The Highway System of Altamasstachia

 

The various route markers of Altamasstachia's state highway system.

While only Alaska is larger in total land area, Altamasstachia boasts the nation's largest highway system at over 255,000 miles of roadway owned and maintained by the Altamasstachia Department of Transportation (ATDOT). ATDOT, formed by the state legislature in 1901, is the state agency responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the system (though it also has oversight of rail and public transportation systems throughout the state). ATDOT divides its roadways into seven designations: state primary highways, state supplemental routes, state freeway routes, county highways, state farm-to-market routes, state scenic highways, and state trunk highways. While all other U.S. states have long since adapted modern number fonts for state highway markers, Altamasstachia has used the 1926 highway font for its state highways from 1926-1952, and popular vote in 1962 restored the 1926 font which is still in use to this day (leading visitors from other U.S. states to make comparisons with football team jersey numbers for instance). Planning and construction of the state primary highways, supplemental routes and trunk highways began in 1910, while the state freeway system would come about with its planning in 1929 and construction commencing in 1943, and ATDOT introduced county routes in 1948, farm-to-market routes in 1955 and scenic routes in 1968. From 1936 until 1990, ATDOT also operated toll highways which in 1990 were abolished and dissolved by the state legislature. Altamasstachia does not have Interstate highways nor does it have U.S. Routes.

State primary highways: The largest sub-network of Altamasstachia's massive highway system, state primary highways are found in all of the state's 550 counties and amass more than 88,000 miles.

State supplemental routes: Like in Missouri and Wisconsin, state supplemental routes have an alphabetical letter from A-Z (with the exception of I and O) and are used by counties, more often than not switching letters if the roadway travels into another county. All but two of Altamasstachia's counties have at least one supplemental route (those two counties are Olymstead and San Gerardo Bravo). Not to be confused with county highways.

State freeway routes: Built to interstate highway standards (albeit with slightly wider shoulders and all but a few rest areas have commercial services), state freeways constitute the fastest, most efficient network of travel for commuters and motorists across the Bayflower State. Speed limits can be as high as 80 mph (130 km/h) in certain counties. While Altamasstachia does not have Interstate highways, signed or unsigned, the state's freeway network is designed, built and maintained in accordance to Interstate highway standards.

County highways: Owned and maintained by their respective counties, county highways are predominately rural thoroughfares and essentially serve the same purpose as U.S. highways in the continental U.S. 531 of Altamasstachia's counties operate their own county highway system. Not to be confused with state supplemental routes.

State Farm-To-Market Routes: Introduced in 1955, farm-to-market routes are funded by the state and built and maintained by the counties and help facilitate agriculture and commerce in rural counties as well as making a better connection between agricultural industries and the ever-important state freeway system.

State scenic highways: Most commonly seen in Northern Altamasstachia, scenic highways were devised and implemented in the late 1960s to encourage tourism and road trips across the state.

State trunk highways: Devised as a mere safety mechanism in the 1910s in case state primary highways and supplemental routes were not enough to satisfy infrastructure needs across the state, trunk highways make up only 2,935 miles of the state highway system.

A map of Altamasstachia's state freeway routes (click to enlarge).

The U.S. state of Altamasstachia has its own network of controlled-access highways, known as Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes, that are built in strict accordance with Interstate highway standards set forth by the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (AKA the Interstate Highway System) and maintained by the Altamasstachia Department of Transportation (ATDOT). These highways, while built to interstate highway standards, are not signed as Interstate highways or part of the National Highway System, nor are they eligible for federal funding under the Interstate Highway Act or signage as Interstate highways as non-tolled interstate highway routes must not have commercial services at rest areas whereas almost all rest areas on Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes offer commercial services such as gas, food & even lodging [a] and toll collection was discontinued by Altamasstachia state law for any and all roads & highways built and maintained by ATDOT in 1990. [b] In addition, the Altamasstachia state government has never received federal funding of any sort for the construction and maintenance of its roads and highways, owing largely to the state's self-sustainability within its infrastructure and society in general. [c] Neither Interstate highways nor U.S. Highways run through Altamasstachia, and ATDOT operates roads & highways under seven different designations: county routes, state highways, state trunk highways, county supplemental routes, state farmer-to-market routes, state scenic routes, and state freeway routes. The route marker shown at the bottom of the image nearby the logo for ATDOT is what a State Freeway Route marker in Altamasstachia looks like.

Generally, state freeway routes were planned and constructed along the routes of state-wide railroads and or nearby rivers or parallel to the ocean. Altamasstachia first planned its freeway system in 1929 and construction of the first segments began in 1943, thirteen years before construction of the Interstate Highway System in the 49 contiguous states commenced. Although significant opposition to freeways occurred in the Olympia, San Gerardo Bravo, St. Ann, Heston and Creighton metropolitan areas, the state freeway network as seen above was originally completed in 1966 and the most recent construction of any new roadway to have been completed was the western extension of Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 2 to State Freeway Route 10 from the Collier-Tobias county line in 2018. By Altamasstachia state law, the lowest maximum speed limit on any freeway route can be 50 mph and the highest maximum speed limit on any freeway route can be up to 80 mph - though speed limits on roads and highways in general depend on each county. [d] The most common criticism of Altamasstachia's freeway system is that there isn't a direct route from Olympia to San Gerardo Bravo - the best way is to take Routes 18, 76 and 376 to make the 691-mile trek and vice versa (including the 29.5 mile long July Bay Bridge).

[a] - Plenty of truck stops and gas stations in the Bayflower State put places such as Buc-ee's and Iowa 80 to shame. Such as the two gas stations on each side of the July Bay Bridge (which carries six lanes, three lanes each way, of State Freeway Route 376), which are the largest gas stations in the world - the north gas station in Battaglia has 244 pumps while the south gas station in downtown San Gerardo Bravo has 256 pumps (and both convenience stores are the size of a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market). It's also worth noting that the state has its own state-owned oil company, Alta Oil, yet the most popular brand of gas and convenience stores in this state by far is QuikTrip, based out of Tulsa, OK. 

[b] - Left and right shoulders on Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes are slightly wider than roads and highways in the rest of the U.S. in almost all places, which is another oddity about these freeways that makes them ineligible for Interstate highway status or funding. Maybe wider than normal shoulders on highways is one of the countless testaments to the hospitality of people in Altamasstachia, which is also known as "The Cordial State" as it ranks #1 out of all states in the categories of friendliness, happiest residents, and politeness.

[c] - Mallettbarr does not have Interstate highways either for the record, and also has never received federal funding for the construction and maintenance of its controlled-access highways, referred to in Mallettbarr as motorways. Contrary to popular belief, the fact that Mallettbarr drives on the left is not why they don't have highways designated as Interstates.

[d] - Speed limits as high as 80 mph can be seen on Routes 22, 44, 55, and 75 in the Southern Central Plains and on Routes 55, 75 and 95 through the Clapton Range. The lowest speed limit, 50 mph, is on Route 376 through San Gerardo Bravo County.

Markers for all Altamasstachia state freeway routes.

Primary Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 2 - A more direct connection between Creighton and St. Ann. The last of the Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes to be finished, Route 2 was fully completed in 2018.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 3 - The main highway on Altamasstachia's West Coast, connects the San Gerardo Bravo area with the Crimson Hills and Balbert and the Bauryshire region.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 4 - The closest controlled-access highway to Luthra City (as roads carrying more than three lanes each way of traffic and speed limits of greater than 55 mph have been prohibited in Luthra County since 1958).

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 10 - Connects Olympia with Creighton (via Route 17) and St. Ann.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 11 - Connects St. Ann with Doylesburg (and to an extent, Heston via Route 20).

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 12 - Connects St. Sebastian and the Luthra City area with St. Ann and serves as a bypass of Route 10.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 17 - Connects Creighton with Heston.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 18 - Connects Olympia and St. Ann with St. Kenneth.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 20 - Connects Heston with the Olympia metropolitan area and the San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 22 - Connects Flowerdew City with Heston.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 24 - Connects Balbert with Foxbridge, the Hamperhills and New Scotland.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 44 - The southern Clapton Range link. Provides farmers, ranchers, small towns and pockets of industry around this region with access to the state freeway network and is considered a feeder link to the Olympia metropolitan area, Heston metropolitan area and San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 55 - Connects the Olympia-Esteban-Wetsitburrell metropolitan area with Heston (via Route 20), the Hamperhills and the Orion Fields and the Wild Basin.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 74 - Connects Foxbridge (via Route 174) to Balbert, the Hamperhills, New Scotland and the Crimson Hills.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 75 - An alternative to Route 95, connects the Colbert Coast region with the New Scotland region.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 76 - The main highway that connects San Gerardo Bravo and St. Ann via the Two Saints Coast.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 82 - An alternative to Route 24, helps connect the Hamperhills and New Scotland with Balbert.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 95 - The main highway on Altamasstachia's East Coast, connects Esteban and the Olympia metropolitan area with Flowerdew City and the Colbert Coast, the York Country and New Scotland. Signed as a east-west highway in Esteban County as opposed to north-south in the rest of the state.

Auxiliary Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 102 - Connects Tobias Beach to Creighton and St. Ann via Route 2.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 302 - Connects Van Maurer to Creighton and St. Ann via Route 2.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 502 - Connects Orford Beach to Creighton and St. Ann via Route 2.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 210 - An inner beltline that serves Elyria (where Olympia-Esteban International Airport is located), Boucherville, Farrs Hall and Town and Country. Was planned to run to New Bethpage and Kissintaner but freeway revolts prevented the western extension from ever being built.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 310 - Connects Bryanport to the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 410 - The "outer belt" around Olympia and serves most of the Olympia metropolitan area. Highly controversial since its inception, the freeway wasn't finished until 1998.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 710 - An outer beltline that serves Zettlemoyer, West Perrin, Gwellingford and Rosenhaven. Highly controversial in Cambria County, where the freeway wasn't completed until 2005.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 211 - An inner beltline that connects St. Ann with South St. Ann, as well as Lethbridge via Route 11

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 318 - A spur of Route 18 that connects Theldersburg to the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area. Another controversial freeway (which is relatively new to the system - construction started in 1994 and completed in 2006).

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 418 - The "inner belt" around St. Ann.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 120 - An outer spur that connects Briggsmore and Rundlehorn with the San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 220 - An inner bypass of Route 20 in the Heston metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 320 - An outer spur that connects Pope Junction, Invermere, Etherwake, Conestoga and Fordsburg with the San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 420 - An inner beltline that connects Papillion, Alamitos, Wynwood, Kilkare, Hollister Heights and Battaglia with Route 76 and Route 376 (the July Bay Bridge to San Gerardo Bravo and the island of) and the rest of the San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 620 - A beltline that connects Fisher Vista, Nuevo Pueblo, Picacho and Indigo with the rest of the San Gerardo Bravo metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 124 - A spur of Route 24 that links Incogniemi to Foxbridge, the Hamperhills and New Scotland.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 255 - The "inner loop" around Olympia, Route 255 is the first controlled-access highway in the U.S. state of Altamasstachia and was opened throughout the 1940s.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 355 - The Celestial Gardens Spur, links Celestial Gardens with the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area and the rest of the state freeway network.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 455 - An inner beltline that connects Route 20 and Route 255, and serves North Olympia, Wetsitburrell, Brentwood and Ironside. Was tolled from 1973 to 1999.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 174 - The Foxbridge Spur, links Foxbridge with the rest of the state freeway network.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 176 - A spur in San Gerardo Bravo, serves some of the city's southern neighborhoods.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 276 - An inner bypass in Abercrombie County, runs from Carquinez to Yastoria and also serves Permanente, Hollister Heights and Balch Park.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 376 - The main highway that connects San Gerardo Bravo and San Gerardo Bravo Island with the Altamasstachia mainland. The July Bay Bridge is one of the world's longest bridges at 29.5 miles long.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 476 - An outer beltline that serves Monte Alberro, El Berrendo, Bonanova and Munger Springs.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 576 - Links Niyonsenga with San Gerardo Bravo and St. Ann via Route 76.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 676 - A beltline that connects Permanente with Kilkare and Munger Springs.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 776 - The Timmurico Spur, connects Timmurico with Route 376.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 876 - A short beltline that connects Mandursuro with Hollister Heights and Permanente.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 976 - Connects Capitola and Lawrence Heights with Route 376.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1076 - A short beltline that connects Allied City with Balch Park.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1176 - Connects Fraccionamiento Mérida with Route 376.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1376 - Serves the southernmost neighborhoods of the city of San Gerardo Bravo.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1576 - Connects Ponce de Gabriel with Route 376 at Belding-Atchison.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1776 - Connects Laurel Annex with Route 376 at Ellum Valley.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 1976 - Connects Teralta with Route 376 at Fort Juan Soto.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 2176 - A beltline that serves Balch Park, Munger Springs and Fern Ridge.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 2376 - A short spur in San Gerardo Bravo.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 195 - A short beltline that connects Route 95 with Route 210, and helps facilitate traffic to and from Esteban as an alternative to Route 55 and helps connect western Esteban County with the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 395 - Connects Los Reyes with the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 595 - Connects Everado with the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area.

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 795 - Connects Davie Pines with the rest of the Olympia metropolitan area.

Names for Primary Altamasstachia State Freeway Routes

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 2 - John Fitzgerald Kennedy Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 3 - World War II Veterans Highway (entire length), West Pacific Coast Highway (unofficial nickname)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 4 - Reuben Vincent Bartlett Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 10 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 11 - Ignacio Ernesto Aguirre Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 12 - Aston Lee Kemp Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 17 - Alvin Stewart Florahome Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 18 - Harriet Tubman Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 20 - Frederick Douglass Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 22 - Abraham Lincoln Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 24 - Theodore Roosevelt Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 44 - Dean Williams Abernathy Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 55 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 74 - Robert Norman Lassiter Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 75 - Eugene Victor Debs Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 76 - Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 82 - Roger Bertrand Tipton Highway (entire length)

Altamasstachia State Freeway Route 95 - George Washington Highway (entire length), East Pacific Coast Highway (unofficial nickname), Esteban Trail (in Esteban County)

A standard big green sign (BGS) assembly on an Altamasstachia State Freeway Route.

This is what a typical set of big green signs at an interchange with an Altamasstachia State Freeway Route would look like. Here, at this particular junction, motorists can either take Route 18 to St. Ann (and, eventually, Olympia) or stay on Route 10, which becomes Route 76 and leads to San Gerardo Bravo. This interchange is located near St. Ann Beach, AT. Note that this style of big green signs was also used on major highways (including Interstate highways) in the state of Georgia from the 1990s to the 2010s (i.e. using Highway Gothic Narrow on their signs).