PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Ask any regular commuter in the Valley what freeways they use, and they\u2019ll 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\u2014Papago, Black Canyon, Red Mountain\u2014you\u2019re likely to get a very awkward blank stare.<\/p>\n
Turns out, this confusion isn\u2019t new.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re reaching back into the Arizona\u2019s Family Video Vault and taking you to Oct. 17, 1995, as the Valley\u2019s 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 \u201cI have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s freeway network expanded in the \u201890s, the gap between signage and public awareness widened.<\/p>\n
So next time you\u2019re cruising down I-10, ask yourself: are you on the Papago, the Maricopa\u2014or just \u201cthe 10\u201d?<\/p>\n
Check out more from our Video Vault, Arizona\u2019s largest news archive:<\/p>\n
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n