Page:A Study to Eliminate Cardinal Initials on Interstate Routes and Other Needed Changes in Interstate Route Numbering.pdf/4

4 to its junction with I-80 in Nebraska. The total length is 186.3 miles of which 184.2 miles are in Colorado and 2.1 miles are in Nebraska. To remove the cardinal initial from this route it is necessary to renumber it as an even numbered route. Also since it originates at a junction with I-70, it is believed that the route number chosen should be in the 70 series of numbers. All even numbered routes in the 70 series have already been used in other, sections of the country; however, it is believed that a specific route number can be used to designate two separate routes as long as the length of these routes is rather short, the route number does not designate a major route, and the two routes are located in separate sections of the country. If this criterion is used it is believed that the likelihood of driver confusion would be nil. Therefore, route number I-78 was chosen since the total length of existing I-78 is 146.8 miles and is located in Pennsyl­vania, New Jersey and New York. If it is desired not to use the same number on two widely separated sections of Interstate, this route could be numbered I-23.

Item #9 - Illinois - Peoria - East Peoria Area

Presently the approved location of I-474 is to the west and south of the Peoria - East Peoria area with I-74 going through the center of the metropolitan area. The State desires to switch these routes upon the completion of construction to provide route continuity for through traffic wishing to bypass the downtown area. Approval is recommended.

Item #10 - Iowa - Illinois - Quad-City Area

In the Quad-City area (Davenport and Battendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois), there exists three Interstate routes having various Interchange geometries which have caused serious traffic operation difficulties. The major difficulty is the cloverleaf Interchange southeast of Moline, Illinois, where I-80 traffic westbound is required to exit on the outer ramp of the cloverleaf to turn north and remain on I-80. Likewise the eastbound traffic on I-80 is required to exit onto the southwest loop of this Interchange to remain eastbound on I-80. Also all traffic on I-74 desiring to remain on that route are required to make exit maneuvers.

The approved location of I-280 is in the west and southwest por­tion of the area and starts at the junction with I-80 northwest of the area. This Interchange is a directional and certainly more suitable for accommodating the various movements than the cloverleaf southeast of the area. Therefore, the following changes