Horribly marked Illinois interstates. (wedding, airports, parks)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by doll lady

To the OP...In Champaign, I think you have to get off I57 and go on I74 for a distance and then hit I72 . . .

It's actually the other way around: coming in on 74, you hit I-57 south for a couple miles before you get to I-72.

I mean, they're only 2 miles apart. How the hell do you end up in Effingham before realizing you missed an exit that was only 2 miles south?

[doll lady]

Dover...I realized that and changed my post...didn't think anyone was up early and seeing that.

[Drover]

I don't sleep.

[linicx]

I guess the poster never tried Dallas, OKC or Tulsa to Joplin? California I-5 is a real piece of work, too. His plight is why I recommend buying a trucker's map and replacing it every every, if you are going to travel in unfamiliar territory.

[Central Illinois 1]

I think that Illinois freeways are well marked overall and even have lights at the interchanges (which some states like Wisconsin usually don't). If you want bad sineage, check out parts of CA, especially around LA. The exit signs tend to be very small, alot of the interchanges are not well lighted, and there are no mile markers.

[cubssoxfan]

Well certainly inattentiveness, or lack of sleep, contributed to the mis-direction. In defense of OP, it is only about 2 miles between I-74/I-57 junction and I-72/I-57 junction. If you happen to be passing a truck, it's very easy to miss a sign. It is clearly marked and 70 miles south on I-57 tells me OP did not closely look at a map. If you use a map you can tell it is really short distance to get from I-74 to I-72.
There is some signage on IL INterstate that I hate: I-57S in Chicago area is marked Memphis. Memphis is 500 freakin miles away! Why can't they mark it Kankakee or Champaign. This happens in other states and countries also. You're looking at the map using the next glob of yellow/orange on the map as a reference city (next larger town) and the sign uses a town or state 100's of miles away. Next is the I-94 signs once you get to the Bishop Ford Expressway. I-94 is running NORTH/SOUTH, so don't lable it WEST/EAST . Yes I know main orientation is east west, but if they mark 285 around Atlanta in the actual direction that stretch goes, change the I-94 signs.
And GPS is handy, but ever since my Tom Tom tried to take me to Alpine Valley via I-94 to Milwaukee and then back-track south via I-43, I use it as a guide or for directions in very large city with heavy traffic. I can navigate better my-self.

[SJaye]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

There is some signage on IL INterstate that I hate: I-57S in Chicago area is marked Memphis. Memphis is 500 freakin miles away! Why can't they mark it Kankakee or Champaign.

I hate that too- I had been saying for a long time that they should be marking it Champaign-Urbana!

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

I-94 is running NORTH/SOUTH, so don't lable it WEST/EAST . Yes I know main orientation is east west, but if they mark 285 around Atlanta in the actual direction that stretch goes, change the I-94 signs.

That is not an apt comparison, highways in the 200s are generally loops that begin and end at the parent interstate 294 begins and ends at 94, 285 begins and ends at 85. In Illinois 294 is labeled North South despite the fact that 94 is East West. In Atlanta, both 85 and 285 are North-South roads.

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

And GPS is handy, but ever since my Tom Tom tried to take me to Alpine Valley via I-94 to Milwaukee and then back-track south via I-43, I use it as a guide or for directions in very large city with heavy traffic. I can navigate better my-self.

Agreed! GPS may be useful, but people, please stop letting the machine do your thinking for you!

[cubssoxfan]

That is not an apt comparison, highways in the 200s are generally loops that begin and end at the parent interstate 294 begins and ends at 94, 285 begins and ends at 85. In Illinois 294 is labeled North South despite the fact that 94 is East West. In Atlanta, both 85 and 285 are North-South roads.

True but on the northern and southern legs they mark it east/west where it travels those directions.

[SJaye]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

True but on the northern and southern legs they mark it east/west where it travels those directions.

Come to think of it, I-465 in Indianpolis does the same thing, they mark it all four directions depending on where on the highway you are.

[linicx]

The good trucker's map = not the a state map or the insurance company atlas. It contains clearly marks exits and surrounding towns, secondary roads, truck stops, plus it contains a lot information pertaining to the state, the least of which is emergency numbers.