What state has the best looking milage markers?

[SkyPesos]

Any of the states with blue enhanced mile markers in the median every 0.1 or 0.2 miles along with the standard green mile markers every whole mile on the sides. So far, I'm aware of IN, KS, KY, OH, TN, WI using them.

[Scott5114]

As a counterexample, I give you NV-361, whose Nye County mile markers are 22.2 miles from their same-number Mineral County counterparts.

On roads like NV-361, I assume each county just sends a guy out to drive the whole thing until they see another person, and that is the person that needs help, because who else would be out there?

[Henry]

Any of the states with blue enhanced mile markers in the median every 0.1 or 0.2 miles along with the standard green mile markers every whole mile on the sides. So far, I'm aware of IN, KS, KY, OH, TN, WI using them.

I love the way they look too! Basically, you can't escape them in the Cincinnati area, especially when driving around it on I-275, with all three states using the same type of blue signs (BTW, they're a great way to break from the green monotony).

[kphoger]

On roads like NV-361, I assume each county just sends a guy out to drive the whole thing until they see another person, and that is the person that needs help, because who else would be out there?

So 9-1-1 dispatches both counties' sheriffs?

[Scott5114]

On roads like NV-361, I assume each county just sends a guy out to drive the whole thing until they see another person, and that is the person that needs help, because who else would be out there?

So 9-1-1 dispatches both counties' sheriffs?

Maybe! You'd probably have to ask a Northern Nevadan how that stuff works. It's a whole other way of life up there.

[kphoger]

Maybe! You'd probably have to ask a Northern Nevadan how that stuff works. It's a whole other way of life up there.

And see, I think it would make more sense to just have a map on the 9-1-1 dispatch wall with county lines and mile-markers on it—or at least just the mile markers on each side of the county lines.  Then again, I like maps...

[Scott5114]

Maybe! You'd probably have to ask a Northern Nevadan how that stuff works. It's a whole other way of life up there.

And see, I think it would make more sense to just have a map on the 9-1-1 dispatch wall with county lines and mile-markers on it—or at least just the mile markers on each side of the county lines.  Then again, I like maps...

Good news! (It even tells you what color the milemarker is for some reason.)

[kphoger]

Good news! (It even tells you what color the milemarker is for some reason.)

Oh, sweet!  I look at the Texas version of that every so often, yet still didn't consider looking to see if Nevada had one too.

[SkyPesos]

Any of the states with blue enhanced mile markers in the median every 0.1 or 0.2 miles along with the standard green mile markers every whole mile on the sides. So far, I'm aware of IN, KS, KY, OH, TN, WI using them.

I love the way they look too! Basically, you can't escape them in the Cincinnati area, especially when driving around it on I-275, with all three states using the same type of blue signs (BTW, they're a great way to break from the green monotony).

I like how the newer ones with a larger route shield and full direction label look. Here's an older one with just an abbreviation that OH and KY used until a few years ago for the direction for comparison.

Edit: Looking at GSV, looks like Indiana starting using the larger sized mile markers before OH and KY did. Saw installations on I-465 starting with 2012 street view, and switching from every 0.2 to every 0.1 miles.

[kphoger]

Enhanced mile markers on multiplexed surface routes would sure make it easier to know which route's mileage scheme they're following.

[SkyPesos]

Some places (Indiana) can't make up their mind or vary by district on placement.

Illinois also only have enhanced mile markers in select districts. D8 has green ones in the St Louis Metro East with both median and side placement, and D9 has blue ones on the sides along I-57. I don't recall seeing them in the other districts.

[kphoger]

Enhanced mile markers on multiplexed surface routes would sure make it easier to know which route's mileage scheme they're following.

As an example of this...

On my trips to and from Mexico, I'm usually taking US-277 all the way through Texas.  From the border town of Del Rio to the start of I-44 in Wichita Falls, here is a breakdown of all the reference markers (Texas' version of mile markers, typically posted every two miles) along the way.



Because of all the overlapping routes, judging distances by reference marker is annoying as heck.  For the worst example, please see the two reference markers in red above.  How far do you suppose it is between ref. markers 302 and 298?  If you guessed 0.7 miles, then congratulations!  So, heading southbound, knowing that there's a gas station and a couple of lunch options just before ref. marker 304 is misleading (fortunately, it's shorter than it seems in this instance).

[freebrickproductions]

Enhanced mile markers on multiplexed surface routes would sure make it easier to know which route's mileage scheme they're following.

In Alabama that would definitely lead to a bunch of normally-hidden state routes (such as AL 1, AL 2, AL 3, and AL 53 between Huntsville and Dothan) being posted for the first time.

[webny99]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

[kphoger]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

Yeah, with vdeane's example, I could totally imagine someone calling 9-1-1, being asked their location, and saying "mile marker 19".

[kphoger]

Yeah, part of the problem with resetting highway mileposts at county lines is that ... in states, like Tennessee and Georgia, you also just have close to, if not well over, 100 different tiny little counties ... And then, if you can't recall what county sign you last passed...

Exactly.  My first experience with the practice was on a trip to Kentucky for our first anniversary.  In just the 30 or 35 miles between the state line and our destination, I think we were in three different counties, and it's not like I was focusing on the names of the counties along the way.  (For you county clinchers out there, as crazy as it may seem to you, no, not everybody cares every time they enter a new county).  I think I may not have even seen any two-digit mile markers.  At that point, they're pretty much meaningless to me.

[I-55]

Some places (Indiana) can't make up their mind or vary by district on placement.

Illinois also only have enhanced mile markers in select districts. D8 has green ones in the St Louis Metro East with both median and side placement, and D9 has blue ones on the sides along I-57. I don't recall seeing them in the other districts.

Additionally, I-80/94 has some in the median east of the 294 junction, and of course IL Tollway uses 1/4 mile markers on both sides of the road.

[webny99]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

Yeah, with vdeane's example, I could totally imagine someone calling 9-1-1, being asked their location, and saying "mile marker 19".

For sure, although less because of the color scheme and more because there's no decimal in front of the bottom figure.

[vdeane]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

I find those a bit big for my tastes.  IMO the enhanced looks better for full miles only, so I find it interesting that they seem to be the preferred style for roadgeeks.  For tenths, my preferred modern style is this.  I like how the modern style on I-87 in Region 1 and I-81 and BL 81 in Region 3 is to use these for tenths and the enhanced for full miles.

[architect77]

North Carolina has center median mile markers with both directions on a single post for I-85, which is 6-8 lanes for about 160 miles of the total 219 miles through the central part of the state.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/North+Carolina/@35.3877282,-80.7036364,3a,49.7y,11.16h,91.52t/data=!3m10!1e1!3m8!1s5JBrQ2LFys2CvvkoYFi1QQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-1.5168809039023472%26panoid%3D5JBrQ2LFys2CvvkoYFi1QQ%26yaw%3D11.158804383426231!7i16384!8i8192!9m2!1b1!2i16!4m7!3m6!1s0x88541fc4fc381a81:0xad3f30f5e922ae19!8m2!3d35.7595731!4d-79.0192997!10e5!16zL20vMDVma2Y?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[architect77]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

I find those a bit big for my tastes.  IMO the enhanced looks better for full miles only, so I find it interesting that they seem to be the preferred style for roadgeeks.  For tenths, my preferred modern style is this.  I like how the modern style on I-87 in Region 1 and I-81 and BL 81 in Region 3 is to use these for tenths and the enhanced for full miles.

I think they are too big as well. I don't think they're necessary to be posted every 1/10th of a mile either. Every 2/10ths is more than adequate and a smaller sign with just the digits and perhaps a small shield  are adequate.

With satellite phone connectivity and info sharing they may not be necessary one day. They weren't on interstates back before the 90s I don't think.

[kphoger]

I don't think they're necessary to be posted every 1/10th of a mile either. Every 2/10ths is more than adequate

I think 0.2 mi. is good too, although I don't complain when they're every 0.1 mi.  I'd be OK with quarter-mile markers instead, which I think some states do.

and a smaller sign with just the digits and perhaps a small shield  are adequate.

I think the shield isn't necessary on every sign.  Once every whole-number or some multiple is good.  In Mexico, the km-markers have the route shield on every fifth one, and that's adequate.

[GaryV]

quarter-mile markers

I saw those recently, I think in Illinois. Not being familiar and not usually seeing fractions, they looked a little weird. But if it saves 20% on signage, why not?

[hbelkins]

I like the ARC/ADHS corridor mile markers that West Virginia posts on its corridors.

[Scott5114]

These classics from around Albany, NY.

I'm partial to this style.

That's just the federal MUTCD style.