Critical question about freeways: Why do people?

Posted October 29th, 2008

Tom-SJ asked: in Southern California (So Cal, the Southland, whatever) use The when identifying the number of their freeways* ?
People in Northern California** just identify a freeway by its number or name alone. (We also use names, but not as often: Bayshore Fwy, Nimitz Fwy, Redwood Hwy, [...]