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Nope, they're not gonna connect. NCDOT said that it was difficult getting an odd-numbered North-South route that closely fits the numbering grid without duplicating an existing number and that there is precedent, like I-86, I-76, etc...
That's true, but the original numbering system was designed to keep US highways and Interstates with similar numbers apart. I'm not sure they had state roads as much priority. Should have factored into this decision though for sure.
NCDOT originally applied for I-36 for the US-70 corridor and wanted to avoid having an interstate that shared the same number as a nearby state route. Problem was, I-36 violated the Interstate numbering grid since it was technically north of I-40. Seems like AASHTO told them to change it on the spot or wait until their next meeting this fall to submit a new number for approval. NCDOT agreed to change it and I-42 was the result. NCDOT also did a last minute change from I-89 to I-87, presumably for similar reasons. Here's AASHTO's list of approvals and rejections, which mentions NCDOT's change:
NCDOT mentioned on their applications to AASHTO that they would request sections of US-70 and US-64/US-17 to be added to the Interstate system as they're upgraded, which means NCDOT will likely send more applications to AASHTO at their next meeting in the fall to have the Clayton and Goldsboro bypasses signed as I-42 and the Knightdale bypass signed as I-87 since they're currently the only sections that meet Interstate standards and ask for I-495 and the section of I-440 from the Knightdale Bypass to I-40 in SE Raleigh to be decommissioned. If that happens this fall, I-42 and I-87 signs will likely go up next spring.
Here's NCDOT's applications to AASHTO before the last minute change (PDF is 8.41MB, 73 pages). NC's starts on page 21 and ends on page 42:
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LM117
Nope, they're not gonna connect. NCDOT said that it was difficult getting an odd-numbered North-South route that closely fits the numbering grid without duplicating an existing number and that there is precedent, like I-86, I-76, etc...
Thanks for the explanation. I figured there weren't a lot of numbers to choose from since it's only two digits, but I don't know the exact rules in the numbering other than the odd/even rule.
As the forum's newest roadgeek, I like the numbers.
I think they want to maintain the importance of 0s and 5s in the system. One could argue in favor of I-45 in Texas (Dallas to Houston is nationally important, not just regionally), but a route from Garner to Morehead City ending in 0?
I-87 is way out of place as well... but thanks to Pennsylvania's I-99 which is west of I-83, what can you do?
I-540 was supposed to be renumbered as I-640 at some point, but that got scrapped. I hope their reasoning was not "to avoid confusion with US 64..."
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Goes into (sometimes excruciating) detail of the planning of the interstate system from its earliest imaginings as well as the people that made it happen. It's an ebook as well.
NCDOT mentioned on their applications to AASHTO that they would request sections of US-70 and US-64/US-17 to be added to the Interstate system as they're upgraded, which means NCDOT will likely send more applications to AASHTO at their next meeting in the fall to have the Clayton and Goldsboro bypasses signed as I-42 and the Knightdale bypass signed as I-87 since they're currently the only sections that meet Interstate standards and ask for I-495 and the section of I-440 from the Knightdale Bypass to I-40 in SE Raleigh to be decommissioned. If that happens this fall, I-42 and I-87 signs will likely go up next spring.
Here's NCDOT's applications to AASHTO before the last minute change (PDF is 8.41MB, 73 pages). NC's starts on page 21 and ends on page 42:
Thanks for the explanation. I figured there weren't a lot of numbers to choose from since it's only two digits, but I don't know the exact rules in the numbering other than the odd/even rule.
Odd numbered interstates are supposed to start from the lowest number (I-5 in California) and increase the further east you go. The most glaring exception is I-99 in PA, west of I-95. The only reason that was approved was because a Congressman from PA, Bud Shuster, pushed a bill through Congress that the route was to be called I-99. Future I-11 from Phoenix AZ to Las Vegas NV was also written into law and it's between I-15 and I-17. Congressional law trumps AASHTO and FHWA.
So, 495 and the section of 440 would become part of 87?
Yes. I-495 and the tiny stretch of I-440 from I-40 to the Knightdale Bypass will get the heave-ho once NCDOT gets the greenlight to start putting up I-87 shields. NCDOT wanted I-87 to end at I-40 rather than ending at I-440 like I-495 currently does because they want to eliminate even more driver confusion since when you're coming up on the I-40/I-440 split from Garner and points east, I-40 and I-440 are both labeled "West" and since I-440 backtracks east a little before finally turning west after passing the Knightdale Bypass, NCDOT felt it was confusing to drivers, so they saw I-87 as an opportunity to get rid of that little oddity. Smart move, IMO. It'll probably be a year (rough guess) before I-495 and I-440 get officially canned though.
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