Why makes highways in California so effin' special?
They’re all referred to with the definite article THE.
But then, elsewhere in the country, no one seems to refer to I-40 as “the 40” even though it too runs across California. Matter of fact, the California transplants I know don’t use THE when referring to highways in other states either.
Or maybe it’s a regional thing in Cali? Do folks in San Francisco, for example, use a definite article when referring to a highway?
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.