The Strangest US Interstate Oddities 

With I-78, I'm surprised they chose NOT to tear down the neighborhood. After all, that's what they unfortunately did in virtually every other major city.

1:42 I've driven through I-93 in the Franconia Notch park, its beautiful. But they used to sign the 2-lane stretch as "US-3 _to_ I-93" in both directions. Then they just updated it to be part of I-93 once it was determined that a lane expansion would never happen due primarily to environmental concerns rather than lack of funding

There's no rule against reusing numbers as long as it's for two sections that are far enough apart to not be confused with each other. Usually, only 3-digit spur route numbers are reused, but that's not a requirement.

I-87 in Raleigh is only a few miles now, but when completed, it is going to run from Raleigh, NC to Norfolk, VA. The problem is that it will not be completed for 20-30 years.

The 2-lane expressway in Franconia is *not* because of funding. It was because at the beginning of the Freeway revolt, environmentalists argued that the noise from the 4 lanes might cause the Old Man of the Mountain - a huge cool jagged rock that looks like an old dude - to fall. The environmentalist won. ... Kinda ... since in 2003, the old man fell anyhow.

I-84 out west is one of the prettiest roads on the interstate system, certainly not forgettable.

I love how you describe these roads like a crime investigator. Keep up the good work!

I live near I-86 in New York and have traveled it extensively over the last 20 years. It used to be just NYS-17 and actually had traffic lights and turning lanes in a portion of it. I remember the “Future 86” signs. They did a lot of work thoughout the road to bring it up to interstate standards, including building bridges, exits and substantial widening. It’s still under construction near Binghamton where they have mostly eliminated the awful interchange that used to exist from I-81 to 17/86

Fun fact about NY I-86, it’s supposed to run from PA all the way to the New York State Thruway/I-87 in Harriman NY. They’ve been working on it for over 20 years at this point but they’ve picked up a lot of steam on work in the past 4 years or so. Parts of it in the Middletown NY area are already signed I-86 and most GPS services refer to the length of NY-17 as I-86. Also, I don’t think it’s right to say the NY I-87 sucks. Runs from the Triborough Bridge in NYC to the Canadian border by Plattsburgh NY and is the closest point of entry to Montreal. It’s also coterminous with the NYS Thruway from NYC to Albany and connects with I-278, I-95, I-287 (which it’s coterminous with from White Plains to Sloatsburg), future I-86, I-84, I-787- and I-90/NYS Thruway. I’d say that’s pretty important

Check out I-68 through Cumberland, MD -- 40 MPH, no shoulders, and a few T junctions. Basically a 90 degree "ramp" on and off the interstate with a 15 MPH ramp speed limit.

little factoid on NC I-87, it's actually under construction and intended to go to Virginia Beach, thus the designation

I think I-68 through Cumberland, MD is interesting. Elevated winding 2 lanes through town, no shoulders, hidden exits and entrances, 40 mph speed limit.

5:10 This was supposed to be an I-495 spur running from Raleigh and along the US-64 route to 95. They changed this because they wanted to have an interstate run from Raleigh to Norfolk, VA. It is only partially complete (serving as the Knightdale Bypass) and will follow US-64 through Rocky Mount, through Williamston, to Elizabeth City where US-17 is. It will then join VA168 into Norfolk.

This beaver needs to be in charge of all interstates. He’s easily the most knowledgeable beaver on the subject

Not being able to pronounce Binghamton and Albany was kind of annoying, but tolerable, but Interstate 86 isn't randomly bisected in New York. The upgrade of State Route 17 to Interstate 86 has been going on since at least 1999. It's now down to only one stretch remaining. But your description of I88 is so wrong. It runs from the Capitol region to the southern tier at no point entering central New York. I now feel a questioning of the accuracy of everything that you've said about things that isn't in my backyard.

4:55 There is already an I-184 running from I-84 to central Boise, so it would to be named something like I-384. Great video!

I-95 in NY runs under 4 apartment buildings just east of the George Washington Bridge.

Things like maintenance play a big role in some of those "why not just make it a state highway/end the interstate". Hard to enforce snow removal, etc on a small section of road like that.

Awesome video! I can honestly say I've learned something new! I knew about none of those interstate oddities!!!😁😁

I really love your channel and the community that it is growing!!!

The proper way to handle the I-81 issue is to twin the bridge to separate traffic moving in opposite directions and provide (at least) two lanes each way. We've got an oddity nearby in MA, where I-495, which should be a loop, is both a loop to the west of I-95, and then a spur as the southern end continues beyond I-95 to the east, where it dead-ends out toward Cape Cod. Keep on crushing it man! You're doing great!!

About 2 same numbered interstates, some of them used to be suffixed interstates. •I-76 Western used to be I-80S CO-NE. •I-76 Eastern used to be former I-80 and I-80S OH-PA-NJ. •I-84 Western used to be I-80N OR-ID-UT. •I-86 ID used to be I-15W ID.

I'm from the Twin Cities and have driven that section of I-35E many times The reason why it is the way it is is a result of many protests in the neighborhood. The state settled with a "parkway" at 45 mph. To really set it apart from the rest of the highways, they banned large trucks, made the signage metal arms "brown", and planted lots of shrubery in the middle. To be honest though, not many people pay too much attention. I've seen many go up to 60 mph. This is a great example of a compromise, where both sides are left unsatisfied

Great video as always. Have you considered doing a video on something like the top 10 most forgotten Interstates? I-182 in Washington, I-115 & I-315 in Montana, I-229 St. Joseph, Missouri, and I-105 in Eugene, Oregon come to mind. My channel has a video of I-105 and I-182. :)

There are other oddities. I-95 in Connecticut has underpasses that have a clearance of 13' 5", which does not meet interstate standards. I-99, which was written into law, lies east of I-79 and east of I-81. Be my guest for carping about this highway. I feel that extending I-83 northward to cover this highway would have been better. I-93 southbound in Boston, going through the old South Station tunnel, has a speed limit of 30 MPH. I-85 in general has been odd to me, as it seems to be more of an east-west highway, just as odd as I-87 in NC. I'm sure that many people will disagree with that. According to Wikipedia, AASHTO eliminated most of the suffixed interstates, which explains the duplicity of several east-west interstates, but two were permitted to remain: the 2 I-35W's and I-35E's in Texas and Minnesota. Also, the expansion of I-69 southward into Texas has that interstate branch into 3 highways: i-69W, I-69E and I-69C (central). I won't comment on interstates that are proposed or under construction.

Dude just wanna say this a good channel. Always tune in for my US geography itch. Glad u making it big

The western I 84 was originally I 80-N. The western part of I 80 roughly follows the Oregon Trail which had a northern branch to Oregon and a southern branch to California. I 80 was routed the same way with a northern route to Portland and a southern route to San Francisco. I 80 N was changed to 84 sometime in late 70's when they tried get rid of the branch routes numbers.

The I-84 out west does not terminate in Salt Lake City, but instead at Echo,Utah, where it joins I-80. I enjoy your videos.

I’d love an elaboration on I-86/NY-17. It’s an odd story on how interstates are made, and how long they can take to bring up to standards. The thing has been in limbo for 20+ years yet is starting to come to Interstate standards.

Good video as always mate 👍

I lived in Minnesota and often drove 35E through the south neighborhoods of St Paul, there was a protest of creating a highway in the area and as a compromise they made it a parkway but at highway grade standards, there is even a short line freeway spur call Ayd Mill Rd coming off it. Also there are multiple I-74s in North Carolina, Indiana and Illinois

Having grown up in Binghamton, NY and starting college as a civil engineer, the fact that Binghamton contains two oddities warms my heart. Also the best road is in Port Jervis NY

Fascinating information! Thanks for researching and sharing!

Subscribed! Love to support people and their dreams

You hit on some of my pet peeves--thanks!

A very strange one…I-81 and I-77 between Max Meadows and Wytheville, VA. They merge between these to cities. If you are traveling south on I-81, you’ll see signs marking it as I-77 north AND I-81 south.

I-76 in Colorado was originally designated I-80S, but to get rid of the S, and to commemorate Colorado's 1976 centennial, it was re-designated I-76.

FYI, Pocatello is pronounced with a long o for both letter "o"s in the name, not just the 2nd one. Also, living in East Idaho, I can tell you that I-86 may be short, and frankly really boring to drive, but I'm glad it's there because of your need to go to Boise it is still WAY better than either going to Utah and coming back up or wandering through the desert on random 2-lane highways all over the place

I-76 honors the year 1776 in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia having a major part in the American Revolution, Liberty Bell, etc.) and the year 1876 in Colorado, the year of its initial statehood.

Another bit about the New York I-86: at Waverly the roadway dips across the state line into Pennsylvania for a mile or two. (Not unlike the part of I-24 that nips into Georgia for not much more distance before re-entering Tennessee.)

Idk how I found your channel before 10k. You have such high quality videos with consistent uploads. See you at 100k

Beaver Geography , the portion of Interstate 88 in New York you mention on 5:28 was built because the New York State Senate Majority Leader, Senator Warren M. Anderson, lived in Binghamton, and said he was disgruntled about taking State Highways all the way up to Albany for legislative sessions. So, he had Interstate 88 built.

I-93 is really important as it serves as a direct connection from Boston to Northern Vermont and the Townships/Quebec City region which is part of the Canadian megalopolis

This was one of your better videos. My biggest shock was with the I-78 that was a regular road. That was incredible.

Interesting fact about I-84 and I-86. I-86 once was 3 different segments. I-84 was originally going to run from Scranton, PA To Providence, RI but the Hartford to Providence section was never built. At the time the current route that I-84 takes from Hartford to Sturbridge was already built and it was the third section of I-86. Since I-84 now ended in Hartford they just Re routed I-84 over the I-86 segment to Sturbridge, MA

With I 78 . It use to be us 22 that came over the 1-9 pulaski skyway then into the town and through Holland tunnel. When I 78 was put in during the interstate era. It was supposed to follow the 1-9 connection and over the us 22 connection but couldn't die to the pulaski skyway not confirming to interstate standards. So it became part of the NJ turnpike as a bypass to the area that connected onto the US 22 part . It was gonna go the way of normal interstates in cities and actually go into the middle of NYC Manhattan but the plans were canned due to protest. It was signed the way it is and never built into China town . But what's funny the highway does exist in NYC , under lower Manhattan is the abandoned 6 lane expressway of I 78 all completed only missing the outside connections to the street and Manhattan bridge and Holland tunnel

I merge onto I-78 west via 14th street from my Jersey City office; that traffic light gives me ptsd, as it seems to turn green every other cycle. 🤦‍♂️

Great video! An idea you should take a look at if you were to do another would be I-70/76 in Breezewood, PA, where I-70 becomes a normal road with US 30 for about a half mile. Looked great otherwise :)

The I-84 thing isn't something that's against the rules and since both 84's are basically cross-country from each other. Most people I know either don't know about the eastern one or have never used it so it isn't much of a problem. I bet it'd be more annoying for those in the east since they probably have to explain it more often.

On the I-87 in NC it was originally a auxiliary route of I-95 (495) but renamed to I-87 because it is a north-south interstate that’ll run from Norfolk VA, to Raleigh NC

I-70 in Breezewood, PA , doesn't follow the interstate highway standards. Westbound, it goes to a traffic signal, then is concurrent with U.S. 30(Lincoln Hwy) for about 1/4 mile and leads onto the PA Turnpike, at its Breezewood exit, which is also I-76, westbound concurrency to Pittsburgh. It is my understanding that the local businesses depended much on the traffic flow for their livelihood the they were able to block any direct interchange connection with the Turnpike. Here, exceptions to the standards was made.

I was a bit of a job-related road warrior in my younger days and spent a lot of time on interstates, so I find this stuff very interesting. IIRC, I-70 in Utah was 2-lane until sometime in the 1980s. There wasn't much traffic on it because the long delays caused by blasting to build the Glen River Canyon stretch in Colorado (finished in 1992, and also 2-lane + construction for years) had most people, especially truckers, looking for better routes even if they had to go a bit out of their way.

Love interstate videos

Really enjoy the channel. How about a video on the top interstates in need of renumbering?

It's taken a very long time to get portions of I-86 to standard. It follows NY-17 which in places was at-grade, and some of the interchanges and designs, ESPECIALLY in Binghamton, just would not fly, things like the bend around prospect hill, which was known as "Kamikaze Curve". I'll also add that I-88 in NY was originally meant to run to NH but was cancelled, and thus runs only between Binghamton and Albany. It is nicknamed "The Highway to Nowhere"

ooo.... Nice Beaver.

The interstate Jesus fish of I41 and I43 in Wisconsin. Both start by Illinois border, cross in Milwaukee and both end in Green bay

I-87 east of Raleigh is actually the first segment of a new interstate that is to extend up to Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Virginia eventually, which makes sense as North Carolina has seen massive growth in the past few decades, and the numbering is due to the intended route being overall more north-south. It may eventually even run up the Delmarva Peninsula over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to the other I-87, but like the extensions of I-73 and I-74 from the midwest to the Carolinas, it probably will be a long time before this happens, if ever.

And don’t forget North Carolina’s goofy ‘interstate business’ highways. Instead of improving certain corridors or redesignating them, they just build a whole new interstate section to replace it, call that the ‘real’ interstate, and then change the old one to Business whatever and let it fall apart. I-40 Business around Winston-Salem (we call it ‘green 40’ because the interstate sign is green) is signed at 45mph in most places and looks like a highway from a post-apocalyptic movie in many spots. It’s possible they’ve improved it since I was last through there but I doubt it.

Just thought I’d add to the I35E in St. Paul. No large commercial trucks allowed on that stretch at all. I’m thinking that’s got to be rare too. Love the video 👍

That New Hampshire interstate portion reminded me of a short highway that connected I-95 to the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, CT

The eastern I-76 is most of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and about 23 miles of the Ohio Turnpike. The turnpikes predate the Interstate system (the first section of the Penna. Turnpike opened in 1940). Most of the Penna. Turnpike was I-80S when it was first numbered with changes in the 1960s and 1970s.

very nice

just subscribed

I-78 was the same way through Easton, PA and Allentown, PA using US 22 as its routing IIRC. Then a bypass was finally built around the city for the interstate.

The eastern I-84 was originally meant to have its eastern terminus in Providence, RI. The I-384 spur around Manchester, CT, the unnamed spur off of I-395 from Plainfield, CT to US-6 at the RI line and the freeway stretch of US-6 through Johnston, RI (at one point curiously signed RI-195, a pseudo-extension of I-195) were the only parts of that proposed alignment that were ever built. Since the Rhode Island section would have cut across the Scituate Reservoir, the state's main source of drinking water, it was held up in endless environmental reviews and ultimately scrapped. In response they renamed what was originally built as I-86 from East Hartford/Manchester, CT to I-90 in Sturbridge, MA as I-84. What's interesting now if you were to drive along what is now I-290 through central MA is that the road has TWO sets of mileage markers. The smaller set of numbers is for I-290 running from the junction with I-90 in Auburn through Worcester to I-495 in Marlborough while the newer and larger set is for a future renaming of this highway as I-395, onto which I-290 seamlessly runs onto as one heads south from Auburn to the CT line. Curiously the exit numbers on I-290, both pre and post conversion to mileage based, already are a continuation of the numbering from I-395. Once I-290 becomes I-395 it would effectively orphan the I-190 spur route running north from the current I-290 in Worcester to MA-2 in Leominster, having no direct connection to I-90 itself. The original southern terminus of I-495 in MA was its junction with I-95 in Foxborough. The extension southward beyond it to Cape Cod was originally designated MA-25 and was built in three stages. The first stretch from MA-24 in Raynham to I-195 in Wareham was completed in 1967 and extended a short distance to US-6 in Wareham 2 years later. Before construction was completed on the 2nd leg from I-95 to MA-24 in 1982 it was decided to rename all of MA-25 except for the short stretch that then existed beyond I-195 as I-495. The most environmentally sensitive stretch of MA-25 carried the roadway eastward from Wareham to its terminus at the Bourne Bridge in 1987. There are also TWO route 295s in MA (!). A short stretch of MA-295 in Richmond in Berkshire County is basically an extension of NY-295 from Chatham and Canaan, NY; the entire roadway across both states measures just under 13 miles end to end. On the opposite side of MA is the final 4 miles of I-295, the 26.5 mile circumferential road from I-95 in Attleboro hooking around Providence, RI to I-95 in Warwick, RI.

87 is eventually supposed to be expanded to run between Raleigh and somewhere in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. That's why it's a North/South.

0:50 All of those gas stations right before the tunnel are so people can fuel up before they run out of gas inside the tunnel. They will also save money since NY fuel prices are way higher.

just so you know Binghamton is bing-um-tin

There is an oddity with I-70 in downtown Kansas City. The western edge of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct on the Kansas side has I-70EB down to one lane with a speed limit of 45. The low speed limit is due to the sharp turn near Central Avenue. It goes down to 1 lane near the James Street exit (final Kansas exit on EB70) before said sharp turn. I hate taking that stretch of 70. I prefer taking I-670 instead. 670 is a straight shot through downtown. 670 actually goes underneath Bartle Hall/KC Convention Center.

Hopefully get to visit the second one soon .Was suppose to go snowboarding Cannon this year

Interstate 35E on the south side of St. Paul was constructed that way so the freeway could be completed despite fierce protest in the city regards to the construction of the freeway. By the way, 35E is not as winding as 35W and would definitely be my choice of the two by going through the Twin Cities.

3:24 Some Interstates in Hawaii have 45 mph speed limits at one point and at one point Interstate H1 has 35 mph speed limit

I traveled on that portion of i-78 last week, it was just down the street from my hotel

I-35 south in OKC at one point is a one lane exit ramp. Haven’t been through there in 8 years but the 20 years before that it worked that way.

Once upon a time, before they built the new bridge over the Piscataua River between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME, I-95 was a simple 4-lane road, with a guard rail median, and restaurants and gas stations, between the Portsmouth Traffic Circle and the original toll operated Sarah Long Bridge (since rebuilt). It had a low speed limit of 30. The other peculiar thing about the bridge is it had 3 lanes. In the summer, 2 lanes would be northbound in the morning, reversing to 2 lanes southbound in the afternoon, to handle peak traffic flow between NH & ME

3:24 There’s also I-68 in Cumberland, MD which has 4 lanes, very tight turns, and a speed limit of 40

Most of interstate 86 used to be New York 17 a state route

I have to say Re I-86 in NYS, it has another name, it’s the Southern Tier Expressway or NYS route 17, the eastern end of which was also known as the “quick way” built to get NYC folks into the Catskills, before it was built that was a massive traffic jam. It’s not a question of getting rid of 86 so much as fixing parts of it to Interstate standards, they’re almost there. Finally, it’s pronounced All-bah-nee Binghamton should be pronounced with the h silent, bing-am-ton

The random intersection mentioned @5:14 was for almost 30 years the location of the bridge to nowhere. It took that long for the state to build the US 264 by-pass. Locally it is known as the Lizard Lick by-pass. Lizard Lick, NC is probably the smallest town in the country to have a by-pass built around it.

The western I84 and I76 were both spurs from I80 in the last, with 76 originally signed as I80-S and 84 as I80-N but AASTHO mandated the end of suffixed interstates. They did make an exception for the I35s in DFW and the Twin Cities because both are major cities that deserved an interstate running through them. As for the Illinois I88, the State petition the USDOT to elevate the road to an interstate because at the time, that was the only way that it could have a speed limit higher that 55mph

I wish NY kept I-86 as NY-17. 17 has a lot of history behind it, and that last stretch of 17 from Monroe to Hillburn will be all that remains once the rest of 17 is brought up to interstate standards, if that stretch of 17 between Deposit and Hancock can ever be upgraded to an interstate.

You can't call I-86 in Idaho I-184 because there's already an I-184 in Boise. It's a small freeway spur that connects central Boise to I-84.

I-70 ends in a commuter parking lot in Maryland because it was supposed to connect with I-83 (the Jones Falls Expressway) or I-95 in Baltimore, but no one in Baltimore wanted another freeway going through town. The Jones Falls Expressway is one of many reasons that Baltimore is now known as Kabul-on-the-Patapsco.

I-84 in OR/ID/UT was originally I-80N before they decided that they wanted to limit the use of I-X E/W or N/S designations.

I drove from Philadelphia to Niagara Falls and we were on I-86. That weird part where it becomes a state highway also dips into PA for a mile or less. It's really strange

I-86 in New York has a portion in PA that's maintained by NYDOT

I-87 doesn’t go through Poughkeepsie, it does have an interchange with 84 in Newburgh though. I live in Orange County NY, where I-86, I-84, and I-87 all form a “golden triangle.” Local leaders are pushing for I-86 to become finalized here, because sections of it within the county are not yet considered the interstate, but still NY-17

I-86 in New York: It's eastern end is going to be at I-84 just west of Newburg. Being co-signed with NY 17, the signs are in place but are covered. I have no idea when the signs will be uncovered. Probably when the mid-section of I-86 is complete.

I go through I-78 a lot. Not sure why, but that service road section feels more like a road I'd see in an Asian city the anything in the US. Probably something to do with a road that wide having such a high density of traffic lights.

I live in St. Paul. I couple of other things about 35E. First, there is no truck traffic allowed on that stretch between I-94 to State Road 5 on the south side of Saint Paul. Second, it took forever to get that stretch built. The early 80s when the rest of the system was built in the 60s around here. The main problem was that it cut right through a large portion of the neighborhoods. We had a huge fallout when I-94 divided the city. the homeowners didn't want that again. Plus, all the road noise and exhaust wasn't welcome either. The no trucks and the 45 Speed Limit was the settlement for the road to come through. Although, SPPD admits that they don't stop anyone on that stretch unless you are really driving reckless.

Interstate 87 in the South is projected to be a Raleigh to Norfolk interstate, which would still leave a gap between New York City and Norfolk. This gap between Norfolk and New York City can be easily fixed. First, extend 87 down the ENTIRE length of the current New Jersey Turnpike, to the Delaware Bridge and Wilmington (it is I-95 for half its length, and you could have an 87/95 concurrency). Next, extend 87 from Wilmington to below Dover on existing Delaware State Route 1, which is a toll Expressway, built to interstate standards. Then, the only two NEW areas of construction that would be required would be from Dover to Norfolk (with the existing interstate-quality Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnell from Tidewater to the eastern shore of Virginia and interstate-grade US 13 in Salisbury Maryland both interstate standard) and to build an interstate grade approach to the Tunnel in Norfolk. You would then have a 3rd east coast alternative, to take congestion in the northeast off Interstates 81 and 95.

There are at least a couple of other archaic roads that were incorporated into interstates, like what happened with I-35E in St Paul. I-59 in Laurel, Mississippi and I-68 in Cumberland, Maryland also have narrow old roads that aren't up to modern interstate standards and require a reduced speed limit.

Love your videos! Couple of things. Binghamton is pronounced Bing-um not Bing-ham. 86 is a forever upgrade of state route 17 and it's a BEAUTIFUL drive especially east of Binghamton. Unless the upgrade ruined it. Oddly enough, I used to live there driving on 88 and now live near the IL 88 driving it often. And used to live near/drive 84 in NY. And in the Castro Valley driving 238.

interestingly in orange county ny all three highways are repeated interstates I-84 and I-87 (NYS Thruway) run through while NY-17 is signed as future I-86 lol

The I-84 in the east was originally supposed to go from Scranton to Providence via Hartford. Up until about 1990, the stretch from Hartford to Boston was yet another I-86.

Interstate 280 in NJ and CA. Not to mention I-280 in NJ is a pretty cool story because they literally cut through a mountain behind an urban city and then used that rock to build on top of a swamp for the other half.

For me the duplicate interstates trigger my OCD. And those inappropriate sections of interstates is signed to jell drivers stay on route and not panic when signs and/or numbers suddenly changing.

Also look at I-24 in Tennessee. Two things. 1) the stretch from Tullahoma towards Monteagle going East has one of the steepest grades for an interstate highway 2) and to make things weird, after you clear Monteagle in Tennessee going east towards Chattanooga the road dips into Georgia for 5 miles or so before re-entering Tennessee and going into Chattanooga

I come from Germany, but it is still interesting to learn something about the USA. Great Video!