Much more logical junction numbering system

laissez-faire · 23 Mar 2009 at 19:55

In the US, state-by-state (i.e. the numbers reset each time you cross a state border) the exits on the interstate correspond to the mileage on the highway. So if you cross a state border you'll soon seen the 'mile 1' board. Then if there is an exit at mile 3, it will be called Exit 3.

The advantages of this system are pretty simple - firstly you can add more exits in-between existing ones without resorting to confusing 'Junction 32A' style lettering, (sometimes in cities where you have two exits within a mile you get the A/B letters coming up, but you know they will be v.close together).

Furthermore, you can easily tell how many miles it is until you need to find your exit, because every hundred yards there is a post by the roadside with the mileage written on it.

Would be a logistical nightmare to adopt it here, but I wonder why we didn't think of it first.....

DrDee · 23 Mar 2009 at 19:57

The American road system is fantastic, I loved the actual destination driving.

However, im sure some of the more developed areas consist of nothing but square blocks, and while great if you have the space, and nice and functional, they are not fun in any way.

laissez-faire · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:03

I also managed to drive for 1077 miles to many different places without the need for a map. I was simply able to look at google maps the night before, memorise a few numbers and names of roads before setting off and then just go. I find that a lot harder to do in this country! But I guess their road network was far more 'planned' than ours, what with it being relatively young! Other than our motorways most of our roads are centuries old!

Clarkey · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:03

Our system seems much more logical than that tbh. We also have plenty adequate signage. The only possible advantage I can see is in adding new junctions but the network is pretty well established already, can't see (m)any more junctions needing to be added inbetween existing ones, even if they do, suffix letters are pretty simple to grasp.

Skeeter · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:42

I think the US Highway system comes from the fact they will build massive hugely long roads accross nowhere, and then proceed to build things along them, so adding junctions etc as they go. Whereas in the UK, we have much less space, so a road is built knowing where its going from and to and all the pieces inbetween.

Demon · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:45

It's the same in Spain, the junctions are the Km distance from the roads starting point..

Our system seems much more logical than that tbh

That is until they want to add a junction, and then it kind of starts getting silly at times..
And knowing how far it is to the junction you want couldn't be any more 'logical' if you ask me

laissez-faire · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:47

Skeeter said:
I think the US Highway system comes from the fact they will build massive hugely long roads accross nowhere, and then proceed to build things along them, so adding junctions etc as they go. Whereas in the UK, we have much less space, so a road is built knowing where its going from and to and all the pieces inbetween.

That thought definitely occurred to me.

Another interesting thing about the US is that poor people build houses and put trailer-parks all the way along railway lines. Why? Because the land right next to the railway is the cheapest! Completely illogical but one of the drawbacks of the market mechanism!

PardonTheWait · 24 Mar 2009 at 18:21

laissez-faire said:
That thought definitely occurred to me.

Another interesting thing about the US is that poor people build houses and put trailer-parks all the way along railway lines. Why? Because the land right next to the railway is the cheapest! Completely illogical but one of the drawbacks of the market mechanism!

It's not illogical, it's the same everywhere...