<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
For years, people have known about the concept of a highway bypass. What is the point of renumbering the highways? That would be even more confusing.</font>
One of the problems with bypasses is that they can be more congested than the parent interstate. The biggest example of that around here is in Atlanta. I know I am always staying off 285 unless there is a wreck.
Maybe there's a bit of reverse psychology going on here. Wilmington isn't Atlanta, but if people are going to treat it like it is, better to switch the numbers. There's nothing illegal about it as far as the Interstate numbering system goes; an even 3di just has to touch the parent at both ends or be a loop. It often goes around a city, but sometimes goes through it. I-670 in Columbus, OH is another downtown even 3di.
I suppose another answer would be to eliminate I-495, re-sign the current 495 as I-95 and designate the highway through downtown as Business Loop 95. But I hate those green signs.
[This message has been edited by Kubla (edited 09-11-2003).]