State-named interstate shields

[1995hoo]

Didn't get a picture of it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a state-named I-66 shield yesterday on US 522 North as it approaches I-66.

You almost certainly did. At least in Northern Virginia, older-style state-named shields of the sort seen in Takumi's reply #611 in this thread are reasonably common in off-Interstate locations as guide markers leading to the Interstate. ("Reasonably common" meaning they're not all over the place but they're not rare.) In my unscientific observation, they're more common for 2dis (I-95 and I-66) than they are for 3dis (I-495 and I-395).

[Rothman]

Didn't get a picture of it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a state-named I-66 shield yesterday on US 522 North as it approaches I-66.

You almost certainly did. At least in Northern Virginia, older-style state-named shields of the sort seen in Takumi's reply #611 in this thread are reasonably common in off-Interstate locations as guide markers leading to the Interstate. ("Reasonably common" meaning they're not all over the place but they're not rare.) In my unscientific observation, they're more common for 2dis (I-95 and I-66) than they are for 3dis (I-495 and I-395).

Yep, I did, per the little conversation between me and epzik above, where he had a picture of the shield I mentioned.

[1995hoo]

Didn't get a picture of it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a state-named I-66 shield yesterday on US 522 North as it approaches I-66.

You almost certainly did. At least in Northern Virginia, older-style state-named shields of the sort seen in Takumi's reply #611 in this thread are reasonably common in off-Interstate locations as guide markers leading to the Interstate. ("Reasonably common" meaning they're not all over the place but they're not rare.) In my unscientific observation, they're more common for 2dis (I-95 and I-66) than they are for 3dis (I-495 and I-395).

Yep, I did, per the little conversation between me and epzik above, where he had a picture of the shield I mentioned.

Ah. I skipped that part of the thread. The images were large enough to require scrolling, which I didn't feel like doing, so I didn't pay attention.

[Mergingtraffic]

I've seen this sign in my travels. What is the rationale for the "I" ?

Almost certainly just an error.

Interstate "I-195"  East Providence, RI. by mergingtraffic, on Flickr

[Mergingtraffic]

Found this in CT today

[MATraveler128]

I drove up I-85 in North Carolina and I saw a state named I-85 shield off of Exit 212 in Henderson. Any other remaining NC shields around?

[Hunty2022]

I know there's a post for a state named I-64 shield on the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but there's another one on Westbound US 250, I took a picture back on my December 10, 2022 trip. I don't know the current status of the sign:

[CanesFan27]

I drove up I-85 in North Carolina and I saw a state named I-85 shield off of Exit 212 in Henderson. Any other remaining NC shields around?

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=12304.msg2829788#msg2829788

[tmoore952]

My memories from childhood growing up in Delaware with its ~40 miles of interstate highway. No pictures unfortunately, these memories go back 40-50 years. I don't have any recent (meaning 21st century) memories of seeing these, so the map showing Delaware with few to none is probably accurate.

I definitely remember two state-named interstate shields on or near I-95.
One SB not that far south of where I-295 SB traffic merges in near DE 141, but before where I-95 NB and SB lanes come back together at eastern end of Churchman's Marsh. I always thought of this one as telling the NJ Turnpike traffic that you are now back on I-95.
Another one going eastbound on DE 92, where you turn left to get on ramp to I-95 NB. I always scratched my head at that one, because once you commit to that ramp, you are committed to entering PA as the state line is maybe 1000 feet north of there.

I also remember that there was one on I-295 NB just after I-295 separated from I-95 NB -- where I-295 is headed for Delaware Memorial Bridge, and I-95 is headed for Wilmington. Physically this was pretty close (less than 1/4 mile, if that) from the first I-95 one I mention above.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see I-295 that often as we only used it maybe once or twice a year, to do a day trip to a NJ beach (Ocean City or Wildwood). The NJ beaches are closer, and back then Delaware 1 only came as far north as Milford which is south of Dover. To go to Delaware beaches back then, you had to go down US 13 and US 113 which went right through Odessa, Smyrna, Dover and other towns -- all with their traffic lights. 

I always loved going over the Delaware Memorial Bridge and it was a rarity for me then to actually cross it. There are a lot of places you can see it from in northern Delaware if you know where to look.

I do not remember seeing any such signs on or near I-495. That highway did not open until 1976 or 1977, and therefore was later than the other two.

Thinking about it more, I also remember other I-95 ones at or near the exits near me, but I believe they are all long gone. I lived north of Wilmington and south of the state line). There are four exits in that area -- US 202, DE 3, Harvey Road (partial interchange), and DE 92.

The place to look in Delaware now would be in Wilmington itself in the area of Adams and Jackson Streets. I-95 goes between those two streets, and there are various on/off ramps there. The building of this road between those two streets was very controversial in the late '60s, but that is a different topic.

[Alex]

My memories from childhood growing up in Delaware with its ~40 miles of interstate highway. No pictures unfortunately, these memories go back 40-50 years. I don't have any recent (meaning 21st century) memories of seeing these, so the map showing Delaware with few to none is probably accurate.

I definitely remember two state-named interstate shields on or near I-95.
One SB not that far south of where I-295 SB traffic merges in near DE 141, but before where I-95 NB and SB lanes come back together at eastern end of Churchman's Marsh. I always thought of this one as telling the NJ Turnpike traffic that you are now back on I-95.

That one was one of the few state named shields for I-95 that were not from the 1960s. All others had the smaller numbers and larger borders. It was located just beyond the Sandbox, and adjacent to Old Airport Road. I only ever managed a brief capture of it on night time camcorder video from 1994, but I cannot find where that is. It was removed later that year.

Mall Road encircling Christiana Mall also had a number of state named I-95 shields with the 1970s design. They were removed sometime in 1995. There's a photo of one on the Shield Gallery.

Lastly there was an original shield for I-95 posted between the mainline and c/d roadway on southbound ahead of Exit 5 A for US 202/SR 141 south. This was replaced in 1996.

Another one going eastbound on DE 92, where you turn left to get on ramp to I-95 NB. I always scratched my head at that one, because once you commit to that ramp, you are committed to entering PA as the state line is maybe 1000 feet north of there.

I also remember that there was one on I-295 NB just after I-295 separated from I-95 NB -- where I-295 is headed for Delaware Memorial Bridge, and I-95 is headed for Wilmington. Physically this was pretty close (less than 1/4 mile, if that) from the first I-95 one I mention above.

Would have loved to see images of those, especially the I-295. I know there were no state named shields on SR 92 at I-95 by 1994. I never recalled the I-295 one.

I do not remember seeing any such signs on or near I-495. That highway did not open until 1976 or 1977, and therefore was later than the other two.

Never saw one for I-495 either. Delaware dropped the state named early, so it is likely that I-495 never had one to begin with.

Thinking about it more, I also remember other I-95 ones at or near the exits near me, but I believe they are all long gone. I lived north of Wilmington and south of the state line). There are four exits in that area -- US 202, DE 3, Harvey Road (partial interchange), and DE 92.

There was still one on Carr Road west ahead of the entrance ramp for I-95 north, and another on Washington Street Extension southbound where SR 3 turns onto Marsh Road. Both were removed in 2000. I have a 35mm photo of the one on Washington Street Extension around here somewhere.

The place to look in Delaware now would be in Wilmington itself in the area of Adams and Jackson Streets. I-95 goes between those two streets, and there are various on/off ramps there. The building of this road between those two streets was very controversial in the late '60s, but that is a different topic.

All gone except for the 18" trailblazer on 3rd Street.

[tmoore952]

Alex - thanks for the info re Delaware shields.

In addition to the Adams/Jackson Street area in Wilmington, other areas where they may have been in Wilmington are along DE 48 (Front Street), and DE 52 (Pennsylvania Avenue), and less likely DE 9 (4th Street), but farther away from the interstate than the Adams/Jackson Street area. Particularly in the directions where you are coming towards the interstate, but several blocks away (far enough that there would be a "TO" sign above these shields). When you say they are all gone, do you know if that includes those stretches of road?

=====================================
Not sure if mentioned already, but there is one I see everyday on I-270 Maryland southbound on the right side of the main lanes (or "express lanes") about 500-1000 feet north of the Montrose Road overpass. (the local radio station calls them "main lanes", but "express lanes" is probably a better description). This sign is somehow (I don't remember how) mounted on something which is atop a jersey barrier between the southbound "main lanes" and the southbound "local lanes".

[Alex]

Yes, all gone. The ones on SR 48/Lancaster Ave lasted the longest, with some still posted until 2016. The ones on SR 52/Delaware Av and Pennsylvania Av were replaced after 2001.
There was an 18" shield for I-95 on SR 9/4th St until at least 2004: https://www.aaroads.com/de/009/de-009-s-at-jackson-st-2.jpg

Most of the ones that were posted on SR 48: https://www.aaroads.com/albums/nggallery/delaware/delaware-route-48-archive/
The last one on SR 52 south, removed after 2001: https://www.aaroads.com/de/052/de-052-s-at-12th-st.jpg
Last northbound shield: https://www.aaroads.com/de/052/de-052-n-at-van-buren-st-3.jpg

Alex - thanks for the info re Delaware shields.

In addition to the Adams/Jackson Street area in Wilmington, other areas where they may have been in Wilmington are along DE 48 (Front Street), and DE 52 (Pennsylvania Avenue), and less likely DE 9 (4th Street), but farther away from the interstate than the Adams/Jackson Street area. Particularly in the directions where you are coming towards the interstate, but several blocks away (far enough that there would be a "TO" sign above these shields). When you say they are all gone, do you know if that includes those stretches of road?

=====================================
Not sure if mentioned already, but there is one I see everyday on I-270 Maryland southbound on the right side of the main lanes (or "express lanes") about 500-1000 feet north of the Montrose Road overpass. (the local radio station calls them "main lanes", but "express lanes" is probably a better description). This sign is somehow (I don't remember how) mounted on something which is atop a jersey barrier between the southbound "main lanes" and the southbound "local lanes".

[CanesFan27]

VA 207 at I-95:

Interstate 95 Virginia Shield by Adam Prince, on Flickr

[Big John]

^^ Off topic, but the JCT banner is not supposed to have an enlarged J.

[thenetwork]

^^ Off topic, but the JCT banner is not supposed to have an enlarged J.

I think the "C" looks to be a little off-placed as well???

[Rothman]

^^ Off topic, but the JCT banner is not supposed to have an enlarged J.

Phooey.  Jct you.

[hbelkins]

On my trip home from West Virginia earlier in the week, I noticed a number of I-77 and I-64 signs that don't have the state name. Previously, the only place I had seen interstate markers without "West Virginia" on them were a couple of stray I-68 signs around Morgantown.

[freebrickproductions]

On my trip home from West Virginia earlier in the week, I noticed a number of I-77 and I-64 signs that don't have the state name. Previously, the only place I had seen interstate markers without "West Virginia" on them were a couple of stray I-68 signs around Morgantown.

Is it possible they were ordered through a contractor?

[hbelkins]

On my trip home from West Virginia earlier in the week, I noticed a number of I-77 and I-64 signs that don't have the state name. Previously, the only place I had seen interstate markers without "West Virginia" on them were a couple of stray I-68 signs around Morgantown.

Is it possible they were ordered through a contractor?

I would need to check my photos to be sure, but I believe that at least one of them has the West Virginia "watermark" in the sign margin, indicating that it's a state installation.

[boilerup25]

I also noticed a bunch of state-named interstate shields in California on my recent trip there. Some of these look more recently posted. I know it's commonplace in California, but that's one of the few places where I've seen many more recent state-named shields (I haven't really seen recent state named shields in New Jersey)

[WillWeaverRVA]

I also noticed a bunch of state-named interstate shields in California on my recent trip there. Some of these look more recently posted. I know it's commonplace in California, but that's one of the few places where I've seen many more recent state-named shields (I haven't really seen recent state named shields in New Jersey)

State-named shields are actually standard in California.

[bzakharin]

(I haven't really seen recent state named shields in New Jersey)

There are some recent-looking ones on the northern section of I-295, though they've been there as long as I can remember, possibly dating to when that stretch first opened. Here is an example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.134133,-74.7158196,3a,37.7y,188.28h,80.06t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSbw3rRzcqidDI9cK-HhTlA!2e0!5s20220901T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Mergingtraffic]

A NYC made state-named I-87 shield in the Bronx, NYC.


and Queens, NYC

[freebrickproductions]

I assume this has been shared before, but I was watching this video when I happened to spot this rather well worn-out state-named I-90 shield in Frenchtown, MT.

[Rothman]

I think there has been some previous discussion about the state-named shields around Hackensack, NJ.  Anyway, here's one of them in Hasbrouck Heights, if you zoom in: