Misleading "Exit Only" Arrows

[SkyPesos]

I was on I-270 SB heading towards the I-70 and MO 180 interchange, and noticed this misleading signage with how the exit only arrows are pointed towards.

Lanes are numbered left to right to make explanations easier.

In the first BGS setup, it's implied that "Lane 5" is for MO 180 only, while "Lane 4" is the one for both directions on I-70. The next BGS half a mile from the MO 180 exit (not pictured) mentions the same thing.


Then at the MO 180 exit, "Lane 6" is added, which is for MO 180 only. And "Lane 5" an option lane between MO 180 and I-70 WB. So the first sign was misleading and that traffic exiting to I-70 WB actually can (and should) use "Lane 5". I saw a lot of traffic that's exiting to I-70 WB on Lane 5 before the first BGS, then switch over to Lane 4 upon seeing the first sign as they thought it's for MO 180 only, before switching back to it after this sign, seeing "Lane 4" is for the I-70 EB exit.


What other examples of misleading exit only arrows are out there?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

It's not an exit only arrow, but there are BGSs on eastbound I-290 in Chicago as you approach the I-294 parallel section indicating that the center lane is an option lane for I-294 South: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9089648,-87.9287809,3a,34.7y,104.47h,100.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgYGjqSA1pvdx-Y1QJK6BPg!2e0!5s20220901T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

It is not an option lane. The right lane is the only lane with an exit for I-294 South. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8817582,-87.9206937,3a,17.4y,178.6h,92.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skf4V-B8waDDhPD_iVuGbPg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I really really hated this the first time I encountered it trying to go from 290 EB to 294 SB.

[1995hoo]

The sign on the far left in the Street View image below is just plain wrong because you can use that lane to stay on the same road, merging in with the other lanes on the far side of the upcoming Springfield Interchange:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/n1LAVMRbd6mUUVrv9?g_st=ic

[Rothman]

I hate exit only arrows over option lanes.  See I-690 EB at Bridge St/NY 635/Thompson Road

[vdeane]

Here's a fun one..  The lane for I-787 north actually forms on the left after the exit 6A ramp diverges from I-90; both lanes there actually go to I-787 south.  The right lane ends before the ramp merges onto I-787, so it's often better to head to I-787 south by staying in the lane marked for I-787 north.

[JoePCool14]

It's not an exit only arrow, but there are BGSs on eastbound I-290 in Chicago as you approach the I-294 parallel section indicating that the center lane is an option lane for I-294 South: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9089648,-87.9287809,3a,34.7y,104.47h,100.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgYGjqSA1pvdx-Y1QJK6BPg!2e0!5s20220901T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

It is not an option lane. The right lane is the only lane with an exit for I-294 South. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8817582,-87.9206937,3a,17.4y,178.6h,92.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skf4V-B8waDDhPD_iVuGbPg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I really really hated this the first time I encountered it trying to go from 290 EB to 294 SB.

That's bad enough that I might submit something to IDOT about it. But I'll wait until that interchange's reconstruction is finished. If it's still a problem, I'll probably write in.

[Henry]

I hate exit only arrows over option lanes.  See I-690 EB at Bridge St/NY 635/Thompson Road

So IOW, the national MUTCD screws this up pretty badly?

[jeffandnicole]

I-295 South at the exit for US 130, Exit 13:

https://goo.gl/maps/Wf99vyLcS7X6YxgH7

There's 3 lanes shown on the diagrammatic.  There's 4 lanes on the road.

It appears you can stay in the center lane to go either direction.  Maybe that right-most lane coming on the highway from an onramp ends, motorists will think.

Nope.  The middle lane isn't an option lane.  The right-center lane is the option lane.

https://goo.gl/maps/Mj4hSqGBNUFEu4pK7

A previous BGS here had the correct diagram.  I think what happened, when NJDOT was doing an extensive sign replacement project, they used the original as-built plans when the road was 3 lanes wide here, rather than more current plans after the roadway was widened to 4 lanes.  No one did a field inspection or noticed the wrong plans were being followed, and they made the sign for only 3 lanes.  20 or so years later, it's never been fixed.

[wanderer2575]

Not nearly as egregious as some of the earlier posted examples, but the westbound I-96 exit sign to Inkster Road in Redford Twp. has an exit-only arrow over the option lane.  Made a little worse because, due to the curvature of the concrete bridge edge, the sign is mounted too far to the left so the exit arrow is over the "thru" part of the option lane.

https://goo.gl/maps/gjSwFwcnyRz4MyUW6

[roadfro]

Not nearly as egregious as some of the earlier posted examples, but the westbound I-96 exit sign to Inkster Road in Redford Twp. has an exit-only arrow over the option lane.  Made a little worse because, due to the curvature of the concrete bridge edge, the sign is mounted too far to the left so the exit arrow is over the "thru" part of the option lane.

https://goo.gl/maps/gjSwFwcnyRz4MyUW6

Great example of following the 2009 MUTCD requirements, except that the sign is not located where it should be (should be further downstream)...leading to potential misleading arrows.