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March 20, 2007
East, South, West, North?!?! WTF!?
It's one of those annoying things you have to love about Los Angeles. Freeway directionals that confuse the hell out of newbies and out-of-towners alike. Your internet map directions say take the 110 South (or maybe West), yet the signs on freeway just say 110 Harbor or 110 Pasadena. Great, now the guy in front if us is slowing down because they are freaking out over which is what.
In the Valley, many complain about the 101 as pictured above. Translating the signs tells one that East and South are the same, West and North are equals and the 101 Freeway and Ventura Freeway are synonymous. It is like one way is for English speakers and the other for Spanish.
No, wait, that would be too easy.
To this, the explanation is that the North/South signs are by Caltrans (the State). While the Valley portion of the 101 is literally going East and West, the 101 Freeway as a whole goes North and South throughout the state. The East/West signs are by the City of LA Department of Transportation and are meant to be helpful. Unfortunately, these dueling signs, which we find cute in its own sad way, confuse most.
Is this a war between government agencies? If so, can LADOT and Caltrans kiss, make up, make out and have ten thousand babies or something? Thanks. Love you.
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the 101 Freeway and Ventura Freeway are synonymous
That is, of course, until you get East of Tujunga, when it magically becomes the 134. This can be real fun when giving directions to friends in Canoga Park when they want to come to the San Gabriel Valley. What seems like one long stretch of freeway transforms from the 101 to the 134 (as the 170 becomes the 101) which in turn becomes one with the 210. I usually just say "Stay in the left lane until you see the offramp you want."
At least we're seeing the North, East, South, West indicators now, however approximate they are. I remember getting a frantic phone call years ago from a relative from out of town. She was coming to Burbank and was presented with the choice of "Bakersfield" or "Hollywood". She logically chose Hollywood because it's close to Burbank and Bakersfield is, you know, a hundred miles away. Silly girl. At least she got to tour Downtown L.A. before our dinner (in the Valley).
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I hate having to give people directions at that intersection. I usually just end up saying stay in the right lane or left lane etc...
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Norcal has it worse. There is, no joke, an on-ramp in the East Bay where you are going "East" on one freeway at the same time as going "West" on the other. This all of course due to the preponderance of *80 freeways that go mostly east/west but around the bay (the most traveled parts of course) go north/south or even in a U.
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Our tax dollars are going to this ineptness? I think our whole govnerment system needs an overhaul.
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Actually, here's some useless "Interstate Trivia" for you.
Odd-numbered interstates, such as I-5, go North/South. Even numbered interstates, such as I-10, go East/West. If it is a three-digit interstate, such as I-405 or I-605, an even digit means that it goes in the same direction as it's parent freeway (eg, I-405 goes North/South like I-5). An odd digit means that it goes the opposite of it's parent freeway (eg, I-710 goes North/South where I-10 goes East/West, I-105 goes East/West where I-5 goes North/South).
Just some useless trivia for your day...