I-68 (National Freeway)

[SteveG1988]

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is about to select a "preferred alternative" for their Allegheny Mountain Tunnel project soon, and I anticipate that it will involve six lanes regardless of whether it involves a bypass or a new tunnel. This goes along with the design work underway for multiple segments of the Turnpike between the Allegheny Front and Breezewood, plus the ongoing reconstruction of I-70 south of Pittsburgh. It appears that Pennsylvania is throwing down the gauntlet now.

I recently drove a segment of I-68 from U.S. 40 in Maryland west to Morgantown, and I was struck by the long, steep grades relative to the Turnpike, so I'm not sure how practical it is for long-distance truck traffic, especially considering I-68 still ends at I-79. By 2020, the only arguments Maryland and West Virginia will have left will be "Breezewood" and "Speers-Belle Vernon Bridge."

And "Tolls"

[Strider]

I think these signs are making sense. Because not everyone knows where I-68 (or Cumberland, MD) is. I realize that I-68 acts as an alternative to I-70 and the Turnpike in PA, but i think it is a poor job in WV for not signing which to go to reach I-70, Ohio and points west. (you can either go north on I-79, go down to US 250 or take WV/PA 43).

[cpzilliacus]

Tried the Breezewood Avoidance Route - I-70 eastbound from Wheeling, W.Va. to Pa. 43, then south on 43 to I-68 in West Virginia, then east to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland.

Relatively little traffic, but it struck me that a lot of the tractor-trailer traffic were permitted (overdimensional) loads (long, wide or high). 

The Allegheny Tunnel is obviously a barrier to overhight loads, but perhaps not to overwidth and overlength cargo.

Could they be staying with toll-free I-68 to save money?

[hbelkins]

I think these signs are making sense. Because not everyone knows where I-68 (or Cumberland, MD) is. I realize that I-68 acts as an alternative to I-70 and the Turnpike in PA, but i think it is a poor job in WV for not signing which to go to reach I-70, Ohio and points west. (you can either go north on I-79, go down to US 250 or take WV/PA 43).

West Virginia really doesn't have a dog in that fight. If Maryland is signing I-68 as an alternative to the PA Turnpike to direct traffic (and commerce) to Cumberland and vicinity, then that's totally a Maryland-centric venture.

[SteveG1988]

I think these signs are making sense. Because not everyone knows where I-68 (or Cumberland, MD) is. I realize that I-68 acts as an alternative to I-70 and the Turnpike in PA, but i think it is a poor job in WV for not signing which to go to reach I-70, Ohio and points west. (you can either go north on I-79, go down to US 250 or take WV/PA 43).

West Virginia really doesn't have a dog in that fight. If Maryland is signing I-68 as an alternative to the PA Turnpike to direct traffic (and commerce) to Cumberland and vicinity, then that's totally a Maryland-centric venture.

WV gets fringe benefits basically.

[cpzilliacus]

West Virginia really doesn't have a dog in that fight. If Maryland is signing I-68 as an alternative to the PA Turnpike to direct traffic (and commerce) to Cumberland and vicinity, then that's totally a Maryland-centric venture.

As long as Pennsylvania keeps its breezewoods and charges high (and higher) tolls for a Turnpike that is not at all better than "free" roads in other states, I have no problem with Maryland doing that (and I have absolutely no say-so about it).

[froggie]

Could they be staying with toll-free I-68 to save money?

This could make for an interesting analysis.  The big question that would need to be quantified would be how the significant up-and-down hills along the 68 corridor would affect both their speed and their fuel consumption.

[JREwing78]

I recently drove a segment of I-68 from U.S. 40 in Maryland west to Morgantown, and I was struck by the long, steep grades relative to the Turnpike, so I'm not sure how practical it is for long-distance truck traffic, especially considering I-68 still ends at I-79.

I took the I-70 -> I-68 -> I-79 routing back from Gettysburg in a 2001 Ford Ranger 4-cylinder a few years ago. This particular Ranger was far from healthy (I suspect a plugged catalytic converter). The hills on I-68 were simply brutal; I spent a lot of time in 3rd gear, sometimes 2nd gear, floored to maintain 35-40mph. At the crests, I'd get maybe a half-mile of 4th or 5th gear before having to drop back down to 3rd to take it easy on the brakes going downhill.

[SteveG1988]

My DD13 Equipped semi gets 5.9MPG averaging out from Mullica Hill NJ to Mount Sterling KY, it gets 7.5-8mpg on flat land runs.

[Bitmapped]

I think these signs are making sense. Because not everyone knows where I-68 (or Cumberland, MD) is. I realize that I-68 acts as an alternative to I-70 and the Turnpike in PA, but i think it is a poor job in WV for not signing which to go to reach I-70, Ohio and points west. (you can either go north on I-79, go down to US 250 or take WV/PA 43).

Through traffic does not use US 250 between Fairmont and Moundsville.  WV does sign the distance to Washington, PA along I-68 and lists Washington, PA as the control city at the I-79/I-68 interchange.

[amroad17]

The control cities for I-79 should be Charleston and Pittsburgh with Washington, PA and Fairmont on secondary signs.

[NE2]

The control cities for I-79 should be Charleston and Pittsburgh with Washington, PA and Fairmont on secondary signs.

And Beckley or Bluefield alternating with Charleston, since a fair amount of traffic is forking off onto Corridor L.

[hbelkins]

If I'm not mistaken, Beckley shows up on a mileage sign shortly after I-79 southbound enters WV, but I can't remember if you see Beckley again until the actual US 19 exit.

[SP Cook]

If I'm not mistaken, Beckley shows up on a mileage sign shortly after I-79 southbound enters WV, but I can't remember if you see Beckley again until the actual US 19 exit.

There is a goofy combo southbound that reads something like "TRUCKS: Use I-79 to US 19 Exit 57 - Beckley" just before the first (of dozens) exits for US 19, which is the second exit in the state.   I suppose people with the simple directions of "take 79 to 19 to 77" could get confused and take the first US 19 exit they come to.  (19 and 79 roughly parallel each other until Exit 57 when 19 becomes Corridor L and the better route south and 79 turns westward).   The rest of the interactions with 19 omit the route sign from the exits southbound (as does I-77 Exit 20 northbound).

Unexplained is why the sign reads "Trucks". 

[hbelkins]

Once upon a time, you could see the shadows where the US 19 marker was removed from the exit signs for the US 19 Roanoke exit south of Weston.

[Henry]

The control cities for I-79 should be Charleston and Pittsburgh with Washington, PA and Fairmont on secondary signs.

Duh! I always thought that large cities and those at an Interstate's terminus should get the primary treatment. Which is why it irks me that Philadelphia doesn't get the same respect as New York on I-95 headed north from Washington and Baltimore. (but that's for another topic)

[dave19]

Once upon a time, you could see the shadows where the US 19 marker was removed from the exit signs for the US 19 Roanoke exit south of Weston.

Those signs you speak of were replaced within the past year.

[hbelkins]

Are they Clearview now? I haven't been on I-79 since last August.

[Bitmapped]

Are they Clearview now? I haven't been on I-79 since last August.

No.  They were a WVDOH in-house replacement, so they are in FHWA alphabet.

[dave19]

Are they Clearview now? I haven't been on I-79 since last August.

No, they are not! 
Southbound they say Stonewall Resort, then there's a line, then Roanoke at the bottom, with no indication of US 19. The northbound signs do include a US 19 shield.

[TheKnightoftheInterstate]

Yeah, that is the sign.  WTF. 

First, I-68 does not go to Ohio.  It ends in Morgantown, WV, 50 mountainous miles and several hours from Ohio, unless the motorist goes north to return to the route the motorist is already on (I-70) or south to Corridor D and an eventual return to I-70. 

Second, what is "Points West" ?  Indiana?  Iowa? 

Third, WV isn't in on the scam.  No sign on I-79 advertises I-68 as anything but the route to Cumberland.  Not, say, "Baltimore and the Shore" and, if you were navigating by the sign westward, nothing in Morgantown says anything but Fairmont or Washington (the one in PA).  No signage to direct one to either Corridor D or back to I-70.

Can anybody else think of a similar sign?  By which I mean a sign in one jurisdiction that touts that state's routes over other just as, or more, logical routes?

Exactly. I wouldn't mind the sign if I-68 actually traveled to Ohio and "Points West".

Instead, for knowledgeable road geeks, we know the difference. For a naïve traveler, who doesn't, well I just pray there isn't an accident caused by the trickery.

Frankly, the sign smacks of Turnpike envy.

[NE2]

If Pennsylvania wanted to be dicks, they'd put something on I-95 southbound saying 'alternate route to Baltimore: take US 322 west to US 1 south'.

[Mr_Northside]

For a naïve traveler, who doesn't, well I just pray there isn't an accident caused by the trickery.

Huh?
What kind of accident would there be???   Someone without a GPS/Atlas/Any kind of pre-trip planning sees the "Ohio and West" sign, takes I-68 - and when it ends at I-79 and they're not in Ohio (or west), they decide to come to a complete stop in the middle of the interstate out of frustration causing rear-end accidents?  That sounds ridiculous.
Or, when I-68 ends - not in Ohio- they don't know what to do and end up so lost, and refusing to find somewhere for bathroom breaks, end up having an "accident"??

While the the navigation value of the sign is up for discussion, I feel pretty confident it won't directly lead to any accidents (certainly nothing worthy of prayer).

[TheKnightoftheInterstate]

For a naïve traveler, who doesn't, well I just pray there isn't an accident caused by the trickery.

Huh?
What kind of accident would there be???   Someone without a GPS/Atlas/Any kind of pre-trip planning sees the "Ohio and West" sign, takes I-68 - and when it ends at I-79 and they're not in Ohio (or west), they decide to come to a complete stop in the middle of the interstate out of frustration causing rear-end accidents?  That sounds ridiculous.
Or, when I-68 ends - not in Ohio- they don't know what to do and end up so lost, and refusing to find somewhere for bathroom breaks, end up having an "accident"??

While the the navigation value of the sign is up for discussion, I feel pretty confident it won't directly lead to any accidents (certainly nothing worthy of prayer).

Confused humans have a way of surprising you during their desperation. If they end up in 1-79 and are completely disoriented, who knows?

Either way, the sign is just foolish and petty for an Interstate highway.

I believe anything is worthy of prayer, but this is not a theological board.

[seicer]

Good god.