Do you call it Highway 40 or Interstate 64?
Hwy 40
We’ve been asked why the St. Louis Post-Dispatch continues to prefer Highway 40 — rather than Interstate 64 — as the name of the roadway that’s been in the news so much lately.
The simple answer: Highway 40 is what it has been called for some time, and it’s what we believe most area residents still call it.
So here’s the Highway 40 entry in the Post-Dispatch Stylebook:
“Highway 40 (Interstate 64) is our choice for first reference. In some circumstances, such as in the lede or as part of a listing, the dual reference, (Interstate 64), can wait. But it needs to be in stories at some point. As for second reference, we have choices: Highway 40, Interstate 64, the highway, the interstate.”
Highway 40 converges with I-64 at the Mississippi River, after following a more northern path than I-64 east of the river. The two highways share the road through St. Louis and St. Louis County and just into St. Charles County.
In March 2007, Post-Dispatch transportation writer Elisa Crouch wrote an article speculating what name locals would use after the improvements. Crouch wrote:
“For 20 years, side-by-side signs have called it both Interstate 64 and Highway 40, a combination that most St. Louisans have stubbornly ignored. Highway engineers prefer I-64. Most motorists say that for now, they’re calling it Highway 40.”
She noted that segments of the road here have been known as the Oakland Express Highway, the Red Feather Expressway, the David P. Wohl Highway. Crouch wrote then that the Post-Dispatch didn’t begin consistently using Highway 40 until 1972.
And now some wonder why we still do.
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Steve Parker is the deputy managing editor for news, and oversees the Post-Dispatch's front page. STLtoday's online news editors are on his newsroom team. Parker has been at the paper since September 1980. 
I don’t know anyone who does call it “I-64″ except out-of-towners.
I bet there are even some people who still think of it as the Daniel Boone Expressway.
have you guys ever seen the old Daniel Boone TV show reruns on KNLC channel 24? This would be before he ever had an Expressway named after him. Ed Ames just doesn’t make a convincing indian…the definition of quaint!
“The style guide says it” is not an excuse. The style guide is out of date. Ever consider that bad practices like this are what continues to perpetuate this craziness? It’s time to realize there’s a world outside St. Louis — and I’m a native, born and grew up here.
Ever been to Chicago? It’s the Stevenson, the Dan Ryan, and any other local name they have for the highways. Do you think they care if an out of towner is trying to navigate through the city of broad shoulders? I think not!!
I grew up here, and it’s always been Highway 40 in STL and I-64 in Illinois. Just because MODOT says it’s I-64 doesn’t make it so. Also, to the weather guy on KMOV: it’s the St. Louis Metro/Metropolitan Area, not “the Metro” - just because you say it 20 times in a forecast doesn’t mean that’s what it’s known as.
As a six-year resident of the St. Louis-area, I’ve falling into the habit of calling it Highway 40…because everyone I met when I got here said that’s what we call it. The first few times I referred to it as I-64, people looked at me like I was from somewhere else. Which I was, at the time.
I definitely call it highway 40 because growing up Highway 40 was the St. Louis side and 64 was the Illinois side. I never knew it was highway 64 until I started frequenting “64 West” nightclub back in the 80’s/90’s. I even asked a friend at the time where they came up with the name “64 West” for the club!!
What about 40 / 61. That is what I typically hear it called.
I’ve always called it 40 because that’s what I learned it as before they ever designated it I-64. Also, out Chesterfield ways they have South Outer 40 Road not south outer 64.
and Stephen Paul is right, when in Chicago if you are listening to traffic they do mention the highways by name and I couldn’t tell you which is which.
At least the numbers are on our signs here to remind us if someone gets confused.