Interstates without a welcome sign after crossing a state line

[SkyPesos]

Most of the time, when interstates cross a state line, there's a sign that welcomes you into the new state. How many examples can we think of where that doesn't happen?

Here's the only one in the Cincinnati area:
- I-71 N into Ohio. I-71/75 enters Ohio as a concurrency, and the welcome sign occurs right after I-71 exits off the concurrency, in which it's I-75's only.

The rest of the border crossings have a welcome sign (yes, even I-275's short length in Indiana and two border crossings on the west side have signs for all three states). I-471 N into Ohio's is tiny that it may be easy to miss.

[OCGuy81]

I-205 entering Washington.

[vdeane]

I-395 and I-66 entering DC

I-205 entering Washington.

If the "entering Washington" sign on the bridge doesn't count (IMO it doesn't), then I'd say the "entering Oregon" signs on I-5 and I-205 in the area don't count either.  Does I-5 have a proper welcome sign at some point in Washington heading north?  I didn't see one when I looked.

[OCGuy81]

I-395 and I-66 entering DC

I-205 entering Washington.

If the "entering Washington" sign on the bridge doesn't count (IMO it doesn't), then I'd say the "entering Oregon" signs on I-5 and I-205 in the area don't count either.  Does I-5 have a proper welcome sign at some point in Washington heading north?  I didn't see one when I looked.

There's a Welcome to Washington display on I-5 at the 4th Plain interchange

[jp the roadgeek]

I-86 where it dips into PA near Waverly, NY.  Just an LGS that says STATE BORDER
I-684 entering and leaving Greenwich, CT  Just a typical NYSDOT town line sign that says Entering Greenwich, CT

[JayhawkCO]

I-78 in NJ/NY.  Just a tile border in the tunnel.

Chris

[NWI_Irish96]

I-90 WB welcomes you to Chicago but not to Illinois.

[jmacswimmer]

Ever since its realignment onto the Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge, I-95 south has no welcome sign entering Pennsylvania (although FWIW, there are these markers halfway across the Delaware).  I-276 has a "Welcome to the Pennsylvania Turnpike" sign just after I-95 departs, but still no proper "Welcome to PA - Pursue your Happiness!!!" sign (compare to the west end of the Turnpike at Ohio, which has both signs).

I-78 in NJ/NY.  Just a tile border in the tunnel.

Chris

There does actually appear to be a "Welcome to New York" sign as eastbound traffic enters the roundabout, and then I suppose it's debatable whether this "Welcome to Jersey City, New Jersey" sign at the westbound exit counts (certainly not the typical NJ welcome sign, if that's what the OP specifically had in mind).

EDITED TO ADD: There's also the NJTA-style welcome sign on I-78 several miles downstream on the Newark Bay Extension.

I-395 and I-66 entering DC

I-295 as well....and of course, I-95/I-495

[KCRoadFan]

I-90 WB welcomes you to Chicago but not to Illinois.

I know that on occasion, some state legislator from the downstate area of Illinois will introduce a bill to split off the Chicago area from the rest of the state, or at least make some noises about wanting to do so. Is IDOT trying to throw them a bone here, perhaps?

[MikeTheActuary]

I know that on occasion, some state legislator from the downstate area of Illinois will introduce a bill to split off the Chicago area from the rest of the state, or at least make some noises about wanting to do so. Is IDOT trying to throw them a bone here, perhaps?

Isn't the Skyway overseen by the City of Chicago (contracted out to a private entity) rather than IDOT?

[webny99]

I-395 and I-66 entering DC

I-295 as well....and of course, I-95/I-495

I forgot about DC, but glad it came up because it is a somewhat glaring omission. There should definitely be a welcome sign of some sort for first time visitors and tourists.

[NWI_Irish96]

I know that on occasion, some state legislator from the downstate area of Illinois will introduce a bill to split off the Chicago area from the rest of the state, or at least make some noises about wanting to do so. Is IDOT trying to throw them a bone here, perhaps?

Isn't the Skyway overseen by the City of Chicago (contracted out to a private entity) rather than IDOT?

Yes, the Skyway is a CDOT highway and not IDOT. Thus no sign welcoming you to Illinois.

[roadman65]

I-78 east entering NJ from PA lacks one according toGSV.

[deathtopumpkins]

You could argue I-89 southbound doesn't actually have a proper NH welcome sign - because the sign is along the Exit 20 offramp rather than the mainline: https://goo.gl/maps/1GZgayRFV5d6KFvXA

I don't think Rhode Island posted any prominent welcome signs until the current generation went up a few years ago, so all you got was a little green "entering Rhode Island" sign.

Until the current generation went up about 5 years ago, all Vermont used was a tiny, easy-to-miss welcome sign that was definitely not sized for interstates: https://goo.gl/maps/suP6vp9cRSmkYVR49

[kphoger]

I know that on occasion, some state legislator from the downstate area of Illinois will introduce a bill to split off the Chicago area from the rest of the state, or at least make some noises about wanting to do so. Is IDOT trying to throw them a bone here, perhaps?

Isn't the Skyway overseen by the City of Chicago (contracted out to a private entity) rather than IDOT?

Yes, the Skyway is a CDOT highway and not IDOT. Thus no sign welcoming you to Illinois.

I'm pretty sure that doesn't prevent the sign saying "Welcome to Illinois" instead of "Welcome to Chicago".  It explains why it doesn't, but it's not like CDOT has no choice about what the sign should say.

[NWI_Irish96]

I know that on occasion, some state legislator from the downstate area of Illinois will introduce a bill to split off the Chicago area from the rest of the state, or at least make some noises about wanting to do so. Is IDOT trying to throw them a bone here, perhaps?

Isn't the Skyway overseen by the City of Chicago (contracted out to a private entity) rather than IDOT?

Yes, the Skyway is a CDOT highway and not IDOT. Thus no sign welcoming you to Illinois.

I'm pretty sure that doesn't prevent the sign saying "Welcome to Illinois" instead of "Welcome to Chicago".  It explains why it doesn't, but it's not like CDOT has no choice about what the sign should say.

True, CDOT could put up whatever they want, but IDOT produces the signs at the other state lines so CDOT would be creating something on their own or contracting IDOT to make them on and either way it doesn't seem like anything CDOT would be interested in. I think they assume you know that if you're in Chicago that you're also in Illinois.

[hotdogPi]

I think they assume you know that if you're in Chicago that you're also in Illinois.

It's not obvious that the state line isn't before the Chicago city limits, though.

[kphoger]

True, CDOT could put up whatever they want, but IDOT produces the signs at the other state lines so CDOT would be creating something on their own or contracting IDOT to make them on and either way it doesn't seem like anything CDOT would be interested in.

Are you assuming that the only "Welcome to Illinois" sign possible is the IDOT-style one?  They could have simply put the word Illinois instead of Chicago on the one they did install.

Suggested green-out job:

[vdeane]

Until the current generation went up about 5 years ago, all Vermont used was a tiny, easy-to-miss welcome sign that was definitely not sized for interstates: https://goo.gl/maps/suP6vp9cRSmkYVR49

They had one, on I-91 from MA.  Not sure why the other interstate entrances didn't use them.

I-395 and I-66 entering DC

I-295 as well....and of course, I-95/I-495

I forgot about DC, but glad it came up because it is a somewhat glaring omission. There should definitely be a welcome sign of some sort for first time visitors and tourists.

They actually do have one, but unfortunately don't use it on the interstates.

[jmacswimmer]

They actually do have one, but unfortunately don't use it on the interstates.

Wow - in all the times I've driven thru there on DC 295, I've never once noticed that sign  (maybe because I'm closely watching my speedometer due to DC's revenue generators speed cameras...)

Ironically, this is also one location where a state welcome sign is missing when exiting DC (unlike the previously-referenced I-66, I-295, & I-395 which all have welcome signs entering VA/MD).

I-78 east entering NJ from PA lacks one according toGSV.

I see one in the July 2019 imagery (to be fair, it is rather small and easy to miss in the median).

[webny99]

They actually do have one, but unfortunately don't use it on the interstates.

Wow - in all the times I've driven thru there on DC 295, I've never once noticed that sign  (maybe because I'm closely watching my speedometer due to DC's revenue generators speed cameras...)

Or maybe you were looking at your speedometer wondering when it would ever budge from 0 mph. Traffic can be an absolute nightmare on that stretch. I missed the sign, too, but it's so low to the ground that it's easy to overlook - especially in the shadow of the VMS.

[jeffandnicole]

I-676 entering NJ from Philly.   If you remain on I-676, after it ends at I-76, you'll finally see a Welcome to NJ sign.  But there's nothing at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge or on 676 itself.

You can argue that the sign on the far left here qualifies https://goo.gl/maps/c6HbhxSTpRnGBFSa8 , but I doubt too many people are looking left across another highway (US 30) at this point when the roadway and exits are taking you to the right. 

[GCrites]

How are people supposed to know if a state is Open For Business or not if there's no welcome sign?

[hobsini2]

True, CDOT could put up whatever they want, but IDOT produces the signs at the other state lines so CDOT would be creating something on their own or contracting IDOT to make them on and either way it doesn't seem like anything CDOT would be interested in.

Are you assuming that the only "Welcome to Illinois" sign possible is the IDOT-style one?  They could have simply put the word Illinois instead of Chicago on the one they did install.

Suggested green-out job:

As a side not, Indianapolis Blvd on the Illinois side ALSO does not have a welcome sign for Illinois despite being an IDOT highway (US 12-20-41). Indiana does. Also, the interchange ramp for the WB Skyway from Indianapolis Blvd used to be within 50 feet on the state line. Notice the bridge pillar split.  https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7031825,-87.5245844,3a,50.7y,311.47h,77.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sE1OjNRuPa0FUTeFfDXRQlg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
They changed this a few years ago and moved it to the 106th St intersection.
You can also see the change of jurisdiction under the bridge by the paint colors. Illinois is that rust brown and Indiana has a lighter green at the top.

[epzik8]

Weird story about this: My dad didn't think there was one southbound on I-95 going from Connecticut into New York when we went that way in 2012 on the home leg of a New England/Atlantic Maritimes trip. At the state line, he was complaining about a tractor-trailer that was riding into our lane. A few minutes later we're on 287 (we were making our way to 87 so we could go through the Bronx and out to the GWB) and he says "I guess New York doesn't welcome you to their state". I told him he hadn't been paying attention to the state welcome sign.