Why do Minneapolis Freeway Signs Lack City Names? (St. Paul, Duluth: live, suburbs)

[RJ8089]

Hello. I am new to the Minneapolis area. I have lived all over the country. Why do the freeway signs rarely mention city names? Are you supposed to just remember all these highway numbers? Is it just me? I love the area but I think the directional signage’s need a lot of work.

[slamont61]

If that's the big issue you have with the Freeway system, you're good to go.

Until you're used to where you are... use GOOGLE MAPS to direct you to your (fill in city name) destination.

You'll get used to it soon enough.

[jennifat]

Originally Posted by RJ8089

Hello. I am new to the Minneapolis area. I have lived all over the country. Why do the freeway signs rarely mention city names? Are you supposed to just remember all these highway numbers? Is it just me? I love the area but I think the directional signage’s need a lot of work.

I'm not sure what you mean? Can you give us an example of signage that's confusing to you?

[Pincho-toot]

I see signage for cities all the time? Like city limits and control cities.

[Teak]

Originally Posted by RJ8089

Hello. I am new to the Minneapolis area. I have lived all over the country. Why do the freeway signs rarely mention city names? Are you supposed to just remember all these highway numbers? Is it just me? I love the area but I think the directional signage’s need a lot of work.

Yeah, things can be a bit confusing at first. For example, I didn't understand the interstate segments I35W and I35E. A sign with "W" usually indicates that it goes west, right? But no, south and north of the Metro, Interstate 35 (which goes N and S) splits into a western branch and an eastern branch in the Metro, so you are still going north or south, but along a separate branch.

And I agree, you have to know the road numbers; for example as you drive through St. Paul along I35E, you will see signs for I94, and Maryland, and Larpenteur, and 36, and I694. Occasionally there will be a city sign; for example, I know that there is a sign for Little Canada, a very small suburb. But along I35E or I694 you don't see signs for Shoreview, for example; you would just need to know to get off on Rice Street, or Victoria, or Lexington to get into Shoreview.

Go to google maps and type in Minneapolis or St. Paul. I like to glance at those so that I can zoom in and out and see where some of these roads go. The interstate segments within the Metro can be quite confusing and when you are flying along at 65-70, along with everybody else, they know where they are going when you don't. There are some roads where you go offramp to the right side, and a few where you go off to the left side; it helps to know in advance.

[RJ8089]

Originally Posted by jennifat

I'm not sure what you mean? Can you give us an example of signage that's confusing to you?

I never used the word confusing. It’s not as easy to pick up on. For example, there’s a lot of signs that say I-94 East but don’t say I-94 East MILWAUKEE which it should say or I-35 South DES MOINES or I-94 West FARGO. None of the I-694 or I-494 signs have cities names that I have seen.

That’s all I’m saying. Maybe it’s something that provide feedback on to your DOT department. I would post photos but this site let you upload.

The directional signage at I-94 at Woodbury say ST PAUL and MINNEAPOLIS. That’s what I’m talking about. Should be much more of this type of signage.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by RJ8089

I never used the word confusing. It’s not as easy to pick up on. For example, there’s a lot of signs that say I-94 East but don’t say I-94 East MILWAUKEE which it should say or I-35 South DES MOINES or I-94 West FARGO. None of the I-694 or I-494 signs have cities names that I have seen.

That’s all I’m saying. Maybe it’s something that provide feedback on to your DOT department. I would post photos but this site let you upload.

The directional signage at I-94 at Woodbury say ST PAUL and MINNEAPOLIS. That’s what I’m talking about. Should be much more of this type of signage.

And the exit signs on 494 going north to meet 94 (in Woodbury) read something like "94 Minneapolis" or "94 West St. Paul" for the westbound lane exit "94 Madison" or "94 East Madison" for the eastbound exit.

[jennifat]

Originally Posted by RJ8089

I never used the word confusing. It’s not as easy to pick up on. For example, there’s a lot of signs that say I-94 East but don’t say I-94 East MILWAUKEE which it should say or I-35 South DES MOINES or I-94 West FARGO. None of the I-694 or I-494 signs have cities names that I have seen.

That’s all I’m saying. Maybe it’s something that provide feedback on to your DOT department. I would post photos but this site let you upload.

The directional signage at I-94 at Woodbury say ST PAUL and MINNEAPOLIS. That’s what I’m talking about. Should be much more of this type of signage.

We actually do show cities on interstate signage, but I-35 South goes to ALBERT LEA (the junction with I-90), I-35 North goes to DULUTH, I-94 West goes to ST. CLOUD and I-94 East goes to MADISON.

I-694/I-494 is a loop, so technically they don't go anywhere except a circle through the suburbs.

Des Moines, Fargo, Milwaukee, etc. are hundreds and hundreds of miles away.

[scatteredthunder]

Originally Posted by jennifat

Des Moines, Fargo, Milwaukee, etc. are hundreds and hundreds of miles away.

We have interstate signs in Des Moines listing Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha, and Chicago. On those main signs, the only Iowa cities listed (that I recall) are Davenport and Council Bluffs. Maybe they need to be a certain size to be listed (so no Ames or Iowa City), and if you run into a big enough city, that’s what gets used.

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by RJ8089

I-94 East MILWAUKEE which it should say or I-35 South DES MOINES or I-94 West FARGO

Where in the U.S. are you seeing these???