Interstate control cities have gotten smaller over the years

[sprjus4]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I-65 exists for Chicago-Nashville travel.

Actually, when I got to visit my brother outside of Nashville, I do use I-57 to I-24 a lot. It's a much quicker route than I-65 via Indy and Louisville.

About 30 miles longer and 30 minutes longer... but I suppose if you consider avoiding Indianapolis, Louisville, and all of I-65's traffic, it could work out.

[hobsini2]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

It's not even a "second choice."  US-41 will get you to Chicago faster than going that far west.

Umm. No it is not. Especially in Indiana. Going through Evansville and Terre Haute does slow 41 traffic a lot. That's another route I have taken often. 57 and 24 is still faster.

[sprjus4]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

It's not even a "second choice."  US-41 will get you to Chicago faster than going that far west.

Umm. No it is not. Especially in Indiana. Going through Evansville and Terre Haute does slow 41 traffic a lot. That's another route I have taken often. 57 and 24 is still faster.

Not to mention Indiana's reluctance at changing the law to permit a higher speed limit than 60 mph for the nearly 300 mile segment of non-limited-access highway that is US-41. If the speed limit was 65 mph or even 70 mph for a lot of the distance (which it could easily be)... I could see it being more attractive.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

[sprjus4]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

Shouldn't google theoretically factor that in?

[hbelkins]

What other sports team do Paducah residents root for? Any Memphis Grizzlies fans?

For football probably either the Colts or Titans.
I have no idea about the NBA since I do not follow the sport at all.
NHL if they do have a following probably Blues or Predators.

Probably some Grizzlies fans, since one of their young stars played college ball at nearby Murray State University.

NFL-wise, likely the Titans. The Titans have actually eaten into some of the Bengals' fan base in Kentucky, although for me it's hard to see the Titans as anything other than recycled Houston Oilers, and remembering how much Bengals fans disliked Jerry Glanville back in the late 80s.

Hockey doesn't really have a big following anywhere in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

But the comment about UK basketball -- and secondarily, UK football -- is spot-on. Paducah and the Purchase area is as solidly Big Blue territory as the eastern mountains are.

My impression of that region, from knowing a few people down that way, is that Nashville is the dominant "big city" over St. Louis or Memphis.

[SEWIGuy]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

But little traffic on US-41 / IN-63, especially north of Terre Haute, versus tons of trucks on I-57.  Just a matter of preference.

[Roadgeekteen]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

But little traffic on US-41 / IN-63, especially north of Terre Haute, versus tons of trucks on I-57.  Just a matter of preference.

US 41 is also less miles if you car about that.

[JoePCool14]

Wow, this thread really went all in on that one debate.

As for the topic in general, I really think that secondary control cities should be used more often. That way, the best of both worlds can be included. Keep a large metropolitan area in focus, but depending on the location, just include that second city, especially if it's relevant for a particular location.

I guess when it comes to control cities, I don't have much opinion, considering I'm treated to such controls as "Northwest Suburbs", "Southwest Suburbs", and "Wisconsin".

[thspfc]

Wow, this thread really went all in on that one debate.

As for the topic in general, I really think that secondary control cities should be used more often. That way, the best of both worlds can be included. Keep a large metropolitan area in focus, but depending on the location, just include that second city, especially if it's relevant for a particular location.

I guess when it comes to control cities, I don't have much opinion, considering I'm treated to such controls as "Northwest Suburbs", "Southwest Suburbs", and "Wisconsin".

Disagree on secondary control cities. They clutter a sign. Most of the time they're not relevant. Not sure if this is of any consequence, but they also make drivers take longer to read the sign, taking their eyes off the road for longer than necessary.

[Roadgeekteen]

Wow, this thread really went all in on that one debate.

As for the topic in general, I really think that secondary control cities should be used more often. That way, the best of both worlds can be included. Keep a large metropolitan area in focus, but depending on the location, just include that second city, especially if it's relevant for a particular location.

I guess when it comes to control cities, I don't have much opinion, considering I'm treated to such controls as "Northwest Suburbs", "Southwest Suburbs", and "Wisconsin".

Disagree on secondary control cities. They clutter a sign. Most of the time they're not relevant. Not sure if this is of any consequence, but they also make drivers take longer to read the sign, taking their eyes off the road for longer than necessary.

I know in Illinois, primary cities are signed at major junctions and secondary cities at minor junctions.

[SkyPesos]

I don't know the last time I've seen a secondary control city signed on a BGS in Ohio; the state seems to go primary only, and is pretty good at using large cities for the primary control too.

[Flint1979]

I don't know the last time I've seen a secondary control city signed on a BGS in Ohio; the state seems to go primary only, and is pretty good at using large cities for the primary control too.

I've been all over Ohio and I've never seen one either.

[Roadgeekteen]

Massachusetts has a mix of cities used, with some signs having secondaries/two cities on a sign.

[TheStranger]

California tends to do singular control cities in urban areas, and primary + secondary outside of urban areas. However, there are many exceptions:

- Berkeley/Sacramento for I-80 east near the MacArthur Maze
- Hayward/Stockton for 580 between Oakland and Hayward
- Hollywood/Pasadena for 110 north from I-10 to the Four-Level
- Santa Monica/LAX/Long Beach for I-405 south at US 101
- Palmdale/Lancaster for Route 14 north from I-5 to Palmdale

[hbelkins]

I don't know the last time I've seen a secondary control city signed on a BGS in Ohio; the state seems to go primary only, and is pretty good at using large cities for the primary control too.

I've been all over Ohio and I've never seen one either.

Ohio is probably home to the most extreme example: NYC signed on I-80 at Youngstown.

I can't remember what Ohio uses on I-77 north of the river. I know in West Virginia, Marietta appears after Parkersburg, but can't remember if Cambridge, Akron, or Cleveland gets posted.

[roadman65]

I seem to recall Marietta on I-70 going south back in 1990. That struck me odd that Charleston wasn't used being the first city of major importance on a long haul route.

[SkyPesos]

I seem to recall Marietta on I-70 going south back in 1990. That struck me odd that Charleston wasn't used being the first city of major importance on a long haul route.

I-70? You mean I-77?

[1995hoo]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

But little traffic on US-41 / IN-63, especially north of Terre Haute, versus tons of trucks on I-57.  Just a matter of preference.

US 41 is also less miles if you car about that.

Are you saying that's something that we auto do?

[SkyPesos]

I can't remember what Ohio uses on I-77 north of the river. I know in West Virginia, Marietta appears after Parkersburg, but can't remember if Cambridge, Akron, or Cleveland gets posted.

I think it's mainly Cleveland for NB 77 in the southern part of the state. Granted I haven't been on a non-multiplexed segment of I-77 in Ohio before, though I think Akron starts popping up in Canton from a couple GSV searches.

I mentioned this before a couple of times, I think Ohio needs to fix control cities on their non-interstate freeways, to at least be only a tier lower than those found on interstates. Like imo US 35 should only use Dayton, Chilicothe and Charleston as controls, and get rid of Xenia, Washington CH, Jackson, Gallipolis, etc, considering that it's part of the main long distance routing between the Midwest and places like the Carolinas and Southern VA.

[dvferyance]

Anyone else notice this?

For example, I-24 northwest from Nashville used to be St. Louis, but now it's Clarksville.

Interstate control cities have been using smaller or lesser known cities, or sometimes cities that aren't right on that route. As an example of using cities that aren't right on the route, I-70 didn't always have Dayton as a control city, instead skipping from Indianapolis to Columbus.

I think loop Interstates have changed somewhat too. I remember when the signs for I-275 used to say either "Cincinnati Bypass" or no control city at all, but now they list the control city of the next Interstate that I-275 intersects.

The control city for I-24 west at Nashville has been Clarksville since at least 1992. That is almost 30 years ago. It makes sense since I-24 doesn't come any near St Louis. Actually the control city for I-25 NB out of Denver used to be Cheyenne now it's Fort Collins which is bigger.

[hobsini2]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Clarksville,+TN/Chicago,+IL/@39.1521586,-89.7884528,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ce402ffea7e5:0xab41b10fe905271e!2m2!1d-87.3594528!2d36.5297706!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

The two routes are about the same time wise according to google.

Add in dozens of red lights, going through Evansville, Henderson, Terre Haute, small towns, and 300 miles of 60 mph in Indiana vs. a limited access 70 mph highway the whole way with no interruptions.

But little traffic on US-41 / IN-63, especially north of Terre Haute, versus tons of trucks on I-57.  Just a matter of preference.

US 41 is also less miles if you car about that.

Are you saying that's something that we auto do?

One thing I can tell you that Google does not factor in is if the sign posted is 65, people, at least here in Illinois, will easily do 70-75 if not more.
Also, as a side note, when I have done my trips to Nashville and back, I tend to vary the route depending on if I have time or need to get there quick. I even once tried taking I-55 to US 51 all the way to Cairo and Fulton to TN 22, US 70, TN 46, I-40 and I-840. Not bad except for the bridge over the Ohio River. My preferred leisure route is US 41, IN 63, US 41, I-64, US 231, I-165 Natcher Pkwy, I-65.  I have even tried taking 231 from Lafayette to Spencer where I pick up IN 46 to I-69 South.  Once I-69 is done to Indy, that may be a better way to get to I-65.  But if I am in a hurry, nothing beats 57 to 24 IMO.  Oh and Illinois Route 1 takes forever to get to Cave in the Rock but that ferry across the Ohio is quick and cool.

[Flint1979]

I've blown through Indiana before on US-41 and IN-63 and not had a problem. I did 70-75 most of the way.

[sprjus4]

I've blown through Indiana before on US-41 and IN-63 and not had a problem. I did 70-75 most of the way.

With speed limits out of the picture then, I could probably sustain 80-85 mph on the interstate for long distances, especially if it's not a peak travel period.