.S. in their atlas. Notice smaller numbered interstates are on west coast, and southern border. ie Interstate-5 or Interstate-10 and increase in number as you look north or east. ie Interstate-88, Interstate-95
Upon opening that Rand McNalley 'Trucker Atlas' read the information it gives... might even be worth the cost!
You'll see they explain spurs and hubs.. all denoted with a 3 digit number.spur: means it does NOT reconnect with the originating Interstate.examples would be I-190 is a spur to O'hare airport... while I-290 is a loop reconnecting to the original interstate.
hub: means it does reconnect with the originating Interstate (AKA: Loop, Circle, bypass etc.)
Now notice with reguard to 3 digit numbers... spurs beginning # is odd, loops beginning # is even.
If you've read this far, you must be interested.
All Interstates divisible by 5 indicate it is a 'major' hwy. Most run border to border, or coast to coast... take example I-55 vs I-57 or I-80 vs I-88.
[there are exceptions to every rule]
Interesting facts:
This Eisenhower Interstate system began in WWII for ease of troop/equipment movements across the states and was not completed till 1990's and still more is planned.
1 mile of every 5 miles is designated to be straight for aircraft landing... I cannot verify true or false, however with new intersections, safety barriers, powerlines it doesn't seem likely that is a concern today.
misconception, shades/ lids on traffic lights were for national security... no, they realized when sunlight hits all bulbs you can't tell which one was lit.
Do they teach this in school?
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TheDude1969, Jun 15, 2013.
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