On freeway signs, the word "TO" is typically posted to the left of, or above, the marker for a highway that a given exit doesn't directly access, but which can be indirectly reached with the help of the road that the ramp links to.
That being said, I was just thinking about a freeway sign in my hometown of Kansas City, one which has stood for many years: namely, when you come into the city from the east along I-70 westbound, approaching the southeast corner of the downtown freeway loop, the exit onto I-670 - the south leg of the loop, which is meant to act as the "through-movement" for westbound I-70 traffic heading into Kansas - is marked as "WEST 670, SOUTH 35 - Topeka, Wichita". I understand where MoDOT is coming from with the signage - namely, that I-670 is the fastest way to access I-35 southbound for drivers coming into downtown KC along I-70 westbound - but the sign is inaccurate, as it should actually read "WEST 670, TO SOUTH 35 - Topeka, Wichita". As it is, the current signage seems to suggest that I-35 follows I-670, when in reality it goes along the west and north legs of the loop. (Personally, I think that the current I-670 should just be signed as I-70, with I-35 concurrent along the south leg of the loop, whereas the north leg - along with the Lewis & Clark Viaduct and the curved section through Strawberry Hill in KCK - should be designated as I-670, with the east leg being I-35 by itself. Meanwhile, the current standalone section of I-35 on the west leg of the downtown loop should be I-570. However, that all is beside the point.)
Anyway, what I wanted to ask was this: throughout the country, where else have you seen freeway signs that are missing the word "TO" - that is to say, they are signed as if the exit directly accesses a given highway, but where, from the exit, you actually have to drive down another road in order to access the route posted on the sign?
This is...an absolute California special and has been for decades, hehe.
First example that comes to mind: the signage on I-80 west in San Francisco that marks the mainline as "US 101". I've seen 1980s video of this part of the route and it was signed as... "I-80/US 101" on the BGSes, though that at one point was accurate (back when the I-80 extension to Golden Gate Park was still proposed).
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7814343,-122.3972733,3a,75y,232.83h,92.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5B4KE0Ey9BdJRhGVMndkmQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
In Oakland, I-980 west is already signed as "I-880 SOUTH San Jose" three ramps before 980 actually ends at 880:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8121827,-122.2739975,3a,24.5y,224.85h,92.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D295.83768%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
All over the Seattle area. It's pretty common to see just a random I-5 or I-405 shield with an arrow, but no TO banner.
I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI. The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24. In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:
(https://i.imgur.com/TGepOKu.jpg)
A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5. The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on July 09, 2023, 05:52:21 PM
I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI. The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24. In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:
(https://i.imgur.com/TGepOKu.jpg)
A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5. The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.
Meh. That's nitpicky, given that M-10 just serves as a ramp to US 24 as the interchange is configured.
Quote from: Rothman on July 09, 2023, 06:44:31 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on July 09, 2023, 05:52:21 PM
I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI. The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24. In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:
(https://i.imgur.com/TGepOKu.jpg)
A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5. The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.
Meh. That's nitpicky, given thay M-10 just serves as a ramp to US 24 as the interchange is configured.
I really don't see anything wrong with it, because US 24 will be the first road you reach after exiting onto M-10 anyway.
#redirect [[Québec]]
Quote from: Bruce on July 09, 2023, 01:36:36 AM
All over the Seattle area. It's pretty common to see just a random I-5 or I-405 shield with an arrow, but no TO banner.
Huh, I was just thinking about WSDOT's overuse of "TO" at the I-5/WA-16 interchange in Tacoma. Every single HOV sign says "TO" on it, despite all ramps being direct-access to the freeway shown:
Split from SB I-5 to WA-16: https://goo.gl/maps/TjUYcHP8KBwCcwDFA
Split from NB I-5 to WA-16: https://goo.gl/maps/q5gamWdbHtm4YygY8
EB WA-16 to I-5: https://goo.gl/maps/BgjNfN78vjFVpTHo6
SB advance signage: https://goo.gl/maps/hxBy1VVq9ueRVAyE7
NB advance signage: https://goo.gl/maps/juG6AG7URgbF144U7
Otherwise you may be right, they totally dropped the ball here:
EB WA-18 to SB-167 (https://goo.gl/maps/G3wLEdq8cm9zx1GJ8) occurs via surface streets that are not part of the highway, but the exit omits any "TO" message.
https://goo.gl/maps/JbankbeVKjeZu8Nf6
Ramp leads to I-78 WB that eventually connects to Route 24.
Interestingly, the opposite side gets it right.
https://goo.gl/maps/unHabSH6iiAs2ADB7
Yes it has to do with the first side having two WB I-78 ramps, with the other side having only one, but the TO is still needed.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on July 09, 2023, 05:52:21 PM
I-696 at M-10/US-24 in Southfield, MI. The signs should show TO US-24, as in both directions you exit to M-10 and then use its ramps to US-24. In fact, the westbound signs show US-24 first:
(https://i.imgur.com/TGepOKu.jpg)
A reverse situation a few miles farther is I-696 west at I-96/I-275/M-5. The signs show TO M-5 even though its ramps are in the middle of the interchange.
I'm sorry but off topic here, but MI has awful signage from Clearview to the thin numbers of the I-696 shield. OK Carry on
https://goo.gl/maps/woEfR5vSWxtaL3E99
The SB NJ 440 should also get a TO Banner as Crows Mill Road leads to it. It's not part of NJ 440.
https://goo.gl/maps/MQUtkNKDXf2iogNw6
Here is a missing TO between NJ 440 and I-287. The sign in the distance gets it right though.
I-184 and US-20/26 in Boise, ID have some weird signage in places.
This sign should say "West I-184 To I-84", as I-84 is still about 3 miles away at this point.
(https://i.imgur.com/K2y9tve.jpg)
GSV Link (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6183662,-116.2300492,3a,90y,267.88h,93.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suyObzDgO1Ag-JEZD6t-aZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
On the other hand, this sign says "To US-20/US-26 Garden City", but the "To" is unnecessary because you are already on US-20/26. The I-184/84 sign next to it is correct at least (though "Airport" is a terrible control city choice).
(https://i.imgur.com/CWKaoLw.jpg)
GSV Link (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6164859,-116.2095571,3a,90y,290.42h,89.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPLv9x8ovlOH-28vaZalD7Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
Here's another unnecessary "To", on a tiny sign. (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6058739,-116.1932884,3a,53.6y,354.05h,93.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY69Q2xuf3O7T2GOfZ13dBw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
Quote from: TheStranger on July 09, 2023, 01:00:07 AM
This is...an absolute California special and has been for decades, hehe.
First example that comes to mind: the signage on I-80 west in San Francisco that marks the mainline as "US 101". I've seen 1980s video of this part of the route and it was signed as... "I-80/US 101" on the BGSes, though that at one point was accurate (back when the I-80 extension to Golden Gate Park was still proposed).
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7814343,-122.3972733,3a,75y,232.83h,92.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5B4KE0Ey9BdJRhGVMndkmQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
In Oakland, I-980 west is already signed as "I-880 SOUTH San Jose" three ramps before 980 actually ends at 880:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8121827,-122.2739975,3a,24.5y,224.85h,92.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVa8nTpjzvSbDb_rlDllS-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D295.83768%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Near the western end of the San Bernardino Freeway, there's a sign that reads "US 101/Los Angeles", but you're already in L.A., and US 101 continues down the Santa Ana Freeway to I-5 south, which indicates that the stub end of the San Bernardino is unnumbered:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0545114,-118.209894,3a,15y,284.38h,93.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stMmqdkZ6NEcXozlIqlgTgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
The whole idea of a control city/destination is to direct traffic to a point that could be considered the center of the city (usually downtown but varies case by case). Thus, "Los Angeles on a sign that's already in Los Angeles" isn't really a valid complaint. The sign is directing traffic to downtown.
You also can't get on US 101 south from that point, only north. The sign is past the exit to reach I-5 south/Santa Ana fwy.
The stub end of the San Bernardino, as far as I know, is officially route 10 (according to California) but not Interstate 10 (since that follows 5 south to connect to the Santa Monica fwy).
I-495 (MA) exit 106 (old 48) should be "TO 125" but just shows a 125 shield. Taking the exit puts you on a 1-mile connector that forces you onto 125 unless you get off earlier, e.g. for BJ's.
Multiple examples on the loop in downtown Kansas City:
* WB I-70 at I-670 and US 71 at the southeast corner (https://goo.gl/maps/PmfNyB9dDW3xHnbX7) is missing the "TO" for I-35 south and I-29 and I-35 north.
* NB US 71 at I-70 and I-670 (https://goo.gl/maps/wpDnGmUWSme9BAsP9) is missing the "TO" for SB I-35 and NB I-29 and I-35.
* I-35 SB at I-670 (https://goo.gl/maps/4skJYFr9adiYqQFY8) is missing the "TO" for eastbound I-70 (along with any mention of I-670).
* NB I-35 at I-670 (https://goo.gl/maps/ZwkHq5NJnimFATby6) is similar to the sign for SB I-35, and is also missing a "TO" for WB I-70.