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Highway History

 

In 1998, with the Interstate System essentially complete, FHWA's Office of Engineering compiled information about development of the program. In making this information available to the public, we have not updated the material. All information is as of 1998 when the Office of Engineering compiled the report.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways

Part VII - Miscellaneous Interstate Facts

Numbering Interstate Routes and Exits

Interstate Route Numbering

The Interstate route marker is a red, white, and blue shield, carrying the word "Interstate", the State name, and the route number. Officials of AASHTO developed the procedure for numbering the routes. Major Interstate routes are designated by one- or two-digit numbers. Routes with odd numbers run north and south, while even numbered run east and west. For north-south routes, the lowest numbers begin in the west, while the lowest numbered east-west routes are in the south. By this method, Interstate Route 5 (I-5) runs north-south along the west coast, while I-10 lies east-west along the southern border.

In two cases, a major route has two parallel or diverging branches. In those cases, each branch is given the designation of the main route, followed by a letter indicating a cardinal direction of travel (east, west, etc). In Texas, for example, I-35 splits at Hillsboro, with I-35E going through Dallas, while I-35W goes through Fort Worth. The two branches merge at Denton to reform I-35. A similar situation exists along I-35 in the Minneapolis-St Paul area of Minnesota.

The major route numbers generally traverse urban areas on the path of the major traffic stream. Generally, this major traffic stream will be the shortest and most direct line of travel. Connecting Interstate routes and full or partial circumferential beltways around or within urban areas carry a three-digit number. These routes are designated with the number of the main route and an even-numbered prefix. Supplemental radial and spur routes, connecting with the main route at one end, also carry a three-digit number, using the number of the main route with an odd-number prefix.

To prevent duplication within a State, a progression of prefixes is used for the three-digit numbers. For example, if I-80 runs through three cities in a State, circumferential routes around these cities would be numbered as I-280, I-480, and I-680. The same system would be used for spur routes into the three cities, with routes being numbered I-180, I-380, and I-580, respectively. This system is not carried across State lines. As a result, several cities in different States along I-80 may each have circumferential beltways numbered as I-280 or spur routes numbered as I-180.

Interstate Exit Numbers

The States typically use one of two methods of numbering the Interstate interchange exits.

  • The Consecutive numbering system -- Starting at the most westerly or southerly point on each Interstate route, interchanges are numbered consecutively. Thus the first interchange becomes Interchange #1. Each succeeding interchange is numbered consecutively as #2, 3, 4, etc.
  • The Milepost numbering system -- All Interstate routes are mileposted beginning at the most westerly or southerly point. The beginning point is milepost '0'. If the first interchange on the route is located between milepost 4.0 and 5.0, it is numbered as Interchange #4. The next interchange, if located at milepost 8.7, would be numbered as Interchange #8, etc. With this system the motorist can easily determine the location and distance to a desired interchange.

Fun Facts

Cost
  • As reported to Congress in the 1991 Interstate Cost Estimate, the cost to construct the Interstate System (including preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction was $128.9 billion, of which $114.3 billion was the Federal share.
  • The System cost can be broken down into:
Preliminary Engineering$ 5.619 billion ( 4.5%)
Right of Way16.246 billion (13.1%)
Construction102.391 billion (82.4%)
Subtotal$124.256 billion (100.0%)
FHWA Admin, planning, research4.644 billion
Total$128.900 billion
  • Most Costly Routes (Eligible for Interstate Construction Funds Based on 1991 Cost Estimate):
I-95, Miami, FL to Houlton, ME$8.0 billion
I-90, Seattle, WA to Boston, MA$7.5 billion
I-75, Miami, FL to Sault Ste Marie, MI$5.1 billion
I-10, Los Angeles, CA to Jacksonville, FL$5.0 billion
Mileage
  • Longest Interstate Routes:
I-90, Seattle, WA to Boston, MA3,085.27 miles
I-80, San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ2,906.77 miles
I-40, Barstow, CA to Wilmington, NC2,554.29 miles
I-10, Los Angeles, CA to Jacksonville, FL2,459.96 miles
I-70, Cove Fort, UT to Baltimore, MD2,175.46 miles
  • Shortest (2-Digit) Interstate Routes:
I-97, Annapolis to Baltimore, MD17.57 miles
I-99, Bedford to Bald Eagle, PA53.00 miles *
I-73, Emery to Greensboro, NC56.70 miles *
I-86, I-84 to Pocatello, ID63.18 miles
I-19, Nogales to Tucson, AZ63.35 miles
(* Additional miles of I-99 in PA and I-73 in NC are expected to be built)
  • East-West Transcontinental Routes:
I-10, Los Angeles, CA to Jacksonville, FL2,459.96 miles
I-80, San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ2,906.77 miles
I-90, Seattle, WA to Boston, MA3,085.27 miles
  • North-South Transcontinental Routes:
I-5, San Diego to Blaine, WA1,382.04 miles
I-15, San Diego, CA to Sweetgrass, MT1,436.89 miles
I-35/35E/35W, Laredo, TX to Duluth, MN1,831.43 miles
I-55, New Orleans, LA to Chicago, IL943.69 miles
I-65, Mobile, AL to Gary, IN888.08 miles
I-75, Miami, FL to Sault Ste Marie, MI1,787.49 miles
I-95, Miami, FL to Houlton, ME1,892.76 miles
  • States with Most Interstate Mileage:
Texas17 routes3,232.04 miles
California25 routes2,453.31 miles
Illinois23 routes2,160.13 miles
Pennsylvania21 routes1,754.55 miles
Ohio21 routes1,565.39 miles
  • States with Most Interstate Routes:
New York1,496.79 miles28 routes
California2,453.31 miles25 routes
Illinois2,160.13 miles23 routes
Pennsylvania1,754.55 miles21 routes
Ohio1,565.39 miles21 routes
  • Interstate Routes Which Traverse the Most States:
I-95 - FL,GA,SC,NC,VA,DC,MD,DE,PA,NJ,NY,CT,RI,MA,NH,ME16 States
I-90 - WA,ID,MT,WY,SD,MN,WI,IL,IN,OH,PA,NY,PA13 States
I-80 - CA,NV,UT,WY,NE,IA,IL,IN,OH,PA,NJ11 States
I-70 - UT,CO,KS,MO,IL,IN,OH,WV,PA,MD10 States
I-10 - CA,AZ,NM,TX,LA,MS,AL,FL8 States
Other Fun Facts
  • State Capitals -- All but four State capitals are directly served by the Interstate System. Those not directly served are Juneau, AK; Dover, DE; Jefferson City, MO; and Pierre, SD.
  • Oldest Segments -- The oldest Interstate segments actually predate the establishment of the Interstate system. Early examples include a portion of the Grand Central Parkway in Queens, New York, was opened to traffic in July 1936 and later was incorporated into the Interstate System as I-278. The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Irwin (southeast of Pittsburgh) and Carlisle (west of Harrisburg) was officially opened in October 1940 and is now designated as I-76 and I-70. Other freeways and toll roads were incorporated into the System rather than build new competing Interstate routes.
  • Rest Areas -- A exact count of rest areas on the Interstate System is not available. However, a count in 1972 reported 1,214 rest areas in existence. The number still operational today is not expected to differ dramatically from the 1972 figure.
  • Interchanges -- An exact count of the number of interchanges on the Interstate System is not available. However, a 1978 count found 14,231 interchanges. This number has likely increased somewhat over the intervening years.

Vehicle Miles Travelled on the Interstate System in the U.S.

Vehicle Miles Travelled on the Interstate System (In Millions)
YearRuralUrbanTotal
1957
1958
1959
3,243
6,264
9,775
3,563
6,658
10,222
6,806
12,922
19,997
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
10,514
13,091
22,001
27,536
33,595
13,365
16,952
22,180
27,674
33,833
23,879
30,043
44,181
55,210
67,428
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
40,310
48,900
54,847
62,300
71,821
40,380
50,414
56,317
63,973
73,195
80,690
99,314
111,164
126,273
145,016
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
79,516
89,542
99,024
107,085
104,621
81,532
90,117
100,556
108,462
109,304
161,048
179,659
199,580
215,547
213,925
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
111,980
117,885
126,149
136,125
133,597
118,232
132,698
141,639
156,793
159,452
230,212
250,583
267,788
292,918
293,049
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
135,084
139,304
142,546
145,250
149,139
161,242
166,479
175,879
192,470
204,304
296,326
305,783
318,425
337,720
353,443
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
154,357
159,498
170,493
181,315
191,085
216,188
232,017
244,836
258,695
270,735
370,545
391,515
415,329
440,010
461,820
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
200,173
205,011
205,557
208,308
215,568
278,901
285,325
303,265
317,399
330,577
479,074
490,336
508,822
525,707
546,145
1995
1996
223,382
232,447
341,515
351,937
564,897
584,384

States With the Heaviest Travelled Interstate System Routes

Annual Vehicle Miles of Travel on the Interstate System (In Millions)
1996 Data
StateMillion Vehicle-Miles
California70,868
Texas42,111
Ohio27,595
Illinois27,200
Florida25,610
Georgia23,384
New York21,467
Virginia19,913
Pennsylvania19,804
Michigan19,388
U.S. Total584,384
 
1990 Data
StateMillion Vehicle-Miles
California66,019
Texas34,720
Ohio23,579
Illinois21,180
New York19,552
Florida19,298
Georgia18,208
Michigan16,964
Virginia15,115
Pennsylvania15,075
U.S. Total479,074
1985 Data
StateMillion Vehicle-Miles
California49,280
Texas31,153
Ohio19,167
New York15,822
Illinois15,640
Georgia15,120
Florida14,908
Michigan12,886
Pennsylvania12,216
Virginia10,191
U.S. Total370,545
 
1980 Data
StateMillion Vehicle-Miles
California36,018
Texas24,156
Ohio17,576
Illinois13,544
New York11,496
Georgia10,802
Pennsylvania10,330
Florida10,302
Michigan9,698
Indiana9,033
U.S. Total296,326
Tunnels Built with Interstate Construction Funds
StateRouteCity or CountyLocationEstimated Cost1 ($Millions)Number of tubesLength (Feet)Toll or Free
AlabamaI-10MobileGeorge Wallace Tunnel (Mobile Bay)$ 5623,000Free
ColoradoI-70Grand JunctionBeavertail Mountain202600Free
ColoradoI-70Dillon (Straight Creek)Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel22729,000Free
ColoradoI-70Glenwood SpringsGlenwood Canyon (Hanging Lake)14323,900Free
ColoradoI-70Glenwood SpringsGlenwood Canyon (Reverse Curve - WBL only)91600Free
ColoradoI-70Clear Creek CountyIdaho Springs22900Free
HawaiiH-3HonoluluOahu, Trans-Koolau Mountains29325,000Free
MarylandI-95Baltimore CityFort McHenry Tunnel (Patapsco River)75025,400Toll
MassachusettsI-90BostonTed Williams Tunnel (Boston Harbor)26447,200Toll
NevadaI-80Elko CountyCarlin Canyon821,400Free
North CarolinaI-40Haywood CountyMP 4, Pigeon River Gorge (both lanes)421,059Free
North CarolinaI-40Haywood CountyMP 8, Pigeon River Gorge (EBL only)211,203Free
VirginiaI-64Norfolk-Newport NewsHampton Roads9526,987Free
VirginiaI-77Bland CountyBig Walker Mountain3024,200Free
VirginiaI-77Bland, VA - Mercer, WVEast River Mountain4125,700Free
VirginiaI-264Norfolk-PortsmouthElizabeth River (Downtown Tunnel)27923,350Free
VirginiaI-664Suffolk-Newport NewsMonitor-Merrimac Tunnel (Hampton Roads)20024,800Free
WashingtonI-90SeattleMount Baker Ridge Tunnel20011,500Free
West VirginiaI-70Ohio CountyWheeling Tunnel721,490Free
Footnotes:
1Large cost differences between tunnels are partially attributed to the 35-year period over which they were built, 1960s to 1990s.
2One tube was initially built by a toll authority; a second tube was added later with Interstate Construction funds.

The Capital Beltway
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area

Located in Maryland and Virginia, with a short section crossing the southern tip of Washington, D.C. near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the Capital Beltway is a 65-mile loop around our Nation's Capital.

Length:Maryland42.7 miles
Virginia21.9 miles
Washington, DC0.1 miles
Total64.7 miles

Construction started on the Beltway in the late 1950s. The first segment to be opened to traffic was the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and approaches over the Potomac River south of Washington in December 1961. Other segments were open over the next 2½ years, including the American Legion Bridge over the Potomac River at Cabin John which opened in December 1962. The final segments were opened in August 1964, completing the 65-mile loop.

The Beltway was originally constructed partially as a 4-lane and partially as a 6-lane facility. Over the last 25 years it has been reconstructed to an 8-lane facility over nearly all of its length. Some $0.9 billion in funds were made available by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century for the replacement (and widening) of the Wilson Bridge segment, the last remaining 6-lane segment.

Total cost to construct (including reconstruction to 8 lanes):

Cost:Virginia$177.9 million
Maryland166.0 million
Washington, DC0.2 million
Total$344.1 million
Opening Dates (Starting at Wilson Bridge, proceeding clockwise)
  • Woodrow Wilson Bridge -- December 1961.
  • VA - Wilson Bridge approaches to U.S. 1 -- December 1961.
  • VA - U.S. 1 to I-395/I-495 -- April 1964.
  • VA - I-395/I-95 to Rte 193 -- December 1961.
  • VA - Rte 193 to American Legion Bridge approaches -- December 1962.
  • MD - American Legion Bridge to Rte 190 -- December 1962.
  • MD - Rte 190 to Rte 355 -- November 1963.
  • MD - Rte 355 to I-95/I-495 (College Park) -- August 1964.
  • MD - I-95/I-495 (College Park) to I-295 -- August 1964.
  • MD - I-295 to Wilson Bridge -- December 1961.

Central Artery / Third Harbor Tunnel (CA/THT)
Boston, Massachusetts

Historical Background

The Central Artery (I-93) / Third Harbor Tunnel (I-90) project in Boston has a long history dating back to the early 1970's. In 1974, Massachusetts was the first State to avail itself of the Interstate Withdrawal-Substitution provisions and withdrew unbuilt Interstate segments including the Inner Belt in Boston.

As a result, with the withdrawal of two Interstate segments in Boston, Massachusetts received over $1.5 billion of Federal funds for substitute highway and transit projects in the Boston urbanized area.

An Interstate segment was retained in Boston to provide a two-lane special purpose route (for use of commercial vehicles) connecting the end of I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) to Logan Airport via a tunnel under Boston Harbor. This remaining segment was what later became the Third Harbor Tunnel portion of the CA/THT project.

The Central Artery portion of the CA/THT project was an elevated freeway which had been built in the mid-1950's entirely with State funds and was incorporated into the Interstate System.

Throughout the 1970's and early 1980's, work on extending I-90 and reconstructing I-93 in Boston was slow. Limited improvements were first started at the northern and southern interchange areas on the I-93.

In the 1978 highway act, Congress provided that portions of the northern interchange improvements at the Charles River and the approaches to the Mystic River Bridge (Route 1) in the Charlestown area in Boston would be eligible for Interstate construction funding. Termed the Central Artery North Area (CANA) project, these improvements in Charlestown were completed at a cost of $288 million.

In 1983, to meet the Congressional deadline for build/no-build decisions on unbuilt Interstate segments, Massachusetts submitted a draft EIS for the CA/THT project. A final EIS was approved for the CA/THT project in 1985.

The 1987 highway act provided that portions of the CA/THT project described as the preferred alternative in the 1983 EIS were eligible for Interstate construction funding. The 1987 act excluded from Interstate Construction funding, the portion of the Central Artery from High Street to Causeway Street. This segment was eligible for funding with other Federal-aid funds.

Since the mid 1980's, the State has incorporated additional improvements into the CA/THT project to meet the concerns of involved local communities, to mitigate environmental impacts, to extend project limits, and improve the existing facilities at approaches to the CA/THT project as originally proposed and to incorporate new features (such as HOV facilities) to improve the design of the project.

The cost of the CA/THT project at the time of the 1987 highway act was estimated by the State to be $3.3 billion. In 1998 the State estimated the total project cost at $10.8 billion.

By far, the CA/THT is largest highway project in the country. As expected, the most costly are projects in urban areas, but none involve an undertaking as extensive and complex as the CA/THT which includes:

  • the replacement of the I-93 viaduct with a tunnel in the same location directly beneath the existing structure which must be kept open to traffic,
  • construction of the I-90 and I-93 freeway segments which include such extensive use of tunnels and cut-and-cover sections with the attendant disposal of millions of cubic yards of excavated material within a major urban area,
  • major bridges; extensive relocations of existing utilities; and designs to avoid existing Amtrak and underground commuter rail and passenger stations, and
  • reconstruction and expansion at five major interchanges including connections to Logan Airport, the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 1, all located within five miles of one other.
Updated: 06/27/2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000