Freeway Ends signs in NY

[vdeane]

The one on NY 690 is fairly well known.  Well, last fall the DOT put one up on NY 590:


Have these appeared elsewhere?  I think it's interesting that the DOT is using Freeway since most people in upstate NY have never even heard of one (they misuse the term expressway).

[Beeper1]

Connecticut generally uses "Expressway Ends" in those situations, though I think I have seen some that say Freeway.

I know Rhode Island has a large Freeway Ends sign on US 6 westbound approaching the I-295 loop ramp.

[3467]

On US 34 in Illinois there was a freeway ends sign when it tranitioned to an expresswaybut it was dropped because no one in Illinois knows the difference and thought it was a forced exit. There is and expressway ends sign on US 67 where it goes through a small town as a 3 lane

[agentsteel53]

FREEWAY ENDS signs are very common in California.  Alas, the oldest example I know of - a 1958 (with 1955 specification as opposed to 1958 specification layout) on the old Colorado Freeway vanished about a year ago...

[Michael]

Do I spy some Clearview on that sign from NY 590?

Here's the sign on NY 690:


Here's the east end of the NY 5 Camillus Bypass:


Here's the east end of the bypass:


The northern end of the US 15 freeway in Painted Post had this sign:

I never saw this sign because I was first there after the I-86 interchange was completed.

All pictures are from AARoads

[cu2010]

Do I spy some Clearview on that sign from NY 590?

That's Series E, not Clearview.

It is the first I've seen done in mixed case, though!

[hm insulators]

FREEWAY ENDS signs are very common in California.  Alas, the oldest example I know of - a 1958 (with 1955 specification as opposed to 1958 specification layout) on the old Colorado Freeway vanished about a year ago...

Actually, years ago, the signs used to read, "END FREEWAY."

[agentsteel53]

Actually, years ago, the signs used to read, "END FREEWAY."

and here's the mixed-case 1955 specification example.  

[hbelkins]

Is that razor wire coiled beneath the sign?

[agentsteel53]

Is that razor wire coiled beneath the sign?

sure is.  don't want anyone climbing up there and slapping a Division of Highways logo onto the bottom of the sign.

[Ian]

I know Rhode Island has a large Freeway Ends sign on US 6 westbound approaching the I-295 loop ramp.

Rhode Island seems to enjoy installing extra large warning signs on their freeways...

[mightyace]

By comparison, Tennessee uses a more generic "Roadway Ends"  (At least in this case on TN 840 WB near it's end at I-40 east of Dickson.)


TN 840 WB near I-40 by mightyace, on Flickr

[Compulov]

FREEWAY ENDS signs are very common in California.  Alas, the oldest example I know of - a 1958 (with 1955 specification as opposed to 1958 specification layout) on the old Colorado Freeway vanished about a year ago...

I kinda laughed at just how frequently they used those FREEWAY ENDS signs. I forget where now, but I passed one when I was out there last year where the road had one or two cross streets, then there was a FREEWAY BEGINS (or starts? I forget now) like a 1000 feet away.

[Alps]

FREEWAY ENDS signs are very common in California.  Alas, the oldest example I know of - a 1958 (with 1955 specification as opposed to 1958 specification layout) on the old Colorado Freeway vanished about a year ago...

I kinda laughed at just how frequently they used those FREEWAY ENDS signs. I forget where now, but I passed one when I was out there last year where the road had one or two cross streets, then there was a FREEWAY BEGINS (or starts? I forget now) like a 1000 feet away.

Probably legislatively based. Between freeway ending and beginning, you can have pedestrians/bicycles/horses/farm equipment I suppose, plus no longer fully access controlled and/or grade separated. So by posting it prominently, you alert motorists. (Kinda like CT's road work signs that say ROAD USE RESTRICTED, LIMITED LIABILITY - so that it's there in writing.)

[Compulov]

Probably legislatively based. Between freeway ending and beginning, you can have pedestrians/bicycles/horses/farm equipment I suppose, plus no longer fully access controlled and/or grade separated. So by posting it prominently, you alert motorists. (Kinda like CT's road work signs that say ROAD USE RESTRICTED, LIMITED LIABILITY - so that it's there in writing.)

Oh, I'm sure of it. Of course we know how well Caltrans adheres to specifications...
I actually think a more useful sign is something similar to what I've seen which effectively states that you need to watch for cross traffic ahead for the next X miles. I think they have that on the rural expressway section of US301 in Maryland on Delmarva. While most people know what freeway means, I think it's a lot more useful to tell people to be on the lookout for crossing traffic, especially after you fall into the highway hypnosis of being on a freeway for a while. That's assuming people pay attention anyway.

[Michael]

Oh, I'm sure of it. Of course we know how well Caltrans adheres to specifications...
I actually think a more useful sign is something similar to what I've seen which effectively states that you need to watch for cross traffic ahead for the next X miles. I think they have that on the rural expressway section of US301 in Maryland on Delmarva. While most people know what freeway means, I think it's a lot more useful to tell people to be on the lookout for crossing traffic, especially after you fall into the highway hypnosis of being on a freeway for a while. That's assuming people pay attention anyway.

The first time I saw anything like that was in Maryland on southbound US 15 south of Frederick.  I like the sign, and wouldn't mind it here in NY.

[KillerTux]

Love the message on this one.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Route+32,+Clarksville,+MD&aq=0&sll=39.470788,-76.834946&sspn=0.024283,0.038581&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Maryland+32,+Clarksville,+Howard,+Maryland+21029&ll=39.205139,-76.936965&spn=0.000762,0.001206&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=39.205139,-76.936965&panoid=ubGFMaJM3my4EBVqwP7nwA&cbp=12,334.78,,1,5.98

[NE2]

Love the message on this one.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Route+32,+Clarksville,+MD&aq=0&sll=39.470788,-76.834946&sspn=0.024283,0.038581&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Maryland+32,+Clarksville,+Howard,+Maryland+21029&ll=39.205139,-76.936965&spn=0.000762,0.001206&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=39.205139,-76.936965&panoid=ubGFMaJM3my4EBVqwP7nwA&cbp=12,334.78,,1,5.98

Maryland uses exclamation points like roadman65!

[Michael]

I literally LOL'd at the that one.

[Henry]

I think it's interesting that the DOT is using Freeway since most people in upstate NY have never even heard of one (they misuse the term expressway).

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that! Then again, I also find it odd that one of the expressways in Chicagoland, the Bishop Ford, is now being called a freeway.

[Quillz]

I like the "Freeway/Expressway Ends" sign being black on yellow. In California, it's usually the generic guide sign color scheme of white on green.

[Bryant5493]

This is at Georgia 166's eastern terminus, just east of I-75/85 just south of downtown Atlanta.


Be well,

Bryant

[Michael]

I like the "Freeway/Expressway Ends" sign being black on yellow. In California, it's usually the generic guide sign color scheme of white on green.

I would think it should be classified a warning.  I guess I'm spoiled here in NY.

EDIT: The MUTCD illustrates black on yellow signs, but they are not listed as a "shall" statement.  See page 119 for the text description and page 118 for a drawing.

[Alps]

I like the "Freeway/Expressway Ends" sign being black on yellow. In California, it's usually the generic guide sign color scheme of white on green.

The ones I saw were black on white or yellow. (Depended on shape, rectangle versus diamond.) That's the L.A. area only, though.

[myosh_tino]

I kinda laughed at just how frequently they used those FREEWAY ENDS signs. I forget where now, but I passed one when I was out there last year where the road had one or two cross streets, then there was a FREEWAY BEGINS (or starts? I forget now) like a 1000 feet away.

Probably legislatively based. Between freeway ending and beginning, you can have pedestrians/bicycles/horses/farm equipment I suppose, plus no longer fully access controlled and/or grade separated. So by posting it prominently, you alert motorists.

On CA-17 between Mt Hermon Road and Pasatiemo Drive, there used to be an at-grade intersection for La Madrona and El Rancho Drives (the left turns have been since eliminated but the "ramps" are really substandard) so Caltrans posted "END FREEWAY" and "BEGIN FREEWAY" signs about 1000 ft apart on either side of the at-grade intersection.

I like the "Freeway/Expressway Ends" sign being black on yellow. In California, it's usually the generic guide sign color scheme of white on green.

White on green?  I don't think so.  Both the "END FREEWAY" and "BEGIN FREEWAY" are black-on-white signs according to Caltrans' sign specs (R58 and R57 respectively).  I do seem to recall seeing some black-on-yellow "END FREEWAY" signs but according to Caltrans' sign specs, that type of sign has a distance associated with it (i.e. "END FREEWAY 1 MI")