Formerly Exit 12
I don’t know
if this is a Jersey thing, but it always gets my head a scratching. Half of our highways have changed their
exits. No, they have not changed the
physical exit, they just change the number.
Sometimes
they go from designating an exit by the number of exits, (I.E. Exit 3 would be
the third exit from the start) to exit by mile marker (Exit 72 is at mile
marker 72.)
So, on half
the highways I travel the exit markers say “Exit
12…formerly exit 3”.
What
numb-nutz decided to change the Exit numbers? And for crap sake make up your
mind, either make all exit numbers based on the exit number, or the mile
marker, one or the other, not either or and don’t change the formula every so
often.
So, in these
here parts when someone asks, “What exit
do I take?”
Half of the
time you answer, “I’m not sure, it used
to be exit 12. Just look for the Exit
that says “Formerly Exit 12.”
Of course,
this becomes a problem when it is decided that the “Formally” designation is no
longer needed. Then again, I never know
when they drop the “Formerly’’ mention,
I don’t think they ever do.
I think eventually
they will change the exits back or perhaps to a new Exit Designation formula
all together. They will have to make the
sign say
“Exit 17… formerly Exit 3...Used to
be Exit 8 and for you really old folks it was Turn-off for Taylors Pkwy, now
Broad Street.”
Good luck
spotting that exit.
What brought
on this rant?
Just the
other day we passed an exit on Rt. 280 that said “Exit 23 A…formerly 23
B.” Seriously? Why dd 23 A go to 23 B?
I forgot,
this is Jersey, some politician must have an Uncle who makes Highway Signs.
This sounds like how my grandfather used to give directions.
ReplyDelete"Turn right just past where the Hinky Dinky used to be and you'll come to a house which, back when I was growing up, was pink and some kids by the name of Gernandt lived there. Turn left."
You're really screwed if you don't update you navigation thingy on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteAnd you turn by where the pecan grove used to be.
ReplyDeleteOur highways go with numbering the exit based on the mile marker. If there's more than one by a particular mile marker, they disignate with a letter following the number. One exit has A-J, there are so many different ramps.
If they ever start doing that "formerly" thing here, i think people will get lost and never get home.
I'm bad enough with explicit directions. So I'd just have to pull over and start my life anew from that place. Never gonna get to where I'm going.
ReplyDeleteI just sit on the bus and hope the driver knows where to go.
ReplyDelete:)
It might be a Jersey thing, but I don't know. I've never heard anyone in my life give directions by using exit numbers. Everyone uses the actual name of the road that's the exit, I have no idea what the number even is for my own exit.
ReplyDeleteI don't drive any more. That's one of the reasons why!!
ReplyDeleteMichigan must've gotten to the whole 'exit number' thing late. We've only ever had exit numbers according to the mile markers. Of course, like Bijoux said, all the locals just know which road you're getting off at, and wouldn't know the exit numbers to save their lives. . .
ReplyDeleteBut then, they change the name of one of the main roads from 'Logan St' to 'Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard', and all the old folks are messed up for the next 20 years. . .
That is just bizarre. I think your last line says it all.
ReplyDeleteJust have your GPS tell you where to go. 'Course if it makes a mistake you might tell IT where to go. Poor Siri.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a real confusing mess. If we don’t hear from you in the future, we’ll know you got lost off the wrong exit somewhere. Took a break from blogging, so just catching up with what you’ve been up to — cranky as ever!
ReplyDeleteThe turnpike did a similar thing a few years ago. I don't trust a GPS and I always have a map book in my car. If you ever visit Ashland, Ohio I'll warn you now that some streets start on one side of town, then stop, then pick up across town with the same name. Don't get me started on the weird 5 way intersections...oh, and watch out for the horse poop and the Amish buggies...oh, and the bridge is out by the Fin, Feather, and Fur store and Grandpa's Cheesebarn. I'll keep a light on for you.
ReplyDelete