Freeway name signing practices

TheStranger · August 13, 2010, 07:24:55 PM

Similar - but not exactly the same - to the distinction between places where the public tends to refer refer to their limited-access routes by name (i.e. Chicago, New York City) and places where the numbers are more prominent (California to an extent)...

How many state DOTs sign the names of freeway routes, as opposed to the names only being found via maps or local verbiage?

Examples:

Metro Chicago - very small Series E(M) legend about half the size of the directional legend, as seen in the following examples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85625337@N00/249584800/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usachicago/4587429985/

Some exceptions to "small-legend" for certain routes do exist (i.e. the Skyway, Indiana Toll Road) -
http://www.billburmaster.com/rmsandw/illinois/interstate/90il.html

with one example of hilarious redundancy:

US71 · August 13, 2010, 08:52:31 PM

Also Wilbur Mills Freeway

PAHighways · August 13, 2010, 09:27:19 PM

PennDOT nor the PTC puts names on guide signs, just the control points, unless of course said road is the control point like at Exit 185 on I-81 or the Turnpike. Otherwise, the name will be posted on the side of the road.

KEK Inc. · August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM

The Sinclair Freeway (I-680) and the Norman Y. Mineta Frwy (formerly W. Valley Freeway CA-85) have signs about a mile into the route from the Southern terminus.

Up in Portland, WA-14 is known as the Lewis and Clark Freeway, I-84 is the Banfield and US-27 is the Sunset, but I don't think it's ever signed.

BigMattFromTexas · August 13, 2010, 10:47:46 PM

San Antonio; Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop):

San Antonio; Spur 53 (U.T.S.A. Blvd) *Signed road, not freeway* :

San Antonio; Loop 345 (Fredericksburg Rd) *Not a freeway, but it's a signed highway*.:

You already mentioned 410..
BigMatt

Ian · August 13, 2010, 10:54:26 PM

I-87 north of the Thruway in Albany is known as the Adirondack Northway, and there are a few signs that do say "Northway" on them, and not as common, but I do think that a few say "Adirondack Northway".

mightyace · August 13, 2010, 11:31:22 PM

Most freeways in Tennessee aren't named, but there are exceptions:

Vietnam Veterans Parkway (TN 386) - not shown

Saturn Parkway (TN 396)

20091222 I-65 N @ Exit 53-C by mightyace, on Flickr

TheStranger · August 14, 2010, 01:35:25 AM

Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
The Sinclair Freeway (I-680) and the Norman Y. Mineta Frwy (formerly W. Valley Freeway CA-85) have signs about a mile into the route from the Southern terminus.

What's fascinating is that those names, and other one-shot deals such as "John F. Foran Freeway" or the "Quentin Kopp Freeway" get JUST as much signage as the names that people actually use (Bayshore, Nimitz)!!!

I'm not sure how often "Southern Freeway" is ever used for 280, but certainly that hasn't been signed in years if ever. It makes me wonder how certain freeway names become commonly used even without much signage, while some that have a sign or two nearby never get called by their moniker. In the case of the Bayshore, the corridor has had that name since the 1930s so that one is more understandable (same deal for the Eastshore), and the MacArthur Boulevard corridor was US 50 in the late 1940s/early 1950s before 580 was built...

...but the old Route 17/current I-880 has only been the Nimitz Freeway since the late 1950s and I suspect more Bay Area residents know the name "Nimitz" in context with 880 as opposed to who it's named for! This despite only that one sign I linked above that I am aware of for the route name.

Of the named freeways in the Bay Area, only the Guadalupe and MacArthur have received mainline signage as far as I have seen in my lifetime.

Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
Up in Portland, WA-14 is known as the Lewis and Clark Freeway, I-84 is the Banfield and US-27 is the Sunset, but I don't think it's ever signed.

Aren't the Banfield and Sunset names in common usage? (the Banfield Freeway of course was built as US 30 first before I-80N, later I-84 came along)

agentsteel53 · August 14, 2010, 01:43:21 AM

Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
Up in Portland, WA-14 is known as the Lewis and Clark Freeway, I-84 is the Banfield and US-27 is the Sunset, but I don't think it's ever signed.

okay, tell me where I-84 meets US-27!

myosh_tino · August 14, 2010, 02:17:45 AM

Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
The Sinclair Freeway (I-680) and the Norman Y. Mineta Frwy (formerly W. Valley Freeway CA-85) have signs about a mile into the route from the Southern terminus.

There is also a sign on CA-85 about 2 miles south of its northern terminus near the El Camino Real/CA-82 interchange. As much as I respect Norm Mineta, I still call the older portion of CA-85 the "Stevens Creek Fwy"

Quote...but the old Route 17/current I-880 has only been the Nimitz Freeway since the late 1950s and I suspect more Bay Area residents know the name "Nimitz" in context with 880 as opposed to who it's named for! This despite only that one sign I linked above that I am aware of for the route name.

Having driven that road from time to time, I would prefer a name that some local traffic reporters have given I-880... the Nasty Nimitz!

KEK Inc. · August 14, 2010, 02:21:03 AM

Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 14, 2010, 01:43:21 AM
Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
Up in Portland, WA-14 is known as the Lewis and Clark Freeway, I-84 is the Banfield and US-27 is the Sunset, but I don't think it's ever signed.

okay, tell me where I-84 meets US-27!

I meant US-26, sorry.

Bickendan · August 14, 2010, 05:40:57 AM

Quote from: KEK Inc. on August 13, 2010, 10:25:08 PM
The Sinclair Freeway (I-680) and the Norman Y. Mineta Frwy (formerly W. Valley Freeway CA-85) have signs about a mile into the route from the Southern terminus.

Up in Portland, WA-14 is known as the Lewis and Clark Freeway, I-84 is the Banfield and US-27 is the Sunset, but I don't think it's ever signed.

Jake beat me to the US 27 comment...

US 26 past Gresham is known as the Mt Hood Highway and IS signed, at least at Powell and Burnside. The name was adopted for the killed Mt Hood Freeway.

I-84/US 30 is the Columbia River Highway; if it is signed, it'd be around/past Troutdale. Old Oregon Trail past US 730; not signed.

I-5: Baldock Freeway, from Salem to Portland. Not signed, not well known as that anymore. Eastbank Freeway, from the Marquam to Fremont Bridges. Rarely referred as such these days. Minnesota Freeway, from the Fremont Bridge to Washington. Snarky commentary about calling it after another state led to the disuse of the name, in spite that the name came from the street in replaced :facepalm: Through Oregon: Pacific Highway. Not signed as such.

OR 217: Beaverton-Tigard Freeway. Not signed.

OR 569: Beltline Rd. Very much signed.

I-105/OR 126: Eugene-Springfield Expressway. Not signed; fairly redundant to do so.

DorkOfNerky · August 14, 2010, 03:47:42 PM

Quote from: TheStranger on August 13, 2010, 07:24:55 PM
Texas - some freeway names do get noted on signs, as seen in these San Antonio and Austin examples -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/okroads/4226831584/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/csampang/4850318378/in/set-72157624630358670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/csampang/4850318378/in/set-72157624630358670/

Would you really count the Texas 71/Ben White Blvd one? Like US 90A in Houston, it's known as S Main St. and signed as such on the Sam Houston Tollway and Fort Bend Toll Road. These were named as such before they were upgraded to limited access highways (or whatever those mini freeways are called). As this is the case, it would make sense to continue labeling the actual street's name on it. Am I wrong in thinking this?

KEK Inc. · August 14, 2010, 05:12:05 PM

You guys should hopefully know what I mean. I apologize if I don't really proofread my posts. No need to make a big deal about it.

Greybear · August 14, 2010, 05:31:44 PM

Here in Greenville, TX, I-30 is now officially known as the 'Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway'. TxDOT erected signs on each direction of I-30 as it enters the city limits.

golden eagle · August 14, 2010, 07:24:43 PM

I-20 through western Georgia is the Tom Murphy Freeway, though it's not signed on any BGS's.

Mississippi 25 through Jackson and Rankin County is known as Lakeland Drive and is signed that way on I-55.

U.S. 61 in Memphis is Third Street and U.S. 51 is Elvis Presley Blvd.

TheStranger · August 14, 2010, 09:14:26 PM

Quote from: DorkOfNerky on August 14, 2010, 03:47:42 PM
Quote from: TheStranger on August 13, 2010, 07:24:55 PM
Texas - some freeway names do get noted on signs, as seen in these San Antonio and Austin examples -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/okroads/4226831584/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/csampang/4850318378/in/set-72157624630358670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/csampang/4850318378/in/set-72157624630358670/

Would you really count the Texas 71/Ben White Blvd one? Like US 90A in Houston, it's known as S Main St. and signed as such on the Sam Houston Tollway and Fort Bend Toll Road. These were named as such before they were upgraded to limited access highways (or whatever those mini freeways are called). As this is the case, it would make sense to continue labeling the actual street's name on it. Am I wrong in thinking this?

If the actual street name is still used on the freeway, then by all means it applies (as opposed to renaming it "Ben White Freeway" i.e. the Bayshore Highway becoming Bayshore Freeway in the SF Bay Area or deprecating the street name that was in place, i.e. Wayzata Boulevard in Minneapolis).

njroadhorse · August 15, 2010, 09:08:36 AM

Obviously, New Jersey signs the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, and Atlantic City Expressway. Sometimes, just as Parkway, Turnpike, or Expressway, respectively.

Eth · August 15, 2010, 08:47:27 PM

Quote from: golden eagle on August 14, 2010, 07:24:43 PM
I-20 through western Georgia is the Tom Murphy Freeway, though it's not signed on any BGS's.

Last time I checked, BGSes on I-285 at the I-20 interchange on the west side do actually show this; they also sign I-20 eastbound into Atlanta as the Ralph D. Abernathy Freeway. In over 20 years in Atlanta, I have never heard anybody refer to either of these by name.

tdindy88 · August 15, 2010, 09:21:40 PM

Quote from: Greybear on August 14, 2010, 05:31:44 PM
Here in Greenville, TX, I-30 is now officially known as the 'Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway'. TxDOT erected signs on each direction of I-30 as it enters the city limits.

Louisville does the same thing with I-65 through Jefferson County with smaller signs dispersed along the route to remind you in case you forgot. However my knowledge of the area indicates that no one actually calls it that. However, there are the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and Gene Synder Freeway (I-265) that are signed and I think they are called that by locals more often than the M.L.K Expressway.

brownpelican · August 19, 2010, 12:59:05 AM

There are only two signed Interstates by LADOTD in Louisiana to my knowledge:

* I-110 in Baton Rouge (MLK Jr. Expressway)
* I-12 (West Florida Republic Parkway)

The Pontchartrain Expressway in New Orleans and the Westbank Expressway are not signed by LADOTD

Alps · August 19, 2010, 09:11:15 PM

Quote from: njroadhorse on August 15, 2010, 09:08:36 AM
Obviously, New Jersey signs the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, and Atlantic City Expressway. Sometimes, just as Parkway, Turnpike, or Expressway, respectively.

Add Palisades Interstate Parkway. All four of those routes have their own shields. I-80 is signed as the Christopher Columbus Highway in a couple of places, but the old Bergen-Passaic Expressway isn't signed at all to my knowledge. Same with NJ 21/Passaic Freeway. I think, but am not certain, that old signs referred to either NJ 42 and/or I-676 as North South Freeway, but again, not sure sure that there are any remaining references. Those are the only other named ones I know off the top of my head.

News:

Freeway name signing practices