Worst control city on an interstate in your state

[GaryV]

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8570045,-84.7323209,3a,18.8y,80.16h,97.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxOc7UZIu_4-YLsGq1YXVwQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

St. Ignace has a downtown?

Yes, a fairly nice one for an Up North town. And since you've just entered the St Ignace limits at that sign, Downtown makes sense.

[Flint1979]

Mackinaw City actually has a nice downtown too.

[Terry Shea]

Mackinaw City actually has a nice downtown too.

Yes it does.  But here's something weird.  Mackinaw City, despite its name, is not a city at all.  It's a village.  So, anyone arguing that Mackinaw City should be used as a control city instead of Mackinaw Bridge because Mackinaw City is actually a city, clearly doesn't know what they're talking about.  In a related, but slightly off topic matter, there is no creek named Battle Creek in Battle Creek, but there is a Battle Creek River.  Who decides these things?

[Flint1979]

Mackinaw City actually has a nice downtown too.

Yes it does.  But here's something weird.  Mackinaw City, despite its name, is not a city at all.  It's a village.  So, anyone arguing that Mackinaw City should be used as a control city instead of Mackinaw Bridge because Mackinaw City is actually a city, clearly doesn't know what they're talking about.  In a related, but slightly off topic matter, there is no creek named Battle Creek in Battle Creek, but there is a Battle Creek River.  Who decides these things?

There are a lot of villages like that where they are called City but really a village. Like I know Minden City in the thumb is a village, same with Cass City but then like Bay City and Brown City are actually cities. Honestly Brown City is so small it probably feels more like a village. Mackinaw City is an actual place rather than a bridge so using it for a control city wouldn't be a horrible idea but Mackinac Bridge works better, actually like I said earlier you could probably use Sault Ste. Marie as far south as Saginaw.

[NWI_Irish96]

I-255 south at I-64 signs Memphis and Tulsa. I got a bit confused by Tulsa for a minute but then remembered I-44.

However, when you get across the river into Missouri to the interchange with I-55, I-55 south is signed for Memphis, I-270 for Kansas City, and no mention of Tulsa. Someone who didn't know that you needed to continue up to I-44 for Tulsa might be inclined to follow I-55 toward Memphis since those two cities were signed together over in Illinois.

[roadman65]

I-255 south at I-64 signs Memphis and Tulsa. I got a bit confused by Tulsa for a minute but then remembered I-44.

However, when you get across the river into Missouri to the interchange with I-55, I-55 south is signed for Memphis, I-270 for Kansas City, and no mention of Tulsa. Someone who didn't know that you needed to continue up to I-44 for Tulsa might be inclined to follow I-55 toward Memphis since those two cities were signed together over in Illinois.

That’s what happens when you have two state’s DOTs running things.  Different ideals.

Heck even same state agencies like NYSDOT verses NYTA.  You have Rochester signed for I-290 east from I-190 near Grand Island, NY. Travel I-290 east to its end and Albany and Erie are mentioned for I-90, but no follow up to Rochester. Someone going there will get confused because one agency doesn’t know what the other agency has done.

[vdeane]

^ I-190 is actually owned/maintained by the Thruway south of Niagara Falls, but even looking at mainline... here's Rochester.  Plus Rochester is on the mileage signs at least, and at exits 47-45.  Not much in the way of overhead signs east of I-290 in any case.

[roadman65]

Then it's worse that the Thruway signs one at one interchange and another at a turning point exchange.

[webny99]

^ I-190 is actually owned/maintained by the Thruway south of Niagara Falls, but even looking at mainline... here's Rochester.  Plus Rochester is on the mileage signs at least, and at exits 47-45.  Not much in the way of overhead signs east of I-290 in any case.

I find it equally odd that Rochester is used on the Thruway at I-190, but not at I-290.  It's similar to Rochester being used on I-190 at I-290, but then not on I-290 at the Thruway. Signing Rochester on both approaches to I-90/I-290 would solve everything.

[kirbykart]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

[webny99]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I wouldn't call that a control city, it's more of a local exit destination. It's basically saying "use this exit to get to Hartsburg", because normally you'd expect to have access to Hartsburg from I-55, but there's no exit at Old Route 121, so you have to use I-155 to get to Hartsburg instead.

And yes, Hartsburg might seem small to put on any sort of signage, but it is quite common for towns of this size to appear on interstate signage as local exit destinations in the Midwest and West. I-29 in North Dakota has many that are smaller than this, sometimes much smaller, like Ardoch (pop. 31) and Bathgate (pop. 47).

[kirbykart]

^OK, never thought about it quite like that.

And local exit destinations can be tiny as you want. How about Steamburg and Onoville from Exit 17 of Route 17?

[NWI_Irish96]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I wouldn't call that a control city, it's more of a local exit destination. It's basically saying "use this exit to get to Hartsburg", because normally you'd expect to have access to Hartsburg from I-55, but there's no exit at Old Route 121, so you have to use I-155 to get to Hartsburg instead.

And yes, Hartsburg might seem small to put on any sort of signage, but it is quite common for towns of this size to appear on interstate signage as local exit destinations in the Midwest and West. I-29 in North Dakota has many that are smaller than this, sometimes much smaller, like Ardoch (pop. 31) and Bathgate (pop. 47).

That's what those smaller signs on the side of the road are for, to indicate local destinations.

[Scott5114]

And local exit destinations can be tiny as you want. How about Steamburg and Onoville from Exit 17 of Route 17?

How about Newkirk, NM, population 7, at I-40 exit 300?

[kphoger]

And local exit destinations can be tiny as you want. How about Steamburg and Onoville from Exit 17 of Route 17?

How about Newkirk, NM, population 7, at I-40 exit 300?

I think that's still bigger than Glenrio, which famously has its own non-looping Interstate Business Loop.

I think it's also bigger than Cisco, which is still signed from eastbound I-70.

[webny99]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I wouldn't call that a control city, it's more of a local exit destination. It's basically saying "use this exit to get to Hartsburg", because normally you'd expect to have access to Hartsburg from I-55, but there's no exit at Old Route 121, so you have to use I-155 to get to Hartsburg instead.

And yes, Hartsburg might seem small to put on any sort of signage, but it is quite common for towns of this size to appear on interstate signage as local exit destinations in the Midwest and West. I-29 in North Dakota has many that are smaller than this, sometimes much smaller, like Ardoch (pop. 31) and Bathgate (pop. 47).

That's what those smaller signs on the side of the road are for, to indicate local destinations.

What do you call the destinations on the main signage, then?

[Terry Shea]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

[NWI_Irish96]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

From the FHWA website:

Connecting Interstate routes and full or partial circumferential beltways around or within urban areas carry a three-digit number.

Supplemental radial and spur routes, connecting with the main route at one end, also carry a three-digit number, using the number of the main route with an odd-number prefix.

I-155 is really both a connecting and a spur route, so by definition it could be either odd or even. Ultimately, probably < 1% of drivers know the even/odd rule and would be surprised to find another interstate at the north end of I-155.

[SkyPesos]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

At least it's only a secondary and Peoria is still signed. I think the southbound I-155 exit at I-74 is worse. No mention of Springfield or St Louis.

[kirbykart]

^Really it varies, not even by state but on a case-by-case basis. I-691 in Connecticut is an example of an Interstate similar to I-155, but has an even first digit.

Then you have Pennsylvania. A spur route from I-79 that connects to I-376 in Downtown Pittsburgh has an even first digit, but a spur from I-80 that connects to I-84 near Scranton has an odd first digit.

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

At least it's only a secondary and Peoria is still signed. I think the southbound I-155 exit at I-74 is worse. No mention of Springfield or St Louis.

I agree on this one. Who is going to Lincoln, IDOT?

[kphoger]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

From the FHWA website:

Connecting Interstate routes and full or partial circumferential beltways around or within urban areas carry a three-digit number.

Supplemental radial and spur routes, connecting with the main route at one end, also carry a three-digit number, using the number of the main route with an odd-number prefix.

I-155 is really both a connecting and a spur route, so by definition it could be either odd or even. Ultimately, probably < 1% of drivers know the even/odd rule and would be surprised to find another interstate at the north end of I-155.

Likewise I-135 and I-335 in Kansas, each of which connects its parent to another Interstate.  And I-355, also in Illinois.  And plenty of others.

[Flint1979]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

Because it's a north-south spur that provides an Interstate connection between Peoria and Lincoln.

[roadman65]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

What about I-376 in PA?  That one is the one that shouldn't have an odd number the way it runs.  Then I-495 in New York is one that deserves an odd number prefix.  Plus all the x78's that do not even meet its parents.

Bottom line, nothing is perfect.

[kirbykart]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I'd like to know why I-155 has an odd number.

Because it's a north-south spur that provides an Interstate connection between Peoria and Lincoln.

^Again, standards vary by state. Most states would give I-155 an even first digit, but as Illinois and Kansas have shown, not everyone thinks that is best practice. Pennsylvania does a bit of both, and I honestly can't explain I-495 in New York.

I couldn't decide whether to respond to roadman or Flint, so I quoted Flint's post and added an arrow to show I was talking to roadman.

[hobsini2]

Illinois is notorious for bad controls, but this is ridiculous: https://goo.gl/maps/KihGvxzLYQPDK3w96
Hartsburg, Illinois

I wouldn't call that a control city, it's more of a local exit destination. It's basically saying "use this exit to get to Hartsburg", because normally you'd expect to have access to Hartsburg from I-55, but there's no exit at Old Route 121, so you have to use I-155 to get to Hartsburg instead.

And yes, Hartsburg might seem small to put on any sort of signage, but it is quite common for towns of this size to appear on interstate signage as local exit destinations in the Midwest and West. I-29 in North Dakota has many that are smaller than this, sometimes much smaller, like Ardoch (pop. 31) and Bathgate (pop. 47).

A bit of historical context for you Kirby. I-155 was, prior to being an interstate, the freeway bypass numbered Illinois 121. And if you look on a current map of the area, you will see the old road is still marked as Old 121 into Hartsburg.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.202455,-89.3979121,13.01z
When the 121 freeway was completed between Lincoln and Morton, it then became I-155 in about 1991.