AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: KCRoadFan on July 06, 2022, 12:30:05 AM

Title: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: KCRoadFan on July 06, 2022, 12:30:05 AM
Normally, when it comes to distance signs on highways, the closest destination among those being referenced on the sign is listed on top, followed by ones that are further away. However, on Street View I noticed a sign on Highway 11/17 in northwest Ontario, Canada (link here: https://www.google.com/maps/@48.8795194,-88.4761358,3a,15y,81.89h,87.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBVSWWZTWe_sVRlVEJxy2Jg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) that appears as follows, from top to bottom: "Nipigon 27/Cochrane 642/Sault Ste. Marie 605."

I know that Cochrane and Sault Ste. Marie are on different highways (the former town being on Highway 11, the latter on 17; the two highways split in Nipigon). However, I find it rather unusual that the larger distance would be listed ABOVE the smaller one on a sign. Is this a common occurrence in Canada, and have you seen it in the U.S.? If so, where? I'd be interested to find out more regarding signs like these.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: amroad17 on July 06, 2022, 12:52:27 AM
https://goo.gl/maps/EPynBLPzfFbZQU1G8

I-26 WB in South Carolina.  Every distance sign from Columbia to Clinton along I-26 has Greenville listed above Spartanburg.  Reason?  I-26 goes by Spartanburg--I-385 goes to Greenville.  So, SC lists the destination of the Interstate one is currently driving on the bottom in this instance.

Before I-75 in Florence, KY had an auxiliary lane constructed between US 42 (Exit 180) and Mt. Zion Road (Exit 178), this was the distance sign posted: https://goo.gl/maps/2jxXW6DdQcHNunVJ9   This is how it was posted before I moved to Northern Kentucky in 1994--probably since I-75 opened through there in the early 1960's.
This is the current sign: https://goo.gl/maps/bG2XBBBf9noM9Skn6
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: CtrlAltDel on July 06, 2022, 01:32:41 AM
For the record, this is the norm in Germany and a number of other countries.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: Occidental Tourist on July 06, 2022, 01:58:30 AM
The 15 north at the the split with the 215 in Temecula, California, has Los Angeles listed above Corona on a pullthrough.  Los Angeles is much further than Corona and requires a transition to another freeway.  Notably, the sign is located right next to a sign for the 215 which has Riverside and San Bernardino listed in the correct order based on relative distance.

Both signs are at least 25 years old and are button copy.  The Corona is a greenout over the original city listed below Los Angeles, presumably Barstow or Las Vegas.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: roadman65 on July 06, 2022, 03:12:16 PM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/50119240202/in/album-72157714748996193/

Here is one with two furthest first.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: CardInLex on July 07, 2022, 01:43:56 PM
Quote from: amroad17 on July 06, 2022, 12:52:27 AM

Before I-75 in Florence, KY had an auxiliary lane constructed between US 42 (Exit 180) and Mt. Zion Road (Exit 178), this was the distance sign posted: https://goo.gl/maps/2jxXW6DdQcHNunVJ9   This is how it was posted before I moved to Northern Kentucky in 1994--probably since I-75 opened through there in the early 1960's.
This is the current sign: https://goo.gl/maps/bG2XBBBf9noM9Skn6

I think the "before"  is correct. People going to Louisville will have to exit I-75 onto/to stay on I-71 before a person going to Lexington would have to exit I-75.

Another KYTC example is this: https://goo.gl/maps/qMbwsHzvvj4gZWKx9

The exit to go to Winchester is before the exit to Clays Ferry although the overall distance is longer.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: ran4sh on July 07, 2022, 06:46:36 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on July 06, 2022, 01:32:41 AM
For the record, this is the norm in Germany and a number of other countries.

I think two separate ideas are being conflated here though. In Germany etc, the control city is at the top and the destinations are listed from farthest to nearest. This thread contains instances with the control city at the bottom but with a farther destination listed on the middle line. Such as the I-26 South Carolina example. The top line would still list a nearby destination usually associated with the next exit.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: CtrlAltDel on July 08, 2022, 12:45:06 PM
Quote from: ran4sh on July 07, 2022, 06:46:36 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on July 06, 2022, 01:32:41 AM
For the record, this is the norm in Germany and a number of other countries.

I think two separate ideas are being conflated here though. In Germany etc, the control city is at the top and the destinations are listed from farthest to nearest. This thread contains instances with the control city at the bottom but with a farther destination listed on the middle line. Such as the I-26 South Carolina example. The top line would still list a nearby destination usually associated with the next exit.

That is an important distinction. Thanks for bringing it up.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: sandwalk on July 18, 2022, 07:44:22 PM
On (Ohio) State Route 2 west of Cleveland, there used to be an example of this. Until 2014, a mileage sign listed Port Clinton above Huron, even though Huron was ~20 miles closer.

Old Sign:
https://goo.gl/maps/KdGjqTtVEhwcur1R9

Current Sign:
https://goo.gl/maps/c7gTtHwZhibupvLt5

Also with this new sign, ODOT decided that Port Clinton was 2 miles further away.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: epzik8 on July 18, 2022, 08:40:20 PM
MD 276 northbound just past MD 275 in Cecil County near Port Deposit has Lancaster (PA) 44 above Rising Sun 7. Lancaster is presumably listed because this part of 276 is also part of MD 222 Truck, so I can't think of any reason for it other than it indicates a SHA priority for truck traffic.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: hotdogPi on July 21, 2022, 01:01:28 PM
Which direction is that sign facing? While it's not an A/B exit, if it was facing west, it would be reasonable for the right turn to be listed before the left turn. That said, it probably should say Lowell instead of Portsmouth westbound because it's only a long-distance corridor from the other direction.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: kirbykart on July 24, 2022, 10:06:17 AM
Not sure if this counts, but I'm pretty sure there's a BGS or two on I-90 East in the Buffalo area that lists two control cities, Albany being above Rochester. I'll see if I can find it on GSV.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: amroad17 on July 25, 2022, 12:09:56 AM
^At Exit 53 on I-90: https://goo.gl/maps/PNwBPpjBPt6vx9a59


Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 25, 2022, 12:44:16 AM
In a control city freak video I saw one on I-5 with Sacramento and San Francisco with the further one listed first.
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: kirbykart on July 25, 2022, 07:38:49 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on July 25, 2022, 12:09:56 AM
^At Exit 53 on I-90: https://goo.gl/maps/PNwBPpjBPt6vx9a59
Thank you.  :)
Title: Re: Distance signs with closer destinations listed below further-away ones
Post by: kirbykart on August 07, 2022, 10:32:08 AM
Minor bump.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tdiAsFNpnVtAr7m96