The Worst of Road Signs

[cl94]

The Northern State Pkwy. and L.I.E. share a control city at the former's exit 29:
[image removed]
Disclaimer: this sign is NOT a candidate for Worst Of.  It only illustrates same control city on two signs in the same assembly.

What seems in my mind to make the Chicago and New York examples OK is that both involve essentially parallel routes from a far enough distance away.  Heck, I-90 and 94 will intersect and join before downtown, and the Northern State Pkwy. will become the Grand Central and intersect the LIE before reaching Manhattan, so either is OK in the big picture.

Maybe one little change to make on such scenarios is to label the "weaker" route of the two as "New York -- Alt Route" for example on the Northern Parkway BGS.  For those not familiar with an area, that may tell them the best way to take (I-495).   Obviously, "locals" will take whichever route they deem is the fastest at the time based on the traffic reports &/or GPS.

The Chicago scenario is a little more defined on their BGSs -- one way is via a Toll Road(s) while the other way is free.

I have to disagree. Both routes are pretty much equal in travel time and go to the same place (literally-they enter New York a couple blocks apart and they intersect again near LGA). As such, I'd say that "New York" is adequate for both. Travel time signs direct drivers to whichever has less traffic. Destination is a major factor as well- if you're going to midtown or western Brooklyn, you'd typically use the LIE, but the Northern State is often best if you're going to either airport, upper Manhattan, the Bronx, or the southern parts of Brooklyn and Queens. If you're not a commercial vehicle, the Northern State is almost always the best option. Because of how ramps are set up in Queens, it's a lot more complicated than "tell non-locals to use one route".

[kkt]

If the signs aren't there to offer non-locals a choice, why not just post the route numbers?

[noelbotevera]

Another example of "same control city" - this is on I-81 SB just east of Colonial Park, at MM 71.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.323331,-76.814736,3a,26.3y,258.11h,99.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFYMmST_YR9d_m9j9hb4wXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.325165,-76.808848,3a,75y,281.56h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqogCTNC7NawXmCquP3q7nw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Then the split....MM 70.6 or so

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.316979,-76.826073,3a,75y,229.7h,103.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szz6JTNwbJSPemK_lzzgIlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

There is also a sign saying

I-83
Harrisburg
York

then a distance sign on I-81 SB saying

Harrisburg 7
Carlisle 26

Make up your mind, I-83 or I-81!!???

[SignGeek101]

Another example of "same control city" - this is on I-81 SB just east of Colonial Park, at MM 71.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.323331,-76.814736,3a,26.3y,258.11h,99.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFYMmST_YR9d_m9j9hb4wXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.325165,-76.808848,3a,75y,281.56h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqogCTNC7NawXmCquP3q7nw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Then the split....MM 70.6 or so

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.316979,-76.826073,3a,75y,229.7h,103.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szz6JTNwbJSPemK_lzzgIlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

There is also a sign saying

I-83
Harrisburg
York

then a distance sign on I-81 SB saying

Harrisburg 7
Carlisle 26

Make up your mind, I-83 or I-81!!???

THIS sign here is true Worst Of. You should just follow I-83 to US 22, not I-81!

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.321636,-76.819565,3a,75y,253.49h,88.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqgCnm1m9C4u-mvjcX5dJ-A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I don't think you understand the concept of 'worst of'. Signs posted in 'worst of' should be signs that are put together in an atrocious or appalling way. None of those signs are perfect (and maybe slightly erroneous), but their construction is of decent quality.

Anyway, about two control cities, perhaps the best way is to identify the part of the city that freeway goes to. For example:

https://goo.gl/maps/qGsqF (not worst of, just an example)

Both freeways go to Hamilton, but one just "skirts by" the city while the other goes near the Downtown. Having "north (city)" and "south (city)" or something isn't that bad, and is better than having a vague control city of "New York", New York being quite large.

[thenetwork]

Speaking of confusing New York City signs, There is the one on the eastbound Ohio Turnpike at the I-80/I-76 "hand-off" (Exit 218), where the control city for I-80 East off the pike is "New York City -- Via Penna". 

For many people -- especially those who don't wish to give a load of cash to the PA & NJ turnpike authorities -- the sign is saying that you should exit I-80 East off the turnpike and use that route through Pennsylvania to get to NYC.  Yet some people unfamiliar with the area could potentially get confused as "Via Penna" could mean staying on the Penna Pike to get to NYC (via the OH/PA/NJ turnpikes), which is also an option and a true statement.  In fact there is/was signage earlier on the Ohio Turnpike that gave mileage to NYC "Via Turnpikes", which would indicate the preferred route is via Philly.

[mwb1848]

I think what's frustrating, though, about the Las Cruces example is this: As far as interstate travelers are concerned, you've reached Las Cruces. The reason it is a valuable control city is precisely because it's the point at which I-10 intersects I-25. If I'm using I-10 to travel from Jacksonville to L.A., the usefulness of Las Cruces is only that it's west of El Paso – not that I can access different parts of it by following different freeways within the city limits.

[jbnv]

I think what's frustrating, though, about the Las Cruces example is this: As far as interstate travelers are concerned, you've reached Las Cruces. The reason it is a valuable control city is precisely because it's the point at which I-10 intersects I-25. If I'm using I-10 to travel from Jacksonville to L.A., the usefulness of Las Cruces is only that it's west of El Paso – not that I can access different parts of it by following different freeways within the city limits.

That could be alleviated somewhat by making a "Las Cruces Exits" sign similar to the Harrisburg Exits sign linked earlier. Then at the 10-25 split, put Deming and Albuquerque as the control cities.

[mrsman]

I think what's frustrating, though, about the Las Cruces example is this: As far as interstate travelers are concerned, you've reached Las Cruces. The reason it is a valuable control city is precisely because it's the point at which I-10 intersects I-25. If I'm using I-10 to travel from Jacksonville to L.A., the usefulness of Las Cruces is only that it's west of El Paso – not that I can access different parts of it by following different freeways within the city limits.

That could be alleviated somewhat by making a "Las Cruces Exits" sign similar to the Harrisburg Exits sign linked earlier. Then at the 10-25 split, put Deming and Albuquerque as the control cities.

In my view, the Hamilton and the Harrisburg signs got this right.  Both 81 and 83 go to Harrisburg, one goes to the north side of town and the other goes to the south side of town.

Las Cruces needs to be similarly differentiated:

I-25 North East Las Cruces, Albuquerque
I-10 West West Las Cruces, Tucson

[national highway 1]

Credit to Travelingbethelite

[jakeroot]

Credit to Travelingbethelite

http://i.imgur.com/FyadPzi.jpg

Not really that bad. Just a design error, more or less. I think it would be worst-of if the 6 was applied poorly or something along those lines.

[empirestate]

Credit to Travelingbethelite

http://i.imgur.com/FyadPzi.jpg

Not really that bad. Just a design error, more or less. I think it would be worst-of if the 6 was applied poorly or something along those lines.

It would be worst-of if the 6 were scribbled in with crayons.

[intelati49]

Credit to Travelingbethelite

http://i.imgur.com/FyadPzi.jpg

Not really that bad. Just a design error, more or less. I think it would be worst-of if the 6 was applied poorly or something along those lines.

It would be worst-of if the 6 were scribbled in with crayons.

Duct tape

[TravelingBethelite]

Thank you for the photo credit-and remember, this is US 6 we're talking about-actually, that's what connects us to I-84.

[jakeroot]

Thank you for the photo credit-and remember, this is US 6 we're talking about-actually, that's what connects us to I-84.

Good point. That might actually make it worst-of. Erroneous plus design error.

[Scott5114]

What's the MUTCD say about using the same control city for multiple routes?

It says not to do that, but I can't remember if that's a Standard or just Guidance.

Happens where I-35 northbound splits off the Kansas Turnpike. Kansas City is listed for both I-35 and I-335.

The current verbiage, simply listing Kansas City twice, is fairly recent. Previous signs had this text:

[kkt]

The current verbiage, simply listing Kansas City twice, is fairly recent. Previous signs had this text:

That makes it a lot clearer to people who are strangers to the area!  Too bad they changed it.

[hbelkins]

Given it's the turnpike, I'd think they'd emphasize going to KC via the toll route, leaving "Kansas City" on the turnpike and "Kans City via I-35" for the I-35 exit.

[noelbotevera]

The current verbiage, simply listing Kansas City twice, is fairly recent. Previous signs had this text:

That makes it a lot clearer to people who are strangers to the area!  Too bad they changed it.

Except, I-70 is a good 80 miles north of here. That mainline pull through is for strangers to pay more, and in reality, just enjoy a free ride to Kansas City via I-35. You'll see I-70 later there.

[Scott5114]

The current verbiage, simply listing Kansas City twice, is fairly recent. Previous signs had this text:

That makes it a lot clearer to people who are strangers to the area!  Too bad they changed it.

Except, I-70 is a good 80 miles north of here. That mainline pull through is for strangers to pay more, and in reality, just enjoy a free ride to Kansas City via I-35. You'll see I-70 later there.

However, I-335 is quite empty, and I-35 is not. Depending on where in Kansas City you're going, taking the turnpike route is faster since you get to skip Johnson County entirely. If you're going to, say, Omaha via I-29, you can take 70 to 435 and bypass practically the entire city.

[iBallasticwolf2]

This one is self-explanatory.
[/url[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/133197723@N05/]
Compare it with a typical KY 17 shield.

[Brandon]

This one is self-explanatory.
[/url[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/133197723@N05/]

Definitely bad.  It merits ugly, but the way the "17" is off-kilter when compared to the rest of the sign (and I use the term "sign" loosely here) throws it into disgusting, and a candidate for this thread, IMHO.

[intelati49]

This one is self-explanatory.

ugly.jpg

Good lord... I'm assuming that's a non DOT assembly?

That's probably the worst I have seen here.

[iBallasticwolf2]

This one is self-explanatory.
[/url[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/133197723@N05/]

Definitely bad.  It merits ugly, but the way the "17" is off-kilter when compared to the rest of the sign (and I use the term "sign" loosely here) throws it into disgusting, and a candidate for this thread, IMHO.

Notice the stretched out "North". This sign is two of a kind. It has a partner in crime at the other end of the McDonalds entrance here. (I can't remember if it says the same thing or :TO SOUTH 17.

[iBallasticwolf2]

This one is self-explanatory.

ugly.jpg

Good lord... I'm assuming that's a non DOT assembly?

That's probably the worst I have seen here.

This sign and it's partner are both at a parking lot for a gas station and McDonalds. I severely hope this is city installed or installed by the companies running the business's.
Is this worse than the JCT Florida SR 100 shield?

[intelati49]

This one is self-explanatory.

ugly.jpg

Good lord... I'm assuming that's a non DOT assembly?

That's probably the worst I have seen here.

This sign and it's partner are both at a parking lot for a gas station and McDonalds. I severely hope this is city installed or installed by the companies running the business's.
Is this worse than the JCT Florida SR 100 shield?

I may have missed that one... Bring me up to date? Although the Fungus one deserves it's own tag