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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM

Title: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I was always curious to know where the places are that do not maintain any state border signs either in STATE LINE or WELCOME on the primary roads.  Not the secondary roads such as municipal or county maintained as many of them do not sign them or if they do they place the county name on signs like some crossings between Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY where signs do say ENTERING ROCKLAND COUNTY or ENTERING BERGEN COUNTY, but no mention of a state name change.

I know for years I-78 lacked on entering New Jersey, but one member here has informed me that NJDOT did place a sign after GSV showed the entry point not having one.

US 202, entering New Jersey from New York lacks a mention of the NJ entry SB (or WB from NY) even though it has a Bergen County sign just before it turns right from Franklin Turnpike to Ramapo Valley Road.

The Palisades Parkway entering New Jersey has none, although back in the late 80's there was an ENTERING NEW JERSEY sign at the state line proper.  GSV and my last trip there showed me that the sign was long gone.

I-90 entering Illinois from Indiana shows Chicago to be the point of entry and not the State of Illinois.

Then the DC/ MD border on US 50 seems to lack signage EB letting you know when you cross from District to State.

How many other state lines are not marked in any shape or form?
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on November 26, 2014, 10:34:50 PM
I think going northbound on US 301 from MD to DE I don't recall seeing any mention of crossing the border.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: 1995hoo on November 26, 2014, 10:57:10 PM
The George Washington Memorial Parkway crosses from Virginia to DC and back with no signs. A couple of other roads in the same area have either no signs (Memorial Drive) or only a Virginia sign (Route 27 outbound). Many locals are surprised to learn the GW Parkway enters DC at all.

It's well-known that the Virginia/DC and DC/Maryland lines are not signed on I-95 over the Wilson Bridge, though they are marked on the concrete surface of the pedestrian/bike path.

I do not recall seeing a West Virginia sign on VA/WV-127 when I used that road (I've only been westbound and so had no chance to look for a Virginia sign). The road runs right along the state line for a while.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: oscar on November 26, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
Then the DC/ MD border on US 50 seems to lack signage EB letting you know when you cross from District to State.

It's signed indirectly, by a large sign telling you you've crossed into Prince George's County.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: Eth on November 26, 2014, 11:21:03 PM
Does it count if there's a pole that looks like it should have a sign, but doesn't (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.9966668,-85.5382548,3a,75y,177.8h,77.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s85npVq9WXITBBullT0LlRA!2e0)? (South end of AL 103, which admittedly does turn into a county road upon crossing into Florida.)
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: SSOWorld on November 27, 2014, 06:52:49 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I know for years I-78 lacked on entering New Jersey, but one member here has informed me that NJDOT did place a sign after GSV showed the entry point not having one.
Its there as of last June
Quote from: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I-90 entering Illinois from Indiana shows Chicago to be the point of entry and not the State of Illinois.
Because C-DOT owns the Skyway.  Ironically that's the only occurrence of any city limit indication for Chicago. Though you'd notice if your in Chicago if you observe substantial increase in the street light standard density on the street - along with the types of heads on them.

Also consider crossings from New Jersey into NYC.  both Manhattan and Staten Island have welcome signs for the borough - no state welcomes (only crossed via Lincoln, Holland, Gothals and Outerbridge.  That's Port Authority for you.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: roadman65 on November 27, 2014, 08:13:36 AM
Quote from: SSOWorld on November 27, 2014, 06:52:49 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I know for years I-78 lacked on entering New Jersey, but one member here has informed me that NJDOT did place a sign after GSV showed the entry point not having one.
Its there as of last June
Quote from: roadman65 on November 26, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I-90 entering Illinois from Indiana shows Chicago to be the point of entry and not the State of Illinois.
Because C-DOT owns the Skyway.  Ironically that's the only occurrence of any city limit indication for Chicago. Though you'd notice if your in Chicago if you observe substantial increase in the street light standard density on the street - along with the types of heads on them.

Also consider crossings from New Jersey into NYC.  both Manhattan and Staten Island have welcome signs for the borough - no state welcomes (only crossed via Lincoln, Holland, Gothals and Outerbridge.  That's Port Authority for you.
Interesting!  I always remembered growing up and driving later on in life across the Goethals Bridge that one for New York did exist in the inside median just east of Forest Avenue after paying the tolls.  I did remember that New Jersey had none on the Jersey side most likely because of the Tangle on the approach.

I know the GWB  has one mid span on both levels for both states and the NJT has a redundant one just south of NJ 4 before the giant arch bridge inside the Bergen Hill cut.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: SSOWorld on November 27, 2014, 11:28:06 AM
the NJT one is more about "welcome to the Turnpike/Parkway" than about "Welcome to New Jersey"
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: hotdogPi on November 27, 2014, 01:03:52 PM
I-95 between MA and NH (at least from my memory) has a very small sign. It's there, but it's extremely small, so it is easily missed. You can tell that you switched states from the exit numbers, though.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: briantroutman on November 27, 2014, 02:02:56 PM
I was riding with my brother from Boston to Pennsylvania, and right around Port Jervis on I-84, he realized that he was almost out of fuel. The next exit listed a Citgo station among its services, so we exited there, crossed under the I-84 overpass, and on the other side–sitting next to the eastbound onramp–was the Citgo station. My brother jumped out and started to fill the tank when an attendant hurried over and stopped him.

"What the... we're in New York."  
"No–you're in New Jersey."

At the time, at least, there was no sign indicating a state crossing. According to Google Maps, the border runs right through the station–in fact the pump we were using was actually in New York, although assumably the entire premises is under NJ jurisdiction.

I can only guess that there are few cases where a blue logo services sign for an exit in one state lists a business in another state.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: roadman65 on November 27, 2014, 02:18:40 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on November 27, 2014, 02:02:56 PM
I was riding with my brother from Boston to Pennsylvania, and right around Port Jervis on I-84, he realized that he was almost out of fuel. The next exit listed a Citgo station among its services, so we exited there, crossed under the I-84 overpass, and on the other side–sitting next to the eastbound onramp–was the Citgo station. My brother jumped out and started to fill the tank when an attendant hurried over and stopped him.

"What the... we're in New York."  
"No–you're in New Jersey."

At the time, at least, there was no sign indicating a state crossing. According to Google Maps, the border runs right through the station–in fact the pump we were using was actually in New York, although assumably the entire premises is under NJ jurisdiction.

I can only guess that there are few cases where a blue logo services sign for an exit in one state lists a business in another state.
You are talking about Exit 1 on I-84.  The State Line runs just shy of the interchange and the WELCOME sign is about a tenth of a mile south of the border.

I was wondering just how many people hop out and begin pumping because it is located off another state's interstate.  Yes, that is one of the rare cases where an interchange is close enough to a state line where another state's business logo signs would list it and being an oddity as NJ and OR are both still living in the past with their fuel laws.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: vdeane on November 27, 2014, 08:24:46 PM
When my family vacationed in DC I don't remember seeing ANY signs marking state borders anywhere in the metro area, at least not on the roads we took.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: bugo on November 27, 2014, 08:38:55 PM
I don't remember seeing a sign saying "Welcome to North Carolina" on southbound US 441 (don't tell me it's just a park road) when I drove through there in 1996. I had never been to NC so I didn't know I was there until I got to Cherokee.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: NE2 on November 27, 2014, 08:47:11 PM
Quote from: bugo on November 27, 2014, 08:38:55 PM
I don't remember seeing a sign saying "Welcome to North Carolina" on southbound US 441 (don't tell me it's just a park road)
It's just a park road.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F4%2F49%2FAASHO_USRN_1970-11-06.pdf%2Fpage7-733px-AASHO_USRN_1970-11-06.pdf.jpg&hash=30f0285f64d08b4b243c8d116141a509fdead80e)
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: Buck87 on November 27, 2014, 09:55:19 PM
US 1/US 25 crossing from Augusta, GA into South Carolina

Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: hbelkins on November 27, 2014, 09:58:53 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 26, 2014, 10:57:10 PM
I do not recall seeing a West Virginia sign on VA/WV-127 when I used that road (I've only been westbound and so had no chance to look for a Virginia sign). The road runs right along the state line for a while.

There's a WV sign. I distinctly remember it, and may have even photographed it.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: cl94 on November 27, 2014, 10:44:55 PM
NY 120A has a New York welcome sign immediately south of its northern terminus, but all other state line crossings (including the other direction at this location) are unsigned. In fact, the first SB reassurance shield is east of the NY-CT line. Entire thing north of the Hutch is maintained by NYSDOT, including the stretches in Connecticut. Only indication of the state is the presence/lack of Z-bars on the signs.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 28, 2014, 09:25:43 AM
Crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge, there's no 'Welcome to PA' or 'Welcome to NJ' signs.  Heck, the bridge even continues with PA's Exit numbering when you come into NJ. 

When entering NJ on the Walt Whitman, the first 'Welcome to NJ' sign will be after the 1st 2 exits one passes (and even then the sign is off on the right shoulder of I-76 East, which is 5 lanes wide at that point).

When entering NJ on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the first sign on I-295 is after the 3rd exit.  On the NJ Turnpike, it's after the US 40 exit, and as noted above, it really says Welcome to the New Jersey Turnpike.  On occasion, the Delaware Memorial Bridge will display "Welcome to New Jersey" on the Variable Message Sign as you come off the bridge.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on November 28, 2014, 09:48:17 AM
Entering Massachusetts from off-Interstate, you only get the town line sign. In fact, it seems like most crossings in New England are pretty quiet.

Some Québec/Ontario crossings also get nothing but a tiny sign or a county line sign.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: roadman on November 28, 2014, 10:02:34 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 27, 2014, 01:03:52 PM
I-95 between MA and NH (at least from my memory) has a very small sign. It's there, but it's extremely small, so it is easily missed. You can tell that you switched states from the exit numbers, though.
The advance signs for the New Hampshire Welcome Center are a pretty good clue as well.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: roadman65 on November 28, 2014, 10:20:56 AM
Quote from: Buck87 on November 27, 2014, 09:55:19 PM
US 1/US 25 crossing from Augusta, GA into South Carolina


There was one there back in 03 at the actual state line in the middle of the Savanah River.  It must be gone now.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 28, 2014, 11:20:58 AM
Quote from: roadman on November 28, 2014, 10:02:34 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 27, 2014, 01:03:52 PM
I-95 between MA and NH (at least from my memory) has a very small sign. It's there, but it's extremely small, so it is easily missed. You can tell that you switched states from the exit numbers, though.
The advance signs for the New Hampshire Welcome Center are a pretty good clue as well.

Welcome Centers are good clues...although, not always.  When on I-95 South in Delaware, the 'Welcome Center' is just prior to the last exit before leaving the state!
Title: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: 1995hoo on December 02, 2014, 06:18:51 PM
Quote from: vdeane on November 27, 2014, 08:24:46 PM
When my family vacationed in DC I don't remember seeing ANY signs marking state borders anywhere in the metro area, at least not on the roads we took.

Historically the District didn't have many signs. There were a few during the 1980s bearing the slogan "A Capital City," but not many. They've started putting up more of them, even in some of the ghetto areas, but the ones they're using are much smaller than typical highway welcome signs (which is quite reasonable in residential areas, of course).

Virginia and Maryland have always had welcome signs on the Beltway for as long as I can remember, and the National Park Service had an interesting small rectangular "Washington DC District Line" sign on what is now the Clara Barton Parkway. (Interesting because it's the only sign I remember reading "District Line.)
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: cl94 on December 02, 2014, 06:52:20 PM
The DC-Maryland border is strange because signs do exist in each direction, but rarely does one road have a sign facing each way. MD 500 is one of the few that does (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9463701,-76.9776259,3a,40.9y,259.97h,82.23t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sr7Zw0n7GjQYY9O36RZzzVQ!2e0).
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: NJRoadfan on December 02, 2014, 07:23:20 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 27, 2014, 08:13:36 AM
Interesting!  I always remembered growing up and driving later on in life across the Goethals Bridge that one for New York did exist in the inside median just east of Forest Avenue after paying the tolls.  I did remember that New Jersey had none on the Jersey side most likely because of the Tangle on the approach.

Fixed: http://goo.gl/maps/50qmb

Outerbridge got one too: http://goo.gl/maps/czSrJ

The Bayonne Bridge gets a non-NJDOT sign: http://goo.gl/maps/y5qht

Holland Tunnel gets a tiny sign: http://goo.gl/maps/Eftr2

Lincoln Tunnel traffic doesn't see one until nearly the Turnpike: http://goo.gl/maps/xCpaX

Also the "Entering New Jersey" sign is still on the PIP.

Part of the problem is that sign is only posted by NJDOT. With only one land border and bi-state authorities controlling the crossings, there is no place to install the signs on the actual border!
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: 1995hoo on December 02, 2014, 10:03:07 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 02, 2014, 06:18:51 PM
Quote from: vdeane on November 27, 2014, 08:24:46 PM
When my family vacationed in DC I don't remember seeing ANY signs marking state borders anywhere in the metro area, at least not on the roads we took.

Historically the District didn't have many signs. There were a few during the 1980s bearing the slogan "A Capital City," but not many. They've started putting up more of them, even in some of the ghetto areas, but the ones they're using are much smaller than typical highway welcome signs (which is quite reasonable in residential areas, of course).

Virginia and Maryland have always had welcome signs on the Beltway for as long as I can remember, and the National Park Service had an interesting small rectangular "Washington DC District Line" sign on what is now the Clara Barton Parkway. (Interesting because it's the only sign I remember reading "District Line.)

Here is an example of a sign in one of the rough areas: http://goo.gl/maps/gNmmX
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: Zeffy on December 03, 2014, 09:55:46 AM
Speaking of New Jersey, the US 1 toll bridge in Trenton doesn't give much indication that you're in New Jersey other than the fact that well... you're in Trenton.

Come across the Trenton Makes Bridge, however, and you do get a non-standard NJ welcome sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2109734,-74.7646102,3a,15y,26.2h,89.66t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8Ps6-AsTv9VTndCB9oOGmA!2e0
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: 1995hoo on December 03, 2014, 11:03:52 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 02, 2014, 06:18:51 PM
... the National Park Service had an interesting small rectangular "Washington DC District Line" sign on what is now the Clara Barton Parkway. (Interesting because it's the only sign I remember reading "District Line.)

BTW, here is the current version of the "District Line" sign I mentioned. I see it's been replaced since the last time I used the road in that direction, as the lower line now appears to be in all-caps Clearview! (Same is true for the "Maryland State Line" sign going the other way.)

http://goo.gl/maps/YHNMS
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: vdeane on December 03, 2014, 12:59:10 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 02, 2014, 06:18:51 PM
Quote from: vdeane on November 27, 2014, 08:24:46 PM
When my family vacationed in DC I don't remember seeing ANY signs marking state borders anywhere in the metro area, at least not on the roads we took.

Historically the District didn't have many signs. There were a few during the 1980s bearing the slogan "A Capital City," but not many. They've started putting up more of them, even in some of the ghetto areas, but the ones they're using are much smaller than typical highway welcome signs (which is quite reasonable in residential areas, of course).

Virginia and Maryland have always had welcome signs on the Beltway for as long as I can remember, and the National Park Service had an interesting small rectangular "Washington DC District Line" sign on what is now the Clara Barton Parkway. (Interesting because it's the only sign I remember reading "District Line.)
We didn't get on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.  We did use the American Legion Bridge coming in, where for some reason the welcome sign is ground mounted even though the signs immediately adjacent to it are overhead, so it's not really noticeable.  Coming back, Dad's GPS routed us on the Clara Barton Parkway for some reason, so it was just the brown "Maryland state line" sign, which I probably forgot about.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: NJRoadfan on December 03, 2014, 05:11:58 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on December 03, 2014, 09:55:46 AM
Come across the Trenton Makes Bridge, however, and you do get a non-standard NJ welcome sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2109734,-74.7646102,3a,15y,26.2h,89.66t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8Ps6-AsTv9VTndCB9oOGmA!2e0

That is an older version of the standard small NJDOT welcome sign.
Title: Re: Quiet state borders on Interstate, US, and other primary highways
Post by: SteveG1988 on December 08, 2014, 12:02:04 PM
I cannot find a sign on the PA side of the burlington bristol bridge other than a warning sign about a road closure.