Essentially non-existent destinations

[Pete from Boston]

Always loved the Metropark Amtrak stop, and GSP Exit 131. There is no Metropark, NJ.  It's located in Iselin, which itself is part of Woodbridge Township.

But it is a place and a destination.  No one said it was a town because it was on the sign.

[cl94]

Metropark was always intended to be a park and ride and nothing more, hence the name. The idea was to have people park there to take the Metroliner.

[Pete from Boston]

Metropark was always intended to be a park and ride and nothing more, hence the name. The idea was to have people park there to take the Metroliner.

Always meaning what?  How did it go from just parking lot to office park?

[empirestate]

Exit 44 on I-90 in SD is signed as Bethlehem Rd, but exits to Chimney Canyon Rd and 218th St. Other than that, SDDOT does a good job of not putting a destination for an exit if there's nothing there.

Is there a Bethlehem Road anywhere nearby, or is it an alternate/obsolete name for one of the others?

Yes, but they don't give directions to it... that might change when the exit's redone next year.

Oh, I see it, it's a couple miles north.

I think that's the same deal I've seen in Texas, especially: the roads that actually connect to the interchange don't go much of anywhere, so they pick something else that's (relatively) nearby, but actually leads to some destination–in this case, into the national forest and some kind of settlement called Bethlehem, I suppose. But then that begs the question: why didn't they just built the exit at Bethlehem Road?

[DandyDan]

There's an exit west of Topeka on I-70 between K-4 and K-99 for Ranch Road.  Essentially, it serves a ranch to the south and a ranch to the north.  I also seem to remember on that stretch of interstate an exit which seemed to solely exist just so you could get gas at the one gas station there.

Driving south on I-29 from Council Bluffs, there is an exit for McPaul (the former IA 145) which, as near as I can tell, is just a couple of farms.  There must have been something there once, because why sign it otherwise, but there's not much there now.

[KEVIN_224]

Always loved the Metropark Amtrak stop, and GSP Exit 131. There is no Metropark, NJ.  It's located in Iselin, which itself is part of Woodbridge Township.

And I believe the Edison town line is just after the station heading south. You're also running right next to NJ Route 27 there.

[bzakharin]

This sign:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6804457,-75.4774216,3a,75y,348.39h,81.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqafbhPkti7T1AdMUdnz7Gw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
NJ 40 of course does not exist (It's US 40), but NJ Turnpike southbound, while technically correct, is about to end, is not signed, is past the toll barrier, and the next exit is after the I-295 merge.

Metropark was always intended to be a park and ride and nothing more, hence the name. The idea was to have people park there to take the Metroliner.

It doesn't matter what it was intended to be. This sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5658927,-74.3311554,3a,15y,203.18h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6SrD_AH2sre9P5axXQl-wQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
shows that people identify Metropark as a place. I used to live near there. Metropark is where I said I was from. It was technically in Edison, but no one associates that thin sliver of Edison with the "real" Edison west of Metuchen. Nor does anyone associate Iselin with "real" Woodbridge centered around the crossing of the GS Parkway with the NJ Turnpike (which has its own train station)

[NWI_Irish96]

On the new Lincoln Bridge spanning the Ohio River, the NB sign for Exit 0 includes 6th St. along with Court Ave. 

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/indiana/2016/01/06/new-albany-mayor-residents-raise-concern-bridge-signs/78374954/

6th St. is nothing more than a 3 block long side street and it makes no sense to include it along with Court Ave.  I've been really confused by this ever since the first time I saw the sign.

[SD Mapman]

Exit 44 on I-90 in SD is signed as Bethlehem Rd, but exits to Chimney Canyon Rd and 218th St. Other than that, SDDOT does a good job of not putting a destination for an exit if there's nothing there.

Is there a Bethlehem Road anywhere nearby, or is it an alternate/obsolete name for one of the others?

Yes, but they don't give directions to it... that might change when the exit's redone next year.

Oh, I see it, it's a couple miles north.

I think that's the same deal I've seen in Texas, especially: the roads that actually connect to the interchange don't go much of anywhere, so they pick something else that's (relatively) nearby, but actually leads to some destination–in this case, into the national forest and some kind of settlement called Bethlehem, I suppose. But then that begs the question: why didn't they just built the exit at Bethlehem Road?

Maybe because the railroad was too close?
Bethlehem Road used to actually go somewhere, but now I think it's either a dead end on private property or the only way to get into the Hills from that part of Meade County.

[mwb1848]

Boracho Station in Far West Texas comes to mind. It's listed as the destination for Exit 166 off of Interstate 10. By the 1970s, "a cemetery was all that remained there," according to the Texas State History Association's online Handbook of Texas.

Incidentally, "Sta" isn't an accepted abbreviation for "Station."

[empirestate]

Incidentally, "Sta" isn't an accepted abbreviation for "Station."

Sure it is; I accept it readily, it being the abbreviation I most commonly see for that word.

[roadman]

Boracho Station in Far West Texas comes to mind. It's listed as the destination for Exit 166 off of Interstate 10.

Yep, Boracho was never quite the same after Jack Lemmon and Larry Storch demolished it during The Great Race. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb82OazTVQI

[1995hoo]

....

Incidentally, "Sta" isn't an accepted abbreviation for "Station."

....

What else would you use? (I note these are older signs since replaced with Clearview signs that replace the Metro station with the Intercounty Connector.)

[empirestate]

....

Incidentally, "Sta" isn't an accepted abbreviation for "Station."

....

What else would you use? (I note these are older signs since replaced with Clearview signs that replace the Metro station with the Intercounty Connector.)

Doesn't the MUTCD prescribe "Stn" or some such? Then again, don't they also prescribe "Lt" for "left"?

[roadman65]

Will Middletown, NY become a control city on both I-84 and I-86 when the latter gets completed?  It will be now be at the junction of two interstates when I-86 gets officially signed.  Right now "Scranton" acts as the WB city from the NY Thruway because there is nothing in the way before of great size or significance in between the Thruway and of course Scranton.  With I-86 junctioning that will make Middletown a significant place.

Also, the NJ 23 ramp at Port Jervis already lists it, but that is because NYSDOT in that region liked to use more local destinations then far away large cities like other NYSDOT Regions do.  Of course PennDOT is content with using "Milford" on its EB signs from Scranton to PA 739 at Lords Valley, and only "Port Jervis" from both US 6 interchanges in Pike County, and I doubt they will change that either so EB in PA at least will not have that issue.

[jeffandnicole]

Boracho Station in Far West Texas comes to mind. It's listed as the destination for Exit 166 off of Interstate 10. By the 1970s, "a cemetery was all that remained there," according to the Texas State History Association's online Handbook of Texas.

Incidentally, "Sta" isn't an accepted abbreviation for "Station."

Another Sta: https://goo.gl/maps/S2kUSm6C1PD2

Starting with this table, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part1/part1a.htm#table1A01 and scrolling down, there is no designated standard abbreviation for Station (which seems to be an oversight, as they have nearly every other word found on road signs designated with an abbreviation).  Sta appears to be commonly used and understandable, and thus is an commonly used and acceptable abbreviation for Station.

[PHLBOS]

This BGS (and its companions) along MA 128 southbound lists Montserrat, which is a small section of Beverly, as a destination.  While there is a commuter rail station with that name; nothing else in the surrounding area is referred to as such.  Interestingly, exit signage along 128 northbound does not list Montserrat as a destination for Exit 19 (Sohier Road/Brimball Ave.).

[GenExpwy]

Doesn't the MUTCD prescribe "Stn" or some such? Then again, don't they also prescribe "Lt" for "left"?

Table 1A-2 lists Lft as the abbreviation for left on Portable Changeable Message Signs. Table 1A-3 lists Lt as unacceptable for light because of possible confusion with left.

[empirestate]

Will Middletown, NY become a control city on both I-84 and I-86 when the latter gets completed?  It will be now be at the junction of two interstates when I-86 gets officially signed.  Right now "Scranton" acts as the WB city from the NY Thruway because there is nothing in the way before of great size or significance in between the Thruway and of course Scranton.  With I-86 junctioning that will make Middletown a significant place.

Also, the NJ 23 ramp at Port Jervis already lists it, but that is because NYSDOT in that region liked to use more local destinations then far away large cities like other NYSDOT Regions do.  Of course PennDOT is content with using "Milford" on its EB signs from Scranton to PA 739 at Lords Valley, and only "Port Jervis" from both US 6 interchanges in Pike County, and I doubt they will change that either so EB in PA at least will not have that issue.

Which of those places are you thinking is non-existent? Middletown is a city with thousands of residents, Interstate junction or no.

[noelbotevera]

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3251714,-76.7950038,3a,75y,114.6h,112.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdIQdlOCdUS52U9tD4lkjvw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

These places are unincorporated, though they do function like a borough.

[hbelkins]

I've seen "Lt Lane Closed" on variable message signs way too many times, and it drives me crazy. What's wrong with"Left Ln Closed?" Makes more sense to me.

[NE2]

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3251714,-76.7950038,3a,75y,114.6h,112.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdIQdlOCdUS52U9tD4lkjvw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

These places are unincorporated, though they do function like a borough.

So they're not 'essentially non-existent'.

[jeffandnicole]

https://goo.gl/maps/8cF1hdym4yn  -  I-295's Exit 15 in NJ.  Specifically, Harrisonville.

It's an odd city for the exit.  I can only imagine someone from DOT lived in that area and wanted it posted somewhere on the highway.

The population is only about 150 people, living in a handful of houses.  Harrisonville is actually part of South Harrison Township, which gets no love on any exit sign.  As far as I know, there's no signage telling you you're actually in Harrisonville; not even a school, fire station or post office.  From what I can tell, you won't find it on Google Maps unless you actually type in "Harrisonville".   There is Harrisonville Lake, and two roads with Harrisonville in its name. 

Exits 7, 10, 11, & 14 are all closer to Harrisonville than Exit 15, where it's 9 miles and a few towns away.  Especially going north, you would've bypassed the town long before reaching this exit.

[Rick Powell]

Zzyzx Road, off of I-15?  It was once a populated settlement but was reclaimed by the government.  There is a desert study center there, but what was the original settlement doesn't appear to exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx,_California

[empirestate]

https://goo.gl/maps/8cF1hdym4yn  -  I-295's Exit 15 in NJ.  Specifically, Harrisonville.

It's an odd city for the exit.  I can only imagine someone from DOT lived in that area and wanted it posted somewhere on the highway.

The population is only about 150 people, living in a handful of houses.  Harrisonville is actually part of South Harrison Township, which gets no love on any exit sign.  As far as I know, there's no signage telling you you're actually in Harrisonville; not even a school, fire station or post office.  From what I can tell, you won't find it on Google Maps unless you actually type in "Harrisonville".   There is Harrisonville Lake, and two roads with Harrisonville in its name. 

Exits 7, 10, 11, & 14 are all closer to Harrisonville than Exit 15, where it's 9 miles and a few towns away.  Especially going north, you would've bypassed the town long before reaching this exit.

I see a post office on Google Maps; also a church, police station, elementary school–all in all, an appreciable settlement. Only thing I can say is that it's pretty far removed from the Interstate to be signed there, but the place itself isn't totally negligible.

Zzyzx Road, off of I-15?  It was once a populated settlement but was reclaimed by the government.  There is a desert study center there, but what was the original settlement doesn't appear to exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx,_California

Zzyzx itself might be non-existent, but the signed destination is the road, which looks about as existent as many other remotely-situated desert roads.