Signage for incomplete interchanges

[Brandon]

Some DOTs and toll agencies put signs up for incomplete interchanges.  I know that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority does, as seen below:



How many sign incomplete interchanges this way?

[deathtopumpkins]

I've never seen that before, but I've seen plenty of signs in various states (Virginia, for example) that have a yellow "NO RE-ENTRY" banner.

[codyg1985]

Here is an example just north of Montgomery, AL along I-65 north for AL 143. It is a green banner saying "NO RETURN ACCESS".

[NE2]

Here is an example just north of Montgomery, AL along I-65 north for AL 143. It is a green banner saying "NO RETURN ACCESS".

Not the same thing. That type of banner (though black on yellow) is MUTCD standard.

[1995hoo]

I've never seen that before, but I've seen plenty of signs in various states (Virginia, for example) that have a yellow "NO RE-ENTRY" banner.

In a similar vein, I've seen the more detailed "NO RE-ENTRY TO [ROUTE SHIELD AND DIRECTION] AT THIS INTERCHANGE" a few times, but as I sit here I cannot recall where I've seen that usage. I remember the first time I saw it I had a mixed opinion–on the one hand, I thought it was very wordy, but on the other hand, I know there are a lot of people out there who think "EXIT ONLY" means that you can't re-enter the highway, so maybe the longer wording makes sense for them. (I've always liked Delaware's old "MUST EXIT" or "THIS LANE MUST EXIT" for precisely that reason.)


I'm probably going to hell for this, but I can't help but snigger every time I see this particular "NO RE-ENTRY" sign in Florida: http://goo.gl/maps/hTLUa  It's made worse by the name of the road to which the ramp leads.

[texaskdog]

Some DOTs and toll agencies put signs up for incomplete interchanges.  I know that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority does, as seen below:



How many sign incomplete interchanges this way?

Just about impossible to get onto an Illinois tollroad. Took us half an hour back in 2005.

[NE2]

I'm probably going to hell for this, but I can't help but snigger every time I see this particular "NO RE-ENTRY" sign in Florida: http://goo.gl/maps/hTLUa

It's going away soon, if it's not already gone (the interchange is becoming a normal folded diamond).

It's made worse by the name of the road to which the ramp leads.

God damn it. First time I got that. Columbia would have made more sense though...

[PHLBOS]

In MA, which still uses sequential exit numbering, typically posts a NEXT EXIT XX BGS if the next interchange is a partial one that does not offer an exit ramp in the same direction as one's travelling.

In DE, along I-95 northbound, the BGS for Exit 10 (for Harvey Road) has a supplemental panel underneath the main BGS that reads NO RE-ENTRY TO I-95 NORTH.

Not to nitpick, but IMHO the word incomplete in the thread title's a tad misleading.  To me anyways, incomplete interchange impiles that there are 'ghost ramps' present to proposed (or abandoned) extensions.  Signage at some of these interchanges can include a blank BGS panel intended for the ghost ramp(s).

I would've worded the title Signage for partial interchanges.

[NE2]

In MA, which still uses sequential exit numbering, typically posts a NEXT EXIT XX BGS if the next interchange is a partial one that does not offer an exit ramp in the same direction as one's travelling.

Don't they use NO EXIT XX? Or are those gone?

[PHLBOS]

In MA, which still uses sequential exit numbering, typically posts a NEXT EXIT XX BGS if the next interchange is a partial one that does not offer an exit ramp in the same direction as one's travelling.

Don't they use NO EXIT XX? Or are those gone?

I know RI has used NO EXIT XX in the past, but I've never seen such signage in MA.  At least not along I-93 or I-95.

[NE2]

Yeah, I'm probably confusing MA with RI.

[roadman]

In MA, which still uses sequential exit numbering, typically posts a NEXT EXIT XX BGS if the next interchange is a partial one that does not offer an exit ramp in the same direction as one's travelling.

Don't they use NO EXIT XX? Or are those gone?

I know RI has used NO EXIT XX in the past, but I've never seen such signage in MA.  At least not along I-93 or I-95.

"Next Exit XX" signs are actually quite common on Massachusetts freeways.  However, to the best of my knowledge, only one "No Exit XX" sign has ever been installed on a freeway in Massachusetts.  It was put up on I-91 southbound in Springfield just prior to Exit 7 as part of the 1995 I-91 "panels only" sign replacement project and read "No Exit 6":

https://www.aaroads.com/northeast/massachusetts050/i-091_sb_exit_007_02.jpg

[doorknob60]

Here's one along I-84 just east of Troutdale: http://goo.gl/maps/RYTSs

[Mr_Northside]

In a similar vein, I've seen the more detailed "NO RE-ENTRY TO [ROUTE SHIELD AND DIRECTION] AT THIS INTERCHANGE" a few times, but as I sit here I cannot recall where I've seen that usage.

I-70 WB just outside of Frederick utilizes something along those lines.  Someone might have an actual good photo of it, but here is an example from GSV:

I know there are a lot of people out there who think "EXIT ONLY" means that you can't re-enter the highway,

I don't know about that.  Not saying there isn't some out there, but as a percentage of the driving population, I can't believe it's "a lot".

[1995hoo]

I meant "a lot" as in a raw number, not as a percentage. I'm kind of scornful of people who still think it means "no re-entry," so in my mind if more than 100 people think it, that's "a lot." It'd be one thing to think that the very first time or two you see "EXIT ONLY," but by now that wording is ubiquitous the only people who should be confused are foreigners who haven't seen it before or Americans who don't speak English.

[cpzilliacus]

I've never seen that before, but I've seen plenty of signs in various states (Virginia, for example) that have a yellow "NO RE-ENTRY" banner.

Maryland uses that NO RE-ENTRY in at least one location.

[ET21]

There's a similar signage on I-88 for the Sugar Grove and IL-47 exits. Westbound can get off via the Sugar Grove Spur (IL-56 TO US 30 and IL-47) but can't get off at IL-47. Eastbound has an exit for IL-47 but nothing for Sugar Grove

[machias]

NYSDOT has done this in the Syracuse area.  This is the original sign for Exit 11, it was replaced about five years ago with a non-button copy version.

[Eth]

"NO RETURN ACCESS" is the nomenclature in Georgia, as seen here.

[cpzilliacus]

I know RI has used NO EXIT XX in the past, but I've never seen such signage in MA.  At least not along I-93 or I-95.

I believe I saw a NO EXIT 4 sign on I-95 in Rhode Island.

[spooky]

I know RI has used NO EXIT XX in the past, but I've never seen such signage in MA.  At least not along I-93 or I-95.

I believe I saw a NO EXIT 4 sign on I-95 in Rhode Island.

Here: http://goo.gl/maps/ZmAZL

I'm almost certain there's a NO EXIT 17 northbound, but I poked around and couldn't find it. The GSV car was tooling along in the 3rd lane and there were trucks blocking the view of the right edge.

[PHLBOS]

However, to the best of my knowledge, only one "No Exit XX" sign has ever been installed on a freeway in Massachusetts.  It was put up on I-91 southbound in Springfield just prior to Exit 7 as part of the 1995 I-91 "panels only" sign replacement project and read "No Exit 6":

https://www.aaroads.com/northeast/massachusetts050/i-091_sb_exit_007_02.jpg

Update: Having recently checked a Google Earth Street View along the I-93 Southeast Expressway (northbound) in Boston, there is indeed a ground-mounted LGS posted reading NO EXIT 17.  It must've been erected sometime during the Big Dig construction further north.  I don't recall seeing that LGS during the late 80s (following the 1984-85 reconstruction of the SE Expressway).

Truth be told, like the missing Exit 36 along I-495 (discussed in another thread); Exit 17 off I-93 is more of a ghost exit/interchange rather than a partial/incomplete one.  It looks like it got exorcised during the Big Dig.  I could've sworn seeing an Exit 17 off I-93 North back in the very early 90s.

[cpzilliacus]

I know RI has used NO EXIT XX in the past, but I've never seen such signage in MA.  At least not along I-93 or I-95.

I believe I saw a NO EXIT 4 sign on I-95 in Rhode Island.

Here: http://goo.gl/maps/ZmAZL

That's the one.  Have only driven that part of I-95 in that direction once (last weekend), I poked around on GSV but could not find it.

[roadman]

However, to the best of my knowledge, only one "No Exit XX" sign has ever been installed on a freeway in Massachusetts.  It was put up on I-91 southbound in Springfield just prior to Exit 7 as part of the 1995 I-91 "panels only" sign replacement project and read "No Exit 6":

https://www.aaroads.com/northeast/massachusetts050/i-091_sb_exit_007_02.jpg

Update: Having recently checked a Google Earth Street View along the I-93 Southeast Expressway (northbound) in Boston, there is indeed a ground-mounted LGS posted reading NO EXIT 17.  It must've been erected sometime during the Big Dig construction further north.  I don't recall seeing that LGS during the late 80s (following the 1984-85 reconstruction of the SE Expressway).

Truth be told, like the missing Exit 36 along I-495 (discussed in another thread); Exit 17 off I-93 is more of a ghost exit/interchange rather than a partial/incomplete one.  It looks like it got exorcised during the Big Dig.  I could've sworn seeing an Exit 17 off I-93 North back in the very early 90s.

"headslap"!!!!! - also  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DdeLUA0Fms

How did I manage to overlook that one?  And you are correct about the one-time Exit 17 on the Expressway.  It was the old connection to Frontage Road (NB only?) back when Mass. Ave Exit 18 was a left hand exit.  As part of the Big Dig re-configuration, the current Exit 18 now serves both Mass. Ave and Frontage Road, as well as the commercial vehicles only South Boston Haul Road.

[J N Winkler]

Just to add--Ohio DOT has a standard sign to indicate the no re-entry condition.  I think the message template is "NO RE-ENTRY [direction of travel]."