Interstate control cities have gotten smaller over the years

[bandit957]

Anyone else notice this?

For example, I-24 northwest from Nashville used to be St. Louis, but now it's Clarksville.

Interstate control cities have been using smaller or lesser known cities, or sometimes cities that aren't right on that route. As an example of using cities that aren't right on the route, I-70 didn't always have Dayton as a control city, instead skipping from Indianapolis to Columbus.

I think loop Interstates have changed somewhat too. I remember when the signs for I-275 used to say either "Cincinnati Bypass" or no control city at all, but now they list the control city of the next Interstate that I-275 intersects.

[sprjus4]

I-485 used to list Columbia and Statesville, IIRC, but now they only list Huntersville and Pineville (suburbs on I-485)

[hotdogPi]

For example, I-24 northwest from Nashville used to be St. Louis, but now it's Clarksville.

This sounds more like a result of changing demographics. Clarksville has grown significantly since the Interstate Highway System was born. St. Louis has not.

[Roadgeekteen]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

[sprjus4]

For example, I-24 northwest from Nashville used to be St. Louis, but now it's Clarksville.

This sounds more like a result of changing demographics. Clarksville has grown significantly since the Interstate Highway System was born. St. Louis has not.

Clarksville has a population of 150,000. The St. Louis metro area has a population of 3 million. I think that speaks for itself.

[hotdogPi]

Signing St. Louis instead of Clarksville is like signing Montreal instead of Manchester on I-93 in Boston.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Signing St. Louis instead of Clarksville is like signing Montreal instead of Manchester on I-93 in Boston.

I don't think that's an apples-to-apples comparison for multiple reasons. Different regions, different traffic patterns served, different countries.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In the Twin Cities, MnDOT has been working to switch the I-94 eastbound control city to Eau Claire rather than Madison. Eau Claire is a regional center with an important branch of the state university system. I can see both sides of this argument. The smaller regional center is more likely to be a destination for shorter regional trips from a major city (like college students), but Interstates are designed for long-haul trips just as much as the short regional ones.

[SkyPesos]

Generally, I don't like small cities as the primary control, with an exception that they're a college town for a large university (Columbia, MO, Champaign, IL, Lafayette, IN, State College, PA, etc), or is well known for some tourist attractions, like Wisconsin Dells. Actually, I prefer Champaign to be used on SB I-57 in the Chicago area instead of Memphis.

I think loop Interstates have changed somewhat too. I remember when the signs for I-275 used to say either "Cincinnati Bypass" or no control city at all, but now they list the control city of the next Interstate that I-275 intersects.

The interchange with I-75 in OH have both control routes and control cities, interchange with I-74 only uses control cities, and the interchange with I-71 only uses control routes. South of OH 32, I see "Kentucky"  used as a control, and in KY, "Airport"  is used. The whole beltway is plain inconsistent with control cities.

[bandit957]

The interchange with I-75 in OH have both control routes and control cities, interchange with I-74 only uses control cities, and the interchange with I-71 only uses control routes. South of OH 32, I see "Kentucky"  used as a control, and in KY, "Airport"  is used. The whole beltway is plain inconsistent with control cities.

On I-471, I-275 east uses Columbus, but I remember when it didn't have a control city at all.

[Roadgeekteen]

Signing St. Louis instead of Clarksville is like signing Montreal instead of Manchester on I-93 in Boston.

Not on I-93 but singing Montreal on I-89 might make sense, at least at the I-93 interchange.

[Flint1979]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

And why not? It's a city of 130,000 people that is actually along the route.

[sprjus4]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

And why not? It's a city of 130,000 people that is actually along the route.

The vast majority of traffic on I-24 West out of Nashville is bound to St. Louis and points west.

St. Louis should be the main control city, with Clarksville as a secondary. Then west of there, switch to St. Louis / Paducah.

Kentucky skips Clarksville in favor of Nashville.

[Rothman]

Clarksville should not be a control city.

And why not? It's a city of 130,000 people that is actually along the route.

The vast majority of traffic on I-24 West out of Chattanooga is bound to St. Louis and points west.

Says who?

[sprjus4]

*meant Nashville.

For any long distance trips (how control cities should be fitted for) following I-24 to I-57 to I-64 is the most direct trajectory. Following any other routes beyond that on the interstate system end up looping back around to the point it would've been more direct to follow other routes out of Nashville. Just look at a map.

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

[Rothman]

*meant Nashville.

Clarksville is on the other side of Nashville...

[sprjus4]

*meant Nashville.

Clarksville is on the other side of Nashville...

Clarksville, TN is northwest of Nashville, on the path between Nashville and St. Louis.

[Roadgeekteen]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

[sprjus4]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

[Roadgeekteen]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

[SkyPesos]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I-65 exists for Chicago-Nashville travel.

[Flint1979]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

[Roadgeekteen]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

I'm talking about from Paducah.

[Flint1979]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

I'm talking about from Paducah.

Paducah is 5 1/2 hours from Chicago I don't think there are too many people making the trip from Paducah to Chicago.

[sprjus4]

Why is St. Louis used west of Paducah?

What else would you use?

Exactly my point. Where else are the majority of drivers headed?

To plays devils advocate a lot are probably going to Chicago and other places in Illinois.

I doubt anyone is going to Chicago going that far west when you can take I-65.

I'm talking about from Paducah.

Paducah is a town of 25,000. It's not a major traffic generator. Besides, the control city from that point west is St. Louis. That's not the area in question - Nashville is.