Wrong-way multiplex
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Wrongway-multiplex.png
A wrong-way multiplex in the interior of British Columbia; 97 south is 5 north is 1 east
A wrong-way multiplex occurs in highway numbering systems when two roads, nominally going in opposite directions, are routed in the same direction along one stretch of road. Although logically consistent, such signage often leads to confusion among motorists. Further aggravating the bewilderment of travelers is the fact that the road is likely to be going in yet a third direction.
Famous wrong-way multiplexes include:
- (Formerly) A stretch of the Yankee Division Highway, a loop around Boston, Massachusetts. The southernmost portion of the loop proceeds east from the intersection of I-95 south (coming from Providence, Rhode Island) to the intersection of I-93 north (proceeding into downtown Boston) and MA Route 3 from Plymouth, Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Because the route provides a connection from I-95 to the portion of I-93 that enters Boston, the route is signed I-93 North. At the same time, the entire loop was signed as MA Route 128, which proceeded to this point from its northern terminus in Rockport, Massachusetts. Since travelers would reach this point in the loop primarily by driving south, the route continued to be signed Route 128 South. The result was a stretch of highway, proceeding east, marked as I-93 North and MA 128 South. In 1997, the Route 128 designation was removed from this portion of the highway, so the wrong-way multiplex no longer occurs.
- A section of the Trans-Canada Highway within Kamloops is signed as BC 1 East, BC 97 South, and BC 5 North. It is the only wrong-way multiplex in the province of British Columbia.
- A section of the Eastshore Freeway in Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland California is signed as I-80 and I-580 in opposite directions.