Control Cities

[Roadgeekteen]

One thing I learned from this topic....people WAY overthink the importance of control cities.

That's the point of this thread and many others on the forum.

[NWI_Irish96]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

[bassoon1986]

Here's another way to think about the Denver/Limon/Kansas City debate for I-70. Does the change of state make it a harder choice whether Limon is large enough/important enough to be used?

Similar scenario but from San Antonio to El Paso is roughly 550 miles. El Paso is the next control city on I-10 west from SA. Is it an easier pill to swallow that the next city here in Texas is that far away because there are not really cities of importance or major junctions west of San Antonio (there is no town or anything at all where I-10 and I-20 meet) all because it's in the same state of Texas?


iPhone

[TXtoNJ]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

Limon, then Colby, KS.

Similar scenario but from San Antonio to El Paso is roughly 550 miles. El Paso is the next control city on I-10 west from SA. Is it an easier pill to swallow that the next city here in Texas is that far away because there are not really cities of importance or major junctions west of San Antonio (there is no town or anything at all where I-10 and I-20 meet) all because it's in the same state of Texas?

There just isn't any major turn-off from San Antonio to El Paso going westbound, unless you're headed to Big Bend National Park (and that's not a huge number).

[NWI_Irish96]

Here's another way to think about the Denver/Limon/Kansas City debate for I-70. Does the change of state make it a harder choice whether Limon is large enough/important enough to be used?

Similar scenario but from San Antonio to El Paso is roughly 550 miles. El Paso is the next control city on I-10 west from SA. Is it an easier pill to swallow that the next city here in Texas is that far away because there are not really cities of importance or major junctions west of San Antonio (there is no town or anything at all where I-10 and I-20 meet) all because it's in the same state of Texas?


iPhone

I'm not a fan of signing a lone control city, in state or not, that's > 250 miles away. I want to know where I can stop within the next 2-3 hours that's going to have hotels, restaurants and gas stations. If the major destination is as far away as El Paso or Kansas City, then I'd like to see a secondary control city also listed.

[thspfc]

Yes, it does. And again, what makes Limon "just fine?"  The 287 junction is meaningless unless you are getting on 70 east at Deer Trail or Agate, or unless you're going from Denver to Kit Carson (population 231).

Unless perhaps, you're driving from Denver to Dallas.  Many (if not most) truckers take US287 instead of I-70>I-135->I-35. 

Chris

Say there are 100 cars traveling on I-70 EB out of Denver to random destinations around the Great Plains and the rest of the country. How many of them are going to exit at US-287 in Limon? Maybe 5 or 10? Of those 5 or 10, at least half of them don't even know that Limon, population 1k, exists, they just look at the route that Google Maps gives them and make the turns where they're told to. On the other hand, you have the 90-95 other drivers who continue on I-70 eastbound past Limon. Of those 90-95, the vast majority know at the very least that Kansas is east of Colorado, as is Kansas City. Therefore Limon is of absolutely no use to 95-98% of drivers.

You and Flint have like one more post to explain why Limon should be a control city. Because this thread needs to move on from this nonsense.

One more post to explain why Limon should be a control city? Because it is. I don't see the problem nor do I really care about it.

I think we're done here.

[SEWIGuy]

One thing I learned from this topic....people WAY overthink the importance of control cities.

That's the point of this thread and many others on the forum.

I get that.  They just really aren't all that are important.  They're basically a back up for people who either can't figure out the cardinal directions or don't know exactly where a highway goes.  So whether or not it should be "Limon" or "Kansas" or wherever....they all would work just fine. None of them are really all that better than another.

[Flint1979]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

Limon, Colorado

[Flint1979]

Limon is basically like Birch Run, Michigan. Even though Birch Run isn't a control city on I-75 it's still a major interchange. Birch Run isn't going to be the control city over Saginaw or Flint.

Another major junction along I-75 in Michigan is West Branch. As well as Gaylord.

[Flint1979]

Here's another way to think about the Denver/Limon/Kansas City debate for I-70. Does the change of state make it a harder choice whether Limon is large enough/important enough to be used?

Similar scenario but from San Antonio to El Paso is roughly 550 miles. El Paso is the next control city on I-10 west from SA. Is it an easier pill to swallow that the next city here in Texas is that far away because there are not really cities of importance or major junctions west of San Antonio (there is no town or anything at all where I-10 and I-20 meet) all because it's in the same state of Texas?


iPhone

I'd use Be Van Horn as a control city.

[hotdogPi]

Another major junction along I-75 in Michigan is West Branch. As well as Gaylord.

And of course, Pere Cheney, at least according to this post.

[Flint1979]

Another major junction along I-75 in Michigan is West Branch. As well as Gaylord.

And of course, Pere Cheney, at least according to this post.

I actually remember that. Grayling is a control City on US-127 NB at secondary exits where Mackinac Bridge isn't the control city.

[hbelkins]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

Several gas stations, including truck stops with chain restaurants, along the route.

We passed Limon too early for my brother's tastes to stop for the night, so we stopped in Burlington. In fact, Burlington is the supplemental control past Limon. (Next Exit, Burlington, Hays).

[thenetwork]

Here's a mini-version of Limon...and it's on the western terminus of the eastern section of I-76:  Lodi, OH.

West of Akron (And Barberton), I-76 is duplexed to it's end with US-224 and it's control city is Lodi (population 2750).

But why is it signed as Lodi?  Most people on I-76/US-224 don't stop in Lodi, as neither route (nor I-71) cross into the Lodi City Limits. 

The big intersection is with I-71...which is way closer to Seville than Lodi.  A lot of traffic that continues west on US-224 past I-71 is either going cross-state &/or truckers avoiding the Turnpike.  Those that turn off of I-76/US-224 at I-71 are likely heading south towards Mansfield/US-30 West or Columbus.

So should we change the control city out of Akron from Lodi to either Columbus and/or Findlay (the next 'sizeable' city west on US-224)?

[Roadgeekteen]

Here's a mini-version of Limon...and it's on the western terminus of the eastern section of I-76:  Lodi, OH.

West of Akron (And Barberton), I-76 is duplexed to it's end with US-224 and it's control city is Lodi (population 2750).

But why is it signed as Lodi?  Most people on I-76/US-224 don't stop in Lodi, as neither route (nor I-71) cross into the Lodi City Limits. 

The big intersection is with I-71...which is way closer to Seville than Lodi.  A lot of traffic that continues west on US-224 past I-71 is either going cross-state &/or truckers avoiding the Turnpike.  Those that turn off of I-76/US-224 at I-71 are likely heading south towards Mansfield/US-30 West or Columbus.

So should we change the control city out of Akron from Lodi to either Columbus and/or Findlay (the next 'sizeable' city west on US-224)?

That's different as I-76 ends in Lodi.

[SkyPesos]

Here's a mini-version of Limon...and it's on the western terminus of the eastern section of I-76:  Lodi, OH.

West of Akron (And Barberton), I-76 is duplexed to it's end with US-224 and it's control city is Lodi (population 2750).

But why is it signed as Lodi?  Most people on I-76/US-224 don't stop in Lodi, as neither route (nor I-71) cross into the Lodi City Limits. 

The big intersection is with I-71...which is way closer to Seville than Lodi.  A lot of traffic that continues west on US-224 past I-71 is either going cross-state &/or truckers avoiding the Turnpike.  Those that turn off of I-76/US-224 at I-71 are likely heading south towards Mansfield/US-30 West or Columbus.

So should we change the control city out of Akron from Lodi to either Columbus and/or Findlay (the next 'sizeable' city west on US-224)?

Mine is the same opinion as what I-70 WB should be for the westernmost few miles. Like how I prefer Las Vegas as a control city on WB 70 west of Green River, as most traffic past that point is heading south on I-15 past I-70's terminus, I would use either Mansfield (connection to US 30 WB for those shunpiking the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Rd) or Columbus (next large city) on I-76 WB west of Akron, as most traffic is heading south on I-71 past I-76's terminus.

[chrismarion100]

I do not get why Cadott is an control city at the Wi 124 Bus Wi 29 and not Wausau since most people will know that is

[Flint1979]

Here's a mini-version of Limon...and it's on the western terminus of the eastern section of I-76:  Lodi, OH.

West of Akron (And Barberton), I-76 is duplexed to it's end with US-224 and it's control city is Lodi (population 2750).

But why is it signed as Lodi?  Most people on I-76/US-224 don't stop in Lodi, as neither route (nor I-71) cross into the Lodi City Limits. 

The big intersection is with I-71...which is way closer to Seville than Lodi.  A lot of traffic that continues west on US-224 past I-71 is either going cross-state &/or truckers avoiding the Turnpike.  Those that turn off of I-76/US-224 at I-71 are likely heading south towards Mansfield/US-30 West or Columbus.

So should we change the control city out of Akron from Lodi to either Columbus and/or Findlay (the next 'sizeable' city west on US-224)?

That's different as I-76 ends in Lodi.

Actually Westfield Center but US-224 keeps going that is obviously a control city for US-224.

[Flint1979]

Here's a mini-version of Limon...and it's on the western terminus of the eastern section of I-76:  Lodi, OH.

West of Akron (And Barberton), I-76 is duplexed to it's end with US-224 and it's control city is Lodi (population 2750).

But why is it signed as Lodi?  Most people on I-76/US-224 don't stop in Lodi, as neither route (nor I-71) cross into the Lodi City Limits. 

The big intersection is with I-71...which is way closer to Seville than Lodi.  A lot of traffic that continues west on US-224 past I-71 is either going cross-state &/or truckers avoiding the Turnpike.  Those that turn off of I-76/US-224 at I-71 are likely heading south towards Mansfield/US-30 West or Columbus.

So should we change the control city out of Akron from Lodi to either Columbus and/or Findlay (the next 'sizeable' city west on US-224)?

Mine is the same opinion as what I-70 WB should be for the westernmost few miles. Like how I prefer Las Vegas as a control city on WB 70 west of Green River, as most traffic past that point is heading south on I-15 past I-70's terminus, I would use either Mansfield (connection to US 30 WB for those shunpiking the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Rd) or Columbus (next large city) on I-76 WB west of Akron, as most traffic is heading south on I-71 past I-76's terminus.

As I mentioned before US-224 keeps going west of where I-76 ends so I'm assuming that they kept the control city selection there for US-224's routing. The next logical choice would probably be Tiffin for WB traffic from there.

[jaehak]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

Seems that's what secondary control cities are for.

Also, as previously noted, 70 across the plains is sparse, but it's not like 70 in Utah. You're never going more than 50 miles or so without passing a McDonald's or much than 20 without a gas station. Chain motels at Byars, Limon, Stratton, Burlington, Goodland, Colby, Oakley, and on down the line.

[kphoger]

I posted this earlier in the thread, but not as directly.  If you think Limon should be removed as a control city AND you've been there, please chime in.  Just curious.

I'm from Kansas. Driven through Limon many times. Absolutely should be removed.

I'm from Kansas.  Driven through Limon many times.  It's a decent control city.

[JayhawkCO]

If I'm leaving Denver heading east on I-70, where's the best place within the next 200 or so miles to stop for food/gas/hotel?

Seems that's what secondary control cities are for.

Also, as previously noted, 70 across the plains is sparse, but it's not like 70 in Utah. You're never going more than 50 miles or so without passing a McDonald's or much than 20 without a gas station. Chain motels at Byars, Limon, Stratton, Burlington, Goodland, Colby, Oakley, and on down the line.

Longest gap between McDonald's on I-70 in the plains is between Colby and Hays - 109 miles. 
Longest gap between McDonald's west of Denver is between Fruita and Richfield - 213 miles.

Apropos of nothing, of course; I was just curious.

Chris

[webny99]

I never understood Jamestown as a control city on I-86. It's not that big of a place and is not an important intersection.

I'd use Corning, Binghamton, Middletown, and NYC eastbound; Middletown, Binghamton, Corning, and Erie westbound.

For I-86 eastbound, it would be kind of strange to skip over Jamestown in favor of Corning. Jamestown is not a big city by any means, but it is nearly three times larger than Corning.

[Roadgeekteen]

I never understood Jamestown as a control city on I-86. It's not that big of a place and is not an important intersection.

I'd use Corning, Binghamton, Middletown, and NYC eastbound; Middletown, Binghamton, Corning, and Erie westbound.

For I-86 westbound, it would be kind of strange to skip over Jamestown in favor of Corning. Jamestown is not a big city by any means, but it is nearly three times larger than Corning.

You mean eastbound right?

[webny99]

I never understood Jamestown as a control city on I-86. It's not that big of a place and is not an important intersection.

I'd use Corning, Binghamton, Middletown, and NYC eastbound; Middletown, Binghamton, Corning, and Erie westbound.

For I-86 westbound, it would be kind of strange to skip over Jamestown in favor of Corning. Jamestown is not a big city by any means, but it is nearly three times larger than Corning.

You mean eastbound right?

Sorry, yes. I re-read it like three times and still got it wrong.