Mileage to Cities that the Highway Doesn't Go To

[JayhawkCO]

I was down in Salida, CO for the holidays and was traveling on US50 West back to our AirBnB, and happened to notice this sign:



US50 doesn't travel through Alamosa, but still lists it on the mileage sign. Obviously we have examples like Las Vegas on I-70 west in Utah, but those at least make some sense because I-70 ends in the middle of nowhere and a normal place to continue is Vegas. But in this case, US50 obviously doesn't end at Poncha Springs where it intersects US285 which would take you down to Alamosa.

Any other examples of this phenomenon that are even farther away from the highway than Alamosa is to US50? (Again, reiterating that if the highway with the mileage sign ends before another highway directly takes you to the location, then it doesn't count. Also, mileage signs on multiplexes would not count.)

[doorknob60]

I-8 Eastbound in Arizona has mileage signs to Phoenix, following I-8 to AZ-85 to I-10. Tucson is also not on I-8, but that's the more typical way, where it ends at I-10 and traffic logically follows onto I-10.



GSV Link

[NWI_Irish96]

I-65 doesn't go to Chicago. It doesn't even enter Illinois.

I-80 and I-88 also don't enter Chicago.

[JayhawkCO]

I-65 doesn't go to Chicago. It doesn't even enter Illinois.

I-80 and I-88 also don't enter Chicago.

But I-65 and I-88 both end and you can continue logically via another highway. I-80 enters "Chicagoland", which I would argue is a little different than my Alamosa example.

[kphoger]

Again, reiterating that if the highway with the mileage sign ends before another highway directly takes you to the location, then it doesn't count.

I-65 doesn't go to Chicago. It doesn't even enter Illinois.

I-65 ends (pretty much) before I-90 takes you to Chicago.

[pderocco]

I-8 Eastbound in Arizona has mileage signs to Phoenix, following I-8 to AZ-85 to I-10. Tucson is also not on I-8, but that's the more typical way, where it ends at I-10 and traffic logically follows onto I-10.



GSV Link

They apparently felt the obligation to put something on the sign that was actually on I-8. But who goes to Dateland? They should have put Gila Bend, because people at least recognize that as an important crossroads.

[PNWRoadgeek]

I'm pretty sure OR 22 does this when it is signed for Bend, it makes sense as it does really pass through any large cities of note from Salem to it's ending at US 20, but US 20 is another 50 miles away from Bend. Heck, even on I-5 at its junction with OR 22 it is signed for Bend.

[CoreySamson]

My mind instantly went to this one, but it doesn't count according to the rules of the thread. OK 375 NB lists OKC as a control city even though it is 88 miles away from OK 375 at its closest point and the trajectory of OK 375 takes it towards Tulsa (in fact, the way OK 375 is numbered suggests that it is a spur of US 75, which runs through Tulsa, not OKC):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/acwAiwqaZLcRCMGQ9

However, OK 375 NB ends at I-40, which if continued leads to OKC. I also did not realize that OK 375 to I-40 is the fastest route from McAlester to OKC. However, I think it's still remarkable that a N-S route has a destination 88 miles to the west listed on a mileage sign.

[Max Rockatansky]

For some reason westbound CA 180 approaching CA 63 has mileage posted on a guide sign for Firebaugh (which is on CA 33).

[kphoger]

Again, reiterating that if the highway with the mileage sign ends before another highway directly takes you to the location, then it doesn't count.

For some reason westbound CA 180 approaching CA 63 has mileage posted on a guide sign for Firebaugh (which is on CA 33).

CA-180 ends before CA-33 directly takes you to Firebaugh.

[Max Rockatansky]

Again, reiterating that if the highway with the mileage sign ends before another highway directly takes you to the location, then it doesn't count.

For some reason westbound CA 180 approaching CA 63 has mileage posted on a guide sign for Firebaugh (which is on CA 33).

CA-180 ends before CA-33 directly takes you to Firebaugh.

Right, still just one example that I had off the top of my head.  Both Mendota and Firebaugh seem like weird control choices for CA 180 in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

[gonealookin]

This one appears to qualify:



US 395 doesn't come particularly close to Los Angeles.  The sign obviously refers to the routing via SR 14, but that's a fork off of US 395.  And as can also be seen on that sign, this is 39 miles north of the point where the old US 6/US 395 multiplex started.

[gonealookin]

And, California 299 misses Klamath Falls, Oregon by 79 miles:

[webny99]

Obligatory mention of New York City on I-90 eastbound. Although staying on the Thruway system via I-87 south will reach NYC, I-90 does not terminate at I-87.

[DTComposer]

Obligatory mention of San Francisco on I-5 north, not just on mileage signs, but as a control city. It's 72 miles to SF from the I-5/I-580 junction - not quite as far as OP's example.

[ilpt4u]

I-70 and Washington DC

A little more original: IN SR 37 and French Lick: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WPFfGWXPSZCPCnoc7
37 jogs east on IN 64 before turning north to Paoli. IN 145 continues north to French Lick where 37 turns onto IN 64

[kphoger]

And, California 299 misses Klamath Falls, Oregon by 79 miles:

Yeah, technically 299 doesn't end at the next junction.  It just piggy-backs on 139 as a duplex instead.

[Bitmapped]

PA 51, PA 88, and PA 281 all have distance signed to Morgantown, WV. None of them are on roads that go directly to Morgantown.

In the case of PA 281, I think this is a 50+ year-old after effect of the main route from Morgantown east into Maryland being WV 73-WV 26-PA 281-US 40 prior to the construction of I-68, which bypasses PA entirely.

Despite the construction of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, PA 51 is still the preferred route from Morgantown to the lower Mon Valley and eastern parts of the Pittsburgh metro area. As for PA 88, Morgantown is the next large town past the route's end at US 119 in Point Marion.

[Flint1979]

Any city in Michigan that has a control city that the highway doesn't go to is reached via another highway. US-127 has Mackinac Bridge as a control city and that ends about 90 miles before the bridge at I-75, but I-75 does take you to the bridge.

[ClassicHasClass]

Australia's solution to this is to put indirect control cities in parentheses, though this is not consistently observed.

[gonealookin]

Trying to think of where Boise first appears on a mileage sign on northbound US 95 in Nevada:  I think it's here, just north of the junction with SR 140.  Boise is approximately 40 miles off US 95.

The mileage sign as you depart Winnemucca on US 95 doesn't mention Boise.  The most distant destination is Lakeview, Oregon, which is on the Winnemucca to the Sea Highway so I'm going to say US 95/NV 140/OR 140 is a continuous highway and can't be counted for this thread.  Also on that sign, though, is "Paradise 40", actually the small community of Paradise Valley, NV, which is about 19 miles off US 95 at the end of Nevada SR 290.

[vdeane]

Obligatory mention of New York City on I-90 eastbound. Although staying on the Thruway system via I-87 south will reach NYC, I-90 does not terminate at I-87.

See also Buffalo on I-87 north.  There's also a bit of Berkshire Spur where NYC is on I-90 west.

From the Thruway's perspective, Montréal on I-87 north.

[hbelkins]

One example in Kentucky I can think of is at US 119 south at Payne Gap where it turns from US 23 at the foot of Pine Mountain where US 23 crosses into Virginia. The posted destinations for US 119 are Whitesburg and Harlan, with secondary destinations posted for Cumberland and Hazard. The first mileage sign on US 119 south after the intersection is a BGS and lists Whitesburg, Cumberland, and Harlan. All are reached by US 119. Hazard, which is posted on a supplemental LGS, is reached by KY 15 from Whitesburg.

[mrsman]

I-8 Eastbound in Arizona has mileage signs to Phoenix, following I-8 to AZ-85 to I-10. Tucson is also not on I-8, but that's the more typical way, where it ends at I-10 and traffic logically follows onto I-10.



GSV Link

They apparently felt the obligation to put something on the sign that was actually on I-8. But who goes to Dateland? They should have put Gila Bend, because people at least recognize that as an important crossroads.

I think part of the reason to sign Phoenix here is to acknowledge the historic routing of US 80.  For the most part I-8 largely parallels and replaces US 80, between San Diego and Gila Bend.  US 80 did head into Phoenix.

[I'm sure many of the other examples in this thread may also include cities that were part of a historic routing, even though the modern road no longer goes there.  This certainly explains the use of Los Angeles along  I-40, although that would be excluded by the OP's criteria (since I-40 runs into I-15 which heads toward the general L.A. area, without hitting L.A. exactly.)  Of course, US 66, replaced by I-40, I-15, I-210, and CA-110 did run directly into L.A.]

For mileage signs, I like generally: 1) Next possible pit stop, 2) Regional center, and 3) Nationally-relevant city.  So for the example above, if Phoenix were not included, it would be 1) Dateland, 2) Gila Bend, and 3) Tucson.  I think given the importance of including both Phoenix and Tucson on these signs, it merits 4 cities so that both Dateland and Gila Bend can be included.  Especially for western states, little pitstops like Dateland are important as it likely indicates the next place you can get gas.

[kphoger]

Especially for western states, little pitstops like Dateland are important as it likely indicates the next place you can get gas.

So, if the gas station closes down, then do they have to fabricate a whole new mileage sign with that town removed?