How do you refer to interstate highways?

[Ellie]

I say "the" 405 or "the" 22 ... but then again, I'm in SoCal, and most everyone says it here (I think even the traffic reporters on the news say it that way!). My friends in college from NoCal said it was only a SoCal thing. ;)

Los Angeles or San Diego area? Because in San Diego, we didn't say "the." I've only heard that in the LA area.

[Dandelion]

I-5 (or here in Colorado, I-25)... I'm from all over too (born in NE, grew up in Germany, lived in OR for 10 years and now here in CO). But that's what everyone around here says as far as I know... :)

[kitten18]

I didn't read any other replies.

 

 

It depends on where I'm at. In your poll example, I live close to "the 5", it is "the 5 freeway", "the 405", the "the 101", etc.

 

I grew up in Nebraska, and lived in Missouri and Kansas. There it would be "I-29", "I-80", "I-70".

 

There is a difference between the way people talk about highways in Nebraska and Missouri/Kansas. In Nebraska, it is "Highway 30", "Highway 77", in Missouri/Kansas, it is "29 Highway", "71 Highway" etc.

[Mejane]

In CT, we just say 91 or 84 (and cringe when have to use them.)

[Jumping In Puddles]

Usually, we just say the number. Take 80 to 3.

 

In NJ, for I-80, we say ROUTE 80 and it drives my PA friend nuts because it is not route 80, but I-80! Many people in NJ say route 80 and even traffic backups on 80 are announced that way on the radio.

[SquirrellyMama]

However, in the midwest, it was always " 70", as in "I took 70 to Denver, and it hailed on me twice". I didn't meet I-5 until I came out here.

 

I need this option. I'm from Iowa and we usually just say the number. I took 35 to DSM and got on 80 to Omaha.

[annandatje]

"Expressway" or the designated number.

[dirty ethel rackham]

Here in the Chicago area, there are numerous ways to say it, but nobody ever calls it the interstate. We have 290, 294, I-80, The Ike, the Stevenson, the Tri-state, the Reagan, the North South, the Edens, etc. So, if you are listening to a traffic report and you are not from around here, good luck. Hope your GPS works;)

[Spy Car]

I say "the," but most people around here would say, "The traffic on 5 was terrible."

 

I grew up in SoCal.

 

:iagree: I'm with you, I would say "the 5."

 

However, I'm old enough that I frequently refer to the freeways by their names.

 

So the 5 is "the Golden State" freeway.

 

Bill (dinosaur)

[higginszoo]

Either I-number of just the number. I grew up mostly across the south, lived in the Rockies for most of my adult life, now deep in the heart of Texas.

[Stacia]

Yup, maybe that's a southern thing... We say 285, 85, 75, 400 around these parts. No I or The.

 

:iagree:

[Laurie4b]

Other:

 

Around here, no one uses a prefix, just the number. So it would be "Traffic was backed up on 5."

[Wheres Toto]

I need an "other" vote. Around here you'll mostly here "Route" as in "Traffic on Route 80 going west is obnoxious every afternoon."

 

If giving directions, we'll say Route before the first highway but then just numbers as in: "Take Route 80 East, to 287 South, to 24 West to the Parkway South."

[Lara in Colo]

Here in Denver area I-25 used to be called "The Valley Hwy"

 

"56th and the valley" --Took my mom years to figure out what the valley was.

 

Usually though its I25, C470, The hogback, The valley,

 

We Colorado folk are a strange breed.

 

Lara

[Pamela H in Texas]

I didn't know people would say "the 5." The other day, someone was verifying directions to my house (they were buying a sectional from us) and said "so I take the 20?" She kept saying it funny. LOL

[cjbeach]

My first trip to West Virginia my co-worker and I got lost. He asked for directions and the sweet guy told us to get back on the "interstate" and then get on the "4 lane." First time either of us heard those expressions.

[Brigitte]

I need an "other" category, too. I just say the number, as in "The traffic on 81 was terrible." However, when I am giving directions that involve an interstate I say, "Take I-81 to exit 19."

[Veritaserum]

I-5, Southern California ETA: Upon further reflection, it could also be just the number.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Veritaserum

[Blessedfamily]

We just say the number. "I hate driving on 95. "

[MyLittleWonders]

Los Angeles or San Diego area? Because in San Diego, we didn't say "the." I've only heard that in the LA area.

Mostly LA area. I lived in SD for five years, and I was more of an anomaly down there with the whole "the" thing.

 

Oh, and Bill, I might not refer to myself as a dinosaur, and I don't tend to refer to the freeways by their proper name, but I do know a lot of their names and sometimes use them (usually for the Ventura Freeway - not sure why as I don't even ever drive it ;) ).

[jail warden]

However, in the midwest, it was always " 70", as in "I took 70 to Denver, and it hailed on me twice". I didn't meet I-5 until I came out here.

 

 

I knew there was a reason none of the options looked right!!! I would say this too. I'm from the midwest.

[Mrs Mungo]

I also needed an other. I voted the middle option. However, it depends on where I am at the time. In Oklahoma we use I-35 or I-40 or whatever. When we lived in California it was just "the 5" as in "it was raining, so traffic was all backed up on the 5." Here in Hawaii it's just the number. There are only 3 interstates (don't ask me how we can have interstate highways in Hawaii) and a handful of state highways, so it's "the church is just off of 99, you'll see it on your right."

[zaichiki]

However, in the midwest, it was always " 70", as in "I took 70 to Denver, and it hailed on me twice". I didn't meet I-5 until I came out here.

 

Ditto. Just the number (no "I" or "the").

[nukeswife]

I had a feeling I should have put more options!

 

Yep :)

I fall into that midwestern category, I never say interstate or "I" before the number. I just call it by the number. I'm currently in VA so I would say something like

"Traffic on 64 was a bear today." I grew up in SE Wisconsin. I will say that here where I am, I really don't notice anyone saying the "I" or the word Interstate or "The" in front of the number either, now I'll have to keep an ear out to see what they do say.:bigear:

[coffeefreak]

We call it several things:

 

The Interstate

The Interchange (where I-40 and I-25 intersect)

40

25

 

Not "THE 40," or "THE 25"

[RoughCollie]

I use just the number. IOW, I call I-93, "93".

[Matryoshka]

I couldn't vote. We just say the number ("we need to take 81, then 40...).

:iagree: Yep, no "I", no "the", just the number.

 

For smaller roads we sometimes say "route" (pronounced root, not rowt) and the number, but usually not for interstates.

[ChristusG]

Other LOL. We just refer to our interstates by the numbers. Nothing else in front of them. For example, there's an interstate 295 not too far from us. If I'm talking to DH on the phone, I'd say "I'm just about go get on 295. I'll be there soon."