Page:A Study to Eliminate Cardinal Initials on Interstate Routes and Other Needed Changes in Interstate Route Numbering.pdf/8

8 change is recommended.

Item #20 - Idaho - Pocatello

To eliminate the cardinal initial from the 62.5 mile route of I-15W, it is recommended that the route be renumbered as I-215.

Item #21 - Utah, Idaho & Oregon

The approved routing of I-80N in these three States begins in Portland, Oregon, and continues easterly and southeasterly through Boise, Idaho, to Tremonton, Utah, where it overlaps I-15 for 36.0 miles to Ogden, Utah, thence southeasterly to a junction with I-80 at Echo Junction, Utah. The total route length is 790.2 miles in­cluding the overlap section with I-15. This is similar to Item #8 since to eliminate the cardinal initial from this route it is necessary to renumber the entire route. Since the route is gen­erally an east-west route and junctions with I-80 the route number should be an even-numbered route in the 80 series. All even num­bers in the 80 series have already been used in other sections of the country, however, as stated under Item #8, it is believed that a specific route number can be used to designate two separate routes in separate sections of the country. Therefore, route num­ber I-86 is recommended to replace I-80N since the existing I-86 is only 45.1 miles in length and is located only in Connecticut and Massachusetts. If it is desired not to use the same number on two widely separated sections of Interstate, this route could be numbered I-11 or I-13.

In addition to the above numbered items, other recent changes have been made in Interstate route numbers, mainly in Pennsylvania. As mentioned in Item #14, Ohio has renumbered I-80S as I-76. This same change in I-80S was accomplished by Pennsylvania which also has been given recent approval by AASHO and FHWA to renumber I-81E as I-380.

With the implementation of the above recommendations and the pre­viously approved changes in route numbers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, cardinal initials would be eliminated from all Interstate routes and it is believed that traffic operation in various areas would be greatly improved.