LAist: East, South, West, North?!?! WTF!?

Peter

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:21:31 -0800

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...

Johnny

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:31:51 -0800

Our tax dollars are going to this ineptness? I think our whole govnerment system needs an overhaul.

Will Hutchinson

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:24:40 -0800

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.

Shelby

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:54:15 -0800

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...

db

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:50:43 -0800

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).