This may be a mountain out of a molehill, but here goes:
When you drive out of Tulsa on 244 near 169 you see a big green highway sign. On it are the cities Joplin and Siloam Springs. Why those two? When you drive westbound on I-55 approaching DT St Louis, one of the big green signs says I-44 Tulsa. Not Rolla, Springfield or Joplin. Traveling in OKC on I-40 near I-35 you see signs that say Wichita, Tulsa and Ft Smith, not Braman, Stroud and Sallisaw.
Looking at some of Tulsa's green highway signs, you see non-metro towns posted like Nowata, Joplin, Siloam Springs, Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Enid. Wow! Why?
Why not have the roads leading out of town post real cities like St Louis/Kansas City (I-44); Fayetteville (412); Ft Smith/Little Rock (Hwy 51); Wichita (64/412); and Dallas, via Oklahoma City (I-44)(until they make Hwy 75 a real highway).
quote:
Originally posted by twizzler
This may be a mountain out of a molehill, but here goes:
When you drive out of Tulsa on 244 near 169 you see a big green highway sign. On it are the cities Joplin and Siloam Springs. Why those two? When you drive westbound on I-55 approaching DT St Louis, one of the big green signs says I-44 Tulsa. Not Rolla, Springfield or Joplin. Traveling in OKC on I-40 near I-35 you see signs that say Wichita, Tulsa and Ft Smith, not Braman, Stroud and Sallisaw.
Looking at some of Tulsa's green highway signs, you see non-metro towns posted like Nowata, Joplin, Siloam Springs, Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Enid. Wow! Why?
Why not have the roads leading out of town post real cities like St Louis/Kansas City (I-44); Fayetteville (412); Ft Smith/Little Rock (Hwy 51); Wichita (64/412); and Dallas, via Oklahoma City (I-44)(until they make Hwy 75 a real highway).
You're right, it is a mountain out of a molehill.
I lived in Houston for a while. Why does the Southwest Freeway as you pass out of town say Victoria?
I'll tell you why 169 notes Nowata. It's because 169 is not always a limited access highway like all interstates are. Short meaning - you have to drive through cities on some US Highways. Probably the same reason for Houston's Southwest Freeway (also known as US 59). Hence why state highways wouldn't have them either.
I don't believe the city has anything to do with what's signed on the FEDERAL Interstate Highway System. And since Kansas City is not anywhere on I-44's route, you won't see it.
quote:
Originally posted by twizzler
This may be a mountain out of a molehill, but here goes:
When you drive out of Tulsa on 244 near 169 you see a big green highway sign. On it are the cities Joplin and Siloam Springs. Why those two? When you drive westbound on I-55 approaching DT St Louis, one of the big green signs says I-44 Tulsa. Not Rolla, Springfield or Joplin. Traveling in OKC on I-40 near I-35 you see signs that say Wichita, Tulsa and Ft Smith, not Braman, Stroud and Sallisaw.
Looking at some of Tulsa's green highway signs, you see non-metro towns posted like Nowata, Joplin, Siloam Springs, Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Enid. Wow! Why?
Why not have the roads leading out of town post real cities like St Louis/Kansas City (I-44); Fayetteville (412); Ft Smith/Little Rock (Hwy 51); Wichita (64/412); and Dallas, via Oklahoma City (I-44)(until they make Hwy 75 a real highway).
If it makes you feel better:
When in Springfield, Mo, and exiting west off the Kansas expressway on to I-44, It says Tulsa instead of Joplin.
Control cities (the distant towns you see on the overhead signs) are chosen by AASHTO, not by anyone in Tulsa or Oklahoma for that matter. Joplin is the control city for EB I-44 east of Tulsa. Also, the reason I-44 isn't signed for KC or US 412 isn't signed for Fayetteville is because neither of those highways go to those cities. AASHTO requires highways to actually enter the city to be control cities. That's why Council Bluffs is a control city for I-29 in Iowa instead of the much larger Omaha. And if there were an Interstate that ran just west of the Arkansas/Oklahoma border, the control city would be Roland or Moffett. Strangely enough, Little Rock is a control city for I-40, which does not enter the city.
And as far as Enid being a control city, what other cities would you suggest for WB 412? Woodward? Stillwater (US 412 doesn't go to Stillwater)? Hallett? Boise City?
IMO, AASHTO should make some exceptions for Tulsa without regard to control cities:
1. All signs on all roads heading generally south out of Tulsa ought to be signed for "Houston"
2. All signs on all roads heading generally north or west ought to be signed for "Portland"
3. All signs on all roads heading generally east from Tulsa ought to read: "Turn around. Portland is in the other direction."
That would get most everyone headed where they really want to be very efficiently.
Yeah, but you wouldn't know about the wonderful little towns that you never run into (HEAVY sarcasm). It's a great publicity stunt for small communities that no one would ever think to visit.