Interstate Exits: Utah KML File

This is the third in a series of KML, Google Earth, files I am preparing for Offroading Home concerning the Interstate Road system, its exits and the lack of labels for them on digital maps.

When the DOT didn't respond to my several requests to make their Geo-data available in a user-friendly form, I kept seeking for other sources. I did find some and have begun the painstaking process of coding them into the .kml file type structure which can be used in Google Earth. This one joins the group with coverage of Utah.

Utah Interstates

It's a bit depressing but I actually remember when all of our important roads around home were being torn up for this supposed new-fangled "Interstate" road system being touted by Washington. For years you couldn't really go anywhere a "long distance" away - only around town, and even they seemed to be having "sympathy pains" too.

All we felt at the time was a tremendous pain in the tookus because what was already a life-changing ordeal, to travel the vast, uninhabited distances in Utah, was made even worse – for years! When it was over, well, it was a bigger relief than a soap-suds enema. Hours and hours and hours of "are we there yet" down the two-lanes could be whipped out in a mere couple of hours.

And what made it even better (or worse) was that it bypassed all the towns! Salt Lake was so bad that it really didn't even deserve to be driven through; but, a whole lot of barely noticeable, quaint towns were all but killed off.

I-15 was a godsend. It bisected the state north to south from Idaho into Arizona. I-70 leaves eastward from around old Cove Fort and Cinder Crater into Colorado and I-80 merely passes through Salt Lake on its way from Wyoming to Nevada and back again. I-84 splits off I-15 at Tremonton on its northwest journey into Idaho.

As states go, Utah hasn't seemed to be too politically favored as far as the construction benefits go; but, what was built really made a difference in the travel around the state.

Free Google Earth File

The free Google Earth file for Utah interstate exits is available at: Offroading Home on the specialty map resource page. Click to arrive at the page and select the Utah map. It is a .kml file that is utilized by Google Earth. You can either save the map on your computer or click "open" to have it open directly inside Google Earth.

Learn A Little More

This post I'm going to give you a little comparison – the same song, done by thirteen different artists. Twelve who don't get it, one who does. Just listen to the artist and look in their eyes. Don't pay any attention to the hokey staging, the theatrics or the maudlin clips. Close your eyes if you have to, but just look at the faces and hear their voices.

One rendition is brash, polished, professional, affected even arrogant and transparent. One is quiet, a bit amateur and unassuming. One has lived it, and despite his limited life experience, "gets it" the other just "plain doesn't have a clue" – an actual embarrassment to the song and its author.

You raise me up - 12 tenors

You raise me up - (Samuel Afi - age nine)