PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Ask any regular commuter in the Valley what freeways they use, and they’ll likely say a common letter and number: I-10, I-17, or even a whole word like Loop 202. But if you ask that same person for the official name of the freeway—Papago, Black Canyon, Red Mountain—you’re likely to get a very awkward blank stare.
Turns out, this confusion isn’t new.
We’re reaching back into the Arizona’s Family Video Vault and taking you to Oct. 17, 1995, as the Valley’s freeway system really starts to take shape. A 3TV reporter hit the streets of Phoenix to quiz locals on the real names of the freeways they use every day. The results were a mix of puzzled looks, wild guesses, and plenty of “I have no idea.”
Even back then, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) acknowledged the disconnect. ADOT officials told 3TV at the time that the freeway names in Arizona often reflect geographic landmarks or historical designations, while route numbers follow a standardized federal system. But as the Valley’s freeway network expanded in the ‘90s, the gap between signage and public awareness widened.
So next time you’re cruising down I-10, ask yourself: are you on the Papago, the Maricopa—or just “the 10”?
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