Meet I-910, New Orleans' secret interstate

The big picture: For at least a week, Google Maps had 910 interstate signage on its digital depiction of the Crescent City Connection.

• It was also on parts of what residents would normally call the Pontchartrain Expressway and the entire elevated Westbank Expressway.
• Of course, I had to inquire more.

The intrigue: I-910 is another name for the US 90B elevated expressway, state DOTD spokesman Daniel Gitlin tells me.

• It starts where I-10 splits downtown and ends when the Westbank Expressway goes to ground level in Westwego, he said.
• The I-910 designation was assigned in 1999, Gitlin said, but DOTD "chose to stick with the US 90B signage because of its temporary designation."
• It's part of the future I-49 corridor that will eventually connect downtown New Orleans to Lafayette via the US 90 corridor, he said.

Yes, but: Google Maps has been calling the major thoroughfare I-910, and it's been showing up in DOTD press releases this summer.

• Gitlin says the agency started using it recently because "it matches what people see online" and "it's less confusing."
• Apple Maps was not using the I-910 designation as of Tuesday.
• Some people have asked about the different names, Gitlin said, but "I don't feel that it has caused significant confusion on the road."

Behind the scenes: I also asked Google about the highway, and the tech giant responded by changing the interstate designation again.

• The digital street signs were reverted to 90B to ensure the most helpful information is being shown, according to Google.
• By 5:30pm Tuesday, all trace of I-910 was gone, except for Axios' screenshots.
• So I guess you're welcome, New Orleans.

What's next: DOTD doesn't intend to change the physical US 90B signage in New Orleans to I-910 unless it is told otherwise, Gitlin said.

Go deeper:

• Photos of the new lights on the Crescent City Connection.
• Construction to snarl downtown New Orleans traffic for weeks.
• New traffic lights coming to Louisiana.