Freeways That End at STOP Signs

[J N Winkler]

I wonder if that is a Kansas or an Oklahoma US 177 cutout.

Hard to say.  With some isolated exceptions (generally signed, as far as I can tell, with the 24" markers which at the time were considered "oversize" markers), KTA back in 1956 didn't like to use shields.  There were city-bypass diagrammatics which did use shields but squares were used for state routes instead of sunflowers.  State highways were generally identified using text legends on advance guide and exit direction signing, and there was a consistent syntax.  US routes were always "US XXX," while state routes were always "ROUTE K-XX."  General bearing of route was expressed using phrases like "TOPEKA AND EAST," "WICHITA AND SOUTH," or "SOUTHWEST."

Early signing on the Kansas Turnpike actually has quite a bit in common with early signing on the Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma.  It was not until much later that Turnpike signing was MUTCDified.

[agentsteel53]

the thing is, it looks like KTA was already using surplus signs (the yellow STOP signs) so maybe they snagged the first available 177 sign from the local Kansas DOT yard.

alternately, that might be an Oklahoma installation.  I do not know where the state line is, but the traffic coming off the Turnpike is likely going to Oklahoma destinations (if not, they would've likely exited earlier) so it makes sense for Oklahoma to put up guidance.

of course, you now have contradictory signs.  the shield has an arrow pointing right, while the spelled-out guide sign points left.  whoops.  hope you brought your map!

[PAHighways]

The southern end near Somerset and northern end north of Ebensburg of the US 219 expressway have stop signs.

[NE2]

How many of those mentioned are actually the permanent end of the freeway and not just the end of a ramp?

[Alps]

OH 62F, future possible US 62 freeway, eastern end (but technically a stub)
Do you count the stop signs at toll booths? Cause then I could add a bunch to the list...

[rmsandw]

IL 394 comes to mind with it's free way ending at IL 1

[J N Winkler]

the thing is, it looks like KTA was already using surplus signs (the yellow STOP signs) so maybe they snagged the first available 177 sign from the local Kansas DOT yard.

I think that is the likeliest scenario myself.

alternately, that might be an Oklahoma installation.  I do not know where the state line is, but the traffic coming off the Turnpike is likely going to Oklahoma destinations (if not, they would've likely exited earlier) so it makes sense for Oklahoma to put up guidance.

This is also possible.  The other side of the road is technically in Oklahoma since the road centerline is (at least in theory) perfectly coincident with the state line.  However, my understanding is that the boundary road is maintained by a bistate commission which receives some funding from both Kansas and Oklahoma.  And in any case both states have some history of placing signs extraterritorially.

[NE2]

IL 394 comes to mind with it's free way ending at IL 1

The freeway ends at Sauk Trail.

[agentsteel53]

Do you count the stop signs at toll booths? Cause then I could add a bunch to the list...

in that case, what about the STOP signs at international boundaries.  though likely those do not count... for example, I-15 stops at the Montana/Alberta line, while the Canadian customs facility is several meters ahead of there.

[Stephane Dumas]

A-955, who was originally part of A-55 end at a stop sign at St-Albert
http://richard3.net/2008/02/28/a-955-lautoroute-qui-nen-sera-jamais-une/

Also the current Eastern end of A-20 at Cacouna end at a stop sign too but not for long, the extension to Trois-Pistoles will open soon. Here a pic from 2009 at http://www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca/projets-par-region/projet.asp?id=831

A-410 used to end at a stop sign until the early 1980s when a traffic light replace it but the traffic light itself is replaced with an interchange with the construction of the extension of A-410 to Lennoxville.

[tchafe1978]

In Milwaukee, the old Park East Freeway used to end at stop signs at its stub end before it was torn down. Also, before it was extended, I-794 used to end at a stop sign and the end of the ramp to Carferry Dr.

[Brandon]

IL 394 comes to mind with it's free way ending at IL 1

That's well south of the end of the freeway at Sauk Trail (which is a traffic light).

Now, the Amstutz Expressway in Waukegan ends at a half SPUI with stop signs.

[JREwing78]

At one time, Ohio 11 (4-lane freeway) ended at Ohio 531 (2-lane) in eastern Ashtabula with STOP signs and flashing lights...but i haven't been there since 1989, so i do not know how it is done now

20 years later, it's still the same setup - http://g.co/maps/krfxk

[roadman65]

Someone might say that World Drive in Disney World is a freeway and is except for the one at grade intersection with Griffin Road, and north of the Magic Kingdom Parking Toll Plaza it is a normal road.  Anyway, at is southern end was a stop sign that caused problems which led to the current traffic signal there.  Many motorists would be ignorant and continue past the end and resulted in cars taking a dive into a retention pond located across the street spite the gradual drop in speed limit from 50 north of US 192 to eventually 35 mph at I-4.  Many engineers felt the lighting is bad at night, but I say hogwash!

I drove World Drive when it first opened years ago, IT WAS AT NIGHT!  I am here right now, and my car was around until I traded it back in 2000.  I never knew the road either, so those drivers were ignorant or not paying attention to the roads.  Anyway, it ended later with many warnings, signs, and flashing beacons over the stop signs along with a wall at the end as well.

[NE2]

Someone might say that World Drive in Disney World is a freeway and is except for the one at grade intersection with Griffin Road, and north of the Magic Kingdom Parking Toll Plaza it is a normal road.  Anyway, at is southern end was a stop sign that caused problems which led to the current traffic signal there.

Uh... the southern end is not a freeway (as well as Griffin Road, there's a substation access road and the northbound exit to I-4 west).

[roadman65]

Someone might say that World Drive in Disney World is a freeway and is except for the one at grade intersection with Griffin Road, and north of the Magic Kingdom Parking Toll Plaza it is a normal road.  Anyway, at is southern end was a stop sign that caused problems which led to the current traffic signal there.

Uh... the southern end is not a freeway (as well as Griffin Road, there's a substation access road and the northbound exit to I-4 west).

I only mentioned it cause it is only a small thing, those at grade places.  It is connected to the freeway portion of World Drive and so in a way is.  You got me there,  it is not really a freeway, but almost is.

[Super Mateo]

IL 394 comes to mind with it's free way ending at IL 1

The freeway ends at Sauk Trail.

And those are some of the largest stop signs I've ever seen.  Are there any larger ones in use anywhere?

[sandwalk]

The Interstate 490 designation in Cleveland technically ends at the exit ramps for I-77, but the freeway continues east another 1/2 mile to a traffic light intersection at East 55th Street.

[PurdueBill]

The Interstate 490 designation in Cleveland technically ends at the exit ramps for I-77, but the freeway continues east another 1/2 mile to a traffic light intersection at East 55th Street.

The straight-line diagrams seem to show that 490 goes all the way to 55th, and the .2-mile markers end at 2.4 just short of 55th.  The "End 490" overhead at the I-77 exits is premature.

[US71]

The north end of I-79 ends at a traffic light, but I guess that doesn't count.

South end of Fayetteville (AR) Bypass on US 71 also ends at a light.

[thenetwork]

The Interstate 490 designation in Cleveland technically ends at the exit ramps for I-77, but the freeway continues east another 1/2 mile to a traffic light intersection at East 55th Street.

The straight-line diagrams seem to show that 490 goes all the way to 55th, and the .2-mile markers end at 2.4 just short of 55th.  The "End 490" overhead at the I-77 exits is premature.

And if memory serves me right, there was a westbound I-490 reassurance shield assembly posted on the side of the road a few hundred feet inside the start of the freeway at East 55th and before I-77.

[sandwalk]

The Interstate 490 designation in Cleveland technically ends at the exit ramps for I-77, but the freeway continues east another 1/2 mile to a traffic light intersection at East 55th Street.

The straight-line diagrams seem to show that 490 goes all the way to 55th, and the .2-mile markers end at 2.4 just short of 55th.  The "End 490" overhead at the I-77 exits is premature.

And if memory serves me right, there was a westbound I-490 reassurance shield assembly posted on the side of the road a few hundred feet inside the start of the freeway at East 55th and before I-77.

Hmmmm.....very interesting!

[sandwalk]

Another example I can think of is actually from one of the towns I grew up in.  The US Route 20 Bypass around the southside of the city of Norwalk, Ohio ends at a stop sign.  The eastern terminus of the Bypass merges to one lane and then ends at the old US-20 alignment with a stop sign.  The original plan was to have the freeway continue north as an eastern Bypass carrying US Route 250 (maybe tying in to the original proposal of Interstate 80, which I can't verify).

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cleveland+Road+%26+US+20+Norwalk,+Ohio&hl=en&ll=41.249935,-82.587833&spn=0.074469,0.175781&sll=41.235963,-82.599009&sspn=0.037242,0.055189&vpsrc=6&gl=us&hnear=U.S.+20+%26+Cleveland+Rd,+Norwalk,+Huron,+Ohio+44857&t=m&z=13

[Alps]

Another example I can think of is actually from one of the towns I grew up in.  The US Route 20 Bypass around the southside of the city of Norwalk, Ohio ends at a stop sign.  The eastern terminus of the Bypass merges to one lane and then ends at the old US-20 alignment with a stop sign.  The original plan was to have the freeway continue north as an eastern Bypass carrying US Route 250 (maybe tying in to the original proposal of Interstate 80, which I can't verify).

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cleveland+Road+%26+US+20+Norwalk,+Ohio&hl=en&ll=41.249935,-82.587833&spn=0.074469,0.175781&sll=41.235963,-82.599009&sspn=0.037242,0.055189&vpsrc=6&gl=us&hnear=U.S.+20+%26+Cleveland+Rd,+Norwalk,+Huron,+Ohio+44857&t=m&z=13

Isn't that proposal still active?

[achilles765]

Interstate 110 in Baton Rouge ends at a stop sign on US 61 (Scenic Highway) when heading Northbound.  Rather abrupt end too.  You go around a sharp curve to the left and BAM stop sign... no "FREEWAY ENDS SIGNS