Interstate 169 (Texas)

[Rothman]

There are also Interstate 169 shields on the northbound direction. Whose brainless idea was it to sign the frontage roads as Interstate 169, but not the mainline roadway?

My bet it was something to do with toll versus free and somehow resulted in a boneheaded decision either within FHWA itself or TxDOT pulling the wool over FHWA's eyes.  Either way, any state being held to higher standards for conversions should at least bring the issue up.

(personal opinion emphasized)

[CoreySamson]

There are also Interstate 169 shields on the northbound direction. Whose brainless idea was it to sign the frontage roads as Interstate 169, but not the mainline roadway?

My bet it was something to do with toll versus free and somehow resulted in a boneheaded decision either within FHWA itself or TxDOT pulling the wool over FHWA's eyes.  Either way, any state being held to higher standards for conversions should at least bring the issue up.

(personal opinion emphasized)

I've noticed this before, but on toll roads Texas tends to sign the frontage lanes and main lanes seperately. For example, Beltway 8 in Houston mostly refers to the frontage road, while tolled sections are known as the Sam Houston Tollway. There's a very similar thing going on with TX 161 and the George Bush Turnpike in Dallas.

I bet that they applied that same logic here in that the Toll 550 is the main lanes, while I-169 (the free route) is on the frontage road. Very boneheaded move by TxDOT, but I guess they're playing by their own predetermined rules.

[oscar]

I've noticed this before, but on toll roads Texas tends to sign the frontage lanes and main lanes seperately. For example, Beltway 8 in Houston mostly refers to the frontage road, while tolled sections are known as the Sam Houston Tollway. There's a very similar thing going on with TX 161 and the George Bush Turnpike in Dallas.

I bet that they applied that same logic here in that the Toll 550 is the main lanes, while I-169 (the free route) is on the frontage road. Very boneheaded move by TxDOT, but I guess they're playing by their own predetermined rules.

Even though the "I-169" frontage road doesn't meet conventional Interstate standards, due to multiple at-grade intersections, while Toll 550 lacks such intersections and seems to be Interstate-standard.

[PColumbus73]

Seems like a bait & switch by TxDOT. Drivers wanting to use the toll road have a limited access highway, but the signed I-169 is an at-grade frontage road.

[Thegeet]

Btw, how often is it that in Texas, an FM road is concurrent with an Interstate?

[74/171FAN]

Btw, how often is it that in Texas, an FM road is concurrent with an Interstate?

I have down that I-20 is concurrent with FM 880 around Putnam.