What's the word you use for this kind of road? (please add your location)

[raccoon]

[Iggo]

1. The correct word, of course: Freeway.

SoCal, baby. Yeah!

[Flaxbee]

60. yup. Freeway

SoCal born and bred. That's what they're called.

[nolabear]

2. Interstate.

Seattle.

[fifthoffive]

3. Two different kind of roads there

Interstate and Federal Highway.

I live in Tennessee.

[BillStein]

4. Interstate

here in Philadelphia/ south Jersey, some are free and some are toll.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Interstate. Minnesota.

Also freeway, but there are some freeways that aren't Interstates.

[geardaddy]

18. This ^

[hifiguy]

24. +2

[Brickbat]

31. Interstate, Minnesota, but not with that map!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. True. I-35 doesn't go to Canada. It stops at Duluth.

[Brickbat]

35. Exactly. No need for an Interstate to I-Falls.

[myrna minx]

46. Oh yah.

[Blue_Tires]

72. Interstate. Virginia

But the actual number is used more often than the word, although some do use interstate and highway interchangably....

and "highways?" Most here call them "U.S. highway XX"

[cyberswede]

6. There are two different kinds of roads on that map...

Interstates (with the blue band at the top), and state highways (white shields).

I think of freeways as sections of and interstate near large metropolitan areas.

I'm in Iowa (we have no freeways).

[Art_from_Ark]

86. The white shields are US highways

State highways are designated by various symbols, often by a state outline, but the shield is always a US highway.

[avebury]

7. white/blue shield - Interstate and white shield - highway

A bit of trivia for you: Odd numbered interstates run north-south and even numbered interstates run east-west.

I should have added - Oklahoma.

[OriginalGeek]

22. I know you're right but

I-4 here in Florida sure tries awfully hard to muck up the system.

I usually say highway when I mean the big 4 to 8 lane road that connects major cities around here and I just say road (even for highways) if there are stop lights or signs on it. (Like Highway 50)...

[ElboRuum]

80. Going further...

The Interstate Highway System makes allowances for regional short run extensions which must be numbered according to a set of rules which have been largely adopted by most states in the numbering of state highways.

a 200 series number is a perpendicular route to a main interstate. I.e. 295 crosses 95 as an east-west extension.

a 300 series number is a parallel route which is often built to alleviate congestion along a main interstate highway.

a 400 series number is a loop route which allows states to alleviate congestion around major cities by providing an alternate route for "passing through" traffic.

a 600 series number is a short run extension spur to extend an interstate through areas benefitting from interstate access.

[LaurenG]

8. That is the interstate but I call it the freeway

I was born and then raised out west.

[Chan790]

9. Individually they're federal highways and interstates. Collectively I just say "highway".

I'm in DC/MD, grew up in CT, lived in Philly and NYC in the middle.

Brooklyn is mah home! Southern New England Prep-school (like the singer for Vampire Weekend) is my accent.

[Shrek]

27. +1

Life-long resident of Kansas.

[a2liberal]

10. freeway

Michigan

[Little Star]

11. Do I win?....

The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, Interstate Freeway System or the Interstate)

[OriginalGeek]

23. That's kinda cool

I guess I don't really need to know the exact shape and proportions of the highways - with that I could get from Miami to Seattle without knowing a thing about the in between...

[fishwax]

49. that's an interesting and cool map, though it has a few weird glitches

For instance, I-57 doesn't show up on there at all--it starts at Chicago and ends at 55 between St. Louis and Memphis, and is the fastest route from Chicago to Memphis and further points south.

I-25 does end in Buffalo, as shown on the map, but it is Buffalo, Wyoming, which is south of Billings. Buffalo should really be on the I-90 line between Billings and Sioux Falls. Then I-94 should start in Billings rather than Butte (which is, as the map shows, at the junction of 90 and 15, just not 94) and shoot up to Fargo. 94 should also shoot down to Chicago from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

There may be other issues, I don't know--those are just the ones that jump out at me. Still, it's kind of a fascinating map--any idea where it came from?

[geardaddy]

53. Yep, 94 should go from MSP to Chicago first passing through Milwaukee

[geardaddy]

52. That map is incomplete.

I-94 goes through Minneapolis-St. Paul too.

[hedgehog]

12. Here in New York, It's either the Thruway or numerical designation,

Last edited Tue May 15, 2012, 11:34 AM - Edit history (1)

ex, I-80, 480 etc, except around Buffalo where it is the 190, the 290.

[AsahinaKimi]

13. In California Hwy 101

or As I like to call it.. The Ventura Highway..

[geardaddy]

19. What's up with Californians always putting "the" in front of freeway numbers?

The 101? We'd just call it 101 or Highway 101.

[AsahinaKimi]

20. Perhaps its away of pointing at it...

"See that street? That runs into THE 101. Just take that off ramp and you will be heading south to Goleta, and then Santa Barbara... good luck on THE 101!"


SEE? THAT WAS EASY ...

[geardaddy]

21. I suppose.

Works just as easily our way.

"See that street? That runs into 101. Just take that off ramp and you will be heading south to Goleta, and then Santa Barbara... good luck on 101!"

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. It's a SOUTHERN California thing --

us Northerners don't do that -- it's actually a quick way to tell us apart.

[geardaddy]

30. Good to know!

Thanks!

[Throd]

38. We do in Sacramento. But maybe you're in Yreka.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

43. Native San Franciscan.

You're the one in The Burbs.

[pinboy3niner]

44. Yreka havoc with a native San Franciscan like HHNF?

[Brother Buzz]

68. I concur

And by the emperor’s decree, calling The City “Frisco” was a high misdemeanor punishable by a $25 fine.

[fishwax]

51. my theory is that it's a consequence of the early SoCal tendency to name their freeways

rather than refer to them by number. The first freeway in LA was the Arroyo Seco Parkway (later renamed the Pasadena and since re-renamed the Arroyo Seco again). Then the Hollywood. As the freeway system in Los Angeles developed, other freeways were given names: San Diego, Ventura, Santa Monica, and so on.

For a few reasons, it seems more natural to use a definite article when referring to a named highway, and in some cases it is also expedient, as a way of distinguishing "the Ventura/Hollywood/Santa Monica (Freeway)" from "Ventura/Hollywood/Santa Monica (Boulevard)" or the locations themselves.

Anyway, maybe that theory is wrong, but that's my speculation.

[bluesbassman]

54. Nah, NorCal did the same. I still call 880 between San Jose and Oakland the Nimitz.

But I don't refer to it as "the eight eighty", just "eight eighty". Can always tell if someone is from or spent some time in SoCal, they invariably will use "the".

'Course I still refer to that gawdforsaken stadium in South San Francisco as Candlestick Park too.

[geardaddy]

55. Sounds like a resonable theory.

[Arugula Latte]

58. ...

http://laist.com/2012/04/15/snl_pokes_fun_at_us_the_californian.php

[geardaddy]

69. ...

[Odin2005]

66. Here in Fargo we say "I-94" and "I-29"

[arbusto_baboso]

71. That third pic of Hwy 101 is in my neck of the woods.

It's just north of Ventura and on the way to Santa Barbara.

[pipi_k]

14. Western Mass...

I call those Interstates.

With one exception...We have the Mass Turnpike going East to West

[HopeHoops]

15. The Warp Zone - PA

[RevStPatrick]

16. Here in Brooklyn...

...we call them "Those things that people who are crazy enough to own cars spend all their time on."

Highway.

When I lived in California, I called them Freeways.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

17. In DMV we call them parking lots

From 2-5 AM they are highways or interstates.

[krispos42]

25. Interstate. (Connecticut)

The number is usually proceeded by "Eye".

If the interstate in question has a name associated with it, it's usually called that, especially if it's a local name, such as the Cross-Bronx Expressway, the portion of I-95 that runs through New York City, or the Massachusetts Turnpike, the portion of I-90 that runs through Massachusetts.



The white ones care called "routes" (typically pronounced "roots&quot .

[frogmarch]

26. Interstate - Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

29. If it's local (like 101) its the freeway --

if not, then I call it a highway. San Francisco onboard.

[SteveG]

33. Turnpike

Delaware

[bluesbassman]

34. Red of course.

Even a bass player can figure that out.

[RebelOne]

36. Interstate 75 in Georgia, or if you live here it is just 75. n/t

[sharp_stick]

37. Parking Lot

Southern Connecticut I-95 entering NY State.

Other than that I normally use Interstate or just the number 91 or 95

[KamaAina]

39. Freeway (California)

Impoprtant distinction: In Southern California, their numbers are preceded by "the", as in "take the 405 south.." In Northern California, they are NOT.

[raccoon]

40. Some of you have pointed out there are 2 kinds of roads here. Sorry, I meant to

refer to just the Interstates (We call them in SC).

[RZM]

41. Usually we just use the number or sometimes shorten 'interstate' to just 'i'

I suspect that what's people do in much of the rest of country. So I guess the term used would be 'interstate,' though it's usually omitted altogether.

We would say: 'Get on 70 until you hit 270 and go north.'

Less frequent:' 'Get on I-70 until you hit I-71 and go south.'

[dana_b]

42. Interstate (California)

freeway??? that makes no sense to me.

[one_voice]

45. Delaware..

I call 95, rt 1, 295, 495, I call them what they are. Don't use highway, interstate etc. I say take 95 north till.....or rt south till...like that.

[Maine-ah]

47. Maine

since there are two there for us...

one is called I-95
the other is route (we pronounce it as root) one.

[Silver Swan]

48. Here near Chicago, I generally call them expressways.

If I mean a particular one, I'll say "the Kennedy," the Eisenhower," "the Tri-state," etc.

[jp11]

50. Red.

NJ

[iverglas]

56. American!

hahaha. Actually, in print, I'd say USAmerican.

To a Canadian, they're highways. Pretty much anywhere in Canada, I think. Except Quebec, where they're autoroutes.

Oh, like somebody said above about NY, I think, they're usually just numbers.

The 401.

And if I were travelling in the States, I'd just say I took the I-75, or maybe just I-75, if that's what I did.

[Crabby Appleton]

57. Superconducting Super Collider

[Godhumor]

59. Seriously? I am the first person to post calling them "thruways"? Western NY

Of course we also say things like "The 290" insured of just "290".

[geardaddy]

73. That's what I called I-90 when I went to school in Geneva, NY

[MrMickeysMom]

61. I call it an InterState...

... therefore, "I-80", and President Eisenhower's namesake for the landing of planes, which became California's "freeway".

[Duer 157099]

62. "The 101" or "The 5" or "The 80" etc

Just numbers. California.

[Duer 157099]

63. If they're called a "Freeway" because you get to move freely

then what happens on a Highway?

[WCGreen]

64. The Highway....

[Odin2005]

65. Interstate (Fargo area). I-94, I-29, etc.

I associate the term "freeway" with Left-Coasters.

[hay rick]

67. Slime mold paths.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/opinion/sunday/the-wisdom-of-slime.html

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

70. Why is there a red line in Michigan's upper peninsula?

It's not a freeway or interstate.

At best, it's a highway.

Mostly, it's a road.

Or, call it U.S. Route 2.

[libodem]

74. I 84

[gaspee]

75. Highway

In RI

[Major Nikon]

76. Deathrace 2000

Around here anyway. People go nuts on the freeways. I honestly believe some are having Nascar fantasies while they are driving. Many even have a number in their windows. It's fucking nuts. I avoid them whenever possible.

[Yavin4]

77. An Out-Dated-Very-Expensive-Unsustainable-Method-of-Transportation

I know. Much more than one word, but the interstate highway system is out dated. When need a new, innovative method of transportation which does not harm the environment.

[southerncrone]

78. Interstate (TN)

[ElboRuum]

79. Not really a well phrased question.

Highway is the proper term.

Highways are generally divided into two types: tollway and freeway, the obvious difference is that tollways take tolls, freeways do not. Since states are responsible for the upkeep on Interstate Highways within the state (those pictured above except for U.S. 1, the PCH/101, and Route 77), they can finance them through toll taking. Thus to say an Interstate is a "freeway" is largely true, but inaccurate. A highway is the only correct term since all the roads depicted are not parts of the Interstate Highway System, but rather a combination of these and famous U.S. highways, and freeway or tollway is too specific to be all inclusive.

[rox63]

81. Highway or interstate

Here in eastern Massachusetts.

[Shagbark Hickory]

82. Motorway

[Shagbark Hickory]

84. or Dual Carriageway

Last edited Wed May 16, 2012, 05:58 PM - Edit history (1)

[applegrove]

85. Highway in Canada.