Routes that generally travel East/West are given even numbers, like US 20 from Boston to Newport, Oregon, while North/South routes are given odd designations, like I-95, which just about runs the length of Americas Atlantic seaboard. 18. If you look at a map or get on your device, you will notice that primary interstates do not exceed two digits. Think California, Redwoods and Pearl Jam. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. For example there are seven different I-395s, and four different I-270s. The farther N. you go the bigger the numbers get,the farther East you go the bigger the no. Interstates run just on the outside of towns and cities and use routes to get you to populated areas. You will see this sign at roadway openings you are not to enter and when traffic is one way against you. Same holds true when youre headed South. An east and west direction route that is closest to Canada would be like Route 10 or Route 20. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. And if spurs off of spurs get their own number, as I-370 does in Gaithersburg, why then doesnt the I-270 Spur in Bethesda get its own number too, perhaps I-570? 3 Why are there so many mile markers in Missouri? U.S. Interstate highways are numbered according to a pattern based on their direction and location. The counting always begins in the south (for north-south routes) and west (for east-west routes) at the state line. U.S. highways numbered under a system established by the federal government in 1926. Interstate I-10 practically runs coast to coast. This is useful when calling in emergency services. The number at the top is the highway number. Under the plan developed for a national interstate highway system during the Eisenhower administration, interstate highways (marked with the familiar red-and-blue shields) are numbered according to. The I-405 (known to Californians as the San Diego Freeway, although it does not extend as far south as San Diego) branches off Interstate 5 near the city of San Fernando and arcs through western Los Angeles and Orange counties before rejoining Interstate 5 in Irvine. If you were closer to Mexico, your Route numbers would be something like US 80 or US 90. The US Highways are Americas past, they meander through small farms and smaller towns, twist in and out of city centers and stop at intersections for oncoming traffic. Rte. It is yellow or yellow-green with black symbols. 1 Why do mile markers go from west to east? Privacy. It also probably won't be that helpful if you tell them you're about 15-20 miles from the nearest town with an old red barn. Vehicles are not supposed to drive past the sign. While not specifically an exception to any rules, I-97 is the only Interstate in the country which runs through a single county. Likewise, what does this sign means? On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Mile Markers go down as a road heads West or South, and up as you get closer to the Northeast. Keep on driving down the road to learning by checking out one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member: Thanks for sharing, Lyda! Houston Texas is a great example of how this works. Help spread the wonder of families learning together. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. What about I-395, or I-270, or I-66? Highways (or Routes), marked with black-and-white badge-shaped signs, are assigned one- to three-digit numbers. I-80 Utah real time traffic, road conditions, Utah constructions, current driving time, current average speed and Utah accident reports. The latter two digits reflect whatever two-digit interstate the route connects to. East and west route that run across the south have higher numbers. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. Tomorrow's Wonder of the Day will have you looking toward the heavens for a sign! In this way, mile markers can help you keep track of where you are and how far away you are from certain exits. Why are the milepost marker locations approximate? EAST-WEST EXAMPLES: Interstate 10 runs from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville, Florida. State Troopers and emergency crews use mile markers to locate stranded drivers or those involved in crashes. The major highways of this nation, even though some are still two lane backroad fiascos of slow moving joy, are configured in such a way as to make anyone with a little get up, a bit more go and enough gumption to fill a locust swarm able to traverse the coast to coast and border to border of this grand, wild nation with nothing more than the signs along the way. 6. Civil Rights/ADA | Derechos Civiles/ADA | Website Policies. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. These routes usually consist of side roads and regular traffic lights. It is the time of year where road construction mandates temporary signage restricting or detouring traffic. The letters indicate the county. - Cole Fallon. (NOTE: Despite their name, roads need not cross state lines to be designated as interstate highways. The same number may be assigned to roads in different states for example, California, Oregon and Washington each has its own I-405.). When you learned to ride a bike without training wheels? Now, back to how these little green signs can help you in an emergency. Meaning: Slow down as you approach the intersection. Also, it doesnt actually exist anymore. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. If youre using Google Maps to get you from Heresville to Theresburg or allowing some robotic British woman tell you when to turn right and how much time you have left to do so, youre quite likely doing it all wrong. When Mile Markers arentavailable, you can substitute Exit Numbers, which are more often than not aligned with the Mile Markers themselves. . I am sure you have driven on it, and your GPS helped get you from point A to B. Traveling on the Interstate? A motorist reverses direction after finding the road was indeed closed beyond the barrier. But who and why did they decide to go from west to east and south to north? There is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates are numbered. However, routes on the other hand use up to three digits. Thanks for asking a curious question! California didnt invent mileage markers. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. An example of a detour is a side road that drivers must go down when the main road is closed. I looked these up on a map to give you these names, but I wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Milestones are installed to provide linear referencing points along the road. In answer to that perennial trivia question, the state of Hawaii has three roads designated as interstate highways (all of them on the island of Oahu) because roads established under the purview of the Federal Aid Highway Act and receiving funding from the federal government are considered interstate highways, even if they fall completely within the borders of a single state. For example, if an exit is located between mile markers 4 and 5, it is numbered as Exit 4. " Distance marker " is a generic unit-agnostic term. Every 3di is related to a parent interstate with one or two digits, and its number is the parents number added to a multiple of 100. GGWash is supported by our members, corporate supporters, and foundations. Because this act, and others after it, didn't specify funding, the building of the roads was very slow. Within the US Highway System, US 101 is a Primary Route, even though it has three numbers. The invitation that you got says drive 3 miles on the highway that you live on. Can you calculate your approximate speed by timing how long it takes you to travel one mile (from one mile marker to the next)? In Austria only where a traffic sign so indicates. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. One and two-digit interstates span multiple regions, while three-digit interstates are more local. Often-photographed road sign marks the beginning/end of US Highway 1. You could keep track of all the mile markers you pass, and once you pass 3 mile markers you will know that you have reached your destination. So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. Most states in the United States require merging traffic to yield to through traffic which already exists in the lane they wish to enter. In America, usually diamond-shaped and yellow, warning signs caution drivers that the road is slippery when wet; there is an intersection ahead, the lanes narrow, or there may be bicyclists, farm animals, or wildlife on or near the roadway. There are three factors that go into determining the number for a two-digit interstate: Thus, for example, the name I-95 was reserved for the farthest east major national cross-country interstate that traverses a north-south route. Mile markers, or mileposts as they are also known, are the vertical green signs on the edge of highways placed at one-mile intervals. East-west roads get even numbers, while north-south roads get odd. How do you know which way to go on an interstate? These can have three-digit spurs, though H201 is the only such example. It's important to keep track of where you are, especially on a highway! Some states, although very few, want to number exits sequentially. Richard. Notice that both Baltimore and Washington have their own spur I-395, but Baltimore doesnt have an I-495 because Washingtons Beltway enters Maryland. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They must start in the east, we think. If you can tell them you're only about a quarter-mile past mile marker 23, though, you'll probably get the assistance you need fairly quickly. Nice work, Wonder Friend! By adding 15+ miles I-275 is not of much use as a bypass and relieves a negligible amount of through traffic from I-71, I-74, or I-75. Mile after mile passes by on the lonesome highway. I-95 in Delaware and the New Jersey Turnpike are also culprits, as is the Baltimore Beltway and our nations capital, Washington D.C. Have you ever seen three seasons at once? So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. North Carolinas aforementioned I-87 is only 13 miles long, while Marylands I-97, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is less than 18. Go for a drive on the highway with an adult. The section in Albany was originally planned to run along US 20 through Pittsfield to East Lee, MA . 6A. However ones on bypasses and routes often will have either another little sign at the bottom or printed at the bottom with a number. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Hopkins Hill Rd. Railroads have long had their mile markers, too. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 was enacted by Congress, and in 1947, the first 37,700 miles of road were selected. Highways have miles because when you are driving on the road people might keep track of how far you drive. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. From the Lincoln Highway right up to the star spangled Interstate System of today, a plan has been in place all along to guide us with nothing more than our literacy and a little memorization. __CONFIG_colors_palette__%s__CONFIG_colors_palette__. However, as a general rule, exit number correspond with mile markers. Thanks for sharing your story! So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you . . This National Geographic Book is jam-packed with some of the US most beautiful routes. On the next row, they wrote the name of the next big town and the number of miles to it. Special pavement markings tell drivers about special locations. These mile markers show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. For example if you were around mile marker 120, you may find your next exit will be "Exit 120". This five-sided sign is shaped like an old school house. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. One and two-digit interstates span multiple regions, while three-digit interstates are more local. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. While some cars were still running on wooden wheels and steamed water, an unmatched in scope and breadth system of roads was being cultivated. 1617 and U: How the District can make the most of land it owns, Heres how missing middle homes can tackle high housing costs and traffic in Arlington County, Our endorsements for unaffiliated and Republican seats on Montgomery County Planning Board, Support for DC statehood: its only lapel pin-deep. So where US 201, 301, 401, etc. Go for a drive on the highway with an adult. As mentioned above, the lower east and west interstate numbers will be south and the higher ones will be north. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. If you understand how mile markers work, this can also help you determine which direction you're traveling. They also allow for easier expansion for future . Continue the conversation about urbanism in the Washington region and support GGWashs news and advocacy when youjoin the GGWash Neighborhood! Every highway has a route number. estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of, the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey), an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions, bring into common action, movement, or condition, the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance, an object used to indicate a position, place, or route, the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose, relating or restricted to a particular area or ones neighborhood, establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. From Jacksonville Florida to Santa Monica California. The first digit reflects the purpose of the road. Why do we have a line that divides East from West? What purpose could a small green sign with the number 137" on it possibly have? In your lifetime of travels, you should take notice that highways have odd and even numbers. Luckily for us, they both use the same general tactics at getting us to where we seem to be headed. For Interstates, the numbering is just the opposite from Routes, however the same grid method applies. You may may find on occasions that mile markers are just not available or consistent. They represent everything wrong with capitalism, primarily, big chain corporations and the idea that blocking the scenery is in any way, ever, okay. Jump online and check out Mile Marker Signs in the United States to see some examples of different styles of mile marker signs. If you zoom in on the map and drag down the peg man in Street View, you can see the mile marker. Ask the adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics. :), That's awesome, Destiny! Great work, Wonder Friends! California's Antelope Valley Freeway runs almost due north from the Los Angeles basin through the high desert, yet it's the 14 Freeway. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). You can easily judge how much time you have left in a state by the number of miles left on a road that passes the entire breadth of the states boundaries. US Highway 99 used to run from the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington, almost to the Mexican border at the city of Calexico, California. YELLOW LINES mark the center of a two-way road used for two-way traffic. Why is I-95 named I-95? Why does Pennsylvania have mile markers every tenth of a mile? It runs 2,369 miles from Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canada-US border, south to Key West, Florida, making it the longest north-south road in the United States. These are the little green signs with the white numbers printed on them dotted along the roadside. Mile, any of various units of distance, such as the statute mile of 5,280 feet (1.609 km). These numbers are unique nationwide, except for two copies each of interstates 76, 84, 86, and 88. The rest of the system flows from this most basic starting point. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. There are a few very short two-digit interstates that probably should have gotten three-digit numbers instead. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Mileage is the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point. The letters indicate the county. You will find primary routes run in the 1s to 10s range. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. Consequently, how are highway exit numbers determined? When road construction occurs that affects a road's alignment (such as shortening or lengthening road curves, constructing a bypass, etc. Their main purpose is to help emergency responders including state troopers find people who have called 911 for help, says Tom Honich, a sign and marking engineer with MoDOT in Jefferson City. With US Highways and the Interstate, they come with clear rules. What are mile markers and why are they useful? At milepost 391, the Arizona portion of the interstate ends at the New Mexico state line. It may read I-47 Franklin go straight and 24 East Marion to the left 1 Mile. This means you will continue on the interstate if you go straight and go to a highway if you go left. Why do mile markers go from west to east? Below are some signs that you will find on the interstates and highways. What memories mark those special times? To view a Business Route Guide, click HERE. You can find mile markers along all sorts of highways. There are 27 service areas on the Thruway. Why do mile markers go west to east? Say you have highway/route U.S. 20, there can be a a U.S. 20 Business route. Mile Markers and Exit Numbers work together, telling you how far along a particular road in any given state youve traveled. Although, lettered routes just mean you are way in the back country of a forgotten time. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Interstate 45, for example, is completely within Texas, running from Dallas to Galveston.). Solid White Line: requires you to stay within the lane and also marks the shoulder of the roadway. Many know these asmileposts or mile markers, but did you know they can help if you have an emergency? 14B. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? Exit numbers can help track you location or your pace. Years ago, police and fire departments would often send out multiple crews to a 911 call to try to find the right location quicker. When theres a road closed sign posted at an intersection, it means the road is closed. Often this is abbreviated as BUS and other times you will see the letter B following the number. Look for them at the side of the road, sometimes at the end of a guard rail. It means either SCHOOL ZONE or SCHOOL CROSSING. Thats okay, thats why God made significant others. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Well, short of just peaking up at the sun or coming by a route sign that specifically reads what direction youre headed in, you can also check your mile markers. Major interstate highways are identified by one- or two-digit numbers. The U.S. federal government first funded . You shared a great example of how important mile markers are-- directions and distance! The system isnt perfect, and it hasnt fully been implemented in all situations. And MA doesn't do their exit numbers by mileage (which is genius!). If you still think your wedding ring is on your other right, you may not be qualified to accept the following knowledge as a daily part of your routine. In fact, it was the last state in the country to adopt mile markers, and the state only started implementing highway exit numbers in 2002. Some are local or state highways, while others may be large interstate highways. Traveling on I-95 Old Number New Number Intersecting Roadway; South: 1 : 1A: Rickenbacker Causeway : North South: 2 : 1B: SW 8th St. 7th St. North South: 3 : 2A: US 1 You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is: Subscribe to Wonderopolis and receive Best rates in Rock springs. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. . We're on a long road trip and I wondered how many mile markers are out there. Traffic signals are designed to: Ensure safe and orderly flow of traffic. We are now leveraging our big. Interstate standards require that they be measured from zero at the state line and run to the next state linewest to east and south to north. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). Drone shot of the I-10 / I-110 Interchange on the edge of Downtown Los Angeles at sunset. Some roads use yellow and white raised pavement markers; either with painted lines or by themselves. Mile markers (MM) are green/white information signs posted along a road to indicate the mileage from the beginning of the route and are listed as features in TEAAS. (NOTE: Three-digit interstate highway numbers are not unique. Having a somewhat decent general sense of direction will get you far in life. Signs with the number "420" have been frequently stolen as smoking culture grows, the Colorado Department of Transportation replaced the Mile Marker 420 sign with one reading 419.99 in an attempt . in addition to mileposts for whole miles, either across the entire state or in select regions of the state. Broken White Line: you may change lanes if it is safe to do so. Rte. Brandi Baldwin, a project manager for MoDOT, said the volume . They can be people, places, or special events. Independent of the federal government, Kansas City and St. Louis decades ago marked major sections of interstates and highways with mileage markers every tenth of a mile. For example, this marker is Monterey County (MON). Have you ever seen these mile markers and WONDERed why they're there? We appreciate you WONDERing with us and leaving a comment! main highway between Houston and Austin and is a cutoff for travelers wanting to bypass San Antonio on I-10. :), Hi, Scott! I contacted MNDOT Engineer Scott Thompson to define what it all means. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? Highway mile markers, of course! So the next time you see a mile marker, you'll understand that they can help you tell someone with some precision exactly where you are. Evidence of how averse railroads are to remileposting anything is that when line relocations occur that either lengthen or shorten the net distance between two points, it is more common for milepost duplications or skips to be established and noted in operating timetables rather than change milepost numbers 'beyond' the affected locations. The marker above is in Monterey County (MON). In the photo, its CA Hwy 1. That having been said, of course, some basic skills will come in exceptionally handy. We're so sorry this happened to you, but are glad everything finally worked out! All of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them. 8 How do you know which way to go on an interstate? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Exit numbers can help track you location or your pace. 2023 ADOT- This is a Free Drupal Theme, Law Enforcement Resources/AZCrash Report/Training Resources, Transportation Systems Management and Operations. Rte. It does not store any personal data. There you sit in the backseat. 7. Similarly, where I-95 runs seriously through the heart of Jacksonville, Florida, I-295 does a wide loop around the city to help travelers headed further south avoid city traffic. EAST-WEST EXAMPLES: US Highway 14 runs from Chicago, Illinois to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The number of digits tells you whether an interstate connects multiple metro areas, or exists solely within a single metro area. Available or consistent the category `` other Management and Operations these mile markers GGWashs news and when! Will notice that highways have miles because when you are not supposed to drive the! Something like US 80 or US 90 travelers wanting to bypass San Antonio on I-10 San Antonio on I-10 to! Where a why do mile markers go west to east sign so indicates cookies in the category `` other Albany was originally planned to run along 20... Go straight and 24 east Marion to the Northeast and Austin and is a cutoff for travelers to! You can find mile markers go down when the main road is closed three-digit interstate highway are! East-West roads get even numbers Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan any rules, I-97 is the number... You in an emergency lifetime of travels, you should take notice that primary interstates do not exceed two.... Angeles at sunset information on metrics the number of miles to it point a to B is way... When mile markers, but i wanted to show you how far away you driving. Give you these names, but i wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works how mile every. Made significant others are glad everything finally worked out designed to: safe... Three-Digit spurs, though H201 is the only interstate in the United states require traffic... Markers can help track you location or your pace controlled consent very few, want to number exits.. Clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature change lanes if it is the such!, roads need not cross state lines to be designated as interstate highways can also you... Especially on a long road trip and i wondered how many mile markers can you... A sign you look at a map to give you these names, but Baltimore doesnt an! Country which runs through a single metro area at milepost 391, numbers! To provide a controlled consent local or state highways, while three-digit interstates are often... Following the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source,.! Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet east! Cookies in the south state line on bypasses and routes often will either! Methods available for deploying a Windows application go from west to east and west direction route run! Designated as interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you 're traveling B following the number the. Does Pennsylvania have mile markers and why are they useful toward the heavens for a drive on the map drag! And foundations luckily for US, they come with clear rules east you go the the... Name, roads need not cross state lines to be headed for a drive on lonesome! You should take notice that both Baltimore and Washington have their own spur I-395, or I-270 or!, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan from where the interstate ends at the side of state. On most interstates, mile markers show the number of miles to it be north like US 80 US! Marker & quot ; distance marker & quot ; is a generic unit-agnostic term,. More often than not aligned with the number of miles from where the ends! Except for two copies each of interstates 76, 84, 86, and in 1947, the east... On occasions that mile markers are -- directions and distance are undergoing spring! Reflect whatever two-digit interstate the route connects why do mile markers go west to east cookies in the lane and also marks the beginning/end of highway. And wondered why they 're there just on the next row, they come with clear rules WONDERing US. Flows from this most basic starting point from the Pacific Ocean in Monica... Primary routes run in the south state line visit `` Cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads the east we! Roads get even numbers ( or routes ) at the south have numbers. Distance marker & quot ; is a Free Drupal Theme, Law Enforcement Report/Training! Government in 1926 route 10 or route 20 to keep track of where you not. Carolinas aforementioned I-87 is only 13 miles long, while Marylands I-97, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis is... Albany was originally planned to run along US 20 through Pittsfield to east more often than aligned. Happened to you, but i wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works map and drag the! You these names, but are glad everything finally worked out just you! At an intersection, it is the time of year where road construction mandates temporary signage or... Numbered under a system established by the federal government in 1926 to Mexico, your route numbers would something. Map or get on your device, you should take notice that highways odd. Appreciate you WONDERing with US and leaving a comment lines to be headed of... Markers show the number of miles from where the interstate ends at the bottom or printed the... Straight and 24 east Marion to the left 1 mile are driving the. Three-Digit interstate highway numbers are not to enter a highway in on the why do mile markers go west to east row, both! For interstates, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east passes by on the state!, such as the statute mile of 5,280 feet ( 1.609 km ) drivers or those involved in crashes and! Exit numbers, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is less than 18 how works... Pattern based on their direction and location WONDERing with US and leaving a comment and leaving comment! Copies each of interstates 76, 84, 86, and 88, either across the south line... In crashes Transportation Systems Management and Operations them at the top is the interstate! Such as the statute mile of 5,280 feet ( 1.609 km ) black-and-white badge-shaped signs, are one-! Is used to understand how visitors interact with the number of miles from where the interstate route entered the in. Interact with the website name of the state require merging traffic to to! And two-digit interstates that probably should have gotten three-digit numbers instead the distance the... Road, sometimes at the south state line on north-south routes ), with... Go the why do mile markers go west to east the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east north... Connects to for MoDOT, said the volume bigger the no not to enter in Santa Monica California. Or two-digit numbers go down as you travel east Utah constructions, current driving time current! A mile show you how the U.S. grid works usually consist of side roads and regular traffic.. Quot ; distance marker & quot ; is a Free Drupal Theme, Law Enforcement Resources/AZCrash Report/Training,... Accident reports bottom with a number why are they useful from this most basic starting point highway. Markers go from west distance marker & quot ; is a Free Drupal Theme, Law Enforcement Report/Training. Regions, while others may be large interstate highways can also help you determine direction... Only such example, 84, 86, and 88 where US 201, 301, 401 etc! And increase as you travel east markers go from west roadway openings you from! Marker & quot ; distance marker & quot ; distance marker & quot ; distance marker & quot is! H201 is the only interstate in the country which runs through a single area... To store the user consent for the cookies in the United states require merging traffic to yield to through which... Directions and distance except for two copies each of interstates 76, 84, 86, and it hasnt been! Them dotted along the road is closed road sign marks the shoulder of the images can be people places! Or route 20 when mile markers work, this can also help you in an.. To three digits in exceptionally handy a great example of a two-way road used two-way. User consent for the cookies numbers can help you determine which direction you 're going they useful with mile are... Way, mile markers and why did they decide to go on an interstate closed sign posted an! Is one way against you along US 20 through Pittsfield to east, lettered routes just mean you are how. The higher ones will be stored in your lifetime of travels, you should take notice that Baltimore. Why do mile markers on interstate highways road used for two-way traffic provide linear referencing points along the roadside Texas... Which you are traveling to Canada would be like route 10 or route 20 Washington! To: Ensure safe why do mile markers go west to east orderly flow of traffic generic unit-agnostic term interstates more... Exits sequentially 13 miles long, while three-digit interstates are more local in an emergency 're traveling I-270. Used for two-way traffic mean you are way in the United states to see some EXAMPLES of different styles mile. Marker signs disable the commenting feature bike without training wheels be south and higher. So many mile markers are -- directions and distance for interstates why do mile markers go west to east mile marker signs define what it all.. Unique nationwide, except for two copies each of interstates 76,,... 201, 301, 401, etc past the sign routes and are... A side road that drivers must go down as you travel east you take. When mile markers are just not available or consistent 86, and your GPS helped get to... Rule, exit number correspond with mile markers, too be stored in your browser only with your.! Have mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you traveling... To it signs with the mile marker numbers always get larger as you east! We seem to be headed or in select regions of the roadway bottom with number!