Worst control city on an interstate in your state

[MATraveler128]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I-91 upon entering Vermont from Canada uses Newport, which is the next town over. Why not St. Johnsbury or even Springfield? I get there's not much in Vermont but still.

[vdeane]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I-91 upon entering Vermont from Canada uses Newport, which is the next town over. Why not St. Johnsbury or even Springfield? I get there's not much in Vermont but still.

That's standard Vermont signage for you.  The standard VTrans sequence of signs after each exit is a reassurance shield, a speed limit sign, and a mileage sign with two destinations: the next exit and the next "major" control city.

[doorknob60]

Ontario looks ridiculous when Boise is 20 times its size and not even 50 miles down the road.

Yes! Just because Oregon has to sign SOMETHING in their state borders before we get to Idaho. It doesn't even have an important junction besides maybe OR 201, which combined with US 20/26 is a cut over to US 95 but it's faster to just take I-84 to get to 95. Makes no sense. Not that big of a place either with a population of just 11,000.

But I think it's just as bad when Idaho signs it west out of Boise. No need, though Portland is quite a distance away so I understand if they want to sign something out of state that isn't Portland, though if they were willing to go that route then they might as well just sign Pendleton out of Boise.

For your westbound suggestion, Pendleton isn't that much bigger than Ontario really. 11,000 vs 17,000 (and Ontario has "suburbs" if you want to call them that, in Fruitland and Payette). If you're going to sign a smaller cities (which I do think might be appropriate in this part of the country), might as well do the first one you get to, Ontario. From Boise/Nampa/Caldwell, a lot more of the traffic is heading to Ontario than to Pendleton. And a decent chunk will leave on OR-201 and US-20 towards Bend. I would still probably just sign Portland though, or sign both.

Eastbound I can't really excuse that though. Especially once you're beyond La Grande (and you could argue Pendleton or I-82), every sign should say Boise. Not sure if Boise needs to be signed all the way back into Portland though. The Dalles like it is now is a good enough proxy for "the gorge", and Pendleton and Hermiston both work as an "Eastern OR/I-82 split" proxy. I've seen both used as control cities, not sure which I'd prefer they stick with (Pendleton is actually directly on I-84, but Hermiston is right next to the I-82 split).

Eastern Oregon/the Columbia Gorge is weird. There are a bunch of cities all with a population between 10,000 and 20,000. Big enough to be regionally significant, but not really big enough to justify being control cities on an Interstate: The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, and Ontario are all in that population range (and Hood River just below at 8,000).

All that said, Yreka on I-5 and Hermiston/Umatilla on I-82 are still worse than anything on I-84.

[PNWRoadgeek]

Ontario looks ridiculous when Boise is 20 times its size and not even 50 miles down the road.

Yes! Just because Oregon has to sign SOMETHING in their state borders before we get to Idaho. It doesn't even have an important junction besides maybe OR 201, which combined with US 20/26 is a cut over to US 95 but it's faster to just take I-84 to get to 95. Makes no sense. Not that big of a place either with a population of just 11,000.

But I think it's just as bad when Idaho signs it west out of Boise. No need, though Portland is quite a distance away so I understand if they want to sign something out of state that isn't Portland, though if they were willing to go that route then they might as well just sign Pendleton out of Boise.

For your westbound suggestion, Pendleton isn't that much bigger than Ontario really. 11,000 vs 17,000 (and Ontario has "suburbs" if you want to call them that, in Fruitland and Payette). If you're going to sign a smaller cities (which I do think might be appropriate in this part of the country), might as well do the first one you get to, Ontario. From Boise/Nampa/Caldwell, a lot more of the traffic is heading to Ontario than to Pendleton. And a decent chunk will leave on OR-201 and US-20 towards Bend. I would still probably just sign Portland though, or sign both.

Eastbound I can't really excuse that though. Especially once you're beyond La Grande (and you could argue Pendleton or I-82), every sign should say Boise. Not sure if Boise needs to be signed all the way back into Portland though. The Dalles like it is now is a good enough proxy for "the gorge", and Pendleton and Hermiston both work as an "Eastern OR/I-82 split" proxy. I've seen both used as control cities, not sure which I'd prefer they stick with (Pendleton is actually directly on I-84, but Hermiston is right next to the I-82 split).

Eastern Oregon/the Columbia Gorge is weird. There are a bunch of cities all with a population between 10,000 and 20,000. Big enough to be regionally significant, but not really big enough to justify being control cities on an Interstate: The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, and Ontario are all in that population range (and Hood River just below at 8,000).

All that said, Yreka on I-5 and Hermiston/Umatilla on I-82 are still worse than anything on I-84.

Pendleton has an important junction with US 395 and is also a tourist draw with Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Pendleton Round-up. Though I feel like Portland is the way to go on I-84 out of Boise, even when you consider that OR 201 to US 20 is the fastest route to Bend.

Agree with you on Eastbound though. The Dalles is fine, because it does a good job of representing the Gorge as a whole. Though I think Boise should be the bottom line on all mileage signs out of The Dalles, with Hermiston and Pendleton being signed on the interchanges and pull-through signs. Should be all Boise after Pendleton though, Ontario is just awful, La Grande only has the junction with OR 82 and Eastern Oregon University going for it, and Baker City has basically one interchange on I-84.

The limited topography of Eastern Oregon plus the frantic NIMBYism that goes on there(and in Oregon in general) really limits growth over there, and it's probably the reason why we have these small cities signed on I-84. Though Yreka is just abysmal, no purpose for its use as a control city out of Ashland. Hermiston/Umatilla could also be changed outright easily to Kennewick/Seattle westbound or Kennewick/Spokane eastbound.

[boilerup25]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

[Flint1979]

I don't know if I've mentioned it but I was watching the control City freak guys video yesterday on the worst control cities in each state and for Michigan it was Saint Ignace. I might agree with this one because in the lower peninsula approaching the Mackinac bridge 180 miles south of it in Saginaw that's the control City then in the up it's St Ignace until you get to the US 2 interchange and it quickly changes to the Mackinac bridge for a minute and then to Saginaw on the lower peninsula.

Also in the lower peninsula Bay City is the control City at one interchange. The exit at the north end of the zilwaukee bridge has Bay City as the control City instead of the Mackinac bridge.

[roadman65]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

On I-78, Easton should no longer be used. It was originally used back when I-78 ended at Still Valley and US 22 continued the traffic, but now Allentown should really be used as it's a bigger city and the fact I-78 bypasses Easton. 

In addition, Kearney should not be used on I-280 at Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland especially being Newark, the state's largest city is right before it.

[mgk920]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

[hobsini2]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

[mgk920]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

'Chicago' and 'Cleveland' would be good as secondary controls at I-80's beginning, but the others would be good local controls once on is in and boyond Pennsylvania.

Mike

[MATraveler128]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

I remember watching Control City Freak's I-80 west video and he had Scranton listed as the westbound from Paterson. I actually think Scranton makes sense because it connects to I-380 which goes to Scranton. I'd personally use
Scranton ----> State College ----> then right to Cleveland since it's much bigger than Youngstown is and he had Youngstown as the control west from State College.

[Roadgeekteen]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

I remember watching Control City Freak's I-80 west video and he had Scranton listed as the westbound from Paterson. I actually think Scranton makes sense because it connects to I-380 which goes to Scranton. I'd personally use
Scranton ----> State College ----> then right to Cleveland since it's much bigger than Youngstown is and he had Youngstown as the control west from State College.

Those make sense as control cities though on mileage signs I'd have Cleveland as the bottom line since New Jersey.

[Flint1979]

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

'Chicago' and 'Cleveland' would be good as secondary controls at I-80's beginning, but the others would be good local controls once on is in and boyond Pennsylvania.

Mike

Pennsylvania should be Youngstown and New York City. There is nothing significant enough along I-80 in Pennsylvania to sign anything else.

[roadman65]

New Jersey has no urge to go to far beyond the border to look for controls. Plus no desire to use mileage signs especially along I-80, a cross country interstate.  The NJTA had to add one of their own at I-80 because they won't. In fact I don't think you see any mileage signs WB other than that until you get to PA.

[Gnutella]

Why Cleveland on I-80 westbound in New Jersey? Is it because I-80 doesn't directly serve Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or State College? Well, it doesn't directly serve Cleveland either. Furthermore, if Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Youngstown are too small to be control cities, then why is Harrisburg a control city? Why not sign Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, or on I-79 all the way north through West Virginia? Both of those Interstates pass closer to downtown Pittsburgh than I-80 does to downtown Cleveland.

Quite frankly, using Cleveland and New York City as control cities all the way across Pennsylvania is just as dumb as using Clarion, DuBois, Bloomsburg, etc. New York City should not be used consistently until the eastern end of the I-99 concurrency, and Cleveland should not be used at all until the western end of the concurrency.

I-80 EB: State College/New York City once at the I-80/Ohio Turnpike junction, then State College to U.S. 322 near Clearfield, then Williamsport to the I-99 south junction, then Williamsport/New York City on the future I-80/I-99 concurrency, then Hazleton/New York City to I-81, then New York City past I-81.

I-80 WB: Delaware Water Gap/Scranton past I-287 to the Delaware River, then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the Delaware River to I-380, then Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton to PA 115, then Hazleton to I-81, then State College to the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once at the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown past the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once again at the I-79 junction, then Youngstown to OH 11, then Cleveland past OH 11.

Problem solved.

[SEWIGuy]

Why Cleveland on I-80 westbound in New Jersey? Is it because I-80 doesn't directly serve Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or State College? Well, it doesn't directly serve Cleveland either. Furthermore, if Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Youngstown are too small to be control cities, then why is Harrisburg a control city? Why not sign Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, or on I-79 all the way north through West Virginia? Both of those Interstates pass closer to downtown Pittsburgh than I-80 does to downtown Cleveland.

Quite frankly, using Cleveland and New York City as control cities all the way across Pennsylvania is just as dumb as using Clarion, DuBois, Bloomsburg, etc. New York City should not be used consistently until the eastern end of the I-99 concurrency, and Cleveland should not be used at all until the western end of the concurrency.

I-80 EB: State College/New York City once at the I-80/Ohio Turnpike junction, then State College to U.S. 322 near Clearfield, then Williamsport to the I-99 south junction, then Williamsport/New York City on the future I-80/I-99 concurrency, then Hazleton/New York City to I-81, then New York City past I-81.

I-80 WB: Delaware Water Gap/Scranton past I-287 to the Delaware River, then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the Delaware River to I-380, then Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton to PA 115, then Hazleton to I-81, then State College to the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once at the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown past the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once again at the I-79 junction, then Youngstown to OH 11, then Cleveland past OH 11.

Problem solved.

Control cities are supposed to give you a general direction in which to head for those who aren't great with cardinal directions. That is why Cleveland and NYC are just fine. As are Wisconsin and Indiana on the Tri State Tollway near Chicago. There is no reason to overthink these things.

[hobsini2]

Why Cleveland on I-80 westbound in New Jersey? Is it because I-80 doesn't directly serve Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or State College? Well, it doesn't directly serve Cleveland either. Furthermore, if Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Youngstown are too small to be control cities, then why is Harrisburg a control city? Why not sign Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, or on I-79 all the way north through West Virginia? Both of those Interstates pass closer to downtown Pittsburgh than I-80 does to downtown Cleveland.

Quite frankly, using Cleveland and New York City as control cities all the way across Pennsylvania is just as dumb as using Clarion, DuBois, Bloomsburg, etc. New York City should not be used consistently until the eastern end of the I-99 concurrency, and Cleveland should not be used at all until the western end of the concurrency.

I-80 EB: State College/New York City once at the I-80/Ohio Turnpike junction, then State College to U.S. 322 near Clearfield, then Williamsport to the I-99 south junction, then Williamsport/New York City on the future I-80/I-99 concurrency, then Hazleton/New York City to I-81, then New York City past I-81.

I-80 WB: Delaware Water Gap/Scranton past I-287 to the Delaware River, then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the Delaware River to I-380, then Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton to PA 115, then Hazleton to I-81, then State College to the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once at the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown past the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once again at the I-79 junction, then Youngstown to OH 11, then Cleveland past OH 11.

Problem solved.

I like using secondaries a lot. I am of the belief that secondaries are needed for the local traffic. However, as much as I see value in secondaries, If I am in NYC on the GWB, what is likely going to be a bigger draw for everyone? Scranton and State College or Cleveland? Believe it or not, there are people who have never heard of State College or Scranton. People at least have heard of Cleveland.

So as I said I would do I-80 WEST as:
Patterson/Cleveland from GWB to NJ 20
The Poconos/Cleveland from NJ 20 to PA 33 (the first of the Pocono exits)
State College/Cleveland from PA 33 to I-99 South
Youngstown/Cleveland from I-99 South to OH 11
Akron/Cleveland from OH 11 to I-76
Cleveland/Toledo from I-76 to I-480
Toledo/Chicago from I-480 to I-280
South Bend/Chicago from I-280 to IN 23
Chicago from IN 23 to I-94 West/IL 394
Iowa/Wisconsin on the cosigned section of I-294
Joliet/Des Moines from I-294 to US 30
Moline/Des Moines from US 30 to I-74/280 EAST JCT
Davenport/Des Moines from I-74/280 to I-74 WEST JCT
Iowa City/Des Moines from I-74 WEST JCT to IA 1
Des Moines from IA 1 to US 6 EXIT 142 at Altoona
Omaha/Kansas City from US 6 EXIT 142 to I-35/235 WEST JCT
Council Bluffs/Omaha from I-35/235 SOUTH JCT to US 6 EXIT 8
Omaha from US 6 EXIT 8 to I-29 SOUTH
Omaha/Sioux City on the cosigned section of I-29
Omaha/Lincoln from I-29 NORTH to 13th St
Lincoln from 13th St to US 6 EXIT 409
Grand Island/North Platte from US 6 EXIT 409 to NE 2 EXIT 319 (an occasional mention of Denver on the mileage signs)
Kearney/North Platte from NE 2 EXIT 319 to NE 10 EXIT 275 (an occasional mention of Denver on the mileage signs)
North Platte/Denver from NE 10 EXIT 275 to NE 56G Link
Denver/Cheyenne from NE 56G Link to I-76
Sidney/Cheyenne from I-76 to US 385 NORTH
Cheyenne from US 385 NORTH to US 30 EXIT 370
Laramie/Salt Lake City from US 30 EXIT 370 to US 30/Bus I-80 EXIT 316
Rawlins/Salt Lake City from US 30/Bus I-80 EXIT 316 to US 287 NORTH/Bus I-80
Rock Springs/Salt Lake City from US 287 NORTH/Bus I-80 to Bus I-80/Bus US 30 EXIT 107
Green River/Salt Lake City from Bus I-80/Bus US 30 EXIT 107 to Bus I-80/Bus US 30 EXIT 91
Evanston/Salt Lake City from Bus I-80/Bus US 30 EXIT 91 to Bus I-80/Bus US 189 EXIT 6
Boise/Salt Lake City from Bus I-80/Bus US 189 EXIT 6 to I-84
Salt Lake City from I-84 to I-215 EAST JCT
Reno from I-215 EAST JCT to I-15 SOUTH
Ogden/Reno for the cosigned section with I-15
Reno/San Francisco from I-15 NORTH to UT 201
Elko/Reno from UT 201 to Bus I-80 EXIT 303
Winnemucca/Reno from Bus I-80 EXIT 303 to NV 794
Reno from NV 794 to US 95 NORTH
Fallon/Reno from US 95 NORTH to US 95 SOUTH
Sparks/Reno from US 95 SOUTH to Greg St/Vista Blvd EXIT 21
Reno from Greg St/Vista Blvd EXIT 21 to I-580
Sacramento from I-580 to Bus I-80 EXIT 95
San Francisco from Bus I-80 EXIT 95 to end

[Scott5114]

Not my state, but California's "Beach Cities" on CA-91 is groan-inducing. Am I supposed to know which of the ten trillion cities in Orange County have beaches and which don't?

[Gnutella]

Why Cleveland on I-80 westbound in New Jersey? Is it because I-80 doesn't directly serve Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or State College? Well, it doesn't directly serve Cleveland either. Furthermore, if Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Youngstown are too small to be control cities, then why is Harrisburg a control city? Why not sign Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, or on I-79 all the way north through West Virginia? Both of those Interstates pass closer to downtown Pittsburgh than I-80 does to downtown Cleveland.

Quite frankly, using Cleveland and New York City as control cities all the way across Pennsylvania is just as dumb as using Clarion, DuBois, Bloomsburg, etc. New York City should not be used consistently until the eastern end of the I-99 concurrency, and Cleveland should not be used at all until the western end of the concurrency.

I-80 EB: State College/New York City once at the I-80/Ohio Turnpike junction, then State College to U.S. 322 near Clearfield, then Williamsport to the I-99 south junction, then Williamsport/New York City on the future I-80/I-99 concurrency, then Hazleton/New York City to I-81, then New York City past I-81.

I-80 WB: Delaware Water Gap/Scranton past I-287 to the Delaware River, then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the Delaware River to I-380, then Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton to PA 115, then Hazleton to I-81, then State College to the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once at the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown past the I-99 south junction, then Youngstown/Cleveland once again at the I-79 junction, then Youngstown to OH 11, then Cleveland past OH 11.

Problem solved.

I like using secondaries a lot. I am of the belief that secondaries are needed for the local traffic. However, as much as I see value in secondaries, If I am in NYC on the GWB, what is likely going to be a bigger draw for everyone? Scranton and State College or Cleveland? Believe it or not, there are people who have never heard of State College or Scranton. People at least have heard of Cleveland.

First of all, I never said anything about signing State College in New York City. Second of all, people have heard of Scranton, thanks to Joe Biden and The Office. Lastly, if somebody is driving on the George Washington Bridge, are they more likely driving to Scranton or Cleveland?

[kphoger]

Having heard of Cleveland doesn't do anything to help me know if I'm taking the right highway or not—unless I already know what highway goes to Cleveland.

[GaryV]

Let's face it, the only reason the majority of the driving public cares about control cities on signs is so they can follow the Google Lady's direction, "Take Exit ## toward WhateverTown."

[hobsini2]

Having heard of Cleveland doesn't do anything to help me know if I'm taking the right highway or not—unless I already know what highway goes to Cleveland.

And unfortunately geography in this country is poorly taught. But that's a whole different topic.

[kphoger]

I've never been to the area but, for what it's worth, I'd be fine with Cleveland as the control city west of Stroudsburg.  If any need to be in between, then DuBois and Youngstown.

[bassoon1986]

Louisiana's worst one is Bay St Louis on I-10 towards Mississippi. Yes it's a leftover from the days when the freeway ended and defaulted you onto local roads. But why was it never updated? Gulfport or Mobile would be much better.

I'm used to some of Louisiana's smaller cities at junctions but I would be fine with losing certain ones in favor of larger cities. Hammond, Slidell, and Opelousas could all go. Sign Jackson for I-55 north of I-10. Sign Baton Rouge and either Gulfport or Mobile along I-12. And leave Alexandria to Lafayette along I-49

[hobsini2]

Louisiana's worst one is Bay St Louis on I-10 towards Mississippi. Yes it's a leftover from the days when the freeway ended and defaulted you onto local roads. But why was it never updated? Gulfport or Mobile would be much better.

I'm used to some of Louisiana's smaller cities at junctions but I would be fine with losing certain ones in favor of larger cities. Hammond, Slidell, and Opelousas could all go. Sign Jackson for I-55 north of I-10. Sign Baton Rouge and either Gulfport or Mobile along I-12. And leave Alexandria to Lafayette along I-49

At the very least, there should be a sign on I-10 saying Shreveport & Alexandria, use I-49 NORTH. Opelousas is terrible.