American Highways That Should Be Interstates 

US 101 does not meet the Interstate requirements, and it absolutely should not be made to conform to those standards. Doing so would destroy an insane amount of natural landscape and small town main-streets.

I believe CA 58 in califiornia will be designed as I-40 later on. A new corridor just west of CA 99 was just finished. During its opening the Mayor of Bakersfield mentioned something about how Bakersfield has no interstate and that this is the first step in doing so. With that in mind I believe California plans to expand I-40 not just to Bakersfield but to I-5 as well so this one is a high possibility.

I think the best "Cinderella Story" is how a county built a beltway -- Clark County Nevada route 215. This has been the only time (so far) that a county planned and built a road to federal Interstate standards, and did it with very little state and federal funding. It will soon be turned over to NDOT and converted to the continuation of I-215 west of the I-15 interchange in Henderson. The other is that of a spur being converted to a full 2DI ... also in the Las Vegas valley. US95 was upgraded to Interstate standards in parts and co-signed as I-515 ...and now is currently being re-signed as Interstate 11.

As a Michigan resident I completely agree about US 131 being fine for what it is right now. There really isn't a huge amount of growth here in our state so it's fine as it.

As a Michigan resident, I can confirm that new Interstates won’t be coming anytime soon. There was another proposal for I-73 that would’ve followed US 23, US 223, and US 127 from Toledo to I-75 near Grayling. And the state government rejected it on the spot. The I-73 story might be an interesting video if you haven’t talked about it yet.

I live in Indianapolis and my sister in South Bend, a straight shot up U.S. 31, INDOT has been slowly upgrading it to freeway standard between SB and IND for the past ten years or so. The plan is eventually for 100% limited access. They've already cut an hour or so off the travel time.

Beaver, please find an up-to-date Interstate map. The one that you use in the intro is missing too many of the newer ones.

Another reason to upgrade CA99 to I7 or I9 is that plenty of agricultural transportation occurs along that road and it takes a beating in terms of maintenance. CA58 between Barstow and Mojave was known, for quite some time, as Blood Alley. It was a two lane stretch most of the way with a huge amount of truck traffic that would slow traffic down and cause other drivers to make unsafe passes resulting in head-on accidents. We used to travel it from Northern California to Vegas and it was always a pain in that section. We went to Vegas for the first time in about 10 years in 2020 and the improvements made on the road are amazing. Four lanes, divided the entire way between CA99 and I15. Another new feature on that road is a new interchange in Bakersfield that directly connects 58 to the Westside Expressway, now currently signed as CA58. Before, one had to travel on city streets through a number of traffic lights to make the connection. Good video!

US287 from Ft Worth, TX to Amarillo, TX. From Amarillo it would tie into the newly approved expansion of I27. There is a lot of traffic and shipping from DFW to Albuquerque and Denver

CA99 to I-7 needs to happen. Like yesterday. Especially now that the decades of construction have FINALLY brought it up to interstate standards. For those of us who travel on CA99 frequently, it's been a painstaking 20 years or so dealing with all that construction.

NJ 42 and AC Expressway should just be a continuation of I76. Both are built to interstate standards and is a major connection between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

US 31 between South Bend and Indianapolis got its upgrade about a decade ago. It used to have way more traffic light intersections and now there are about 3.

Keep up the good work

US 23 between Toledo and Saginaw is a wonderful bypass of Detroit

Should include a section of New Hampshire route 101 (between I-93 and I-95) as that stretch is built to interstate standards.

U.S. 75 in Texas is Up to interstate standards and was supposed to be an interstate Parts of Interstate 45 from Galveston TX to Dallas TX but stops in downtown Dallas and becomes us 75 all the way to Tulsa ok. Lots of construction in Oklahoma to get it to be a limited access highway but no talks of it becoming an Part of I 45

Yea that’s every other highway in Texas

Keppy up the great work! I dont car whag anyone else who wants to be negative says, most of us enjoy your content! 😊

SR-1 in Delaware from I-95 to the state capital Dover.... It's already at interstate standards and Dover is one of a handful of state capitals without an Interstate. It could be a odd 3 digit x95 route.

I live 4 blocks from the 99, There are still many projects working to get everything up to code for interstate status, especially in Tulare County

In the U.K. the A1 between Doncaster and a bit North of Newcastle Upon Tyne was brought up to full Motorway standard and redesigned as the A1M. This could happen further South towards London but there are many more roundabouts that would need converting to grade separation.

One that might have been mentioned to death by now is signing CA-15 as I-15 in San Diego to connect directly to I-5 and the Navel Base. Its just the jct at CA-94 thats needs to be upgraded a bit more

Did you know that U.S. 60 between Springfield, and Sikeston, Missouri was going to be a part of Future Interstate 66? The project was canceled in 2015, but you can still see freeway exits there. The original plan for Future I-66 was to make a interstate from Wichita to Eastern Kentucky. Fortunately, U.S. 60 between Poplar Bluff and Sikeston does plan to be a part of Future I-57.

One for your consideration. US 41 from Milwaukee to Green Bay has recently been upgraded to Interstate 41.

Governor Schwarzenegger declared CA 99 as a high priority route to be upgraded to an interstate. That was over 15 years ago.

I worked on CA-58 through Mojave and Tehachapi in 2003-2004. We built a 10 mile bypass of the city of Mojave. Definitely thought it could be an interstate and an easy access from the Central Valley to Vegas.

The Amtrak takes that route the 99 takes through the same cities. It s a cool way to see the neighborhoods and places you couldn’t see otherwise.

California should hold a referendum on whether to turn CA-99 into I-7 or I-9.

US-127 in Michigan is also similar. There was even a proposal years ago to have it replaced with an extension of I-73 but was largely deemed unnecessary.

I really like the US 31 idea as well as the CA-99 and I-40 extension to Bakersfield.

Small note 3 digit interstates that start with odd numbers like 355 while loops and beltways that reconnect back to the original interstate start with even numbers like 294

US-31 coming into Michigan out of Indiana was supposed to merge with I-196 to become I-67, but due to an environmental pushback, the freeway couldn't be connected straight to I-196 and instead ends awkwardly at Napier Rd, where that road technically continues as US-31 to I-94. We're also waiting for C-99 to become I-7/9 as well, but making it I-105 would make sense too, since, along with everything else you said, it doesn't even meet back up with I-5. Speaking of I-5, I think it technically does service Bakersfield. To the west of it, but it does.

There's been lukewarm interest in extending the 131 freeway from I-94 to I-80/90 for half a century or more - but it's never been a serious discussion. Connecting the US-31 freeway from South Bend to I-94 was always the priority project. Since they FINALLY finished that recently, an interstate from Indianapolis to Grand Rapids would be more realistic via I-196 and US-31 (I-67?) but Indiana doesn't appear interested in upgrading US-31 to a full freeway from Indy to South Bend.

An interesting possibility would be to extend I-135 from I-70 near Salina KS to I-80 in Nebraska along the route of US 81. It is already mostly a divided expressway that bypasses a lot of small towns, and could be upgraded to interstate standards. It would probably have to be remembered I-33, but it would be an excellent way to cut between two major E/W interstates. I also agree about upgrading CA SR 58 to I-40; other than I-80 over Donner Pass, it is the only other freeway that crosses the mountains into the Central Valley from the East, and is usually passable year-round. Just for everyone’s information, if CA SR 99 were made into a spur of I-5, the actual number would be I-705, since all other possible numbers are already in use-yes, there is an I-305 in Sacramento that is concurrent with US 50 between I-5 and SR 99, but for some reason it is unsigned…

US 31 between Indianapolis (at the I-465 junction) and Kokomo has heavy traffic seven days a week. The south half of that section is freeway standard already and the state has tried to get the rest of that section done with MAJOR pushback from locals and the farming community. I cannot say how the traffic north of Kokomo is, as we rarely go that far north on the road. I feel eventually that US 31 Indy to South Bend will be freeway standard sooner than later.

There have been rumors of upgrading US 31 from the toll road to Indianapolis to I-67.

Some of my top additional options: 1) Nebraska Highway 2 (N-2) from I-80 in Lincoln to I-29 in Iowa near Nebraska City: This would be a short spur route that mainly serves traffic from Kansas City. 2) The Avenue of the Saints from Clear Lake, IA to Wentzville, MO (currently US-18, US-218, I-380, US-218, IA-27, US-61): This connects St Louis to Minneapolis-St Paul, and part of the route in Iowa is already an interstate spur route (I-380). 3) US-36 from St Joseph to Hannibal in Missouri: This would extend I-72 all the way west to I-29, and most of this highway is part of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 4) Florida's Turnpike from I-75 in Wildwood to I-95 in North Miami: this is one of the primary highways serving the Miami and Orlando metro areas, though there may be a good reason why it is not an interstate like the Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes are. 5) US-23 from Toledo to Flint: This is a more direct route than I-75, bypassing Detroit and also providing more connections to Ann Arbor. 6) US-23 from Findlay, OH to Columbus: This connects Columbus to places like Toledo and Detroit, and much of the route is already a freeway, though south of Delaware, OH this route would get tricky. 7) US-31 from Indianapolis (I-465) to Benton Harbor, MI (I-94). This connects Western Michigan and South Bend to Indianapolis and other places further south. Much of the route is already a freeway. 8) US-30 from Fort Wayne (I-469) to Canton, OH (I-77): This is already mostly a freeway, and connects cities like Fort Wayne and Canton which are currently underserved by the Interstate network. 9) US-30 from Fort Wayne (I-69) to Plymouth, IN (US-31): Combined with #6, #7, and #8, this provides a route from Columbus to Chicago and South Bend via Fort Wayne. 10) US-15 from Harrisburg to the New York border (I-99): The southern part of this route is still not a freeway, but this would provide a better connection between DC and upstate NY, as well as more directly serving the metro areas of Harrisburg, Williamsport, and Rochester. Potentially the whole route from Baltimore to Rochester could be given one number. 11) US-395 from Kennewick, WA (I-82) to Ritzville, WA (I-90): Much of this route is already a freeway, and it serves to connect eastbound I-90 to westbound I-84, mirroring I-82. 12) US-19 from I-79 to I-77 in West Virginia: This route has a lot of surface intersections, but is a major bypass of Charleston between Pittsburgh and Charlotte. The New River Gorge makes this one a bit of a long shot though. Also, I-40 should extend all the way to I-5, not just to CA-99. The freeway in Bakersfield west of CA-99 has already been constructed, and the rest of the Stockdale Highway is also planned to be upgraded.

6:40 this is actually happening! US-31 will be a freeway all the way from Indianapolis to South Bend in the near future. They're building the interchanges now!

Highway 99 was my favorite Highway to Sacramento and L.A shout out to you man

Also US Highway 52 between I-94 in St. Paul & I-90 outside of Rochester Minnesota. It only needs a few little upgrades in spots and would be the perfect routing for I-290.

I've driven on all of these routes and agree!

Should include VA 28, the section from I-66 to its terminus at VA 7.

In New York State there’s US route 17 that goes from the northern New Jersey state line up to Binghamton,NY & beyond to the Southern Tier which borders Pennsylvania in Western New York State. Part of this was nicknamed the Quickway as a more direct way to get to the summer resorts in the Catskills (like in the movie Dirty Dancing). They are making this part of Rt. 17 into I-86.

Having spent a LOT of hours on the 99 up and down CA, it's absolutely wild that it's not an interstate, especially after the state got rid of most of the surface intersections (with 70mph speed limits! that was interesting to get used to when I had first moved there in 2010) north of Sac.

highway 58 through tehachapi got grade issues and curve issues too

Beaver uploaded!!!!!!!!!

Clark County highway 215 is up to freeway standards and there are talks to extend interstate 215 in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas beltway is composed of i-215 and Clark County highway 215 it would make sense for this county highway to be part of the interstate system

An important note about E470/Northwest Parkway is that due to the plutonium in the soil surrounding the Rocky Flats EPA superfund site, the proposed Jefferson Parkway that would complete the loop is unlikely to be completed.

Me in Bakersfield getting two new interstates👀

I remember watching another video mention from another channel (I believe Milage Mike) about why the beltway in Dever wouldn't happen anytime in our lifetime. If I recall correctly, it's because part of the beltway is tolled and has a 99 year lease.

- There have been proposals to upgrade the NY-365 divided highway between Verona and Rome to Interstate highway standards and designate that, together with NY-49 between Rome and Utica, as the new I-790. NY-49 between Rome and Utica already meets Interstate highway standards. - Work is being done on NY-17 in the Southern Tier of the state to upgrade the road to Interstate highway standards. When finished, the whole route will be designated as I-86. The sections from Waverly westward and from Binghamton to Windsor are already designated as I-86.

CA 58 is planned to be upgraded to Interstate 40 but it is a mountain parkway at best. There are narrow lanes, sharp turns and below-average road conditions. I drive it to work and home everyday and it’s frustrating to deal with massive amounts of big rig traffic although the road wasn’t designed to accommodate the traffic it now carries.

In Downtown Grand Rapids, US 131 is actually part of the unsigned, I-296. I also know that parts of the route between Columbus, and Toledo, Ohio are being upgraded to Interstate Standards, so hopefully, that will get signed as part of the eventual, I-73.

How about I-274 as of western loop in Winston-Salem North Carolina? It is the newest auxiliary route of I-74.

The extension of Interstate 40 to Bakersfield is a must.

Live off of 94 and 196....i definitely think they should change us 31 and 196 to i-67 and 131 to I-63

I personally disagree with US-131. It turns into a regular road, so I doubt it would be possible. But, M-6 I think could be upgraded with little effort. It doesn't turn into a normal road as its two ends are both at interstates, so, I think labeling it as I-396 would make more sense for it.

In downtown Grand Rapids, US 131 is too narrow to be interstate standard... Michigan is doing a total rebuild over the next few years though

US101 in California looks and feels the part. Ditto US75 north of Dallas. I assume there is a political reason for I-45 to end but for the freeway to continue north. Years back I drove the Pennyrile Parkway across Kentucky, continuing north on US41 in to Indiana. It looked and felt a lot like an Interstate. Now it is. I-69

In Michigan, it's much more likely that US-31 becomes an interstate than US-131. Some work has been done in Ottawa County to connect the only part of the highway south of Ludington that isn't freeway already. I-67 has been floated as a potential designation for this freeway. If it happens (don't hold your breath), it could indeed continue into Indiana along existing US-31. Michigan's past record with obsoleted US-designations suggests that if I-67 happened, existing US-131 would become US-31, which frees up the US-131 designation for the existing business spur in Kalamazoo. Las Vegas has two more candidates for freeways adopted into the Interstate system -- Clark County 215 is already basically a completion of I-215 around more of the valley. Also, the Summerlin Parkway -- which has a state highway number that I never remember -- could also be assigned a spur route off the new I-11, likely I-111 or I-311.

I wonder if CA99 could merge with OR99. Would be kinda neat to see how that would go down

Other highways that could be reclassified as Interstates include, but are not limited to: >Route 370 in Missouri, which runs from I-70 in St. Peter's to I-270 in Bridgeton; it could be renamed I-370. >The stretch of K-18 in Kansas from I-70 in Grandview Plaza to K-113 (Seth Child Drive) in Manhattan, KS; only the I-70/K-18 interchange would need to be rebuilt; then it could be signed as I-570. >K-10 in Kansas, which is a full freeway from I-435/I-35 in Lenexa to US-59 in Lawrence; the remaining segment from US-59 to I-70/KTA is a Super-2, but K-DOT is planning to make it a 4-lane controlled access divided highway, so when that happens, it could be signed as I-370. >The stretch of US-69 in Kansas from I-35 in Lenexa to US-54 in Fort Scott; this is fully controlled access and could easily be resigned as I-935.

In Idaho US 20, between Idaho Falls and Ashton, ID (near Yellowstone N.P.) could be an interstate (three digit like 515 or something). Anyway most of it is up to interstate standard right now, and the part that is not IDOT is slated to fix in coming years.

SR 101 and SR 202 in the Phoenix Metro Area!

There is same freeways in Phoenix that is a loop around the city is state freeways

I was thinking OR-217 and US-26 in the state of Oregon. US-26 in the Beaverton area is basically almost up to interstate standards, in fact a majority of it is. It would maybe act as a spur route. OR-217 on the other hand is also almost up to interstate standards. Along with that, the freeway is going through a major widening project to 3 lanes, auxiliary lanes, and wider shoulders. Maybe these might make the list in the future? Correct me if I’ve made some mistakes on the info.

I-11 extended in Las Vegas just not too long ago which is amazing and should’ve done longtime ago

K-96 in Wichita is mostly up to interstate standards, as is US 54/400

You totally could do a video like this on Texas allone, cities like Lubbock, Odessa and Midland in my area all have 2 lane practically interstate standerd belt roads in them allready.

also US Hwy 75 between downtown Dallas and Muskogee OK. It begans as the central expresswayb and the highway is paved to interstate standards. at some poink in OK US 69 picks up the freeway and drops US 75. The only section not to interstate standads is a small area emcompassing Atoka OK.

US Highway 101 between LA and the bay area could really use to be upgraded and become an Interstate 3. Currently, it's a mix of freeway and expressway between the 2 areas. I'll say this though. Some of the areas 101 goes through, the terrain would make it difficult to bring up to interstate standards, at least with the current alignment. But there's got to be some way to do it, even if it's realigning it.

Today I learned that other places in America don't use the term interstate and highway interchangeably. In Chicago, 95%+ of us call i-90/i-55/etc an expressway (or e-way for short), and a small amount of people call it a highway or interstate. I've also never heard of a "freeway" until I went to LA last year and I'm 23 years old lol

I think you missed something about CA 58 which you suggested should be an Interstate. Although most of it has recently been ungraded to freeway standards to bypass the towns like Boron and Mojave, there are still a few stretches where it ceases to be a freeway so that some tiny little dirt roads can intersect it, and in some case cross it (although obviously paved for those few feet). These little roads have no other connections to any other roads and would be cut off completely if CA 58 became an Interstate, or just a regular freeway. It would make no sense to build an interchange or anything like for roads that have five cars a day, but, otherwise, those who live on those roads would be cut off completely. So, no freeway for a mile or two every once in a while, and no Interstate.

Uh, it does not matter in the least. If it is a divided highway with decent pavement, it is perfectly fine.

On Sunday I drove on 101 from LA to Santa Barbara. It certainly looks like an Interstate and has the traffic of one.

I thought I-14 was supposed to connect from Las Cruces New Mexico to Myrtle Beach South Carolina as of original plan, but I-14 only serve 3 states, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, but not in New Mexico, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. However, Georgia is building a new east west interstate between I-85 in Tuskegee Alabama to south of Augusta Georgia, or even to Myrtle Beach South Carolina and it is I-18. I-18 is between I-10 in Florida and I-20 in Georgia, not to mention I-16 in eastern Georgia. I-12 is used in Louisiana, and I-14 already used in Texas, and under development across of most of Texas, so I-18 is available. By the way, I-85 will extend from Downtown Montgomery to I-20 & I-59 in Cuba Alabama about 1 mile east of Alabama/Mississippi state line for more then 100 miles.

Like to see Virginia to have both US-58 and I-58, just like North Carolina to have both US-74 and I-74, and Wisconsin to have both US-41 and I-41. US-58 is working on it to upgrade to the interstate highway which connect between I-75 in Jellico Tennessee to the junction of I-64 and I-264 in Chesapeake Virginia for about 582 miles. US-58 just barely a half mile until it’s junction of US-25E going toward I-75 in Jellico Tennessee.

I hear Massachusetts 24 is proposed to become a southern extension of I93.

I bet this video was made in response to all of US 95 in Nevada between the Henderson Bowl Interchange in Henderson and the Kyle Canyon Rd. Interchange in Kyle Canyon becoming part of Interstate 11.

some things that this video lacks is reasons why they aren’t interstates yet, like how the section of CA-58 is not fully grade separated from US-395 to CA-14 in Mojave, and relocating those roads / grade separating them would cost a lot of money, and the case is similar with US-101 from LA to SF, sections such as San Luis Obispo to Atascadero are not grade separated, and in rural areas in the Salina’s valley.

US 31 is a freeway in the Kokomo, Indiana area.

My hometown! Highlands ranch :))!

US-74 should upgrade to an interstate highway between I-26 near Columbus North Carolina to Wilmington North Carolina, via Charlotte should be I-38. I-36 is cancelled because they will change from NC-42 to NC-36 in Clayton North Carolina because of I-42 does connect between I-40 in Raleigh to Morehead City for 137 miles, so I-38 is used.

The only federally funded part of the 470 Denver beltway is C-470, in the southwest metro between I-70 and I-25. The remainder, E-470 and the Northwest Parkway, are toll roads and therefore were not federally funded. It is an interesting story of how the local governments made E-470 happen.

How about converting US-101 in California between Los Angeles to San Francisco to interstate-3? I know a few upgrades are needed on US-101 to make it work as I-3.

It be great getting the 4 state capitals currently not served by interstates to get them connected to the Interstate Highway System.

US-50 in MD which would’ve been I-595, but it could also be I-60, though I think I-70 from Baltimore to Hancock, and the whole stretch of I-68 would’ve been a better fit for I-60 since they run along with US-40, sometimes concurrently even, and 100-40=60. I do think, however, they should reroute I-68 as it passes Cumberland, because I don’t like how it plows through the city.

I know this isn't as much of a priority as I-69 here in Texas, but extending I-27 down to midland would be nice

Massachusetts Route 3 should be a southern relocation and extension of I-93; the stretch of I-93/Route 128 between I-95 and Route 3 can be renumbered as I-293 or 595 instead. Also US-3 and the F.E. Everett Turnpike between I-95/Route 128 in Burlington MA and the junction of I-93 and I-89 in Concord NH should be the southern extension of I-89. The portion that's already I-93 would be posted for both interstate routes.

US 84 & US 231 should be upgraded to interstate standards in some areas, especially lower southeastern Alabama.

sr 316 connecting athens and atlanta

I vote for US 95 in Idaho to be converted. It's the only highway that spans most of the north-south expanse of the state and it sees heavy truck traffic. However, the undivided, two-lane sections are deathtraps. A lot of great improvementd have been made in widening and separating oncoming traffic in the north, but the southern portion could really use an injection of federal dollars.

US-13 desperately needs an interstate upgrade

Another road that should be an interstate spur is GA 400 in Atlanta. It is at interstate standard for at least 50 miles. It wasn't originally eligible to be designated because it was tolled, but that has since been removed. I think originally it was supposed to be part of 675 and would have cut through many intown Atlanta neighborhoods, but was stopped (thankfully). Designating it as I-185 would make sense and then it would be maintained by federal funding not just the state.

California Highway 58 also has several at-grade intersections around California City

Correct me if I'm wrong , but wasn't Cal 99 originally U.S. 99 before the interstates were built ? If so maybe it should be redesignated U.S. 99 again .

Hi, Bakersfield resident here!! I don't imagine you will see the 99 turnwd into a freeway anytime soon, at least that's the vibe I get here in Bakersfield. Why would it when the 5 is there?? As for the 58 turning into the 40 seems to be something our city and Kern county is working on. We recently completed a 1960's tear down a neighborhood and replace it with a freeway connecting the 58 through the westside of Bakersfield to the 99 in a way that, at leats theough the city, should be aligned with interstate standards. Mayor Goh also talks an awful lot about Bakersfield not having interstate connection rather than our crippling education ir homeless problem

Hwy 99 does not end at i-80 in scramento, it mergeges with i-5 and splits off about 5 miles north of downtown sacramento, right next to sacramento metropolitan international airport

The section of U S 131 between Interstate 96 and Interstate 196 is already unsigned Interstate 296.

Gotta give props to Indiana unlike say Missouri with US 36, while unlikely to be converted anytime soon US 31 has been steadily converted into a limited access freeway as far north as Kokomo where it wouldn't necessecarily have to. Like with I-69, the construction has been rough, it'll sure save some headaches on the other side and integrate later on down the road.