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Interstate 94

Interstate 94

:I-94 redirects here. For other uses, see I-94 (disambiguation). I-94 (disambiguation) Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. Its western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S. side of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada border. Canada.]]

Length

Major cities along the route

Canada Montana
- Billings
- Miles City
- Glendive North Dakota
- Dickinson
- Mandan
- Bismarck
- Jamestown
- Valley City
- Fargo Minnesota
- Moorhead
- Fergus Falls
- Alexandria
- St. Cloud
- Minneapolis
- Saint Paul Wisconsin
- Eau Claire
- Madison
- Waukesha
- Milwaukee (East-West Freeway, North-South Freeway)
- Racine
- Kenosha Illinois
Also known as the Tri-State Tollway, Edens Expressway, Kennedy Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway, Bishop Ford Freeway and Kingery Expressway
- Waukegan
- Highland Park
- Skokie
- Chicago
- Calumet City Indiana
Also known as the Borman Expressway
- Hammond
- Gary
- Portage
- Michigan City Michigan
Also known as the Willow Run Freeway, Detroit Industrial Freeway and Edsel Ford Freeway
- Benton Harbor
- Kalamazoo
- Battle Creek
- Marshall
- Jackson
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Ypsilanti
- Dearborn
- Detroit
- Port Huron [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm]

Intersections with other Interstates


- Interstate 90 in Billings, Montana
- Interstate 29 in Fargo, North Dakota
- Interstate 35W in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Interstate 35E in St. Paul, Minnesota; joined for .27 miles (.43 km)
- Interstate 90 in Tomah, Wisconsin; joined for 91.76 miles (147.67 km), until Madison, Wisconsin.
- Interstate 39 at Portage, Wisconsin. They stay joined for 30 miles (48 km).
- Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Interstate 90 in Chicago, Illinois; joined for 15.39 miles (24.77 km).
- Interstate 290 in Chicago, Illinois
- Interstate 55 in Chicago, Illinois
- Interstate 57 in Chicago, Illinois
- Interstate 80 in Lansing, Illinois; stay joined for 18.53 miles (29.82 km) until Lake Station, Indiana.
- Interstate 65 in Gary, Indiana
- Interstate 90 in Lake Station, Indiana
- Interstate 196 near Benton Harbor, Michigan
- Interstate 69 in Marshall, Michigan
- Interstate 275 in Romulus, Michigan
- Interstate 96 in Detroit, Michigan
- Interstate 75 in Detroit, Michigan
- Interstate 696 in Roseville, Michigan
- Interstate 69 in Port Huron, Michigan [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm]

Spur routes


- Bismarck, North Dakota - I-194 (unsigned)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota - I-394, I-494, I-694
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin - I-794, I-894
- Chicago, Illinois - I-294 (Tri-State Tollway)
- Battle Creek, Michigan - I-194

Interchanges from west to east

Montana

Wisconsin

Lane configurations

Michigan


- Between Port Huron, MI and Chesterfield Township, MI (2 lanes on each side)
- Between Chesterfield Township and US 23 (3+ lanes on each side)
- Between US 23 and Michigan State Highway 14 (2 lanes on each side)
- Between Michigan State Highway 14 and c. milepost 166 (3 lanes on each side)
- Between milepost 166 and Interstate 196 (2+ lanes on each side)
- Between Interstate 196 and Indiana state line (3 lanes on each side)

Indiana

Interstate 94 in Indiana is a shorter stretch of highway that still maintains at least 6 through lanes from Illinois to Michigan.
- As part of the Borman Expressway -- 6 lanes as of 2005 (3x3). Construction is currently underway to expand this section to 8 lanes (4x4).
- East of the Interstate 80/Interstate 90 intersection to the Michigan state line -- 6 lanes (3x3)

Illinois

Interstate 94 runs through downtown Chicago, resulting in some odd lane configurations: From north to south:
- Wisconsin state line to Edens Spur -- 6 lanes (3x3) -- 8 by 2008/2010
- Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) to Skokie Highway (U.S. Highway 41), also known as the Edens Spur -- 4 lanes (2x2)
- Edens Spur Ramp to/from Edens Expressway -- 2 lanes westbound, 1 lane eastbound
- Skokie Highway to Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90) -- 6 lanes (3x3)
- Kennedy Expressway at the Junction to Ohio Street -- 10 lanes (2 reversible, 4 westbound, 4 eastbound)
- Ohio Street to Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290) -- 10 lanes (5 westbound, 5 eastbound)
- At the Eisenhower Expressway -- 6 lanes (3 westbound, 3 eastbound)
- From the Eisenhower Expressway to the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) -- 10 lanes (5 eastbound, 5 westbound) The following sections are being expanded as of 2005 to make ramps safer and to have consistent amounts of lanes:
- From the Stevenson Expressway to the 47th Avenue Slip -- 14 lanes (4x4 express, 3x3 local)
- Between the 47th Avenue and 51st Avenue Slip Ramps -- 14 lanes (3x3 express, 4x4 local)
- 51st Avenue to the Chicago Skyway (Interstate 90) -- 12 lanes (4x4 express, 2x2 local), expanding to 14 by 2007.
- Chicago Skyway to Interstate 57 -- 8 lanes (4x4) The following sections have no expansion plans:
- Ramps to/from Bishop Ford Expressway -- 4 lanes (2x2), with 6 lanes (3x3) between Michigan Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue
- Cottage Grove Avenue to Tri-State Tollway and Interstate 80 -- 6 lanes (3x3) The following sections are being expanded as of 2005 to widen ramps and through lanes, primarily for the Tri-State Tollway:
- Ramps to/from Kingery Expressway -- 4 lanes (2x2)
- Bishop Ford Expressway to Indiana state line -- 6 lanes (3x3), expanding to 8 by 2006.

Wisconsin


- Three lanes each way from Minnesota border to Exit 4 (US 12)
- Two lanes each way from exit #4 to junction with Interstate 90
- Together with I-90, two lanes each way until junction with Interstate 39 (I-90/94 unified exit #108)
- Together with I-39/90, three lanes each way until suburban Madison
- 3+ lanes each way through suburban Madison
- Departs from I-39/90 at unified I-39/90 exit #138A as I-94 exit #240, thence two lanes each way east to exit #290 near Pewaukee
- 3 lanes each way from exit #290 to exit #294 near Pewaukee.
- 3+ lanes each way through suburbs and city of Milwaukee.
- South from suburban Milwaukee, 3 lanes each way to Illinois border

Minnesota


- 3 lanes in both directions from North Dakota border to US-75 (Moorhead).
- 2 lanes in both directions from US-75 to MN-101 (Rogers).
- 3 lanes in both directions from MN-101 to I-494 (Maple Grove).
- 4 lanes eastbound between I-494 and US 169, 4 lanes westbound between Boone Avenue and Hemlock Lane (Brooklyn Park).
- 3 lanes each direction from Boone Ave to Brooklyn Blvd.
- 4 lanes each direction between Brooklyn Blvd to I-94 split from I-694.
- 2 lanes each direction transitioning from I-694 mainline to I-94 mainline.
- 4 lanes in both directions from I-694/MN-252 to Dowling Avenue (Minneapolis).
- 5 lanes (with the exception of 4 under Broadway bridge) in both directions from Dowling Avenue to I-394/US-12/Lyndale/Hennepin Aves.
- 3 lanes westbound, 2 lanes eastbound until Lowry Hill Tunnel.
- 3 lanes each direction from Lowry Hill tunnel to MN-280 (Saint Paul).
- 4 lanes (with the exception of 3 under Snelling Avenue bridge) each direction from MN-280 to I-35E.
- 3 lanes each direction from I-35E to White Bear Avenue, with short segment of 5 lanes each direction between US 10/61 and Mounds Blvd.
- 2 lanes each direction from White Bear Avenue to MN-120 (being expanded to 3 lanes in each direction).
- 3 lanes each direction from MN-120 to Wisconsin border.

North Dakota


- 2 lanes in each direction through most of the state, 3 lanes in each direction in some urban sections.

Montana


- 2 lanes each direction from western terminus at I-90 to North Dakota border

Notes


- Interstate 94 is the only east-west interstate to form a direct connection into a foreign country (Canada). No such interstate ends at the U.S.-Mexico border. At Port Huron, I-94 crosses the Blue Water Bridge into Sarnia, Ontario and becomes Highway 402, which can be used by motorists going to Toronto.
- Through much of Michigan, Interstate 94 follows the route of Old U.S. Highway 12. In the 1990s Michigan set up an "emergency Interstate" system. This system is designed as a permanent set of detours for Interstates in case an impassable problem occurs on the Interstates (in the case of I-94 in this area, the problem is usually very heavy lake effect snow in the winter months and construction in the summer)
- Through North Dakota, Interstate 94 follows the route once taken by U.S. Highway 10 west from Fargo.
- Interstate 494 was originally planned to serve as a loop in Chicago, Illinois and follow Lake Shore Drive along Lake Michigan. After local opposition prevented I-494 from being completed, the number was completely dropped. Portions of the old I-494 exist as US 41/Lake Shore Drive.
- The I-494/I-694 loop in the Twin Cities has a speed limit of 60 mph (95 km/h) in most places. All highways within the loop are 55 mph (90 km/h), and Minnesota highways outside the loop can go up to 65 mph (100 km/h); 70 mph (110 km/h) if they are Interstate highways.
- 40 miles (64 km) north of the Twin Cities near Otsego, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) operates the Minnesota Road Research Facility, which studies the effect of traffic on various road surface types. Westbound traffic is redirected onto 3.5 miles (5.5 km) of pavement outfitted with thousands of sensors. There is a straight-through bypass (the original highway) that can be used when researchers are examining the road up close.
- The stretch from Portage, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin in which I-94 runs concurrently with I-39 and I-90 is the longest such stretch of three interstates in the country.
- U.S. 52 follows I-94 from St. Paul, Minnesota to Bismarck, North Dakota. It is very poorly signed in Minnesota, but is signed very well on maps and in North Dakota.
- Some parts of I-94 in Illinois are still signed North and South, especially along the Tri-State Tollway. This is because Interstate 94's alignment between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois is north-south. Most signs on the mainline have been replaced with East-West signage in recent years, as of 2005.

Recent news


- As of 2005; I-94 is undergoing rehabilitation in and around the Detroit area according to MDOT.
- Also as of 2005, the I-94 bridge over the Crow River near Saint Michael, Minnesota, about 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis, is being reconstructed. As well, I-94 in downtown St. Paul between Minnesota State Highway 120 and McKnight Road is being widened from two to four lanes.

References


- 2005 Rand McNally "The Road Atlas 2005"

External links


- [http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys90-99.html#I-094 Interstate 94] at Michigan Highways
- [http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/listings/WiscHwys90-99.html#I-094 Interstate 94] at Wisconsin Highways
- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm Interstate highway distances] from the United States Department of Transportation 94 94 94 94 94 94 94 94

I-94 (disambiguation)

I-94 can refer to several things:
- Interstate 94, an interstate highway in the United States
- I-94 [http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/9lengthofstay.htm], the Arrival-Departure Record form used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- I-94, a movie by James Benning

Interstate Highway

The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System, is a network of highways in the United States. The Interstate Highway System is a separate system within the larger National Highway System. With very few exceptions, Interstate highways are controlled-access freeways, allowing for safe high-speed driving when traffic permits. They are assigned a special level of funding at the federal level. Despite this federal funding, these highways are owned, designed, built and maintained by the state in which they are located, with the only exception being the federally-owned Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495). The highways in the system are typically known as Interstate XX or I-XX; sometimes Interstate Highway XX (IH XX) or Interstate Route XX (IR XX) is used. In some areas the more generic Route XX or Highway XX is used. The system serves all major U.S. cities, and unlike its counterparts in most industrialized countries, often goes right through downtown areas rather than bypassing them. This facilitated the emergence of automobile-oriented postwar suburban development patterns, often pejoratively referred to as "urban sprawl". The system is prominent in the daily lives of most Americans. Virtually all goods and services are delivered via the Interstate Highways at some point. Many residents of American cities use the urban segments of the system to go to and from their jobs. Most long-distance journeys (for vacation or business) of less than 300 miles (500 km) use the interstate highway system at some point. Hawaii has several signed Interstates, but Alaska and Puerto Rico do not. The latter two do have roads designated as Interstates for funding purposes, but they are not currently or planned to be built to Interstate standards. The public controlled-access highways of Puerto Rico are the Autopistas (PR-22, PR-52, and PR-53).

History

Autopistas The interstate system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956. It was lobbied for by major U.S. automobile manufacturers and championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was influenced by both his experiences as a young soldier crossing the country in 1919 following the route of the Lincoln Highway, and by his appreciation of the German autobahn network. Planning for a system of new superhighways began in the late 1930s, even before federal commitment to build the Interstate highway system came in the 1950s. Construction on the world's first public limited-access highway, the Bronx River Parkway, had begun in New York as early as 1907. By the 1920s, longer highways such as the New York City parkway system had been built as part of local or state highway systems. As automotive traffic increased, planners saw a need for such an interconnected national system to supplement the existing, largely non-freeway, U.S. Highway system.The General location of national system of interstate highways, including all additional routes at urban areas designated in September, 1955 maps what became the interstate system, and is informally known as the Yellow Book. Although construction on the Interstate Highway system continues, it was officially regarded as complete in 1991 (though 1.5 miles of the original planned system remain unconstructed as of 2005 [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.html]). The initial cost estimate for the system was $25 billion over twelve years; it ended up costing $114 billion, taking 35 years to complete. As of 2004, the system contains over 42,700 miles (68,500 km) of roads, all at least four lanes wide.

Standards

:Main article: Interstate Highway standards The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has defined a set of standards that all new Interstates must meet unless a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is obtained. These standards have become stricter over the years. One almost absolute standard is the controlled access nature of the roads. Except for a few exceptions, traffic lights (and cross traffic in general) are limited to toll booths and ramp meters (metered flow control for lane merging during rush hours).

Speed limits

Speed limits vary according to location. By initial planning, the Interstate system was designed to provide reasonable road safety at speeds of 75 to 80 miles per hour (120 to 130 km/h) except in limited stretches (such as steep mountain passes or urban cores) where many vehicles cannot maintain such speeds. Many western states had high speed limits. Kansas, for example, had a posted limit of 80 mph (130 km/h)[http://people.smu.edu/acambre/blog/PermaLink,guid,5575625c-bbd4-47a3-be9f-9d5517d3a06f.aspx]. Some states, such as Oregon, defined the limit as whatever was "reasonable and proper", which would not be allowed today (see Montana reference below). In 1974, the federal government enacted 55 mph (90 km/h) as a gasoline conservation measure in response to the 1973 energy crisis. After the end of the embargo this restriction was continued as a safety measure. It was very unpopular, especially in western states. The 55 mph cap was relaxed in 1987 to allow 65 mph (105 km/h) speeds on rural Interstates if the states so chose. During this interim period, some roads (such as I-335 in Kansas) were specifically designated as Interstates to take advantage of this higher speed limit. Shortly thereafter, 65 mph limits were allowed on roads not numbered as interstates but which were built to interstate standards. The 55/65 mph caps were eliminated in late 1995, fully returning speed limit control to the states. Many states maintain several different limits. For example, in California, most interstates are limited to 55 mph within a major city, 65 mph (105 km/h) for most of the suburban highway stretches, and up to 70 mph (115 km/h) throughout the desert and rural stretches of the state. In some states, commercial trucks have a lower speed limit than passenger automobiles. In some mountainous regions, the condition of the roadway mandates a lower speed limit than would otherwise have applied. While some states have maintained the 65 mph limit, other states have increased the limits to 70 or 75 mph (110 or 120 km/h). Generally, the highest speed limits are found in the South and Southwest, while the lowest are found in the Northeast. Soon after the end of the National Maximum Speed Limit, the state of Montana ended daytime speed limits for automobile traffic on Interstate Highways in the state, instead instructing motorists to maintain a "reasonable and prudent" speed. A few years later, the "reasonable and prudent" law was declared unconstitutional for being too vague and a limit of 75 mph (120 km/h) was enacted in its place. Texas recently enacted a law allowing 80 MPH speed limits on certain portions of Interstates 10 and 20 in far west Texas. However, these limits are on hold pending further study by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Dual-purpose design

In addition to being designed to support automobile and heavy truck traffic, interstate highways are also designed for use in military and civil defense operations within the United States, particularly troop movements. One potential civil defense use of the Interstate Highway System is for the emergency evacuation of cities in the event of a potential nuclear war. Although this use has never happened, the Interstate Highway System has been used to facilitate evacuations in the face of hurricanes and other natural disasters. An option for maximizing throughput is to reverse the flow of traffic on one side so that all lanes become outbound lanes. This procedure is known as Contraflow, and could be seen in the evacuations of New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston, Texas prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, respectively. Several Interstates in the South, including I-16 in Georgia, I-40 in North Carolina, I-65 in Alabama, I-10 & I-59 in Louisiana, and I-59 in Mississippi, are equipped and signed specifically for contraflow, with crossovers inland after major interchanges to distribute much of the traffic. This is however not limited to Interstates; US 49 from Gulfport to Jackson and State Road 528, in Central Florida, have the same setup. A widespread but false urban legend states that one out of every five miles of the Interstate highway system must be built straight and flat, so as to be usable by aircraft during times of war.[http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/mayjun00/onemileinfive.htm] However, the Germans in World War II used the Autobahns for just such a purpose.

Terminology

While the name implies that these highways cross state lines, many Interstates do not. Rather, it is the system of interstates that connects states. There are interstate highways in Hawaii, funded in the same way as in the other states, but entirely within the populous island of Oahu. They have the designation of H-X, and connect military bases. Similarly, both Alaska and Puerto Rico have public roads that receive funding from the Interstate program, though these routes are not signed as Interstate Highways.

Primary routes

The numbering scheme for the Interstate Highway System (as well as the U.S. Highway System) is coordinated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), though their authority is occasionally trumped by a number written into Federal law. Within the continental United States, primary Interstates (also called main line Interstates or two-digit Interstates) are given one- or two-digit route numbers. Most Interstates have two numbers; there are only three one-digit Interstates in the system: I-4, I-5 and I-8. Within this category, east-west highways are assigned even numbers, and north-south highways are assigned odd-numbers. Odd route numbers increase from west to east, and even numbered routes increase from south to north. Numbers divisible by 5 are intended to be primary routes, carrying traffic long distances. For example, I-5 runs from Canada to Mexico along the west coast (the only interstate to do so) while I-95 runs from Miami north to Canada. In addition, I-10 runs from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida while I-90 runs from Seattle to Boston. However, not all primary routes traverse long distances. I-45 runs from Galveston, Texas north to Dallas, Texas, a distance of only 284 miles. It is the only primary route that does not cross state lines (see List of intrastate Interstate Highways). It should be noted that I-50 and I-60 do not exist (and there are no even-numbered Interstates between 46 and 62), mainly because they would most likely have passed through the same states that already have US 50 and US 60. AASHTO rules discourage Interstate and US Highways with the same number to exist in the same state, although I-24 and US 24 exist at opposite ends of Illinois. Some planned Interstates do not follow this guideline - I-69 will enter Texas (which has US 69), I-74 will have a multiplex with US 74 in North Carolina, and I-41 will do the same with US 41 in Wisconsin. Several two-digit numbers are shared between two roads at opposite ends of the country, namely I-76, I-84, I-86 and I-88. Some of these were the result of a change in the numbering system in the 1970s; previously letter-suffixed numbers were used for long spurs off primary routes; for example, western I-84 was I-80N, as it went north from I-80. In the 1970s, AASHTO decided to eliminate these; some became additional two-digit routes, while others became three-digit routes (see below). Only two pairs of these exist; I-35 splits into I-35W and I-35E through both the Dallas-Fort Worth and the Minneapolis-St. Paul areas. Strict adherence to the directional nature of the system results in some amusing oddities. For a ten-mile stretch east of Wytheville, Virginia, the driver can be traveling on both North I-81 and South I-77 at the same time (and vice versa) (see also Wrong-way multiplex). For the sake of efficiency, some Interstates double up for short or sometimes long distances, as in the example above. Another notable example are Interstates I-90 and I-94, which double and then separate several times as they criss-cross the upper Midwest and Great Plains.

Three-digit Interstates

Three-digit route numbers, consisting of a single digit prefixed to the number of a primary Interstate highway, are used to designate usually short spur or loop routes from their "parent" route, either directly or via another three-digit Interstate. A route that spurs from its parent and ends at an intersection with no other Interstates is given an odd first digit; a route that returns to its parent is given an even first digit. The number given to the first digit of a route that spurs from the parent and ends at another Interstate depends on the state; some consider these routes spurs and give them odd numbers, while others consider them loop-style connectors and give them even numbers. For instance, I-90 in New York has a full set of three-digit Interstates - I-190, I-290, I-390, I-490, I-590, I-690, I-790, I-890 and I-990. Due to the large number of these routes, they can be repeated in different places along the mainline; no two three-digit Interstates in the same state can share a number. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has a single loop around the entire Metro area. I-94 intersects the loop in two spots and runs directly through it separating it into a northern and southern half. The southern half of it is labeled I-494 while the northern half of it is labeled I-694. Charlotte, North Carolina has a single loop around the city that intersects with both I-77 and I-85, but the entire loop is known as I-485. The Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area has several spur routes off of I-95. The area has I-195, I-295, I-495, I-795 and I-895. It also has two routes numbered I-395 (in Baltimore and Washington) and two I-695s (one is signed, the other is a secret designation), as well as an unsigned route called I-595. No I-995 exists anywhere. New York City has numerous spur routes off of I-78 and I-95, but none of I-78's spur routes actually intersect with I-78. A three-digit spur off a letter-suffixed two-digit Interstate (see above) was given a number without a letter suffix, except for one case - I-184 in Idaho was I-180N.

Exceptions

:Main article: List of gaps in Interstate Highways Interstate 238 near Oakland, California is one of two major exceptions to the numbering scheme, as no Interstate 38 exists. This number exists because Interstate 238 replaced a segment of California Highway 238, and no appropriate number was available. The other exception is I-99 in Pennsylvania, which was written into law as I-99 by Pennsylvania Congressman Bud Shuster; I-99 (which is also U.S. Highway 220) is west of several Interstates that are numerically less than 99, and was the nearest available unused two-digit number. Some proposed future Interstate routes have been given similarly non-conforming designations by their legislative proponents. For example, backers of the proposed Third Infantry Division Highway, a route in Georgia and Tennessee, have suggested it be named Interstate 3, in honor of the division for which the highway is named [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-003.html].

Other notable examples


- I-82 lies fully north of I-84, but I-84 was I-80N when I-82 got its number.
- I-85 diverts west of I-75 (intersecting it near Atlanta, Georgia) The following two-digit Interstates change signed direction from their normal (even=east-west, odd=north-south) direction:
- I-69
- I-76 (west) Two-digit interstates in Hawaii, as well as the "paper" interstates of Alaska and Puerto Rico, are numbered sequentially in order of funding, without regard to the rules on odd and even numbers. Business Loop and Business Spur Interstates are not subject to any of the Interstate standards. Their designation is simple - a Business Loop heads into a downtown area from its parent and returns to its parent; a Business Spur ends downtown, occasionally continuing from the end of the main Interstate. Business routes can split from either two- or three-digit Interstates, and can be repeated within a state. In a few cases, where an Interstate has been realigned, the old road has been designated a Business Loop because it is not up to standards.

Financing

About 72% ([http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs03/htm/hf10.htm 2003 FHWA summary]) of the construction and maintenance costs are funded through user fees, primarily gasoline taxes, collected by states and the federal government, and tolls collected on toll roads and bridges. The rest of the costs come out of the federal budget. In the eastern United States, large sections of some Interstate Highways planned or built prior to 1956 are operated as toll roads. The taxes dedicated to the construction and maintenance of highways are often criticized as a direct subsidy from the government to promote and maintain auto-oriented development as we know it today. The dominant role of the federal government in road finance has enabled it to pass laws in areas outside of the powers enumerated in the federal Constitution. By threatening to withhold highway funds, the federal government has been able to force state legislatures to pass a variety of laws. Examples include increasing the legal drinking age to 21, for a number of years reducing the maximum speed limit to 55 miles per hour, passing Megan's Law legislation, lowering the legal intoxication level to 0.08/1000, and other laws. This has proved to be controversial. Those who support this feel that it is a way to provide an impetus to states to pass uniform legislation. Others feel that using highway dollars in this fashion upsets the balance between federal and states' rights in favor of the federal government, and effectively holds funds as ransom in order to coerce state governments into passing laws that would not have otherwised been introduced. As American suburbs push ever outward, the costs incurred of maintaining freeway infrastructure has started to catch up with the economy, leaving little in the way of funds for new interstate construction. This has led to the proliferation of the toll road (turnpike) as the new method of building limited-access highways in suburban areas. Also, some interstates are being privately maintained now (VMS in Texas, I-35) in order to cut rising costs of maintenance and allow state departments of transportation to focus on serving the fastest growing regions in their respective states. The future of the interstate system as we know it is in question. It is entirely possible that parts of the system will have to be tolled in the future to meet maintenance and expansion demands, as is done with adding toll HOV/HOT lanes in certain cities like Minneapolis, Houston, Dallas, and Washington D.C.

Non-chargeable Interstate routes

In addition to Interstate highways financed with federal funds (Chargeable Interstate routes), federal laws allow other highways to be signed as Interstates, if they meet the Interstate Highway standards and that they are logical additions or connections to the System. Called Non-Chargeable Interstate routes, these additions fall under two categories: # Routes that already meet Interstate standards. They can immediately be signed as Interstates once their proposed number is approved. # Routes designated as a future part of the system once they are upgraded to Interstate standards. Until then, it cannot be signed as an Interstate yet.

Signage

dollar Interstate Highways are signed by a number on a red, white and blue sign as shown to the right. In the original design, the state was formerly listed above the highway number, but in many states, this area is now left blank. The sign itself measures 36 inches high, and is 36 inches wide for two-digit interstates, or 45 inches for three-digit interstates. Business Loop and Business Spur Interstates use a special shield where the red and blue are replaced with green; the word BUSINESS appears instead of INTERSTATE, and the word SPUR or LOOP usually appears above the number. The majority of Interstates have exit numbers. All traffic signs and lane markings on the Interstates are supposed to be designed in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). However, there are many local and regional variations in signage. The state of California is now adapting to an exit numbering system after many years as being the only state in the country that did not use such a system. In most states, the exit numbers correspond to the mileage markers on the Interstates (with an exception being I-19 in Arizona, whose length is measured in kilometers instead of miles). Many northeastern states label exit numbers sequentially, regardless of how many miles have passed between exits. On even-numbered Interstates, mileage increases to the east and decreases to the west; and on odd-numbered Interstates, mileage increases to the north and decreases to the south. In both cases, the exit numbers increase and decrease accordingly.

Interstate oddities


- Vinita, Oklahoma — A McDonalds is built over the top of Interstate 44. It goes from one side of the interstate to the other, passing over the interstate. Customers can sit inside and eat while traffic drives beneath them. It is also purported to be the "world's largest".
- Kearney, Nebraska — The Great Platte River Road Archway Museum is built over top of Interstate 80. The 1,500 ton structure spans 308 feet across the interstate and houses a museum dedicated to frontier culture.
- Reno, Nevada — A Walgreens store sits on top of a segment of Interstate 80 in downtown Reno.
- Newton, Massachusetts — A Star Market supermarket is built over the top of Interstate 90. Traffic reporters refer to this point on the highway as the "Star Market overpass".
- Newton, Massachusetts — A Sheraton hotel is built over the top of Interstate 90.
- Boston, Massachusetts — The Prudential Tower in downtown Boston is built over top of Interstate 90 as well. A less known fact about Interstate 90 is that it is built over what used to be the largest railroad corridor in New England; photos from the 1950s show huge rail yards where I-90 now comes into the city. Many of the oddities on I-90 are the result of deals struck by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Perini Corporation (which constructed the majority of the highway), and existing buildings at the time of construction. In return for not obstructing the highway project, the MTA went to lengths such as preserving the aforementioned Star Market.
- Atlanta, Georgia — The Civic Center MARTA station is located over the Downtown Connector (Interstate 75/85) at West Peachtree Street, making it the only subway station built over an Interstate highway.
- Illinois — The Illinois Tollway oasis is a type of rest area which spans the top of the interstate highway it is on. There are seven of them which are on the Tri-State Tollway (Interstates 80, 94 & 294), Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90) and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88). Customers are able to sit inside the Oases and eat while traffic goes by beneath them. This type of development is common in the UK.
- Seattle, Washington — The [http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/parkspaces/FreewayPark.htm Seattle Freeway Park] sits on top of Interstate 5 (NB and SB, including HOV express lanes). The park is connected to the [http://www.wsctc.com Washington State Convention Center] connecting downtown to the [http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/capitol.htm Capitol Hill] and First Hill districts (locally, First Hill is also known as "Pill Hill" as this is Seattle's medical district). The park is multi-level and as such, there are areas where visitors are able to watch traffic pass by.
- Breezewood, Pennsylvania — There is a sign of a policeman pointing at you saying, "You! Slow Down!" You then have to drive a few blocks on US 30 before returning to I-70. This is a rare instance of a traffic light on an interstate.
- Jersey City, New Jersey — Interstate 78 follows a pair of one-way streets for a short distance between the Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Holland Tunnel, which leads into New York City. Along with the aforementioned I-70, this is the only other primary interstate with traffic lights.

Criticism

In addition to the various economic issues, the system has roused criticism on aesthetic grounds. The efficiency and faster speeds of the system, made possible in part by engineering techniques that often tend to cut through the land rather than merely following it as with the older U.S. Highway, have inevitably resulted in a safer but less-scenic drive. When the cross-country I-40 was finally finished in the late 1980s, by completing the segment between Raleigh, North Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina, Charles Kuralt stated, "It is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything!"

References

# 65 MPH Approved for Route, Wichita Eagle-Beacon, October 24, 1987 # Field, David. "On 40th birthday, interstates face expensive midlife crisis." Insight on the News, 29 July 1996, 40-42.

See also


- Autobahn
- Freeway
- Gas tax
- Highway patrol
- Non-motorized vehicle access on freeways
- List of roads and highways
- Mile-log
- Parkway
- Ramp meter
- Speed limit
- Toll road
- Traffic light
- United States highway
- National Highway System
- List of major freeway systems
- Controlled-access highway

External links


- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.html Interstate Highway information]
- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/index.htm FHWA Route Log and Finder List]
- [http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/septoct00/urban.htm FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center] - Analysis and History of Interstate Highway System
- [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ 3-digit Interstate Highways]
- [http://www.aaroads.com/ Pictures of all Interstates]
- [http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=88 One] of 100 milestone documents of American history
- Federal Highway Administration's [http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/summer96/p96su10.htm article on the act]
- Fortune magazine on [http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500/articles/0,15114,574088,00.html history of the Interstate Highway System]
- [http://www.geocities.com/michelleskinnerfreeway Another great Interstate Page], with facts on all 2-digit Interstates and links to their exit lists
- [http://www.ajfroggie.com/triskele Highway Heaven] Contains exit lists for most Interstate highways
- [http://www.triskele.com/fonts/index.html RoadGeek] - A complete set of TrueType fonts for simulating Interstate and other highway signage ja:ドワイト・デーヴィッド・アイゼンハワー全米州間国防高速道路網

Billings, Montana

Billings is a city located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Montana. Billings is rapidly growing; As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,847, the 2004 census shows the city's population has grown to 96,977 (up 7.9% or 7,130 since 2000). Billings is the chief city in the Billings Metropolitan Area and is the county seat of Yellowstone County. In terms of population, it is the largest metropolitan area in Montana. It is nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in 1882. It was said that Billings "grew like magic." Billings is named for Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Other Nicknames: Star of the Big Sky Country and City Beneath the Rims Due to the Billings' status as the largest city in a vast region (500 mile radius) of south-central and eastern Montana and northern Wyoming, it serves as a shopping and accommodation center for area residents and highway travelers. The city's proximity to Yellowstone National Park and the area where the Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought also draws a large number of tourists, especially during the summer months. Such traffic in recent years is largely due to Billings being on the most significant highway in Montana, Interstate 90. Meanwhile, other cities in Montana, such as Great Falls, decline in population.

History

Pre-History

Most of Billings is located in the Yellowstone Valley, carved out by the Yellowstone River. Over 10 million years ago, this valley was underwater with the tops of the Rims being a prehistoric beach. It is not unusual to find fossilized fish in the area.

19th Century

Billings was founded in 1882 near the already-existing town of Coulson. Coulson had been situated on the Yellowstone River, which made it ideal for the commerce that Steamboats brought up the river. However, when the Montana & Minnesota Land Company oversaw the development of potential railroad land, they ignored Coulson, and platted the new town of Billings several miles to the West. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built, Coulson died as Billings flourished. The land that was once the town of Coulson is now Coulson Park.

20th Century

After World War II, Billings boomed into a major financial, medical and cultural center in the region. In the 1960's, Billings surpassed Great Falls as Montana's largest city. In the 1970's, Billings suffered a short decline in population due to the oil crisis. The population quickly rebounded in the early 1980's and has never declined since.

21st Century

Today Billings continues to be the finacial, medical, agriculural, and cultural center in a 500 mile radius and continues to be the Star of the Big Sky Country. In 2002 Skypoint was completed. In 2005, the people of Billings elected Ron Tussing, a Former Police Chief, as the next Mayor, who will be sworn in January 2, 2006

Future

Billings has experienced continued growth in the recent years, never declining in population like most of the rest of the eastern portion of the state, as well as most of the Great Plains states. It has avoided this trend by being in close proximity to the mountainous regions of Wyoming and Montana, making it a tourist hotspot. This growth can be seen all over the city, with a new Wal-Mart and Target popping up in the Heights (making them the second of both in the city, the others are on the West End). New housing subdivisions are crowding a once sparse highway to the nearby town of Laurel and the medical corridor never seems to stop expanding. The population of the city is constantly on the march toward the 100,000 mark. Some see Billings becoming the next Boise, Idaho or Reno, Nevada.

Famous People

More widely famous people who have lived in Billings include Charles Lindbergh, who once worked as a mechanic at the Billings Logan Airport and performed as a barn stormer. "Calamity Jane" Canary also lived in the Billings area toward the end of her life. Arlo Guthrie was briefly a student at Rocky Mountain College. Baseball player Dave McNally, who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles. Sportscaster Brent Musberger lived in Billings for several years when he was a youth.

Geography

Billings is located at 45°47'12" North, 108°32'14" West (45.786553, -108.537139), with 2/3rd of the city in the Yellowstone Valley, the city being divided into the Valley and the Heights by the Rims, a long cliff, also called the Rimrocks. Billings is surrounded by five mountain ranges, the Beartooth Mountains to the west, the Pryor and Bighorn Mountains to the south, the Crazy Mountains to the northeast, the Big Snowy Mountains to the north and the Wolf Mountains to the south east. The Yellowstone River runs through the City. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 101.0 km² (39.0 mi²). 100.7 km² (38.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 89,847 people, 37,525 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,029.1/km² (2,665.1/mi²). There are 39,293 housing units at an average density of 450.0/km² (1,165.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.87% White, 0.55% African American, 3.44% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 4.18% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 37,525 households out of which 29.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% are married couples living together, 10.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% are non-families. 31.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.93. In the city the population is spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.8 males. The median income for a household in the city is $35,147, and the median income for a family is $45,032. Males have a median income of $32,525 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,207. 12.0% of the population and 9.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Billings' Neighbors | Est. driving time


- To Butte, Montana: 226 miles (west) | 3 hours/8 minutes
- To Boise, Idaho: 708 miles (south west) | 9 hours/40 minutes
- To Bozeman, Montana: 143 miles (west) | 2 hours/2 minuts
- To Calgary, Alberta: 447 miles (north west) | 10 hours/11 minutes
- To Cheyenne, Wyoming: 458 miles (south) | 6 hours/19 minutes
- To Crow Agency, Montana: 60 miles (south) | 45 minutes
- To Denver, Colorado: 555 miles (south) | 7 hours/41 minuts
- To Great Falls, Montana: 219 miles (north west) | 4 hours/54 minutes
- To Hardin, Montana: 48 miles (east) | 45 minutes
- To Helena, Montana: 239 miles (north west) | 3 hours/52 minutes
- To Laurel, Montana: 15 miles (west) | 20 minutes
- To Little Bighorn Battlefield: 60 miles (south east) | 45 Minutes
- To Minneapolis, Minnesota: 843 miles (east) | 12 hours/35 minutes
- To Missoula, Montana: 339 miles (via Helena, north west) | 4 hours/43 minutes
- To Red Lodge, Montana: 61 miles (south west) | 1 hour/13 minutes
- To Salt Lake City: 642 miles (south west) | 8 hours/54 minutes
- To Seattle, Washington: 818 miles (north west) 11 hours/57 minutes
- To Spokane, Washington: 540 miles (north west) | 7 hours/33 minutes
- To Yellowstone National Park: 126 Miles (south west) | 4 hours/15 minutes

Billings' Suburbs


- Lockwood, Montana
- Shepherd, Montana

Population


- 1890: 836
- 1900: 3,211
- 1910: 10,031
- 1920: 15,100
- 1930: 21,386
- 1940: 32,246
- 1950: 44,980
- 1960: 54,965
- 1970: 69,487
- 1980: 74,678
- 1990: 81,151
- 2000: 89,847
- 2005: 99,385 (est)

Neighborhoods


- Heights
- Alkali Creek
- West End
- South Side
- The Entryway
- Medical Corridor
- Downtown
- Lake Elmo
- Lockwood
- South Hills

Government

Billings is divided up into 5 council wards; Ward I, Ward II, Ward III, Ward IV, Ward V. The Mayor is Charles "Chuck" F. Tooley.

Economy

Geographically, Billings has one of the largest trade areas in the United States, serving more than 350,000 people. Billings' economy is fueled by agriculture, medical services, oil refining and tourism. Agricultural products include: sugar beets, corn, wheat & cattle. Some companies based in Billings include KOA, First Interstate Bank, and Big Sky Airlines.

Transportation

Interstates/Highways

Interstate 90 runs east/west through Billings. Interstate 94 begins a few miles east of the city limits. U.S. Highway 87 is the north/south highway that begins on the edge on the Heights and is northest of Downtown Billings. Note: US 87 North does not go through Billings, It turns into Main Street in the Heights before connecting to U.S. Highway 87 East.

Bus

The Billings METropolitan Transit, the MET, provides public transportation. Greyhound has an eastern terminus at Billings; Rimrock Trailways also provides regional and interstate bus service.

Train

The nearest Amtrak stop is on the Hi-Line, 200 miles north of Billings.

Air

Billings Logan International Airport, located northwest of downtown Billings, offers non-stop service to a number of cities in the western United States and within Montana.

Medical Facilities

The Billings Metro Area has two Level II trauma hospitals, St. Vincent Healthcare and the Billings Clinic.

K - 12

Public

Billings Public Schools operates 21 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three public high schools

Private

The Billings Catholic Schools operates Billings Central Catholic High School (grades 9-12), St. Francis Upper (grades 6-8), St Francis Intermediate (grades 3-5), St Francis Primary, (K-2) and St Francis Daycare.

Colleges and Universities

Public

Major institutions of higher education are Montana State University-Billings (formerly Eastern Montana Normal School and Eastern Montana College, founded in 1927), Montana State University - College of Technology.

Private

Rocky Mountain College (founded in 1878). Yellowstone Baptist College also offers a limited curriculum.

Culture

Arts


- Yellowstone Art Museum
- Billings Symphony Orchestra
- Alberta Bair Theater
- Venture Theatre
- Billings Studio Theater

Recreation/Events

There are a number of activities in and around Billings. From hiking, rock climing, mountain climing, fishing, art walks, Alive after 5, food fairs and rodeos. Some annual events include:
- Wine & Food Festival at MSU-Billings - MAY
- Strawberry Festival under Skypoint - JUN
- SummerFair at North Park - JUN
- Farmers Market under Skypoint - Every saturday JUN to OCT
- Big Sky State Games - JUL
- Skyfest (Hot air balloons) - JUL/AUG.
- MontanaFair at the MetraPark Arena fairgrounds - AUG
- Crow Fair & Rodeo in Crow Agency, Montana - AUG
- Burn the Point (classic car show) - SEP in Downtown Billings
- Harvest Fest - OCT
- Christmas Parade in Downtown Billings - NOV 24
- Festival of Trees - DEC
- The Christmas Stroll in Downtown Billings - DEC. [http://www.downtownbillings.com/dba/calendar.html Downtown Billings Association Event Calender]

Media

see Billings, Montana Media

Area Attractions


- Moss Mansion
- ZooMontana
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (near Crow Agency, Montana)
- Yellowstone National Park
- Western Heritage Center
- Billings Depot
- Skypoint
- Pictograph Cave National Historic Landmark

Sports


- Billings Bulls an NAHL hockey team.
- Billings Mustangs, a Pioneer League Baseball Team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds
- The Nile (Northern International Livestock Exposition) Rodeo at MetraPark Arena.

External links


- [http://www.cityofbillings.net/ City of Billings Official Website]
- [http://www.downtownbillings.org Downtown Billings]
- [http://www.visitmt.com/categories/City.asp?CityID=29 Billings from www.visitmt.com]
- [http://www.billingschamber.com Billings Chamber of Commerce] --Site Offline--
- [http://www.billingscvb.visitmt.com Billings, Montana Convention and Visitors Bureau]
- [http://www.weather.gov/billings Weather from the National Weather Service]
- [http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USMT0031 Weather from the Weather Channel]
- [http://www.mt.gov State of Montana] Category:Cities in Montana Category:Yellowstone County, Montana Category:Montana ja:ミズーラ (モンタナ州)

Interstate 90

Interstate 90 is the longest interstate highway in the United States at over 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers). It is the northernmost east-to-west, coast-to-coast interstate. Its western terminus is in Seattle, Washington at Edgar Martinez Drive S. and 4th Avenue S. next to Safeco Field, and its eastern terminus is in Boston, Massachusetts at Logan International Airport. It crosses the Continental Divide just east of Butte, Montana.

Length

Butte, Montana

Major cities along the route

Listed from west to east:

Intersections with other interstates


- Interstate 5 in Seattle, Washington
- Interstate 82 in Ellensburg, Washington
- Interstate 15 in Butte, Montana; joined for 7.65 miles (12.31 km)
- Interstate 94 in Billings, Montana
- Interstate 25 in Buffalo, Wyoming
- Interstate 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Interstate 35 in Albert Lea, Minnesota
- Interstate 94 in Tomah, Wisconsin; joined for 91.76 miles (147.67 km) until Madison, Wisconsin.
- Interstate 39 in Portage, Wisconsin; joined for about 95 miles (152 km) until Rockford, Illinois.
- Interstate 43 in Beloit, Wisconsin
- Interstate 94 in Chicago, Illinois; joined for 16.71 miles (26.89 km)
- Interstate 55 in Chicago, Illinois
- Interstate 65 in Gary, Indiana
- Interstate 94 in Lake Station, Indiana
- Interstate 80 in Lake Station, Indiana; joined for 278.40 miles (448.04 km) until Elyria, Ohio.
- Interstate 69 in Fremont, Indiana
- Interstate 75 in Toledo, Ohio
- Interstate 71 in Cleveland, Ohio
- Interstate 77 in Cleveland, Ohio
- Interstate 79 in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Interstate 86 in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Interstate 81 in Syracuse, New York
- Interstate 88 in Rotterdam, New York
- Interstate 87 in Albany, New York
- Interstate 91 in Springfield, Massachusetts
- Interstate 84 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts
- Interstate 95 in Weston, Massachusetts ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Weston,+MA&ll=42.337103,-71.261959&spn=0.028570,0.045010&hl=en Map])
- Interstate 93 in Boston, Massachusetts ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Boston,+MA&ll=42.343574,-71.065407&spn=0.114266,0.180038&hl=en Map]) Boston, Massachusetts intersecting in Seattle, Washington.]]

Spur routes


- Rapid City, South Dakota - I-190
- Chicago, Illinois - I-190 (provides a direct route to O'Hare International Airport), I-290
- Cleveland, Ohio - I-490
- Buffalo, New York - I-190, I-290, I-990
- Rochester, New York - I-490, I-590
- Spur to Rochester, New York and to Corning, New York - I-390
- Syracuse, New York - I-690
- Utica, New York - I-790
- Schenectady, New York - I-890
- Spur to Marlborough, Massachusetts - I-290
- Spur to Leominster, Massachusetts - I-190 It is arguable that Interstate 280 (Ohio) is as much a spur of Interstate 90 as it is of Interstate 80 because Interstate 80 and 90 designate the same highway (the Ohio Turnpike) in northwestern Ohio. It links to Toledo, Ohio and, with Interstate 75 to Detroit, Michigan.

Notes

Detroit, Michigan In 2003, the Seattle terminus was re-engineered to better accommodate traffic from the two nearby sports stadiums. I-90 westbound still ends at its previous location next to Qwest Field, but eastbound begins about 1/4 mile (0.4 km) south at Edgar Martinez Dr. near the roof shed of Safeco Field at an interchange with 4th Avenue S. I-90 terminated at I-93 in Boston until it was connected through to the Ted Williams Tunnel in January 2003 as part of the Big Dig, extending I-90 to Boston's Logan International Airport, an additional 1.3 miles (2.1 km). A recent discovery of a covered "End I-90" sign hints that I-90 may be extended slightly further north along part of the Route 1A freeway. I-90 incorporates two of the longest floating bridges in the world, the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, which cross Lake Washington from Seattle to Bellevue via Mercer Island, Washington. They are the second and fifth longest such bridges, respectively. Until 1995 in Montana near the Idaho border, I-90 was not a divided highway for a few stretches, having only a narrow paved median. From 1995 until 1999, the speed limit in Montana was "reasonable and prudent"; it is now 75 mph (120 km/h). From the Wisconsin/Illinois border east, the majority of I-90 is tolled, along the following toll roads (several of which predate the Interstate system):
- Northwest Tollway
- Chicago Skyway (currently signed as "TO I-90")
- Indiana Toll Road
- Ohio Turnpike
- New York State Thruway
- Massachusetts Turnpike, including the Ted Williams Tunnel (It is free through northeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania, and through brief sections near Buffalo and Albany, New York.) Between LaPorte, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio, with Interstate 80, it is nowhere more than 10 miles (16 km) from the Michigan state line, though it never enters the state. One of the most peculiar and hazardous stretches of Interstate 90 is the section of highway passing through downtown Cleveland, Ohio, known locally as Dead Man's Curve. Here, the road takes a nearly 90-degree turn ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cleveland,+OH&ll=41.517414,-81.674938&spn=0.010418,0.014098&t=k&hl=en Google Maps satellite view]). While there are plenty of large signs and flashing lights alerting motorists to this turn, there have still been a large number of accidents due to inattentive motorists. There are plans to realign the freeway along a shallower curve within the next decade, as part of a larger project to improve the freeway system in Cleveland. [http://www.innerbelt.org/] Almost all of the New York portion of the road is a toll road, comprising the east-west portion of the New York State Thruway mainline and part of the Berkshire Connector, operated by the New York State Thruway Authority. It was originally constructed as part of the Thruway project in the middle 1950s and received its current designation as Interstate 90 in 1958. "I-90" (operated by NYSDOT) carries Interstate 90 between the two; however, the Berkshire Section directly connects to the mainline (at Thruway interchange 21A) 6.5 miles (10.5 km)west of the point where I-90 joins it (at Thruway interchange B1). The mileposts and exit numbers on the New York State Thruway mainline originate at the New York City line and increase northward along Interstate 87 and westward along Interstate 90. As a result, mileposts and exit numbers on the I-90 section of the Thruway mainline increase from east to west, contrary to modern practices where numbers increase from the west or south. There used to be two metric-only signs on the westbound New York State Thruway. They were around Syracuse, which is about 100 miles (161 km) from Canada. The NYS Thruway Authority decided to test metric signage, which may have included (briefly) an 88 km/h speed limit sign, on the Thruway. There was also a sign displaying the distance to the Interstate 81 interchange in kilometers in Dewitt. I-90 is the only Interstate having a complete set of nine spur routes (190, 290, 390...890, 990), which is in New York. In addition, I-990, a short spur route near Buffalo, New York not directly connected to I-90, is the highest number given to an Interstate. The Massachusetts stretch, also a toll road built in the mid-1950s, is known as the Massachusetts Turnpike. To add to the quirks about the longest interstate, it also has the longest distance twinned with another interstate (I-80 in Ohio and Indiana, I-94 in Illinois and Wisconsin) in the most states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin). It also intersects the same interstate six times (I-94 in Lake Station, Indiana, Chicago (southside), Chicago (northside), Madison, Wisconsin, Tomah, Wisconsin, and Billings, Montana). Additionally, it is part of the longest interstate triplex in the country, as it is joined with I-39 and I-94 from Portage, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin. There is some dispute as to whether the Chicago Skyway is an official part of the Interstate highway system. The city of Chicago replaced many I-90 shields to "TO I-90" when it determined that the city may have never applied for Interstate designation for the skyway. However, the Federal Highway Administration considers the Skyway as being part of I-90, and the Illinois DOT has always and continues to report it as such[http://www.tollroadsnews.com/cgi-bin/a.cgi/XeXDlOhBEdmcEIJ61nsxIA]. See List of gaps in Interstate Highways for more information. On November 6, 2005 a major rockslide near Snoqualmie Pass, 58 miles east of Seattle, caused the highway to be temporarily reduced to one lane in each direction. State DOT crews are working to stabilize the hillside, removing loose rock and installing massive bolts to hold the slope together.

External links


- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm Interstate lengths] from the United States Department of Transportation 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90

Blue Water Bridge

The Blue Water Bridge is a cantileever truss bridge that spans the St. Clair River between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario. The Blue Water Bridge connects with Highway 402 in Ontario and with both Interstate 69 and Interstate 94 in Michigan. The first bridge was opened to traffic on October 10, 1938. The lead engineer was Ralph Modjeski. This bridge originally had two lanes for vehicles as well as sidewalks, which were removed in 1999 to make room for a third lane for vehicles. A second three-lane bridge, just south of the first bridge, opened on July 22, 1997. The first bridge was renovated and reopened in 1999. The first bridge is a cantilever truss with a total length of 6,178 feet (1883 m). The main span is 871 feet (265 m). The second bridge is a continuous tied arch with a total length of 6,109 feet (1862 m). The main span is 922 feet (281 m). During the debate over design (which was a combined effort between Modjeski & Masters - U.S Engineers and Buckland & Taylor Ltd. - Canadian Engineers), public opinion had mostly favoured a duplicate of the first bridge, while a cable-stayed design came in second. The Blue Water Bridge Authority had rejected both designs, due to the duplicate creating a false sense of history, while the cable-stayed option was feared to overshadow the existing bridge. Together, the bridges are one of the busiest transportation arteries between the United States and Canada. They also provide one of the four shortest routes of land travel between the eastern seaboard of the United States, and the central United States. The Blue Water Bridges are jointly owned and maintained by Canada and the United States. The Blue Water Bridge Authority is in charge of the Canadian side, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in charge of the U.S. side. The bridges have a toll, which is used to pay for bridge maintenance and operations. The Blue Water Bridge was featured in the 2000 Kim Basinger movie Bless the Child, where it represented a New York City bridge. It is also featured in the 1994 Danny Devito movie Renaissance Man directed by Penny Marshall. See also: List of bridges

External links


- [http://www.bwba.org/ Canadian Blue Water Bridge Authority]
- [http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9618_11070---,00.html Michigan Blue Water Bridge Information]
  - [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/constrhistory_16062_7.pdf PDF: Construction History of the Blue Water Bridges]
- [http://www.historicbridges.org/truss/bwb/ Information and Tons of Photos of the Original Bridge]
- [http://terraserver-usa.com/usgsentry.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=17&X=1919&Y=23808&W=3&qs=%7cport+huron%7cmichigan%7c Aerial photo of bridge, from Microsoft Terraserver] Category:Cantilever bridges Category:Bridges in Canada Category:Bridges in Michigan Category:Toll bridges in Michigan Category:Bridges completed in 1938 Category:St. Clair River

Ontario

:This article describes the Canadian province. For other usages, see Ontario (disambiguation). Ontario is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada's ten provinces. It is found in east-central Canada. Its capital is Toronto. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is also located in Ontario. Ontario has a population (July 1, 2005) of 12,541,410, representing approximately 37.9% of the total Canadian population (Ontarians) and an area of 1,076,395km² (415,598 sq. mi.).

Geography

Ontario is bounded on the north by Hudson Bay and James Bay, on the east by Quebec, on the west by Manitoba, and on the south by the American states of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Ontario's long American border is formed almost entirely by lakes and rivers, starting in Lake of the Woods and continuing to the Saint Lawrence River near Cornwall; it passes through the four Great Lakes on which Ontario has coastline, namely Lakes Superior, Huron (which includes Georgian Bay), Erie, and Ontario (for which the province is named; Ontario itself is an Iroquois word meaning "beautiful lake" or "beautiful water"). There are approximately 250,000 lakes and over 100,000 kilometres of rivers in the province. The province consists of three main geographical regions:
- the thinly populated Canadian Shield in the northwestern and central portions, a mainly infertile area rich in minerals and studded with lakes and rivers; sub-regions are Northwestern Ontario and Northeastern Ontario.
- the mostly unpopulated Hudson Bay Lowlands in the extreme north and northeast, mainly swampy and sparsely forested; and
- the temperate, and therefore most populous region, the fertile Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Valley in the south where agriculture and industry are concentrated. Southern Ontario is further sub-divided into four regions; Western Ontario (sometimes called Southwestern Ontario), Golden Horseshore, Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario. The Carolinian forest zone covers most of the southwestern section, its northern extent is parts of the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario. The Saint Lawrence Seaway allows navigation to and from the Atlantic Ocean as far inland as Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario. Northern Ontario occupies 90 per cent of the surface area of the province; conversely Southern Ontario contains 94 per cent of the population (see article Geography of Canada). Point Pelee National Park is a peninsula in southwestern Ontario (near Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan) that extends into Lake Erie and is the part of Canada's mainland furthest south. Pelee Island in Lake Erie is even further south. Both are south of 42°N slighty further south than the northern border of California.

Demographics

The major racial/ethnic groups in Ontario are:
- European: 80.9% (Major groups: English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Italian)
- South Asian: 4.9%
- Chinese: 3.7%
- Black: 3.6%
- Aboriginal: 1.7%
- Filipino: 1.3%
- Latin-American: 0.9%
- Other: 3.0% Increasing immigration from all parts of the world, especially to Toronto and its environs, is rapidly diversifying the province's ethnic makeup. About five per cent of the population of Ontario is Franco-Ontarian. 10 largest municipalities by population

Weather

Franco-Ontarian The weather in Ontario is very diverse. The south, including Greater Toronto Area receives very hot, humid weather in the summer, as the stronger the Bermuda high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean, the more warm, humid air is transported northward from the the Gulf of Mexico. Severe thunderstorms peak in frequency in June and July, most notably in Southwestern and Central Ontario. Northwestern Ontario also receives short periods of hot weather and severe storms. In the winter, lake effect snow squalls affect three primary areas in Ontario known as the "snow belts", the Algoma District in Northeastern Ontario on the east end of Lake Superior; much of the Georgian Bay shoreline including Killarney, Parry Sound District, Muskoka and Simcoe County; the Lake Huron shore from east of Sarnia northward to the Bruce Peninsula. Wind whipped snowsqualls or lake effect snow can affect areas much further inland, as far as 100km or greater from the shore but the heaviest snows usually occur within 20km from the shoreline. At other times, all regions of the province may encounter snow squalls.

Economy

Ontario's rivers, particularly its share of the Niagara River, make it rich in hydroelectric energy. This competitive advantage, as well as excellent transportation links to the American heartland, has contributed to making manufacturing the principal industry, found mainly in the Golden Horseshoe region, the most industrialized area in Canada. Important products include motor vehicles, iron, steel,