Ep 16: The Hidden Stories Behind Freeway Names (and A Tribute to Mark Denis)
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The Hidden Stories Behind Freeway Names (and a Tribute to Mark Denis)
Ever wonder how highways and interchanges get their names? In this special episode of Mastering the Commute, I explore the different types of freeway names—from geographic and honorific, to legacy memorials—and share a deeply personal tribute to one of the most influential voices in LA radio: Mark Denis Melbourne.
Mark wasn’t just a traffic reporter—he was the voice of Southern California traffic, a mentor to me at just 19 years old, and a friend who left an incredible legacy.
🎙️ What You’ll Hear:
• How freeway naming really works (including the role of Caltrans)
• Examples of memorialized interchanges across the U.S.
• The story of Mark Denis and the 91/55 Memorial Interchange
• Rare 1999 blooper reel audio and eulogy clips
• A final musical tribute, “Code 5,” written in his honor
📍 Resources & Links
• How California Names Highways (Caltrans)
• More about Mark Denis (Episode page)
• Full episode archive + smart driving tips
• Subscribe & follow: @MasteringTheCommute
Code 5 Music Video with pics of Mark HERE
#FreewayFacts #TrafficLegends #MasteringTheCommute #MarkDenis #RoadNaming #MemorialInterchange #CaliforniaTraffic #SmartDriving
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Chapters
1. Ep 16: The Hidden Stories Behind Freeway Names (and A Tribute to Mark Denis) (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to Episode 16 (00:00:16)
3. How Freeways and Interchanges are Named (00:00:40)
4. Southern California Freeway Interchange Examples (00:01:51)
5. Who was Mark Denis? (00:02:43)
6. Mark Denis Interchange (00:04:39)
7. Eulogy and Outtakes with David G. Hall (00:05:57)
8. "Code 5" by Randy Keith (00:07:55)
9. Episode 16 Closing (00:11:08)
22 episodes