Ohio

[Rothman]

Ohio doesn't do spurs.

I-480's eastern end...

[countysigns]

Wasn't Interstate 280 a very substandard freeway when it was first constructed? It originally had at-grade intersections and even a traffic signal. It also had some interchanges that were later removed.

Extremely substandard! Until the mid-1980's, Curtice Road was a RIRO before the interchange at Woodville Road (OH-51) (Exit 6 A/B) was redesigned.  Basically, anything south of Woodville Road was an intersection.

Walbridge Road (now Exit 4) had the infamous traffic signal before the exit was built in the 1980's!  Here's an article about installing the traffic signal -> https://tinyurl.com/5n74br94

Lemoyne Road and Ayers Road intersected I-280.  OH-795 was an original exit (Exit 2).

Latcha and Hanley Roads intersected before the Bahnsen Road (Exit 1B) interchange was built to service the truck stops along I-280.  You can read about that here -> https://tinyurl.com/2jzv3zr3

If you wanted to see what I-280 looked like before the exits, take a look at OH-420 which begins/ends where I-280 begins/ends.  It still has crossroads, but I-280's median was a lot narrower, if I remember correctly.

Not to mention the old drawbridge over the Maumee River...thank goodness the Skyway was built, ending almost 50 years of aggravation 

[JCinSummerfield]

As I traveled on the Ohio Turnpike on Sunday, a question came to mind...
Why was I-280 numbered I-280 versus I-X90?  I know I-80 and I-90 were supposed to have two different carriageways beginning around the Norwalk area but why did I-280 receive a I-X80 number?

If it were Michigan deciding route numbers, all of I-280 would be OH-420.

[GCrites]

Wasn't Interstate 280 a very substandard freeway when it was first constructed? It originally had at-grade intersections and even a traffic signal. It also had some interchanges that were later removed.

Extremely substandard! Until the mid-1980's, Curtice Road was a RIRO before the interchange at Woodville Road (OH-51) (Exit 6 A/B) was redesigned.  Basically, anything south of Woodville Road was an intersection.

Walbridge Road (now Exit 4) had the infamous traffic signal before the exit was built in the 1980's!  Here's an article about installing the traffic signal -> https://tinyurl.com/5n74br94

Lemoyne Road and Ayers Road intersected I-280.  OH-795 was an original exit (Exit 2).

Latcha and Hanley Roads intersected before the Bahnsen Road (Exit 1B) interchange was built to service the truck stops along I-280.  You can read about that here -> https://tinyurl.com/2jzv3zr3

If you wanted to see what I-280 looked like before the exits, take a look at OH-420 which begins/ends where I-280 begins/ends.  It still has crossroads, but I-280's median was a lot narrower, if I remember correctly.

Not to mention the old drawbridge over the Maumee River...thank goodness the Skyway was built, ending almost 50 years of aggravation 

Every time I look at I-280 it strikes me how many post-war businesses were obviously easily accessed directly from it as at-grades. We don't have anything like that in Columbus since all of our interstates were on brand-new alignments.

[thenetwork]

Wasn't Interstate 280 a very substandard freeway when it was first constructed? It originally had at-grade intersections and even a traffic signal. It also had some interchanges that were later removed.

Extremely substandard! Until the mid-1980's, Curtice Road was a RIRO before the interchange at Woodville Road (OH-51) (Exit 6 A/B) was redesigned.  Basically, anything south of Woodville Road was an intersection.

Walbridge Road (now Exit 4) had the infamous traffic signal before the exit was built in the 1980's!  Here's an article about installing the traffic signal -> https://tinyurl.com/5n74br94

Lemoyne Road and Ayers Road intersected I-280.  OH-795 was an original exit (Exit 2).

Latcha and Hanley Roads intersected before the Bahnsen Road (Exit 1B) interchange was built to service the truck stops along I-280.  You can read about that here -> https://tinyurl.com/2jzv3zr3

If you wanted to see what I-280 looked like before the exits, take a look at OH-420 which begins/ends where I-280 begins/ends.  It still has crossroads, but I-280's median was a lot narrower, if I remember correctly.

Not to mention the old drawbridge over the Maumee River...thank goodness the Skyway was built, ending almost 50 years of aggravation 

IIRC, before it was signed as I-280 in the 60s, it was signed as a SR-x20 (either it was a continuation of SR-120 from the north (Central Ave.) or SR-420 from the south (US-20/23).  So at the completion of the original expressway, it met all the standards of the day. 

When they turned it into I-280, it was expected to be upgraded to interstate standards in the future, but there was no rules at that time that it HAD so be officially signed as FUTURE I-280 as there were so many yet-to-be-built segments of interstates at that point. 

[countysigns]

IIRC, before it was signed as I-280 in the 60s, it was signed as a SR-x20 (either it was a continuation of SR-120 from the north (Central Ave.) or SR-420 from the south (US-20/23).  So at the completion of the original expressway, it met all the standards of the day. 

When they turned it into I-280, it was expected to be upgraded to interstate standards in the future, but there was no rules at that time that it HAD so be officially signed as FUTURE I-280 as there were so many yet-to-be-built segments of interstates at that point.

Looking at the old 1964 ODOH/ODOT map, OH-120 entered the I-280 right-of-way from Central Avenue and traveled south to the Ohio Turnpike and kept the same route number all the way to US-20/US-23.  It looks like sometime between 1967 and 1969 OH-120 was truncated back to Central Avenue, taken off I-280 and OH-420 was added to the stretch south of the Ohio Turnpike.

From the articles I've seen regarding I-280, it was rather primitive in design, which may have been the standard.  ODOT finally got the point in adding a center guardrail, and then a concrete median barrier, when too many people were crossing over the median curb and ending up in head-on collisions. 

[TempoNick]

Pet peeve: Some of the bridges are starting to look terrible. Can't ODOT do some cosmetic painting on the exterior beams so that all of Ohio doesn't look like some decrepit rust belt area?

You can do your sandblasting on whatever schedule you choose. Just spray a coat of paint on the outside beams in the meantime so they don't look so bad. It can't cost that much money.

[paulthemapguy]

...so that all of Ohio doesn't look like some decrepit rust belt area?

Eee... Hmmm... How do I say this...

[TempoNick]

Ohio's metros are generally not bad and even nice. Yeah, there are some decrepit areas, but driving along the freeways in some spots gives you the impression that everything is decrepit when it isn't.

[GCrites]

And there's a good chance that the freeway being there contributed to the neighborhood looking like that.

[Bitmapped]

The classic 1932 open spandrel arch Blaine Hill Viaduct, which carries US 40 in Belmont County, had an emergency closure of its westbound lanes today following an inspection. https://wtov9.com/news/local/us-40-westbound-is-closed-at-the-blaine-hill-bridge-one-eastbound-lane-open

The bridge had a pretty comprehensive rehab in 2011, but it sounds like ODOT has had its eye on the structure as its been on a 3-month inspection cycle rather than Ohio's standard one-year cycle.

The bridge is adjacent to Ohio's oldest bridge, the 1818 Blaine Hill Bridge from the National Road.

[seicer]

I was looking at ODOT's map viewer this evening and came across the South Bloomfield project under the "Projects_Lines" layer. It was proposed for completion by 2024 for $98 million, running from the vicinity of Weigand Road to the entrance to the defunct Cooks Creek Golf Club - swinging on the east side of South Bloomfield. I am not sure if this routing would still be accurate today as it would completely bypass the rebuilt rest area on US 23 just north of South Bloomfield. (MPO_STDA_EVENT_ID 01HYKDY1MWM1V29XV2H7VVVKMT)

[GCrites]

Probably never got funded. For the rest area, I'd imagine that they would do something like is proposed down near Rockbridge on US-33 where you get off at the nearest exit to access the rest area. The concept may be more unusual in Ohio but some other states do it.

[TempoNick]

Probably never got funded. For the rest area, I'd imagine that they would do something like is proposed down near Rockbridge on US-33 where you get off at the nearest exit to access the rest area. The concept may be more unusual in Ohio but some other states do it.

I've seen that before in South Dakota. Kind of makes sense, actually. One rest area instead of two.

[GCrites]

WV has two welcome centers off of I-77 like that.

[TempoNick]

In my Google StreetView travels I came across this sign in Mojave, California.

I wonder why Ohio doesn't do this. Even on surface roads, these guide signs would be quite helpful in situations like this.

15698 Sierra Hwy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rsHodgYdD1KVLJZU6?g_st=ac

[seicer]

Like... https://maps.app.goo.gl/ujTbFaXf2x8rzwaL7 ? They are all over the state. It's not needed if it's a low-volume road or where standard shields/signs are applicable.

[TempoNick]

That's not what I'm talking about. Those are freeway on-ramp signs. This is two surface roads.

[seicer]

Like the dozens of signs on SR 32 (and countless other expressways)?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LikHHPd9Uk3B1q6G6

There isn't anything more that's needed. It's a very easy to read sign, indicating towns or cities with distance in miles, a route marker or two, and perhaps some attractions or interests.

[Bitmapped]

Like the dozens of signs on SR 32 (and countless other expressways)?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LikHHPd9Uk3B1q6G6

There isn't anything more that's needed. It's a very easy to read sign, indicating towns or cities with distance in miles, a route marker or two, and perhaps some attractions or interests.

There's a clear difference between TempoNick's example and what you're showing, Sherman.

West Virginia sometimes uses California-like overhead signage for surface streets in cities. Here are some examples:
- Morgantown: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iA2jbav9ak8vPjwYA
- Fairmont: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VigMzFWqbFaNahcZ7
- Charleston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TrDeD5BNMMYq8ifp6
- Martinsburg: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zSntkZvJ8B3xK5f86
- Elkins: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hf6Kz292cExhAbDv7
- Beckley: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ivQyCm4TAJuZzR9F8

I prefer the larger overhead BGS-style signage in more densely populated areas as opposed to ground-mounted assemblies. Traditional ground-mounted signage can often get visually lost in the clutter. The overhead signs stand out.

[TempoNick]

Like the dozens of signs on SR 32 (and countless other expressways)?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LikHHPd9Uk3B1q6G6

There isn't anything more that's needed. It's a very easy to read sign, indicating towns or cities with distance in miles, a route marker or two, and perhaps some attractions or interests.

There's a clear difference between TempoNick's example and what you're showing, Sherman.

West Virginia sometimes uses California-like overhead signage for surface streets in cities. Here are some examples:
- Morgantown: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iA2jbav9ak8vPjwYA
- Fairmont: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VigMzFWqbFaNahcZ7
- Charleston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TrDeD5BNMMYq8ifp6
- Martinsburg: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zSntkZvJ8B3xK5f86
- Elkins: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hf6Kz292cExhAbDv7
- Beckley: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ivQyCm4TAJuZzR9F8

I prefer the larger overhead BGS-style signage in more densely populated areas as opposed to ground-mounted assemblies. Traditional ground-mounted signage can often get visually lost in the clutter. The overhead signs stand out.

I can think of certain places where we have those Gantry style signs as well, but they are usually near freeway interchanges. I think the way California did it in that photo is much cleaner. There's a lot less visual clutter doing it their way.

[seicer]

It's hard to tell when the link he drops shows a view with nothing on it, and the description he gives is not unambiguous. It seems like more complaining about nothing, like salt spray on bridge girders. But yes, Ohio does do this but not on a grand scale:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKtvyz1cHLLwLwD96
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4HcgViF2S4Zy1wqu5 (all at-grade ramps)

Overhead signage can work, but it must be asked if it's needed or appropriate. It isn't appropriate for historic districts or densely populated areas, as the signs are out of scale or obtrusive. And are they that much better than the example I provided? All that is needed is a route shield and destination sign - how are motorists better served with overhead signs in this example?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/p4KCjBdFr6QrvVBP9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZdEsrFhgqHdqTR8j8

Route shields are clear and legible for the roadway type. The destination signs in the background are oversized. Nothing more is needed. Things that don't keep me up at night...

[Bitmapped]

Overhead signage can work, but it must be asked if it's needed or appropriate. It isn't appropriate for historic districts or densely populated areas, as the signs are out of scale or obtrusive. And are they that much better than the example I provided? All that is needed is a route shield and destination sign - how are motorists better served with overhead signs in this example?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/p4KCjBdFr6QrvVBP9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZdEsrFhgqHdqTR8j8

Route shields are clear and legible for the roadway type. The destination signs in the background are oversized. Nothing more is needed. Things that don't keep me up at night...

Those examples are rural areas where there isn't visual clutter. Ground-based signage is fine in those situations. The overhead signage helps in areas where there is a lot of other items in the background and the signage does not stand out.

[TempoNick]

It's hard to tell when the link he drops shows a view with nothing on it,

The link works for me. It takes you right to the map, and a picture at the exact location.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rsHodgYdD1KVLJZU6?g_st=ac

[Bitmapped]

It's hard to tell when the link he drops shows a view with nothing on it,

The link works for me. It takes you right to the map, and a picture at the exact location.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rsHodgYdD1KVLJZU6?g_st=ac

The link faces the gas station price sign. It helps if you orient Street View in the correct direction before getting the link and being clear in your post about what you expect people to see.