Control Cities

[Flint1979]

Starting in Sault Ste. Marie and this is off the top of my head because I have traveled I-75 so much in my life.

Mackinac Bridge
Saginaw
Flint
Detroit
Toledo
Dayton
Cincinnati
Lexington
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Atlanta
Macon
Valdosta
Lake City
Tampa
Naples
Miami

I am a bit more liberal in my choices for I-75.
Sault Ste Marie
Mackinac Bridge (totally agree)
Grayling (secondary)
Lansing (SB as a secondary to US 127)
Saginaw (secondary)
Flint
Detroit
Toledo
Columbus (SB as a secondary to US 23)
Lima (secondary)
Dayton
Cincinnati
Louisville (SB with I-71)
Lexington
London (secondary)
Knoxville
Nashville (SB with I-40)
Chattanooga
Marietta (NB secondary)
Greenville (NB with I-85)
Atlanta
Montgomery (SB with I-85)
Macon
Valdosta (secondary)
Lake City (secondary)
Gainesville (NB primary/SB secondary)
Ocala (secondary)
Orlando (SB secondary to FL Tpk)
Tampa
Sarasota (secondary)
Ft Myers (secondary)
Naples (secondary)
Ft Lauderdale (SB secondary)
Miami

Saginaw is fine as the main control city once you get into the Lower Peninsula as it's a navigation point and a large enough city. Grayling is a small city and not much of a navigation point, Gaylord is bigger and would probably be the only city between the bridge and Saginaw that would work. Lansing is on the sign for SB US-127 at I-75 near Grayling but Clare is also on the sign and is the control city until you reach Clare. That one makes sense as Clare is a navigation point in the state and features a Michigan Welcome Center, then after that Lansing is the control city until you get to Lansing. Mount Pleasant is also on some signs but not all of them.

[US20IL64]

When I-57 opened in Chicago, the control city for southbound traffic, Memphis, threw a lot of drivers off. People wrote to paper [way before internet] asking why so, and editors explained the terms of control city.

When travelling, I like seeing what the local entrance ramp control city is, for passing the time. I 55 south from Chicago has St Louis as main with Joliet, Bloomington, Springfield, etc. for the ramps.

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

[ilpt4u]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

[Flint1979]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

Then what does the part north of I-88 become?

[achilles765]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

Then what does the part north of I-88 become?

I am not familiar with the area, but I wonder...could it be I-188?

[SkyPesos]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

Then what does the part north of I-88 become?

I-355 for the part north of I-355, and not sure for the portion between I-355 and I-294, maybe I-288 or I-594?

[Flint1979]

In Illinois, I-55 universally lists Chicago or St. Louis as its control cities, even though most other interstates have much smaller cities or towns as control cities. (*coughI-180cough*)

Doesn't I-24 in Kentucky also use Chicago and St. Louis as control cities for westbound traffic?

Paducah and then St. Louis. In Illinois they use Interstate 57 as the control city.

[JayhawkCO]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

[Flint1979]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

In Michigan you have US-127 which has Mackinac Bridge for a control city north of Mount Pleasant. US-127 ends about 90 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge. Also you have I-696 which has both Lansing and Port Huron for control cities as well as Flint for I-275. I-696 ends about 40 miles from Port Huron on the east end and about 60 miles from Lansing on the west end. I-275 was originally suppose to connect with I-75 on the north end which would make Flint an ok control city but since it doesn't Flint is about 50 miles away from I-275's north end.

[SkyPesos]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

I-70 WB in UT with Las Vegas at exit 37 is about 280 miles away from Vegas.

[ilpt4u]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

Then what does the part north of I-88 become?

I-355 for the part north of I-355, and not sure for the portion between I-355 and I-294, maybe I-288 or I-594?

I've always proposed I-188 to be commissioned between Hillside and Itasca for what is currently signed I-290 between I-88/294 and I-355. I-288 could also work, especially now that Illinois will finally have an Even 3DI that only touches its parent directly once, when I-490 opens

[JayhawkCO]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

I-70 WB in UT with Las Vegas at exit 37 is about 280 miles away from Vegas.

Forgot there were signs for Vegas on I-70, but Google Maps says it's only 241 miles, putting it a little closer than my I-76 example.

Chris

[SkyPesos]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

I-70 WB in UT with Las Vegas at exit 37 is about 280 miles away from Vegas.

Forgot there were signs for Vegas on I-70, but Google Maps says it's only 241 miles, putting it a little closer than my I-76 example.

Chris

Are you measuring from Richfield (where the sign I linked above is) or from the I-15/I-70 junction?

There's probably a Las Vegas sign for 70 WB east of Richfield, but I'm too lazy to look for it.

[JayhawkCO]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

I-70 WB in UT with Las Vegas at exit 37 is about 280 miles away from Vegas.

Forgot there were signs for Vegas on I-70, but Google Maps says it's only 241 miles, putting it a little closer than my I-76 example.

Chris

Are you measuring from Richfield (where the sign I linked above is) or from the I-15/I-70 junction?

From the junction.  My original question was regarding the closest that the actual highway gets to the control city in question, not necessarily how far is the sign.  I guess that is question B.  I can look and see how far away GJ is on a sign on I-76.

Chris

[US20IL64]

290 will never get "deleted". It's 90's child and Ike X-Way is of the original 1956 Interstates. To locals, 88 is the Tollway, and it ends at 290, case closed. 88 is also a 'child route' of 80 and 90, no preferential treatment. And I-188? Really? No thanks.

Also, smaller burbs are not control cities, Elmhurst is only 45k vs. Aurora at near 200k. Can even use Naperville, at 150k. I see Elgin as a future control city since it is now 6th largest in IL, vs. Rockford, but too many signs to change.

[SkyPesos]

I can look and see how far away GJ is on a sign on I-76.

I think I-76 WB switches to Denver as a control city shortly east, as it ends in the city, unlike I-70 ending in the middle of nowhere.

[JayhawkCO]

I can look and see how far away GJ is on a sign on I-76.

I think I-76 WB switches to Denver as a control city shortly east, as it ends in the city, unlike I-70 ending in the middle of nowhere.

Yeah.  It looks like the first mention of GJ for I-76 is at I-25.  I thought maybe it referenced it at E-470, but not that I see.

Chris

[US 89]

I-84 is posted with an eastbound control of Cheyenne at its split from I-15 in Ogden. Of course, I-84 ends in Echo - about 390 miles from Cheyenne - and I-80 covers the remaining distance.

[SkyPesos]

If I would get real technical for the word "city"  here, the westernmost sign for NYC on EB I-80 at the I-680 interchange is about 400 miles from NYC, and I-95 continues east of I-80's terminus into NYC, and the state of NY for this matter.

[US20IL64]

I agree with other posts about Limon CO being a bit small for a Control City. But if the locals don't mind, then??

[SkyPesos]

I agree with other posts about Limon CO being a bit small for a Control City. But if the locals don't mind, then??

To be fair, 99% of the topics on this forum are ones that only us roadgeeks care about, and most others don't.

[sprjus4]

I agree with other posts about Limon CO being a bit small for a Control City. But if the locals don't mind, then??

Control cities aren't based off local opinions, or shouldn't be.

[sprjus4]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the "mainline"  corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

How about sign I-290 south of I-88 as I-88, then simply retain I-290 north of there till I-90?

[SkyPesos]

For outbound I-290 in Chicago, the Ike X-Way, finally changed from 'West Suburbs' to Aurora    It's 2nd largest city in IL, not a subdivision.

IDOT admitting that the “mainline” corridor is the Ike out to Hillside, then the Reagan out to Aurora (and beyond). Otherwise, IDOT should really use Elmhurst or Schaumburg - cities actually along I-290

I-290 should be deleted, and from the current East end of 88 to Downtown, should become 88. Makes no sense to have a 2DI end at a junction with two other 3DIs

How about sign I-290 south of I-88 as I-88, then simply retain I-290 north of there till I-90?

Considering IDOT is too stubborn to extend I-55, I-57 or I-65 north to Wisconsin for them to use on what is now I-41 and I-43, I highly doubt they'll renumber any of the interstates in the Chicago area. So our Chicago interstates renumbering ideas will most likely stay as fictional for our lifetimes.

[hbelkins]

Thought of this yesterday...

Which control city is farthest away from where the interstate actually goes?  My nomination: I-76 (W).  Once it's in the Denver metro, westbound has a control city of Grand Junction, but I-76 never comes within 253 miles of GJ.  Are there any other candidates?

The only other one that jumped to mind was I-40 having Los Angeles as a control city, but it never gets within 114 miles of LA.

Chris

In a similar vein, which interstate control city is closest to where the interstate actually goes but never enters?

I nominate Baltimore.