Worst control city on an interstate in your state

[kphoger]

In Chicago area, ... most are not going to South Bend specifically.

Most of the traffic heading south and east out of Chicago where Indiana is the control city is going to I-65 to head toward Indy and I-94 to head toward Detroit not even reaching South Bend.

I'm skeptical that most of the traffic coming in on the Eisenhower or the Kennedy or the Stevenson is headed to Indiana at all.

Gary would be the most accurate as that's where the traffic all goes before splitting off amongst I-65, I-94 and the Toll Road, but Gary has such a poor image nobody wants that on a sign.

"Image" should not be a criterion for what destination goes on a guide sign.  Everyone in Chicago knows where Gary is, so it would work as a control city.

[mgk920]

In Chicago area, "Indiana" is perfect for points east. Also, most are not going to South Bend specifically. Once past IN border, then there are signs for I-65 to Indy and I-94 to Detroit, etc.

"...should be replaced with..." No need to spend valuable tax money for this, we are fine.

Most of the traffic heading south and east out of Chicago where Indiana is the control city is going to I-65 to head toward Indy and I-94 to head toward Detroit not even reaching South Bend.

"Indiana" as a control destination has to be one of the most-discussed ones on this board. There's no perfect answer.

Gary would be the most accurate as that's where the traffic all goes before splitting off amongst I-65, I-94 and the Toll Road, but Gary has such a poor image nobody wants that on a sign.

Signing all of Detroit, South Bend and Indianapolis is probably the most helpful but would get very cluttered.

Indiana remains the least bad option. Yes it's vague, but everybody is going to or through Indiana so it gets you there and then once to you get to Gary the signs can get more specific.

I agree, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Same thing with using 'Iowa' and 'Wisconsin' as controls in central Chicago.

Mike

[mrsman]

In Chicago area, "Indiana" is perfect for points east. Also, most are not going to South Bend specifically. Once past IN border, then there are signs for I-65 to Indy and I-94 to Detroit, etc.

"...should be replaced with..." No need to spend valuable tax money for this, we are fine.

Most of the traffic heading south and east out of Chicago where Indiana is the control city is going to I-65 to head toward Indy and I-94 to head toward Detroit not even reaching South Bend.

"Indiana" as a control destination has to be one of the most-discussed ones on this board. There's no perfect answer.

Gary would be the most accurate as that's where the traffic all goes before splitting off amongst I-65, I-94 and the Toll Road, but Gary has such a poor image nobody wants that on a sign.

Signing all of Detroit, South Bend and Indianapolis is probably the most helpful but would get very cluttered.

Indiana remains the least bad option. Yes it's vague, but everybody is going to or through Indiana so it gets you there and then once to you get to Gary the signs can get more specific.

I agree, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Same thing with using 'Iowa' and 'Wisconsin' as controls in central Chicago.

Mike

Of the three states, Indiana is the least likely to cause problems.  Given the geography, you basically have to pass through the NW corner to reach nearly the rest of the state, so Indiana can stay, begrudgingly.  It is equivalent to the Illinois control in St Louis which leads to the bridges over the river that can then lead to Illinois and then the three highways to Chicago, Indianapolis, or Louisville.

I have more problems with Wisconsin, since there are other ways to get to other parts of the state.  For 294, especially, the road goes to Milwaukee - you have to turn off to get to Rockford (which is Illinois) and then Madison. 

Iowa is a big problem, since the control does not stay the same going west.  Once you leave Chicagoland, you would see different controls like Davenport or Moline=Grand Island depending on the district.  Indiana uses Des Moines for some odd reason.  So it would make sense to me that the control in Indiana and all of Illinois should be Davenport, and it should be consistent.

[pianocello]

Iowa is a big problem, since the control does not stay the same going west.  Once you leave Chicagoland, you would see different controls like Davenport or Moline=Grand Island depending on the district.  Indiana uses Des Moines for some odd reason.  So it would make sense to me that the control in Indiana and all of Illinois should be Davenport, and it should be consistent.

Disagree that it's a big problem. I think it's a fair assumption that most non-suburban traffic have destinations in or beyond Iowa, and as much as I hate to say it, Des Moines and Iowa City are more notable destinations than Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island.

FWIW, I've always thought the Iowa shout-out was cool, but I wouldn't be mad if it was changed to Joliet (for I-80) and Aurora (for I-88), and then Des Moines past those cities.

For the rest of your point, I'm not sure signage is as inconsistent as you're outlining. I don't recall seeing Des Moines as a control city in Indiana, unless there's a mileage sign I haven't paid attention to (WB traffic is signed for Chicago). Also, AFAIK the only mention of Davenport outside the Quad Cities themselves is at the north end of I-180. The rest of it's mainly just Moline-Rock Island, which is consistent with IDOT's system of secondary control cities (see also: East St. Louis, Effingham, Mt. Vernon, etc.)

[Revive 755]

I don't recall seeing Des Moines as a control city in Indiana, unless there's a mileage sign I haven't paid attention to (WB traffic is signed for Chicago).

Des Moines does make an appearance on the Indiana Toll Road.
Example 1
Example 2

[Flint1979]

Using Des Moines in Indiana is stupid. That is easily the worst control city in Indiana.

[kphoger]

Didn't Illinois use to use one of the Quad Cities on I-80?  I have an early childhood memory of seeing a guide sign for one of them at the I-55 interchange, and I think it was Rock Island.

[SkyPesos]

Using Des Moines in Indiana is stupid. That is easily the worst control city in Indiana.

I still think "Ohio" is a bit worse, for this reason I mentioned upthread:

I don't like the Indiana Toll Road using "Ohio" eastbound though. Traffic going from Chicago to two of Ohio's 3 largest cities would've left the Toll Road somewhere in NWI (Cincinnati traffic at I-65, Columbus traffic at I-65 or IN 49 to US 30), so you only have Cleveland left of the 3 major cities to represent "Ohio" on the Turnpike. I would definitely go with either South Bend or Toledo there after I-90 enters Indiana.

Didn't Illinois use to use one of the Quad Cities on I-80?  I have an early childhood memory of seeing a guide sign for one of them at the I-55 interchange, and I think it was Rock Island.

From what I remember from browsing GSV, it's "Moline - Rock Island"

[paulthemapguy]

Didn't Illinois use to use one of the Quad Cities on I-80?  I have an early childhood memory of seeing a guide sign for one of them at the I-55 interchange, and I think it was Rock Island.

As you might already know, Illinois uses two different sets of control cities.  Moline-Rock Island is used as the local control city on the minor street. Des Moines is the major city for westbound I-80. I pass this sign leaving work most days.


IL-I-80X134SN by Paul Across America, on Flickr

[thenetwork]

The use of Utah for I-70 from Grand Junction west is most logical as most traffic either heads to Moab (US-191 South), Salt Lake City (US-6) or Richfield (I-70) not many other towns in-between worth mentioning.

Although Green River would qualify as the Limon of Utah...

[Flint1979]

Although Green River would qualify as the Limon of Utah...

It would? Limon is about three times the size of Green River.

[kphoger]

Although Green River would qualify as the Limon of Utah...

It would? Limon is about three times the size of Green River.

Yes.  It's the jumping-off point for WB traffic headed to Salt Lake City.  Its use as a control city functions much as Limon does farther east.

[mgk920]

Although Green River would qualify as the Limon of Utah...

It would? Limon is about three times the size of Green River.

Yes.  It's the jumping-off point for WB traffic headed to Salt Lake City.  Its use as a control city functions much as Limon does farther east.

Or Tomah, WI, for to its major interstate highway interchange (I-90/94 split).

Mike

[thenetwork]

Although Green River would qualify as the Limon of Utah...

It would? Limon is about three times the size of Green River.

Yes.  It's the jumping-off point for WB traffic headed to Salt Lake City.  Its use as a control city functions much as Limon does farther east.

Exactly. The stretch of I-70 in which US-491 duplexes for a few exits between Crescent Jct
and Green River Is where most traffic switches route numbers to access different points in Utah, much in the same vein that traffic changes routes in Limon.

I would say that the percentage of traffic that stays on I-70 BOTH before and after this stretch is much lower than those who only enter and/or exit I-70 here.