Freeway entrance signs in Indiana

[Revive 755]

Looking through the Indiana MUTCD tonight (http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/design/mutcd/2011rev1/part2.pdf, I've noticed that on Pages 169 (or 143/324), 171, and 172, there is mention of using the freeway entrance sign.  I don't recall actually seeing these in Indiana, and was wondering if there are actually any out there, or if it is just an option that has not been used.

[Brandon]

Might be an unused option.  I've never seen them in the Midwest.  Not much point to them, IMHO, as the freeway is fairly obvious usually.

[Mdcastle]

Minnesota used to use the sign without the arrow mounted above the "Emergency Stopping Only" sign as standard procedure. I do see the point in that you know you're entering a freeway and not an expressway, but there was never a corresponding "Expressway Entrance" sign.

[trafficsignal]

Looking through the Indiana MUTCD tonight (http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/design/mutcd/2011rev1/part2.pdf, I've noticed that on Pages 169 (or 143/324), 171, and 172, there is mention of using the freeway entrance sign.  I don't recall actually seeing these in Indiana, and was wondering if there are actually any out there, or if it is just an option that has not been used.

Based on those drawings, it appears its a clarifying sign when a separate roadway is close to the entrance ramp.  The first drawing is a folded diamond, where the exit ramp is next to the entrance ramp and could cause confusion.  The second is an example with a nearby frontage road.  The standard treatment of a frontage road that I've seen is the "FRONTAGE ROAD" regulatory signs facing the crossing road at the frontage road entrance.  I agree I've never seen the Freeway Entrance sign.

[DaBigE]

Might be an unused option.  I've never seen them in the Midwest.  Not much point to them, IMHO, as the freeway is fairly obvious usually.

I saw one lone one on my last trip to Milwaukee. IIRC, it was off of I-94, near Miller Park.

[Molandfreak]

Minnesota used to use the sign without the arrow mounted above the "Emergency Stopping Only" sign as standard procedure. I do see the point in that you know you're entering a freeway and not an expressway, but there was never a corresponding "Expressway Entrance" sign.

Not true. There's a green expressway entrance sign in Cannon Falls

[theline]

Looking through the Indiana MUTCD tonight (http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/design/mutcd/2011rev1/part2.pdf, I've noticed that on Pages 169 (or 143/324), 171, and 172, there is mention of using the freeway entrance sign.  I don't recall actually seeing these in Indiana, and was wondering if there are actually any out there, or if it is just an option that has not been used.

Based on those drawings, it appears its a clarifying sign when a separate roadway is close to the entrance ramp.  The first drawing is a folded diamond, where the exit ramp is next to the entrance ramp and could cause confusion.  The second is an example with a nearby frontage road.  The standard treatment of a frontage road that I've seen is the "FRONTAGE ROAD" regulatory signs facing the crossing road at the frontage road entrance.  I agree I've never seen the Freeway Entrance sign.

I agree that the sign can be useful to differentiate the location of the freeway entrance from nearby frontage roads, business drives, etc. I swear I've seen the sign a few times in the Midwest, but I can't lay my finger on where.

Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?... Anyone?

[agentsteel53]

Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?... Anyone?

I feel like I saw some in Illinois in 2006, but don't ask me which freeway.  Maybe 80 or 55?

[GeekJedi]

Might be an unused option.  I've never seen them in the Midwest.  Not much point to them, IMHO, as the freeway is fairly obvious usually.

I saw one lone one on my last trip to Milwaukee. IIRC, it was off of I-94, near Miller Park.

There's also one on the SB I-43 ramp from Layton Ave, and I believe there's one at the ramp entrance to SB US-41 from Alois St.

[colinstu]

Can you two link streetview examples of this or something? I drive through these areas a bit but have never noticed them... not sure if I'm used to seeing them and don't think twice, or really am that ignorant.

[GeekJedi]

The one on Alois isn't on Streetview yet, but it's there - I passed by it today (it went in a few months ago).

Here's the one on Layton - I think it was recently replaced with a white on green version though.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hales+Corners,+WI&hl=en&ll=42.959185,-88.069387&spn=82.788544,180.878906&sll=43.046992,-87.974264&sspn=82.669615,180.878906&oq=hales+corners&t=w&hnear=Hales+Corners,+Milwaukee,+Wisconsin&z=3&layer=c&panoid=9xedAvJ1hTDdU2P8JPrwSA&cbll=42.959185,-88.069387&cbp=13,-72.53371679191852,,0,10.112039170857003

[DaBigE]

The one I saw I know was green and white. I think it was at the Hawley Rd ramp to WB I-94, but none of the map images show it nor are very recent.

[Milwaukee, WY]

There are a few in the Milwaukee West Side/ Miller Park area. I took some pictures. (Please excuse the nighttime iPhone photos though):

US 41 NB at Martin Dr/N. 46th St.


US 41 SB at Alois:


I94 WB at Mitchell Blvd:


They all look pretty new. New WisDOT standard? Or is this just because these entrances are a bit substandard?  I remember seeing these all over the place in California.

[DaBigE]

There are a few in the Milwaukee West Side/ Miller Park area. I took some pictures.
...
They all look pretty new. New WisDOT standard? Or is this just because these entrances are a bit substandard?  I remember seeing these all over the place in California.

I saw one in the distance at Hawley when I drove past yesterday...didn't have time to detour for a pic. As far as a new WisDOT standard...jury's out on that one. I just looked thru the library of standard WisDOT plates, and it did not appear there. However, the SE Region has a habit of creating their own signs/standards. Other regions have special regional construction/design standards, but the SE Region is the only one with their own signing standards independent from what Central Office produces for the rest of the state.

There is the possibility it just hasn't been released as a statewide standard yet. More than likely, there will be an update to the online WisDOT plate library coming in the near future, as their yearly signing/marking standards update training is coming up in a couple weeks. I'll be going to the meeting, so I'll know for certain then.