Control Cities

[I-55]

SDF is entirely logical if you know that Louisville's airport was known as Standiford Field for decades. I think it's now called Muhammad Ali International Airport, but I'm not sure, as all the signage on the interstates just says "Airport."

CVG makes little sense since the airport isn't located in Covington.

But given the airport is in northern KY and Covington is the largest city in northern KY it does make some sense.

[Flint1979]

I've been in the Pittsburgh area the last few days and can tell you that I noticed Washington being the control city on both I-70 and I-79. It's signed as Washington, Pa on I-70 but only as Washington on I-79. Even in West Virginia at I-68's western terminus it's signed as Washington. Both Washington and New Stanton make sense as control cities on I-70 btw.

[Roadgeekteen]

I've been in the Pittsburgh area the last few days and can tell you that I noticed Washington being the control city on both I-70 and I-79. It's signed as Washington, Pa on I-70 but only as Washington on I-79. Even in West Virginia at I-68's western terminus it's signed as Washington. Both Washington and New Stanton make sense as control cities on I-70 btw.

I wouldn't use either.

[SkyPesos]

I would skip Washington for I-79 at least, and use Morgantown for SB.

[Roadgeekteen]

I would skip Washington for I-79 at least, and use Morgantown for SB.

I agree. I would also use Wheeling for I-70.

[Flint1979]

I've been in the Pittsburgh area the last few days and can tell you that I noticed Washington being the control city on both I-70 and I-79. It's signed as Washington, Pa on I-70 but only as Washington on I-79. Even in West Virginia at I-68's western terminus it's signed as Washington. Both Washington and New Stanton make sense as control cities on I-70 btw.

I wouldn't use either.

PennDOT makes the choice and I think they both make sense for control cities. New Stanton is a well known control city same with Washington. It isn't about the population of the city, it's about the location of the city. Washington and New Stanton are both at major and well known junctions.

[Flint1979]

I would skip Washington for I-79 at least, and use Morgantown for SB.

I agree. I would also use Wheeling for I-70.

Also Wheeling is used for I-70 so I don't know what you mean here. Washington and New Stanton are in Pennsylvania, PennDOT probably wanted to use a city in their own state Wheeling isn't all that big.

[Flint1979]

I would skip Washington for I-79 at least, and use Morgantown for SB.

I-79 has a concurrency with I-70 in Washington. It breaks as two separate freeways so using Washington does make sense.

[hobsini2]

As long as they use Pa to distinguish it, I good with that.

[Flint1979]

As long as they use Pa to distinguish it, I good with that.

They do on I-70 but not on I-79. At least at the interchanges I was at it was that way.

[Flint1979]

I'm in St. Clairsville, Ohio right now right next to I-70 I'm actually watching the traffic go by. EB the control city is Wheeling, WB it's Columbus and Cambridge. You have to realize that these control cities are what they are sometimes due to interchanges. Cambridge, Ohio is at the interchange between I-70 and I-77 and Columbus is the largest city and capital of the state.

[hbelkins]

As long as they use Pa to distinguish it, I good with that.

They do on I-70 but not on I-79. At least at the interchanges I was at it was that way.

Which makes sense, because I-79 runs north-south and doesn't go anywhere near the District of Columbia. I-70 is a major route used to get to DC, and in fact DC starts showing up as a control city at Breezewood. (Although 70 doesn't go to DC, just like it doesn't go to Baltimore).

WV's practice is to add states to its out-of-state controls (Lexington KY, Ashland KY, Wytheville, VA, etc.) so the exclusion of PA at the end of I-68 is unusual, being that the PA is noted on I-79 northbound at the I-68 exit.

[jmacswimmer]

As long as they use Pa to distinguish it, I good with that.

They do on I-70 but not on I-79. At least at the interchanges I was at it was that way.

Which makes sense, because I-79 runs north-south and doesn't go anywhere near the District of Columbia. I-70 is a major route used to get to DC, and in fact DC starts showing up as a control city at Breezewood. (Although 70 doesn't go to DC, just like it doesn't go to Baltimore).

WV's practice is to add states to its out-of-state controls (Lexington KY, Ashland KY, Wytheville, VA, etc.) so the exclusion of PA at the end of I-68 is unusual, being that the PA is noted on I-79 northbound at the I-68 exit.

Has this always been WV's practice, or is it newer?  I ask because the 2 & 1-mile overheads on I-68 west approaching I-79, replaced 5ish years ago, do include "PA".

Also, there are a few instances of "PA" being used along I-79 in PA that I'm aware of:
-PA 21 at the exit 14 NB onramp
-I-79 NB where it joins I-70

[SkyPesos]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

[Roadgeekteen]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

[SkyPesos]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

I think it's fine. Hamilton, OH exists in a county just north of Hamilton County, and OH 129 uses it as its WB control city.

[Roadgeekteen]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

I think it's fine. Hamilton, OH exists in a county just north of Hamilton County, and OH 129 uses it as its WB control city.

Yeah travelers on I-90 east aren't likely to be heading to Erie County.

[jaehak]

It isn't about the population of the city, it's about the location of the city. Washington and New Stanton are both at major and well known junctions.

I agree that smaller cities can sometimes be logical control cites - Flagstaff, Bangor, and plenty others. However, despite the junctions being known, the cities are not at all known outside the region and therefore useless to longer distance drivers. 70 from Wheeling (or Columbus) should be Pittsburgh, then Harrisburg (or Philly) from the 79 split. 70/76 should be just Pittsburgh until New Stanton, and 70 west should be Wheeling (or Columbus). 79 should just sign Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

[HighwayStar]

It isn't about the population of the city, it's about the location of the city. Washington and New Stanton are both at major and well known junctions.

I agree that smaller cities can sometimes be logical control cites - Flagstaff, Bangor, and plenty others. However, despite the junctions being known, the cities are not at all known outside the region and therefore useless to longer distance drivers. 70 from Wheeling (or Columbus) should be Pittsburgh, then Harrisburg (or Philly) from the 79 split. 70/76 should be just Pittsburgh until New Stanton, and 70 west should be Wheeling (or Columbus). 79 should just sign Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

Not being known by poorly educated drivers that were victimized by the public school system is not really a good benchmark. A sizeable number of drivers on the road could not name all the states, let alone their capitals, so they are hardly an acceptable reference point for what should or should not constitute a control city.
Nor are they "useless" to people who are not familiar with that control city, they still have a millage to a major way point even if they are not familiar with it. That is far more useful than signing control cities the route does not actually go to.

[Roadgeekteen]

It isn't about the population of the city, it's about the location of the city. Washington and New Stanton are both at major and well known junctions.

I agree that smaller cities can sometimes be logical control cites - Flagstaff, Bangor, and plenty others. However, despite the junctions being known, the cities are not at all known outside the region and therefore useless to longer distance drivers. 70 from Wheeling (or Columbus) should be Pittsburgh, then Harrisburg (or Philly) from the 79 split. 70/76 should be just Pittsburgh until New Stanton, and 70 west should be Wheeling (or Columbus). 79 should just sign Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

I agree.

[Flint1979]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

No one's going to confuse Erie County Ohio with Erie Pennsylvania.

[Roadgeekteen]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

No one's going to confuse Erie County Ohio with Erie Pennsylvania.

Yes. I agree that the PA would be unnecessary.

[Flint1979]

From some 2020 GSV imagery, seems like Ohio signs "Erie" instead of "Erie Pa" on newer BGS installations now.

Only possible confusion I can think of is Erie County, Ohio.

No one's going to confuse Erie County Ohio with Erie Pennsylvania.

Yes. I agree that the PA would be unnecessary.

It's still there though it still says Erie, PA but it's not really necessary. Erie County, Ohio is on the other side of Cleveland from Erie, PA and it's a county, not a city.

[Roadgeekteen]

I sometimes feel that I-90 west of Boston should be signed for Springfield instead of Albany.

[hobsini2]

I sometimes feel that I-90 west of Boston should be signed for Springfield instead of Albany.

I would think Worcester instead but I get it.