Q: I could be mistaken, but I was under the impression that all U.S. states need to have highway exit numbers that are milepost-based. I know several New England states have had to renumber their exits. I would like to get a new road atlas for my husband once all U.S. states adhere to this. I don't want to purchase a new atlas, only to find out that additional states still need to make changes and then have to buy a new atlas again in a few years. Do you know if or when this project might be completed?
D.K., Topsfield, Massachusetts
A: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) dictates how exit sign numbers should work. The operative word here is “should.” Unfortunately, some states have not gotten around to complying with numbering the exits to correspond to mile posts. There are still states that continue to use the sequential system such as Exit 1, Exit 2 and so on. Some states are in the process of updating. Unless the old atlas has worn out, stick with it and save a dollar. At least they have not changed the roads in the atlas.
