Regional Boards > Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
Wisconsin "AHEAD" sign usage
tman:
Do any other states use signs with the routes in question and the word "AHEAD" (typically on a pull-through, though I have seen ground mounted examples) as much as Wisconsin does/in the same manner?
It seems that the most logical use case involves a multiplex where a route is added on after an interchange (or intersection, I suppose)
- this sign is used to show that US 14 and US 151 will be "added" ahead after the upcoming interchange to what is already US 12 and US 18. (That is, an implied "US 12/18 now, US 12/14/18/151 after the interchange (ahead).")
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0373329,-89.3898468,3a,75y,259.51h,104.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-Ymad3TQ8559CTAUOHRWwg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
But this example is a bit more confusing... you're already on US 18/US 151. The road that lies ahead is still US 18/US 151, but the road you're already on is too. The interchange here is a county highway, and there is no switching of routes nearby.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0269312,-89.4661216,3a,75y,218.86h,89.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1st54DYJcCPlsbTpIjVmoOUQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
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As another example, Tomah (the I-90/94 junction) has this sign at the divergence of the routes (westbound), saying that I-90 exits and that I-94 is "AHEAD."
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9799224,-90.4249796,3a,75y,300.5h,94.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVbiei8JItRVTTauzzVVVqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Eastbound on I-94, approaching the junction with I-90, there is a sign saying that I-90/94 are "AHEAD."
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9942797,-90.463972,3a,75y,117.74h,94.03t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sf4cVDRBCJWcXWZ5g5egWzg!2e0!5s20121001T000000!7i16384!8i8192
But, strangely, we don't get the same sign eastbound on I-90. That sign omits the word entirely in favor of an arrow (it's at least as old as 2009, so not a new install).
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9781728,-90.4608695,3a,75y,56.42h,102.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s_wxE4brgS0Gb5UXZ94l2dg!2e0!5s20121001T000000!7i16384!8i8192
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I think the use of the word when a route is added makes sense (i.e., the beginning of a concurrency), but the uses where the road doesn't change numbers/no routes are added are a bit more interesting (like the second example). It's something I associate strongly with Wisconsin's highways, though some of their newer diagrammatic signage on Madison's Beltline seems to have omitted the word in favor of arrows.
Thoughts? Ideas why they do this? Any notable examples?
Rothman:
It just means to keep going straight for the listed routes, I thought. No biggie.
kphoger:
--- Quote from: Rothman on October 28, 2022, 06:48:01 AM ---It just means to keep going straight for the listed routes, I thought. No biggie.
--- End quote ---
To me, it sounds like there will be an intersection or exit coming up for those routes.
GaryV:
I guess it came from the same dictionary where they found "bubbler".
Rothman:
--- Quote from: kphoger on October 28, 2022, 09:26:04 AM ---
--- Quote from: Rothman on October 28, 2022, 06:48:01 AM ---It just means to keep going straight for the listed routes, I thought. No biggie.
--- End quote ---
To me, it sounds like there will be an intersection or exit coming up for those routes.
--- End quote ---
Well, I guess you'll be confused when driving in WI, then.
I don't find it that much of a leap to go from where everywhere else uses straight arrows to WI's use of "ahead," especially when I know what route I'm on. Just a signage quirk.
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