State Borders Not Identified

[briantroutman]

I'm sure almost everyone here knows about the section of NY 17/Future I-86 near Sayre, PA where the right of way crosses from New York into Pennsylvania for a little less than a mile. I believe this section is still maintained by NYSDOT and retains continuity with its NY mile markers and exit numbering. The only way you'd know you had crossed into Pennsylvania are small signs reading "State Border" at the line–but the signs don't even name the state in question. (http://bit.ly/16Dvcac)

So I was wondering...

Are there any other places where either an Interstate, US Route, or other major highway passes though a state so briefly that the crossing isn't identified? And anywhere that one state DOT maintains a highway in another state for a similar reason?

And separately, (though this isn't the case in Sayre) are there any places where a freeway enters a state but it's not possible exit (legally) in that state?

The only one I could think of is I-95/495 at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Washington–which is really just a few hundred feet, I believe.

[NE2]

In during I-684.

[jfs1988]

After exiting the southern part of the state of Nevada Interstate 15 passes through a small part of northwestern Arizona before crossing into the state of Utah. Just a small towns with very low population in the Arizona portion. Funny thing is that after passing the town of Baker in California, Salt Lake City is already in the mileage signs. That is almost a whole day of driving.

https://www.aaroads.com/california/images015/i-015_nb_exit_259_03.jpg

I wonder why Caltrans doesn't add the state abbreviations at the end.

[huskeroadgeek]

MN 23 runs through a short portion of Wisconsin south of Duluth that is maintained by the Minnesota DOT and the state line crossing is not noted on any signs.

[SP Cook]

US 52/119 (Corridor G) passes through Kentucky twice for less than a half mile each time north of Williamson and the "actual" border.  Both are just signed with the type of sign WV uses for county lines, adding the state name in (Pike County Kentucky, Mingo County West Virginia), not the ordinary billboard like welcome signage, which is placed with the road enters Kentucky "for good" in Williamson itself.  The road was built and is maintained by WV.

Since 52 separates from 119 before the "actual" border these two segments represent the entire length of US 52 in the commonwealth.

While they are signed with small markers, WV / VA 102 north of Bluefield leaves Virginia for less than 50 yards for WV, then about 500 yards down the road does this again. The middle section in Virginia formed by this connects to no other road (it would be impossible to leave one's home on that section of road and go anywhere in you home state without entering WV first.

[1995hoo]

The George Washington Memorial Parkway crosses from Virginia to DC (Columbia Island, on the "Virginia side" of the Potomac but part of DC) and back again. No signs are posted and I'd wager most people think the island is part of Virginia (also no signs are posted on the other roads that cross onto or from that island).


(Edited to fix a spelling error)

[roadman65]

With DC being talked about, I think that most streets crossing from MD into our Nation's Capital are not signed.  Maybe a couple of streets on the MD side have it marked with a Welcome sign for MD, but that is it.  I do know that I-395 has no markings on the 14th Street Bridges.

I-78 at time of opening in 1990 at the Delaware River had no marking EB that you were entering NJ.  At the actual state line, PennDOT had a small blue on white city/township entry sign you see at community borders letting motorists know that they are entering the City of Phillipsburg though.  I recently checked GSV and it appears that New Jersey still has not marked it anyplace unless a sign further into the state is present just like on NJ 495 where the Welcome to NJ sign is located at the NJ 3 exit almost 3 miles from the Hudson River where the actual boundary is.

[1995hoo]

With DC being talked about, I think that most streets crossing from MD into our Nation's Capital are not signed.  Maybe a couple of streets on the MD side have it marked with a Welcome sign for MD, but that is it.  I do know that I-395 has no markings on the 14th Street Bridges.

....

Outbound I-395 has a Virginia welcome sign located between the carriageways. Inbound doesn't. Come to think of it, the DC welcome signs I recall on some other roads (Memorial Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge) are long gone too and I can't think of any current DC welcome sign.

[The High Plains Traveler]

After exiting the southern part of the state of Nevada Interstate 15 passes through a small part of northwestern Arizona before crossing into the state of Utah. Just a small towns with very low population in the Arizona portion. Funny thing is that after passing the town of Baker in California, Salt Lake City is already in the mileage signs. That is almost a whole day of driving.

https://www.aaroads.com/california/images015/i-015_nb_exit_259_03.jpg

I wonder why Caltrans doesn't add the state abbreviations at the end.

Why should they? There isn't any ambiguity as to which Las Vegas they are referring to (no chance it's New Mexico). Colorado doesn't put other-state abbreviations on its interstate mileage signs, even for Las Vegas (NM).

[roadman65]

With DC being talked about, I think that most streets crossing from MD into our Nation's Capital are not signed.  Maybe a couple of streets on the MD side have it marked with a Welcome sign for MD, but that is it.  I do know that I-395 has no markings on the 14th Street Bridges.

....

Outbound I-395 has a Virginia welcome sign located between the carriageways. Inbound doesn't. Come to think of it, the DC welcome signs I recall on some other roads (Memorial Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge) are long gone too and I can't think of any current DC welcome sign.

I also caught on GSV that on Washington Boulevard at Boundary Channel, there is an outbound sign (small though, but one for sure) a Welcome to Virginia sign.

[1995hoo]

I also caught on GSV that on Washington Boulevard at Boundary Channel, there is an outbound sign (small though, but one for sure) a Welcome to Virginia sign.

Correct, it's one of the old-style blue ones. I forgot about that one when I made my earlier post even though I pass it all the time. D'oh.

[andrewkbrown]

DC 295 entering from Maryland:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.911639,-76.933351&spn=0.001018,0.005284&cbp=12,231.61,,1,3.85&layer=c&panoid=e0gB1U4Ysz1TuWabZjge5Q&cbll=38.910325,-76.935895&t=h&z=18

5-way intersection of Eastern Ave. NE, Sheriff Rd. NE and Division Ave NE:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.903716,-76.921839&spn=0.002037,0.010568&cbp=12,228.15,,0,3.95&layer=c&panoid=6xJq4b7YnuQsmXJMZ76Fnw&cbll=38.903998,-76.923599&t=h&z=17

Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.898373,-76.917354&spn=0.004509,0.010568&cbp=12,298.52,,0,4.11&layer=c&panoid=lfFVy2Ae7R1Z5R-im4jc6Q&cbll=38.89837,-76.917497&t=h&z=17

Southern Ave. and E. Capitol St.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.88948,-76.913942&spn=0.002038,0.010568&cbp=12,307.79,,0,6.4&layer=c&panoid=TdmYB9eRSoxUXACkltIHmQ&cbll=38.889813,-76.912827&t=h&z=17

Southern Ave SE and Benning Rd. SE has this little sign, in addition to the wood and brick welcome sign if you pan to the right:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.876092,-76.931055&spn=0.002038,0.010568&cbp=12,283.24,,0,7.26&layer=c&panoid=m76GnDI9mnz3DlZ5ERsclA&cbll=38.876091,-76.931056&t=h&z=17

Southern Ave SE and Pennsylvania Ave SE:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.863704,-76.946536&spn=0.004511,0.010568&cbp=12,354.81,,0,14.89&layer=c&panoid=871jAX79XxGlzA5NLxE2-w&cbll=38.863655,-76.946417&t=h&z=17

From the Clara Barton Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.936813,-77.108445&spn=0.018026,0.042272&cbp=12,155.42,,1,3.49&layer=c&panoid=k9cLvhvb5kDEaTCL5S7xRA&cbll=38.93689,-77.116719&t=h&z=15

[TEG24601]

Not quite the same, but in Newport, WA/Oldtown, ID, one side of the road is SR-41 the other is SH-41.  So unless you know the difference you'd never know you'd crossed the state Line until you saw a reassurance marker.

[jp the roadgeek]

Here's a shot looking north on a Dutchess County, NY Route.  To the right is the beginning of CT 41.  Other than the cement marker, no other reassurance signs that you're crossing from NY into CT.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.824197,-73.505316&spn=0.000064,0.042272&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=41.824276,-73.50533&panoid=BqHlt7dQFH412-YqaH6LuA&cbp=12,0,,0,0

[1995hoo]

"andrewkbrown," interesting stuff. Those all look brand-new. I am certain the one on Sheriff Road, in particular, was not there the most recent time I went that way (late one night on the way home from FedEx Field). Maybe they'll put up some more. They look a lot nicer than the ugly old signs they had during Marion Barry's years as mayor that said "Welcome to Washington–A Capital City" with his name underneath.

[roadman65]

I also caught on GSV that on Washington Boulevard at Boundary Channel, there is an outbound sign (small though, but one for sure) a Welcome to Virginia sign.

Correct, it's one of the old-style blue ones. I forgot about that one when I made my earlier post even though I pass it all the time. D'oh.

You're forgiven!

[cpzilliacus]

With DC being talked about, I think that most streets crossing from MD into our Nation's Capital are not signed.  Maybe a couple of streets on the MD side have it marked with a Welcome sign for MD, but that is it.  I do know that I-395 has no markings on the 14th Street Bridges.

....

Outbound I-395 has a Virginia welcome sign located between the carriageways. Inbound doesn't. Come to think of it, the DC welcome signs I recall on some other roads (Memorial Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge) are long gone too and I can't think of any current DC welcome sign.

The National Park Service does not like to post state line signs on its motor roads. 

Last time I drove it (quite a few years ago), there was no sign at the Virginia/North Carolina border on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  There are no signs at all where the George Washington Memorial Parkway goes from Virginia onto Columbia  Island (which is the District of Columbia), nor is there a sign on Memorial Drive where it crosses the line near the main entrance to Arlington Cemetery (remember that all of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, even the "Virginia" end, is in D.C.).  No signs at the extreme south end of the Baltimore Washington Parkway (at the D.C./Maryland border - the D.C. side is DDOT-maintained New York Avenue, N.E., the Maryland side is the federal parkway).

Strangely, there are signs on the Clara Barton Parkway where it crosses the D.C/Maryland  boundary. 

[cpzilliacus]

Southern Ave. and E. Capitol St.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.88948,-76.913942&spn=0.002038,0.010568&cbp=12,307.79,,0,6.4&layer=c&panoid=TdmYB9eRSoxUXACkltIHmQ&cbll=38.889813,-76.912827&t=h&z=17

Southern Ave SE and Pennsylvania Ave SE:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=38.863704,-76.946536&spn=0.004511,0.010568&cbp=12,354.81,,0,14.89&layer=c&panoid=871jAX79XxGlzA5NLxE2-w&cbll=38.863655,-76.946417&t=h&z=17

I believe both of these large Welcome to Washington signs were actually installed on the Maryland side of the border.

[Mapmikey]

Blue Ridge Pkwy has identified the state line at least the last several years...




Natchez Trace marks Tenn/Ala line - http://goo.gl/maps/AWyGO
also Miss/Ala line - http://goo.gl/maps/NOF9p

Yellowstone marks Montana line on US 89 north - http://goo.gl/maps/pYmhn
also on US 212 - http://goo.gl/maps/TSMD6
West Yellowstone did not appear to be marked.

GMSV is terrible but I couldn't find anything on US 441 in GSMNP.


Mapmikey

[hbelkins]

GMSV is terrible but I couldn't find anything on US 441 in GSMNP.

It's there, or at least it used to be. Been there many times in my life.

[corco]

US 191 north of West Yellowstone, MT is not signed where it enters Wyoming for 3 or 4 miles. It's under National Park Service jurisdiction so I guess they don't see a need to indicate it.

[Molandfreak]

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.500678,-91.373721&spn=0.001226,0.002189&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=43.500678,-91.373721&panoid=wWtnwW3AxdI1dsfXhxwAlg&cbp=12,277.43,,0,21.46

Houston County identifies with a county road 2 shield, but nothing on Iowa's part. Smaller county roads in MN typically don't have a welcome sign; just a reassuring shield from the county.

[roadman65]

Blue Ridge Pkwy has identified the state line at least the last several years...




Natchez Trace marks Tenn/Ala line - http://goo.gl/maps/AWyGO
also Miss/Ala line - http://goo.gl/maps/NOF9p

Yellowstone marks Montana line on US 89 north - http://goo.gl/maps/pYmhn
also on US 212 - http://goo.gl/maps/TSMD6
West Yellowstone did not appear to be marked.

GMSV is terrible but I couldn't find anything on US 441 in GSMNP.


Mapmikey

When I drove the Blue Ridge Parkway back in 93, I saw a line drawn across it where the NC/ VA Border was.  I have not been there since, but I see in the photo that it is gone.  No surprise as its been 20 years, and things change nowadays overnight!

[KEVIN_224]

In during I-684.

Actually, there are small green signs which indicate you're entering and leaving Greenwich, CT on I-684, between Exits 2 and 3 in North Castle, NY (Westchester County).

Also, not far from there, NY Route 120A (King Street?) straddles the CT border a few times.

[Duke87]

Actually, there are small green signs which indicate you're entering and leaving Greenwich, CT on I-684, between Exits 2 and 3 in North Castle, NY (Westchester County).

But there are no exits in Connecticut, so it answers the second question. This and 95/495 in DC are the only two places where an interstate highway enters a state or state equivalent but has no exits within that state.

Some non-interstate examples of a road barely clipping a state:

- PA 896 becomes MD 896 and shortly thereafter becomes DE 896. It is possible to get to MD 896 from the rest of Maryland without going through Pennsylvania or Delaware but only via local roads, so it's orphaned as far as the state highway network is concerned.

- US 340 passes through Virginia for less than a mile between West Virginia and Maryland. VA secondary 671 ends on it, so whether it is a state highway orphan depends on whether you count the secondaries.

- US 52 (and US 119 along with it) briefly enters Kentucky before hopping back into West Virginia from whence it came... twice! This by the way is a modern occurrence resulting from the road being widened and straightened, the original road did not enter Kentucky in either spot. In both places a short road provides an almost direct connection to KY 292.  So, not quite orphaned, but still noteworthy.

Also, not far from there, NY Route 120A (King Street?) straddles the CT border a few times.

Straddles the border for a while and fully enters Connecticut twice. There are no signs of any sort acknowledging this, so it is an answer to the original question.

Also, ME 113 enters New Hampshire twice. Three of the crossings are marked but one of them (the third one going north) is not.