# Who determines the roads? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229 "2003-03-05T13:30:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![0rbytal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/65b543/32.png) [@0rbytal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/0rbytal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/1 "2003-03-05T13:30:15Z")
Driving on many roads yesterday I noticed a few things and formed a few questions… Why do even-numbered interstates go east to west and odd-numbered go north to south? Who decided on this? Who names roads? I saw a road called “The 12th four way”, and another called “Snapfinger Rd”! It sounds like they ran out of ideas! I notice that exits are numbered outward from a source (in Georgia its from Atlanta…is it the capital in all states?)…How are the state highways number determined? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/2 "2003-03-05T13:38:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 0rbytal \* > \*\* > I notice that exits are numbered outward from a source (in Georgia its from Atlanta…is it the capital in all states?)…How are the state highways number determined? \*\* Nope - Georgia used to number it’s exits in straight numerical order, with, on a north-south interstate the southernmost being #1, the next being #2 and so on. Now, they number them by mile marker, with North/South interstates beginning at the southern end of the state and East/West interstates at the western border - as far as I know, _most_ states use this system. Some general information on interstate numbers is available [here](http://www.usastar.com/i95/annivsry.htm). ---
**Author:** ![bettybad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bettybad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettybad)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/3 "2003-03-05T13:58:56Z")
The US Interstate System was created after WWII during the Eisenhower admin and was very systematic and planned. Here is some general info about it: > **[The U.S. Highway System](https://www.infoplease.com/world/travel-transportation/us-highway-system)** > > At the beginning of the 20th century, an uninterrupted system of nationwide highways did not exist. I know a number of “highway geeks”, including my dad who was a young man in the 50s and knows all about what highway goes where, thru what towns, when it was built, etc. etc. Here is an example of a highway geek website: [http://members.tripod.com/~Interstate80/](http://members.tripod.com/~Interstate80/) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/4 "2003-03-05T14:04:09Z")
In most jurisdictions when a new road is created, in a new subdivision for example, the developer submits a name to the city or county and if they have no objections they approve the requested name. Who actually has approval rights will vary from area to area. I recently purchased a lot in a rural subdivision and called the Post Office to find the address. Turns out that addresses are assigned by the local “911” emergency dispatch office. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/5 "2003-03-05T14:05:18Z")
[This](http://www.aaroads.com/interstate/index.html) site is a good highway geek site. Ever wonder what’s at the end of the interstate? You’ll find pictures here. ---
**Author:** ![bettybad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bettybad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettybad)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/6 "2003-03-05T14:09:14Z")
Thanks for that site, MSU 1978. It just might turn ME into a highway geek! I am going to have to go out and take some photos of the hidden interstates of DC to post there. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/7 "2003-03-05T14:20:21Z")
Glad to be of service, Betty. If you want to see the ends of the US routes, then [this site](http://www.geocities.com/mapguy_denver/HwyEnds/) might be of interest, too. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/8 "2003-03-06T01:57:01Z")
**GaryM** ’s explanation is directly on point. Town councils–and, in unincorporated areas, county councils–also name-- or rename–streets on their own initiative. In St. Louis, for instance, there is a James “Cool Papa” Bell Avenue, in recognition of the block on which the legendary Negro League baseball player lived. In a great many places suburban streets have names such as “Mary” or “William” which turn out to be the name of a developer’s child or grandchild. In one of the suburbs of St. Louis there is an Easy Street. According to legend, a person who was planning to move into a home on that street once construction on the subdivision was completed put a sign up as a joke and an employee of the construction company, thinking it was for real, ordered street signs to be made up. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-determines-the-roads/159229/9 "2003-03-06T03:32:46Z")
The [Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.html) Straight Dope.