Freeway signs that should have "TO" next to a highway marker on them, but don't

[KCRoadFan]

On freeway signs, the word "TO" is typically posted to the left of, or above, the marker for a highway that a given exit doesn't directly access, but which can be indirectly reached with the help of the road that the ramp links to.

That being said, I was just thinking about a freeway sign in my hometown of Kansas City, one which has stood for many years: namely, when you come into the city from the east along I-70 westbound, approaching the southeast corner of the downtown freeway loop, the exit onto I-670 - the south leg of the loop, which is meant to act as the "through-movement" for westbound I-70 traffic heading into Kansas - is marked as "WEST 670, SOUTH 35 - Topeka, Wichita". I understand where MoDOT is coming from with the signage - namely, that I-670 is the fastest way to access I-35 southbound for drivers coming into downtown KC along I-70 westbound - but the sign is inaccurate, as it should actually read "WEST 670, TO SOUTH 35 - Topeka, Wichita". As it is, the current signage seems to suggest that I-35 follows I-670, when in reality it goes along the west and north legs of the loop. (Personally, I think that the current I-670 should just be signed as I-70, with I-35 concurrent along the south leg of the loop, whereas the north leg - along with the Lewis & Clark Viaduct and the curved section through Strawberry Hill in KCK - should be designated as I-670, with the east leg being I-35 by itself. Meanwhile, the current standalone section of I-35 on the west leg of the downtown loop should be I-570. However, that all is beside the point.)

Anyway, what I wanted to ask was this: throughout the country, where else have you seen freeway signs that are missing the word "TO" - that is to say, they are signed as if the exit directly accesses a given highway, but where, from the exit, you actually have to drive down another road in order to access the route posted on the sign?

[TheStranger]

This is...an absolute California special and has been for decades, hehe.

First example that comes to mind: the signage on I-80 west in San Francisco that marks the mainline as "US 101".  I've seen 1980s video of this part of the route and it was signed as... "I-80/US 101" on the BGSes, though that at one point was accurate (back when the I-80 extension to Golden Gate Park was still proposed).
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7814343,-122.3972733,3a,75y,232.83h,92.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5B4KE0Ey9BdJRhGVMndkmQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

In Oakland, I-980 west is already signed as "I-880 SOUTH San Jose" three ramps before 980 actually ends at 880:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8121827,-122.2739975,3a,24.5y,224.85h,92.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D295.83768%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Bruce]

All over the Seattle area. It's pretty common to see just a random I-5 or I-405 shield with an arrow, but no TO banner.

[wanderer2575]

I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI.  The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24.  In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:


A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5.  The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.

[Rothman]

I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI.  The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24.  In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:


A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5.  The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.

Meh.  That's nitpicky, given that M-10 just serves as a ramp to US 24 as the interchange is configured.

[Henry]

I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI.  The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24.  In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:


A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5.  The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.

Meh.  That's nitpicky, given thay M-10 just serves as a ramp to US 24 as the interchange is configured.

I really don't see anything wrong with it, because US 24 will be the first road you reach after exiting onto M-10 anyway.

[LilianaUwU]

#redirect [[Québec]]

[jakeroot]

All over the Seattle area. It's pretty common to see just a random I-5 or I-405 shield with an arrow, but no TO banner.

Huh, I was just thinking about WSDOT's overuse of "TO" at the I-5/WA-16 interchange in Tacoma. Every single HOV sign says "TO" on it, despite all ramps being direct-access to the freeway shown:

Split from SB I-5 to WA-16: https://goo.gl/maps/TjUYcHP8KBwCcwDFA
Split from NB I-5 to WA-16: https://goo.gl/maps/q5gamWdbHtm4YygY8
EB WA-16 to I-5: https://goo.gl/maps/BgjNfN78vjFVpTHo6
SB advance signage: https://goo.gl/maps/hxBy1VVq9ueRVAyE7
NB advance signage: https://goo.gl/maps/juG6AG7URgbF144U7



Otherwise you may be right, they totally dropped the ball here: EB WA-18 to SB-167 occurs via surface streets that are not part of the highway, but the exit omits any "TO" message.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/JbankbeVKjeZu8Nf6
Ramp leads to I-78 WB that eventually connects to Route 24.

Interestingly, the opposite side gets it right.
https://goo.gl/maps/unHabSH6iiAs2ADB7

Yes it has to do with the first side having two WB I-78 ramps, with the other side having only one, but the TO is still needed.

[Mergingtraffic]

I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI.  The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24.  In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:


A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5.  The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.

I'm sorry but off topic here, but MI has awful signage from Clearview to the thin numbers of the I-696 shield.  OK Carry on

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/woEfR5vSWxtaL3E99
The SB NJ 440 should also get a TO Banner as Crows Mill Road leads to it. It's not part of NJ 440.

https://goo.gl/maps/MQUtkNKDXf2iogNw6
Here is a missing TO between NJ 440 and I-287.  The sign in the distance gets it right though.

[doorknob60]

I-184 and US-20/26 in Boise, ID have some weird signage in places.

This sign should say "West I-184 To I-84", as I-84 is still about 3 miles away at this point.

GSV Link

On the other hand, this sign says "To US-20/US-26 Garden City", but the "To" is unnecessary because you are already on US-20/26. The I-184/84 sign next to it is correct at least (though "Airport" is a terrible control city choice).

GSV Link

Here's another unnecessary "To", on a tiny sign.

[Henry]

This is...an absolute California special and has been for decades, hehe.

First example that comes to mind: the signage on I-80 west in San Francisco that marks the mainline as "US 101".  I've seen 1980s video of this part of the route and it was signed as... "I-80/US 101" on the BGSes, though that at one point was accurate (back when the I-80 extension to Golden Gate Park was still proposed).
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7814343,-122.3972733,3a,75y,232.83h,92.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5B4KE0Ey9BdJRhGVMndkmQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

In Oakland, I-980 west is already signed as "I-880 SOUTH San Jose" three ramps before 980 actually ends at 880:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8121827,-122.2739975,3a,24.5y,224.85h,92.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D295.83768%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Near the western end of the San Bernardino Freeway, there's a sign that reads "US 101/Los Angeles", but you're already in L.A., and US 101 continues down the Santa Ana Freeway to I-5 south, which indicates that the stub end of the San Bernardino is unnumbered:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0545114,-118.209894,3a,15y,284.38h,93.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stMmqdkZ6NEcXozlIqlgTgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[ran4sh]

The whole idea of a control city/destination is to direct traffic to a point that could be considered the center of the city (usually downtown but varies case by case). Thus, "Los Angeles on a sign that's already in Los Angeles" isn't really a valid complaint. The sign is directing traffic to downtown.

You also can't get on US 101 south from that point, only north. The sign is past the exit to reach I-5 south/Santa Ana fwy.

The stub end of the San Bernardino, as far as I know, is officially route 10 (according to California) but not Interstate 10 (since that follows 5 south to connect to the Santa Monica fwy).

[hotdogPi]

I-495 (MA) exit 106 (old 48) should be "TO 125" but just shows a 125 shield. Taking the exit puts you on a 1-mile connector that forces you onto 125 unless you get off earlier, e.g. for BJ's.

[Revive 755]

Multiple examples on the loop in downtown Kansas City:

* WB I-70 at I-670 and US 71 at the southeast corner is missing the "TO" for I-35 south and I-29 and I-35 north.

* NB US 71 at I-70 and I-670 is missing the "TO" for SB I-35 and NB I-29 and I-35.

* I-35 SB at I-670 is missing the "TO" for eastbound I-70 (along with any mention of I-670).

* NB I-35 at I-670 is similar to the sign for SB I-35, and is also missing a "TO" for WB I-70.