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[KeithE4Phx]

Is this a Wisconsin thing, or does it go on more than I thought?  The attached Google Map photo shows northbound US 151 signed as "Alternate I-41" at County TC, near Lamartine, southwest of Fond du Lac.  It's a 4-lane road, but not a freeway, so how could it be considered an "alternate freeway?"

This is a new one on me.  I've never seen this in person.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.72534,-88.5764488,3a,37.5y,62.5h,89.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8pPMOtXNfQT4mSbUcstsbQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Ohio does this with I-70 (US 40 near Dayton-Springfield)

[Bruce]

There's a sign for "ALT I-5" on Denny Way in Seattle, which is meant to show an alternate path to reach I-5 rather than an alternate for I-5.

https://goo.gl/maps/VrWT2rRMLP2UjoFm7

[FrCorySticha]

Wisconsin has marked alternate routes for all its Interstate highways along parallel highways, and I wish more states would follow their lead. If part or all of an Interstate ever has to be shut down due to serious accident, weather, damage to the road, etc., it allows for easily redirecting traffic around the closure. Also, it gives another option for traffic that might not fit on the Interstate due to oversize, especially over-height freight.

[1]

This sign is interesting, as it's part of New Hampshire's system, but it's in Massachusetts.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7339351,-71.1920521,3a,15y,216.3h,87.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sOMrtkkDco21OrlH1CPA7fg!2e0!5s20191001T000000!7i16384!8i8192

[wanderer2575]

Western Michigan has alternate routes posted for portions of freeways -- not just Interstates but also for the US-31, US-131, and M-6 freeways.  A lot of these are along former route alignments that predated the freeways.  Instead of an ALT or ALTERNATE banner, Michigan uses a black-on-orange EMERGENCY banner.  I don't know why it isn't done throughout the rest of the state.

Example:  https://goo.gl/maps/FUdHMLYSzoxQMMnt9

[OCGuy81]

Wisconsin is the one state where I've seen it used very widely.

I don't believe I've ever seen any Alternate being signed in Oregon or California.

[GaryV]

Western Michigan has alternate routes posted for portions of freeways -- not just Interstates but also for the US-31, US-131, and M-6 freeways.  A lot of these are along former route alignments that predated the freeways.  Instead of an ALT or ALTERNATE banner, Michigan uses a black-on-orange EMERGENCY banner.  I don't know why it isn't done throughout the rest of the state.

Example:  https://goo.gl/maps/FUdHMLYSzoxQMMnt9

There are Emergency I-75 signs along surface streets in Oakland Co.

[Dirt Roads]

There are Alternate I-40 banners along I-87, US-264 and I-95 to get around the long-term I-40 widened projects between the Raleigh Beltline and [now south of] McGees Crossroads.  When they were first installed, you could follow them all the way.  They've been up so long now that I doubt that you could find your way using signs alone.

Did I actually say I-87?   

[jp the roadgeek]

There are a few ALT I-84 and ALT I-91 LGS’s in CT along I-691 and CT 9

[hbelkins]

There are a bunch of old alternate signs for I-71 and I-75 in Cincinnati.

There are also a few remnant alternate signs for I-75 along US 25E in Tennessee, dating back from the I-75 was closed between Knoxville and the state line for a major break in pavement.

Most of the referenced alternate signs are really for emergency incident management, with some even being signed (as noted) with "EMERGENCY" banners.

[HighwayStar]

I am a big fan of this approach. Along with the usual advantages of keeping US highways separate from the interstate system, they can post them like this as "emergency" routes for the interstates.

[TheHighwayMan394]

Minnesota started implementing the system, but never finished. I-35 south of the metro and I-94 northwest of it have signed alternates, but never seen them on I-90 or I-35 north of the Twin Cities. In addition, some of Wisconsin's system is posted in the far eastern parts of the state.

[hbelkins]

I'm sure a lot of this has been discussed in the past -- Pennsylvania's color-coded detours, Missouri's "Incident Bypass Route" signage, etc.

Kentucky was looking to sign something in the western part of the state. There's a lot of work being done on I-24, and a lot of truck wrecks in the work zone that caused issues. I found a bunch of examples from Street View (many from Wisconsin and Michigan) to send to my colleague in Paducah for examples.

[HighwayStar]

I'm sure a lot of this has been discussed in the past -- Pennsylvania's color-coded detours, Missouri's "Incident Bypass Route" signage, etc.

Kentucky was looking to sign something in the western part of the state. There's a lot of work being done on I-24, and a lot of truck wrecks in the work zone that caused issues. I found a bunch of examples from Street View (many from Wisconsin and Michigan) to send to my colleague in Paducah for examples.

This should be a national standard, each state having a different signage is confusing.

[US 89]

The only place I've ever seen this myself is in Kansas City, where I-670 was signed as Alternate I-70. Although looking at street view, this may not be the case anymore?

[LM117]

There are Alternate I-40 banners along I-87, US-264 and I-95 to get around the long-term I-40 widened projects between the Raleigh Beltline and [now south of] McGees Crossroads.  When they were first installed, you could follow them all the way.  They've been up so long now that I doubt that you could find your way using signs alone.

Did I actually say I-87?   

You can also find an  "ALT ROUTE" I-40 sign at the end of the off-ramp from I-40 West to US-117 at the interchange between Warsaw and Magnolia (Exit 369). That one's been there long before the Raleigh projects started.

[mukade]

Indiana uses white on blue "Emergency Detour" signs at certain places along I-65, I-69, and I-469. Fort Wayne and Lafayette are where I have seen them - not sure if there are other ones.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1307723,-85.1590783,3a,15y,344.1h,89.3t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swwTn1Mwhz82lKdtXVE8y7g!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DwwTn1Mwhz82lKdtXVE8y7g%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D63.50002%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

[GaryA]

Los Angeles has a short ALT I-5/I-10/CA 60:  https://goo.gl/maps/MbVe8Cp4WZpCePkR8

Mostly it's an alternate for drivers that don't have room to merge over for the left exit to I-10; it also tells drivers in the Mission Rd exit-only lane that they can re-enter either freeway (I-10 or US 101 to I-5/CA 60).  It's just taking the exit and continue straight across the intersection onto the on-ramp (which splits for the two freeways).

Also near downtown LA, I-710 North is marked as "ALT TRUCK ROUTE" since the ramp from I-710 to I-5 North is a left exit and entry (and that part of I-5 can get very congested approaching the East LA Interchange). A later sign clarifies that trucks headed for I-5 North should follow I-710 to I-10 West to I-5 North; trucks headed for US 101 North should take CA-60 West to US 101 North.

[CardInLex]

I'm sure a lot of this has been discussed in the past -- Pennsylvania's color-coded detours, Missouri's "Incident Bypass Route" signage, etc.

Kentucky was looking to sign something in the western part of the state. There's a lot of work being done on I-24, and a lot of truck wrecks in the work zone that caused issues. I found a bunch of examples from Street View (many from Wisconsin and Michigan) to send to my colleague in Paducah for examples.

This should be a national standard, each state having a different signage is confusing.

The proposed new MUTCD standardizes the use of emergency route signing. A new plaque is introduced that says “EMERGENCY ROUTE TO.” Also allows the use of letters to designate routings (I.e. “EMERGENCY ROUTE A.”)

[vdeane]

Los Angeles has a short ALT I-5/I-10/CA 60:  https://goo.gl/maps/MbVe8Cp4WZpCePkR8

Mostly it's an alternate for drivers that don't have room to merge over for the left exit to I-10; it also tells drivers in the Mission Rd exit-only lane that they can re-enter either freeway (I-10 or US 101 to I-5/CA 60).  It's just taking the exit and continue straight across the intersection onto the on-ramp (which splits for the two freeways).

Also near downtown LA, I-710 North is marked as "ALT TRUCK ROUTE" since the ramp from I-710 to I-5 North is a left exit and entry (and that part of I-5 can get very congested approaching the East LA Interchange). A later sign clarifies that trucks headed for I-5 North should follow I-710 to I-10 West to I-5 North; trucks headed for US 101 North should take CA-60 West to US 101 North.

Alternate Truck routes?  Is CalTrans learning from PennDOT?

[Ned Weasel]

The only place I've ever seen this myself is in Kansas City, where I-670 was signed as Alternate I-70. Although looking at street view, this may not be the case anymore?

MODOT did that, but KDOT never did.  I didn't know the Alt I-70 signs were removed, so I guess I haven't driven that way in a while.

Maybe someone thought eight shields on this sign were enough: https://goo.gl/maps/P2XFe3oXM7jVASyD9

[achilles765]

I do remember that in Louisiana, US 190 from west of Baton Rouge to about US 61 had signs that directed motorists that it was “Incident alternate route interstate 10.”

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I do remember that in Louisiana, US 190 from west of Baton Rouge to about US 61 had signs that directed motorists that it was “Incident alternate route interstate 10.”

Those signs went from I-110 to at least LA 415, if not all the way to I-49.

[jbnv]

I do remember that in Louisiana, US 190 from west of Baton Rouge to about US 61 had signs that directed motorists that it was “Incident alternate route interstate 10.”

Those signs went from I-110 to at least LA 415, if not all the way to I-49.

There are signs for “Incident alternate route interstate 10” on I-49 as well.

Speaking of Louisiana, there are also these things posted along US 190 between Baton Rouge and Hammond. They're mounted on rotating polls so they can be "hidden" when not in use. Frankly I think it's a waste of money since I never see them turned to face traffic. DOTD should just sign all of US 190 between BR and Hammond as "EMERGENCY I-12" (or even Business I-12) and be done.