A bit ago they changed some signs on the west section of it. Heading east on 80, 80 is now unsigned and 88 says Dixon. On east 88, it’s signed the next exit, Dixon, and chicago. And on west 88, it’s signed next exit, 80, and rock island-moline. These updated mileage signs are only on the free western section.
the state of Illinois OUTSIDE of Chicago is very anti-Chicago 😂😂 ... which is the main reason EB 88 isn't signed with Chicago (or Aurora) as the main control city from the 80 interchange. as someone already stated, once 88 becomes the tollway, the tollway switches it.
Illinois tollway is a flat rate and not based on hours. Tolls are different based on where you are on the tollway. Most of the Aurora traffic I see when I'm going there from the south suburbs would usually get off at Fransworth for the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall.
Grew up in the Chicago suburbs - the plaza on I-88 is the only one I remember that was off the side of the road instead of over it. Really surprised they didn’t rebuild it when ISHTA rebuilt the oases in the late 90s
Funny thing about that toll oasis it's a trumpet interchange to the oasis but it "forces" you back to your direction you going to back on the tollway. My quotes on forces is because they're is a small gap between barriers where you can slip in to go back without having to enter the toll exit on DeKlab return and pay two tolls coming in and out.
The IL Tollway is a different agency from IDOT, and has different conventions in signage. The tollway didn't number its exits until about 10 years ago, and its mileposts on I-90 used to go from east to west (O'Hare to Beloit) -- since changed. IDOT very rarely signs an exit simply with a state highway number, with no street name or destination, whereas it's quite common on the tollway. You'll see that when you do I-90 for exits at IL 31, IL 25, and IL 59. In fact, the tollway seems to be regressing: the exit on I-88 for IL 31 used to say Aurora and Batavia, until they replaced the signs several years back.
@@aaronholcomb237 You are correct: IDOT signs exit 160 (at Effingham) on I-57 simply as IL 32 & IL 33. They also do it farther south at exit 45 (near Marion) for IL 148. However, it's rare to see this on IDOT signs, whereas it's almost the tollway's M.O. On the toll segment of I-88, exits for IL 47, IL 31, IL 59, and IL 53 give only the route number. If IDOT had signed the IL 47 exit, they probably would have labeled it for Elburn and Sugar Grove, and not just a Route 47 shield.
Hey Control City Freak, I live in Aurora close to I88. There’s a sign that says “Aurora Next Four Exits” right after IL-59, so the Aurora exit sign isn’t really necessary(although it would still be useful). Also multiple exits cover Aurora.
@pinakinkale Tolled highways do have fewer exits, but I knew there was no way only one exit served Aurora! I’ve driven on the Indiana Toll Road in both directions, and South Bend and Elkhart have at least two exits each (the two cities combined have a population similar to Aurora’s, I think).
@pinakinkale I’m just used to exits being quite close together. In Reno, where I live, exits are very close to each other (I 80 through the urban core has exits for mile markers 9-21 inclusive, with 11 being the only gap!)
10:40 That's still ISTHA there (note the lane striping - longer dashes). The last toll plaza is just east of the Dixon Exit, but ISTHA maintains the road up to US-30.
Iowa on the mileage sign is one of the most Chicagoland things I've ever seen lol. While I'm fine with the Moline-Rock Island signage, I wish IDOT/ISTHA would just sign Quad Cities. That's what everyone in Illinois know it as. I also think your idea of signing I-88 E as Aurora-Chicago and I-80 E as Joliet-Chicago makes total sense in the Quad Cities.
@MrTwarner In most cases, I’m not really a fan of referring to metro areas by nicknames. In some cases, such nicknames are a combination of MULTIPLE metro areas (Bay Area means San Francisco-Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Napa and Solano County; Front Range is Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Pueblo and sometimes even Cheyenne), or could refer to completely different areas (Tri-Cities in Washington and Tennessee-Virginia, or Capital Region for Michigan or New York).
Coming off of I-55, I-355 is signed for Northwest Suburbs and Southwest Suburbs. As someone who goes through the Quad Cities frequently, it's always seemed odd that Chicago isn't indicated at the I-88 exit. While it is toll, it's by far the easiest way to get to the city.
Signing Joliet for southbound I-355 is fine. As for westbound I-80 where I-294 ends south, I'm not signing Joliet for westbound I-80, but sign the Quad Cities.
@davidburrow5895 I did a Google Maps search, and using I 88 over I 80 from Walcott to Soldier Field is only six minutes faster. This search was made at what is 1:30 AM Chicago time, so I imagine that at any other time, said advantage is evaporated. This is why I’m in favor of an Aurora-Chicago route as well as a Joliet-Chicago route.
@@tylermarchand2996 I think it's because Soldier Field is south of the loop so it negates some of the savings. You might have been looking when traffic was worse on I-290 than I-90/94or I-55 at the moment. My point is whether or not you take I-88 over I-80 highly depends where in Chicagoland you are heading. Chicago loop and the West to North suburbs,. I-88, south to southwest side, I-80. Current traffic conditions in Chicago can make travel times vary greatly though
@Kevin Russell not as far south as you think. Congress/Ida B Wellls is on the south end of the loop. It hits Columbus Dr about 1 mile north of Soldier Field.
I notice a lot of tolls in Illinois especially in the direction of Chicago. Do gas prices have an effect on that because when I drove I-80 from PA to NE. I noticed gas prices in Illinois were a lot higher than Indiana or Iowa.
That’s a great name for an interchange as well. Sounds like a serial killer at large, and probably feels like one too for all of the weekday commuters.
@Billy Riddle Look up the history of the Hillside Strangler and 290. Before it was redone a dozen years or so ago, it was the worst bottleneck in Chicago.
As you mentioned former Illinois 5. This road takes you to Aurora where you can visit Wayne and Garth. Make sure you play Bohemian Rhapsody. Vintage 50s and 60s Road side attractions. Connects with the Eisenhower ( I 290 ). Probably similar to how you would have it. East Bound Chicago/ Aurora Chicago. West bound from the Eisenhower Aurora. Moline Rock Island or Quad Cities. Rock on Garth. Rock on Wayne. The Gipper.
I feel I-88 should be extended along I-290 into downtown Chicago. It could be co-signed much like I-894 is with I-43 and I-41 in Milwaukee when their designations were later added. Feels wrong for a 2-di to end at a 3-di, much less two 3-di's.
Wow a road i'm familiar with! I used to have to drive from ORD to the Aurora airport on 294/88 and exit off at Sugar Grove at least 15 times in the past few years.
When I first saw Chicago's bias toward "control states" rather than cities I was a bit put off, but then quickly realized the whole geometry of the area kind of lends itself to it. I mean, I know where Davenport, Milwaukee, etc., are, but since Chicago is essentially the gateway to the west where states get much larger, it made sense to point to them instead. (And yeah, I'm using 'etc.' for Indiana cities because I can't think of Gary or South Bend as being major destinations, even locally.)
If they ever change the sign names of control cities around Chicago which a few did ex: 88 Aurora or 290 Rockford. But 294 Milwaukee if you're south entering Indiana it would be Milwaukee/Des Moines because 80. Going to Indiana from 90 would be Gary Toledo 94 would be Detroit Indianapolis 57 is still Memphis but on the ramps Kankakee. 94 and 90 going to downtown Chicago Loop north of that Milwaukee/Rockford at Montrose they have the best sign which is O'Hare/Rockford for 90 Milwaukee 94. Only reason why IDOT and the Tollway are changing some signs is because of growth and congestion. Reason why Aurora gets a sign now is that the city has grown bigger than most west suburbs same with Joliet but also because of it's crossroads with 80 and 55 eventually we might see more of these signs be replaced like I can see 355 entering from 80 north be called Bolingbrook/Downers Grove or Bolingbrook/Rockford from 88 Schaumburg/Rockford or Schaumburg/Wisconsin because IL53 concurrency.
I-294(North) and I-80(West) is currently Wisconsin-Iowa. I think keeping Wisconsin is fine there, would use something else besides Iowa once I-80 splits. Joliet might seem provincial, but it makes sense considering there isn’t anything else close by worth signing(La Salle-Peru, where it meets I-39). I think Moline-Rock Island or Quad Cities could also work. Des Moines doesn’t need to be signed over 300+ miles away
I've sometimes wondered if the reason IDOT didn't sign EB I-88 at the Quad Cities for Chicago is that it feared that people would accuse it of "tricking" motorists into taking the tollway, rather than the free I-80. Even though IDOT and the IL Tollway are separate agencies, they're both state-run. If you're going east on I-88, the first sign that mentions a toll is at milepost 44, when it's sort of inconvenient to decide to take an alternate route. A good portion of the traffic using EB I-88 from the Quad Cities to I-39 is actually heading for Milwaukee or Madison, via I-39 north, and will not go anywhere near Chicago.
Nice views of Chicago, Todd. I've been there many times and I appreciate seeing them again! Next time I go to Chicago (if ever), the name change to Ida B. Wells would have me wondering where I am. But that has happened in many cities as familiar street names are gone to honor people from the past. I recently was confused in Nashville where a downtown street lost its name to honor Rosa Parks.
I-88, another interstate full of memories lol. I used to travel to Iowa with my siblings when they went to college in Iowa, and we used to take I-88 there. I-88 is known as the Ronald Reagan memorial tollway, because it passes Ronald Reagans hometown of Dixon. The control city for I-88 in the quad cities is odd, it should say Chicago, I agree.
@spellcast1391 The southern end is what is tricky to sign for me: Concord is the closest, but is just under my 50k threshold for a control city (but maybe the surrounding towns have villages that border Concord, and could just barely push it above 50k? Otherwise, Manchester is my second choice). Past Burlington, sign for Montreal. A potential midpoint control could exist around White River Junction (the towns on both sides of the Connecticut River in this area add up to well over 200k).
@rngfootball759 If it’s anything like what I experienced along I 91 following the Connecticut River or I 93 through New Hampshire, then it should be visually stunning!
I think you’ll find that I-88 eastern is pretty legitimate. It is the original I-88, because as you stated the western I-88 designation only came about for the speed limit. Plus each end of I-88 eastern essentially links to multiple legs of other interstates. The Binghamton end links you to Scranton via 81 or Elmira via 86, and the Capitol Region end links you to Boston via 90 or Montreal via 87.
Looking forward to I-88 in NY next week! My only comment about this road is that while I-88 fits the grid, it would be even better if its designation switched with I-82's. That way, I-88 would run from 84 to 90 instead of being slightly off as I-82, and the two 88s would be even further apart to avoid confusion (like the 84s and 86s). I don't really see that as a major issue though, there's bigger things to worry about like I-99 in PA/NY and I-74 in NC.
You’ll actually see another example of the two carriageways of an interstate going between the carriageways of another road when you do I-91 in a few weeks. There’s a point in Meriden, CT where the carriageways of I-91 are in between the 2 carriageways of CT 15 (aka the Wilbur Cross Parkway, which itself is a continuation of the famous Merritt Parkway)
For 88 West, I'd sign Moline or Quad Cities as the control city once you pass Aurora. I think that most traffic is going to the quad cities since it's the quickest way to there is to take 88. As for eastbound, I agree with Chicago as the primary the whole way.
I-88 IL is basically a state only interstate between the Quad Cities and Chicagoland. Also, at the start, I hate signing Sterling, Rock Falls & Dixon. The reason why they did this is because they're not on the tolled portion of the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. If you're on the tolled portion, the rest of the signage is Chicago. For me, the biggest problem is signing eastbound I-88 IL and the signage of both directions is simple for me. Eastbound I-88 IL: •Chicago (all the way) Westbound I-88 IL: -Aurora, IL •Quad Cities (Moline, IL | Rock Island, IL)
Todd, I have a feeling with the I-80/I-88 IL/IL 5/IL 92 interchange that the signage on each direction are as follows and I'll say those in clockwise order.: •Eastbound I-88 IL/IL 92: Aurora, IL & Chicago •Southbound I-80 to I-74: Chicago or Peoria, IL •Westbound IL 5/IL 92: Moline, IL & Rock Island, IL (both Illinois core cities of the Quad Cities) •Westbound I-80: Bettendorf, IL & Davenport, IL (both Iowa core cities of the Quad Cities)
As a proud New Yorker, I have to agree that I-88 western is the real I-88. In NY I-88 should be a state highway that connects the State Capital (Albany) to Bighamton and what also should be (and was/is) a state highay (I-86/NY Rte 17). It is like one unjustified interstate is the rationale for the other unjustified interstate.
@dans656 I wouldn’t consider either route (86 and 88) illegitimate. If it passes through (or links) two metro areas, then I’m okay with it as an Interstate. Even without the (possible) extension through Middletown, 86 is legitimate since it goes Erie-Elmira-Binghamton; 88 doing Binghamton-Schenectady is also enough to warrant 2DI status. Routes that SHOULD be downgraded include 19, 42 (based on the proposed route), 66, 76W, 86W and 97…
From I-87 to I-88, you clearly see the differences between Rounded & Pointy sings. I rather see rounded than pointy because it just looks too off and doesn’t fit well like they had a little much left over. Look at the edges of NY, NC, FL, & 1/2 of VA & then the rest of the county and you’ll see what I mean.
Beginning at Exit 6, control cities at eastbound ramps switch from Sterling/Rock Falls to Dixon. And it hasn't gotten to Sterling yet. I'm guessing it's because Dixon is the hometown of former President Reagan, whose childhood home is now a tourist attraction there. But Dixon isn't a control city at westbound ramps east of there; it's Moline/Rock Island, just like it is on I-80.
What is your opinion on toll roads in general? Do you think it is worth it to pay money just to drive on a highway that is usually somewhat better maintained than a normal freeway, or do you think highways should not be tolled at all, for the sake of long distance travel?
It depends on the road and the toll. I’ve taken 88 to and from Chicago plenty of times. I’ve taken the Skyway to Indiana plenty of times too, but not in the last decade and change since the tolls got so high
Interstate 88 in New York is shorter than I-476 and isn’t even that significant of a road. The I-88 in New York should just be a 3 digit route of I-81 and that this is the real I-88. Also I think the exits aren’t even mileage based so yeah. I think I-88 in Illinois should ride along I-290 to it’s end.
If Chicago had control CITIES for each Interstate in Chicago, this would be how it should be imo: I-55 (NB): Chicago (SB): St. Louis I-57 (NB): Chicago (SB): Memphis I-65 (yes, it counts) (NB): Chicago (SB): Indianapolis I-80 (EB): Detroit (WB): Davenport I-88 (EB): Chicago (WB): Aurora/Davenport I-90 (EB): Detroit (WB): Milwaukee, Rockford I-94: same thing as I-90 but without Rockford of course
This interstate should trade names with I-82. More specifically, in my opinion at least, current I-82 east of its split with US 97 should be I-88, and US 97 should become I-9. Current I-88, and I-290 east of 294 should be Interstate 82. Also the control cities for my proposed I-82 should be “Aurora/Chicago” EB and “Aurora/Davenport, Iowa” WB
It’s really sad that you don’t consider your own hometown sign-worthy. I mean, the only mark I can find against Lawrence is no Costco or Sam’s Club (I can always count on such locations for the cheapest gas, especially next to a generic Shell or 76)
Yeah but it’s also right in between Topeka and KC, which aren’t that far apart from each other in their own right. There is no need for a control city in between, especially a city significantly smaller than both places. It’s fine on State Routes, but not on I-70 for sure.
@moderateproductions Back in the I 80 East video (my introduction to this series!), there was discussion about listing Davis, of which this situation is essentially identical: replace Kansas City with Sacramento, and replace Topeka with any of the three Solano County cities (Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo). The only difference is that Lawrence is truly a standalone area; Davis only accomplishes this thanks to a 15 mile wide floodplain that (based on what I’m hearing is going on 2.5 hours away from my location) isn’t working as intended… I am a numbers guy, so proximity to larger metros is irrelevant to me. Trust me, I know that listing every place that has a McDonalds or a WalMart is overkill.
@@tylermarchand2996 So, we should sign San Bernardino from Phoenix on 10? Or Newark from Philadelphia, Allentown, and Youngstown? Or Utica from Syracuse and Albany on 90? Because by your logic of "distance from larger metros are irrelevant", that's what it should be like. Davis should not be signed, nor should Lawrence. I absolutely love Lawrence, but it shouldn't be a control city.
@moderateproductions If I can’t find a ‘continuous’ path of urban sprawl between a city in question and another urban center, then that’s what I consider a “stand-alone” area. Rivers are the exception to the rule (since there are countless cities that span both banks of a river, I can’t consider them a true “break” in urban sprawl in most cases). Since rivers are all that separate Vancouver or Newark from their larger counterparts, they don’t qualify as stand-alone areas. Since Buckeye connects to the main Phoenix sprawl through Goodyear, it fails as well. Utica is very isolated from Syracuse and Albany, so it counts. Riverside-San Bernardino qualifies based on it being a completely different metro area from Los Angeles (different economies, and different climates). I’m like to think I’m not THAT liberal when it comes to assigning controls (between Reno and Omaha exclusive, for example, I only consider 4 locales worthy of the bottom-line!); but I am an equal opportunity lister.
i think 88 should be signed for chicago, and 80 should be signed for the south side of chicago and indiana (eastbound). aurora is ok, but being a suburb, the quad cities might be a better option (westbound)
Agree. I would use Chicago on every sign Eastbound(Quad Cities, DeKalb, and Aurora are all much smaller). I-80 I would do “Joliet” instead of South Side. I-80 goes into the Joliet city limits and it’s a well known suburb. Aurora is about 180k and in “Township” about 200k. Quad Cities might be more well known, but Aurora is closer to Chicago and is what is used?
My way it should be: Eastbound: Aurora (Secondary) Chicago Westbound: Aurora (Secondary) Moline Don’t think Rock Island needs to be signed, just keep it simple. Sterling and Rock Falls need a sign just before 80 meets I-88 and a mention on the mileage signs. Also Des Moines should be mentioned on Westbound mileage signs since I would assume that people from the NW suburbs of Chicago would use I-88 for any long distance Westbound trips on I-80.
Davenport might make better sense than Moline. It's the biggest one and the most well known one. I know 88 doesn't even enter Iowa, but Davenport is in the same metro as Moline and is also bigger as stated before. Otherwise, this list is perfectly fine!
@@mxderateprod I thought about making it Davenport but I didn’t mainly because 88 doesn’t go there, Illinois insists on keeping it in-state and Illinois 92/5 heads straight into Moline after 88’s terminus.
Will you to Interstate 287 NJ/NY Northbound From Edison to Morristown it's Morristown Mahwah for I-87 Morristown to NY Border Exit 66 Mahwah White Plains NY or Albany White Plains Eastbound from Suffern to White Plains Tappan Zee Bridge Stamford CT Westbound & Southbound White Plains Tappan Zee Bridge then Morristown New Brunswick Edison instead of the Morristown Somerville Perth Amboy. Excellent video overall
Historical context. I-290 was the original routing of I-90 until the mid 70s. And the configuration design of the Hillside Strangler has 290 as the through highway. 88 should be cosigned with 290 to go in.
I've always thought naming it 88 was a real mistake; I think 82 would have been much better. It is hard to imagine the need of a 2 digit between 80 and the E-W Tollway corridor. But quite easy to imagine a new 2 digit interstate to the North of the E-W Tollway corridor. The U.S. 20 corridor comes to mind. Also IL ended up renumbering IL 88 to IL 40 because the 2 intersected. (probably overkill, but the whole problem would not have come up in the first place if they had used a little bit of fore thought.
I would then renunber the I-82 in Washington and Oregon as I-88, would use the Idaho route as I-84, and the Portland-Echo route as I-82. Or, the Idaho one would become a 3-digit?
@@tylermarchand2996 Agreed. I-90 may be the longest Interstate, but I think it will be significantly shorter than 80 and 95 because it serves much less urban areas, not to mention it is signed pretty well outside of Wyoming.
@@mxderateprod I would like to see how he reacts to a the "mysterious Exit" in Wyoming. On Google maps, it shows on/off ramps; but when you turn on satellite it's a dirt road. It's not even signed for anything. It's roughly 5 miles outside of Buffalo, if you need the precise location.
Why would you possibly sign Joliet over Chicago? I 80 doesn’t enter the New York, Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, or Des Moines city limits either. Skip those too?
@@ControlCityFreak fair point. I still stand by starting to sign Chicago after 180 because at the quad cities I-88 is the way to Chicago. Wouldn’t want someone heading from the south to see “80 east Chicago” and take it when they meant to take I-88
I do notice your frustration at Interstates being 'provincial' regarding the towns they list on overheads, and I do see your point...and theirs. Interstates are designed to be fast routes to key places in the nation, the BIG MAJOR towns and connections to other Interstates to make a high-speed, powerful network. On the other hand, state locals also use these roads to get from one locality to another (and are often the reason for rush hour jams). I suspect that part of Federal negotiations to get Interstates built through certain areas involved the listing of such small places most of the country doesn't know (I 80 in PA is the best example of this!). Politics!!
I'm not completely against smaller cities being listed as control cities. Even if they're not tourist attractions, quite a few of them are the commercial/economic centers for the region. Places like Plattsburgh NY, Elko NV, and Monroe LA are definitely in that category. At the very least, if anyone is headed to those cities, it's likely for business.
As for I-80 in PA, they could have easily listed Williamsport or State College as it passes by close enough to them. PennDOT is just being ridiculous with their control cities.
@jognm.teague8125 My understanding of that layout was to keep cars and trucks separated? What I think is interesting is how the freeway splits at the Hackensack River, providing separate carriageways to the Lincoln Tunnel and to MetLife Stadium…
I’m glad SOMEONE agrees with the two different listings for Chicago! It is so expansive that it requires it. Eastbound is just Aurora-Chicago (of course, to differentiate between Joliet-Chicago) and westbound is just Moline.
I’ll never be a fan of signing states or “southwest suburbs.” Milwaukee, Toledo, Detroit, Davenport, Des Moines, plenty of cities to use. I-57 uses Memphis consistently but we get Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana on other interstates.
@pauls49 I’m not too familiar with which particular suburbs are bigger (apart from Aurora, Elgin, Joliet and Naperville being over 100k), but my best pick for an alternative to “NW suburbs”, at least where 88 meets 355, would likely be one of Arlington Heights, Palatine or Schaumburg (whichever is the biggest). “SW suburbs” is more cut and dry: Joliet…
@pauls49 As for signing Memphis, I’m not really hot on that idea; for a city of its size, the metro population is quite underwhelming (like Jacksonville, Tucson or El Paso). Well before it meets I 55 in Missouri, I 57 serves two college based metropolitan cities: Champaign and Marion (indirect link to Carbondale) 220k and 130k may look small, but in non-Chicagoland Illinois, they are massive…
@@tylermarchand2996 Schaumburg makes the most sense. It is the most well known, and is on I-290(which is where I-355 dead ends to). The others are out of the way. Schaumburg/Joliet For NB/SB I-355
@@tylermarchand2996 Champaign would be the best play for Southbound I-57 from Chicago if no Memphis. Marion is too small, already pass Champaign(I-24 junction near there would be useless) Champaign has the I-74 junction, and meeting I-72 West. Champaign and then Marion? After Marion then Memphis?
Also, historically, the tollway section was built under ISTHA in phases (originally as IL Rt 190). First to IL Rt 56 towards Sugar Grove, then to US 30 at Rock Falls. IDOT then built up IL Rt 2 & 5 east from I-80 to Rock Falls. That's why it's not entirely a tollway.
I would like to explain what I think it should be at the Quad Cities 80-88 Interchange, because it is a little different: 88 East: JUST Chicago 80 East TO 74 East: Peoria That's really all you need and signing Chicago on both sign would only make it confusing. This is why I am also against the same situation in Emporia, KS. Also, I-80 AFTER I-74 should just be Chicago after that. Anyways, Mod's the way it should be: I-88 Illinois (EAST): Chicago (WEST): Aurora/Davenport, Davenport Aurora is fine as a secondary as it is the 2nd biggest city in Illinois but should not be a primary because it is a suburb.
Well. I would use Davenport instead of Iowa on the mileage signs once in Aurora. I would do Next Exit DeKalb Davenport(if wanting to do something in Iowa) I would do Moline because I-88 doesn’t go to Iowa.
I think if that were to happen, it would be at least the fourth different designation that the Eisenhower Expwy. will have had in its history. So keeping it as 290 was probably done so nothing would need to be changed, which I’m sure the locals would have been against. And the East-West Tollway wouldn’t have had any exit numbers changed because I don’t think it even had exit numbers until fairly recently, like most ITA Tollways.
@@andykillsu it should end at both ends at another 2di (or national border or coastal city streets... Lake Michigan qualifies as a coast for this). 2dis dominate 3dis.
@@ControlCityFreak It's my mistake. There are only 2. Guess I only know my local roads (ie The Triangle Expwy, 15-501, etc.) better than Chicago Highways. 😁
@Control City Freak because most of the trucks coming eastbound are going there to deliver unless there going to Chicago and coming westbound you'd get off on us30
@@lancehammons5918 My point is it’s bad signage. Every place has something. Signing a couple of towns for a few warehouses and factories over CHICAGO (got a couple warehouses and factories there too) is just the wrong move.
@@spellcast1391 both are valid, he just said he considered this one to be the "real" I-88. I just think the Illinois one is inferior to the New York one.
I-88 is also Known as the Elgin -O'Hare Expressway. I would go with Eastbound Dekalb, Aurora, Chicago Westbound Aurora, Dekalb, Omaha (it blends into 80)
@@danhobson2879 but Mannheim Road does go to O'Hare so it would be the logical Airport Exit. Mannheim Road also served Schiller Park, where the Airport is located. You could go with Dekalvlb, Aurora, O'Hare Airport Chicago O'Hare / Aurora, DeKalb , Quad Cities/ Omaha
JMccovery It links two metros together (Davenport-Chicago), so it’s eligible in my eyes. My candidates for 3DIs are 19, 66, 76W, 86W and 97. Based on what the proposed route looks like, 42 should also be a spur route.
A bit ago they changed some signs on the west section of it. Heading east on 80, 80 is now unsigned and 88 says Dixon.
On east 88, it’s signed the next exit, Dixon, and chicago. And on west 88, it’s signed next exit, 80, and rock island-moline. These updated mileage signs are only on the free western section.
I’ve seen dixion for i88 east
Hey Todd, I saw your Cameo with InterstateKyle!
Limon!
the state of Illinois OUTSIDE of Chicago is very anti-Chicago 😂😂 ... which is the main reason EB 88 isn't signed with Chicago (or Aurora) as the main control city from the 80 interchange. as someone already stated, once 88 becomes the tollway, the tollway switches it.
Illinois tollway is a flat rate and not based on hours. Tolls are different based on where you are on the tollway. Most of the Aurora traffic I see when I'm going there from the south suburbs would usually get off at Fransworth for the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall.
It is a flat rate for cars. For trucks (semis), there are separate peak and off-peak rates.
Don't forget that Lower Wacker Drive was featured in the final car chase scene in The Blues Brothers. Not sure if current I-88 or I-290 was though.
the mention for 88 from EB 74 is about a mile south of the interchange. It's just not an overhead sign.
Grew up in the Chicago suburbs - the plaza on I-88 is the only one I remember that was off the side of the road instead of over it. Really surprised they didn’t rebuild it when ISHTA rebuilt the oases in the late 90s
Because its illegal
Funny thing about that toll oasis it's a trumpet interchange to the oasis but it "forces" you back to your direction you going to back on the tollway. My quotes on forces is because they're is a small gap between barriers where you can slip in to go back without having to enter the toll exit on DeKlab return and pay two tolls coming in and out.
The IL Tollway is a different agency from IDOT, and has different conventions in signage. The tollway didn't number its exits until about 10 years ago, and its mileposts on I-90 used to go from east to west (O'Hare to Beloit) -- since changed. IDOT very rarely signs an exit simply with a state highway number, with no street name or destination, whereas it's quite common on the tollway. You'll see that when you do I-90 for exits at IL 31, IL 25, and IL 59. In fact, the tollway seems to be regressing: the exit on I-88 for IL 31 used to say Aurora and Batavia, until they replaced the signs several years back.
I think I saw one such sign in Effingham that didn't have a city or street name on I-70/57
@@aaronholcomb237 You are correct: IDOT signs exit 160 (at Effingham) on I-57 simply as IL 32 & IL 33. They also do it farther south at exit 45 (near Marion) for IL 148. However, it's rare to see this on IDOT signs, whereas it's almost the tollway's M.O. On the toll segment of I-88, exits for IL 47, IL 31, IL 59, and IL 53 give only the route number. If IDOT had signed the IL 47 exit, they probably would have labeled it for Elburn and Sugar Grove, and not just a Route 47 shield.
Hey Control City Freak, I live in Aurora close to I88. There’s a sign that says “Aurora Next Four Exits” right after IL-59, so the Aurora exit sign isn’t really necessary(although it would still be useful). Also multiple exits cover Aurora.
@pinakinkale Tolled highways do have fewer exits, but I knew there was no way only one exit served Aurora! I’ve driven on the Indiana Toll Road in both directions, and South Bend and Elkhart have at least two exits each (the two cities combined have a population similar to Aurora’s, I think).
I agree. South Bend is generally more well known than Aurora is. I would say they are comparable
@@tylermarchand2996 Illinois tollway exits are actually quite frequent compared to freeways
@pinakinkale I’m just used to exits being quite close together. In Reno, where I live, exits are very close to each other (I 80 through the urban core has exits for mile markers 9-21 inclusive, with 11 being the only gap!)
Aurora is listed with a Next 4 Exits sign before Rt 56 East merges with 88 East. Same heading west on 88 after Rt 59.
10:40 That's still ISTHA there (note the lane striping - longer dashes). The last toll plaza is just east of the Dixon Exit, but ISTHA maintains the road up to US-30.
I90 is almost here. Can’t wait!
Iowa on the mileage sign is one of the most Chicagoland things I've ever seen lol. While I'm fine with the Moline-Rock Island signage, I wish IDOT/ISTHA would just sign Quad Cities. That's what everyone in Illinois know it as.
I also think your idea of signing I-88 E as Aurora-Chicago and I-80 E as Joliet-Chicago makes total sense in the Quad Cities.
@MrTwarner In most cases, I’m not really a fan of referring to metro areas by nicknames. In some cases, such nicknames are a combination of MULTIPLE metro areas (Bay Area means San Francisco-Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Napa and Solano County; Front Range is Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Pueblo and sometimes even Cheyenne), or could refer to completely different areas (Tri-Cities in Washington and Tennessee-Virginia, or Capital Region for Michigan or New York).
Coming off of I-55, I-355 is signed for Northwest Suburbs and Southwest Suburbs.
As someone who goes through the Quad Cities frequently, it's always seemed odd that Chicago isn't indicated at the I-88 exit. While it is toll, it's by far the easiest way to get to the city.
Signing Joliet for southbound I-355 is fine. As for westbound I-80 where I-294 ends south, I'm not signing Joliet for westbound I-80, but sign the Quad Cities.
@davidburrow5895 I did a Google Maps search, and using I 88 over I 80 from Walcott to Soldier Field is only six minutes faster. This search was made at what is 1:30 AM Chicago time, so I imagine that at any other time, said advantage is evaporated. This is why I’m in favor of an Aurora-Chicago route as well as a Joliet-Chicago route.
@@tylermarchand2996 I think it's because Soldier Field is south of the loop so it negates some of the savings. You might have been looking when traffic was worse on I-290 than I-90/94or I-55 at the moment. My point is whether or not you take I-88 over I-80 highly depends where in Chicagoland you are heading. Chicago loop and the West to North suburbs,. I-88, south to southwest side, I-80. Current traffic conditions in Chicago can make travel times vary greatly though
@@CrystalClearWith8BE sometimes Illinois skips both and signs Iowa or Des Moines
@Kevin Russell not as far south as you think. Congress/Ida B Wellls is on the south end of the loop. It hits Columbus Dr about 1 mile north of Soldier Field.
I’m looking forward to I-90 in a few weeks after you do I-88 eastern and I-89
I notice a lot of tolls in Illinois especially in the direction of Chicago. Do gas prices have an effect on that because when I drove I-80 from PA to NE. I noticed gas prices in Illinois were a lot higher than Indiana or Iowa.
Indiana’s had the cheapest gas in the Great Lakes states for who knows how long. I lived in Chicago 20 years ago and IN had cheap gas then too
Glad you mentioned the "Hillside Strangler." Not a lot of people living in the area even know what that interchange is called.
That’s a great name for an interchange as well. Sounds like a serial killer at large, and probably feels like one too for all of the weekday commuters.
@Billy Riddle Look up the history of the Hillside Strangler and 290. Before it was redone a dozen years or so ago, it was the worst bottleneck in Chicago.
@@danhobson2879 ok I haven’t been in that area since the late 90’s and I remember it being pretty bad then, so I’m glad to hear that it’s been redone.
@@danhobson2879 so when 290 USED TO BE 90's routing...
@Billy Riddle i should say "redone". The bottleneck still happens at 25th Ave going inbound.
As you mentioned former Illinois 5. This road takes you to Aurora where you can visit Wayne and Garth. Make sure you play Bohemian Rhapsody. Vintage 50s and 60s Road side attractions. Connects with the Eisenhower ( I 290 ). Probably similar to how you would have it. East Bound Chicago/ Aurora Chicago. West bound from the Eisenhower Aurora. Moline Rock Island or Quad Cities. Rock on Garth. Rock on Wayne. The Gipper.
An I-88 sign appeared in "Wayne's World".
I feel I-88 should be extended along I-290 into downtown Chicago. It could be co-signed much like I-894 is with I-43 and I-41 in Milwaukee when their designations were later added. Feels wrong for a 2-di to end at a 3-di, much less two 3-di's.
I do agree. Given the Aurora control city, they should!!
There are two signs for to I-88 on the side of the Interstate on westbound 74 they are just before the sign at 1:39.
Wow a road i'm familiar with! I used to have to drive from ORD to the Aurora airport on 294/88 and exit off at Sugar Grove at least 15 times in the past few years.
Can’t wait for I-89 because we get into 2 new states also I-90, I-91, I-93, I-95 because they are in my home state of Mass
When I first saw Chicago's bias toward "control states" rather than cities I was a bit put off, but then quickly realized the whole geometry of the area kind of lends itself to it. I mean, I know where Davenport, Milwaukee, etc., are, but since Chicago is essentially the gateway to the west where states get much larger, it made sense to point to them instead. (And yeah, I'm using 'etc.' for Indiana cities because I can't think of Gary or South Bend as being major destinations, even locally.)
If they ever change the sign names of control cities around Chicago which a few did ex: 88 Aurora or 290 Rockford. But 294 Milwaukee if you're south entering Indiana it would be Milwaukee/Des Moines because 80. Going to Indiana from 90 would be Gary Toledo 94 would be Detroit Indianapolis 57 is still Memphis but on the ramps Kankakee. 94 and 90 going to downtown Chicago Loop north of that Milwaukee/Rockford at Montrose they have the best sign which is O'Hare/Rockford for 90 Milwaukee 94. Only reason why IDOT and the Tollway are changing some signs is because of growth and congestion. Reason why Aurora gets a sign now is that the city has grown bigger than most west suburbs same with Joliet but also because of it's crossroads with 80 and 55 eventually we might see more of these signs be replaced like I can see 355 entering from 80 north be called Bolingbrook/Downers Grove or Bolingbrook/Rockford from 88 Schaumburg/Rockford or Schaumburg/Wisconsin because IL53 concurrency.
I-294(North) and I-80(West) is currently Wisconsin-Iowa. I think keeping Wisconsin is fine there, would use something else besides Iowa once I-80 splits. Joliet might seem provincial, but it makes sense considering there isn’t anything else close by worth signing(La Salle-Peru, where it meets I-39). I think Moline-Rock Island or Quad Cities could also work. Des Moines doesn’t need to be signed over 300+ miles away
I’ve seen some I-94 signs in the north suburbs of chicago(Lake Forest, Gurnee), and they all use Wisconsin, and NOT Milwaukee?
Joliet might get a sign on I-80.
I think suburbs are fine on I-355
I've sometimes wondered if the reason IDOT didn't sign EB I-88 at the Quad Cities for Chicago is that it feared that people would accuse it of "tricking" motorists into taking the tollway, rather than the free I-80. Even though IDOT and the IL Tollway are separate agencies, they're both state-run. If you're going east on I-88, the first sign that mentions a toll is at milepost 44, when it's sort of inconvenient to decide to take an alternate route. A good portion of the traffic using EB I-88 from the Quad Cities to I-39 is actually heading for Milwaukee or Madison, via I-39 north, and will not go anywhere near Chicago.
3:15 Dixon Plaza is $3.60 for passenger vehicles paid by plate (50% off for I-Pass). End-to-end is $10.20 ($5.10 for I-Pass). Great video as always.
Thanks!
I love the nod to "Married With Children!"
Nice views of Chicago, Todd. I've been there many times and I appreciate seeing them again! Next time I go to Chicago (if ever), the name change to Ida B. Wells would have me wondering where I am. But that has happened in many cities as familiar street names are gone to honor people from the past. I recently was confused in Nashville where a downtown street lost its name to honor Rosa Parks.
I88 is pretty cool and nice way to get from Rochelle Illinois straight to Iowa....very flat too
I-88, another interstate full of memories lol. I used to travel to Iowa with my siblings when they went to college in Iowa, and we used to take I-88 there. I-88 is known as the Ronald Reagan memorial tollway, because it passes Ronald Reagans hometown of Dixon.
The control city for I-88 in the quad cities is odd, it should say Chicago, I agree.
Can't wait for I89. Lots of scenery.
Yep!
Harder control cities to pick.
@spellcast1391 The southern end is what is tricky to sign for me: Concord is the closest, but is just under my 50k threshold for a control city (but maybe the surrounding towns have villages that border Concord, and could just barely push it above 50k? Otherwise, Manchester is my second choice). Past Burlington, sign for Montreal. A potential midpoint control could exist around White River Junction (the towns on both sides of the Connecticut River in this area add up to well over 200k).
@rngfootball759 If it’s anything like what I experienced along I 91 following the Connecticut River or I 93 through New Hampshire, then it should be visually stunning!
I think you’ll find that I-88 eastern is pretty legitimate. It is the original I-88, because as you stated the western I-88 designation only came about for the speed limit. Plus each end of I-88 eastern essentially links to multiple legs of other interstates. The Binghamton end links you to Scranton via 81 or Elmira via 86, and the Capitol Region end links you to Boston via 90 or Montreal via 87.
I-88 Western is not the “Fake I-88”
I’d say neither are Fake. Unlike I-87.
I-88 could have an odd number, the Western one would need an even number. It was State Route 5 before(that number… Terrible there)
Good points
@@ControlCityFreak both end at interstates
Looking forward to I-88 in NY next week! My only comment about this road is that while I-88 fits the grid, it would be even better if its designation switched with I-82's. That way, I-88 would run from 84 to 90 instead of being slightly off as I-82, and the two 88s would be even further apart to avoid confusion (like the 84s and 86s). I don't really see that as a major issue though, there's bigger things to worry about like I-99 in PA/NY and I-74 in NC.
True. Good point
I would love to explore the Midwest more I’ve been to ohio Indiana Kentucky and Illinois but it would be awesome to go further out west
You’ll actually see another example of the two carriageways of an interstate going between the carriageways of another road when you do I-91 in a few weeks. There’s a point in Meriden, CT where the carriageways of I-91 are in between the 2 carriageways of CT 15 (aka the Wilbur Cross Parkway, which itself is a continuation of the famous Merritt Parkway)
Oh cool!
My Control Cities for I-88
East:
Chicago
West:
Naperville
Aurora
Moline / Rock Island
Illinois I88 from Chicago to Moline and New York I88 from Binghamton to Schenectady...
For 88 West, I'd sign Moline or Quad Cities as the control city once you pass Aurora. I think that most traffic is going to the quad cities since it's the quickest way to there is to take 88. As for eastbound, I agree with Chicago as the primary the whole way.
Actually DeKalb is where most westbound traffic beyond Aurora goes because of NIU.
That’s why DeKalb would be signed, it’s also 40,000 people
They did use Moline after DeKalb.
West: They used
Aurora, DeKalb(Iowa), Moline(Rock Island)
What you say is the post office in Chicago has moved
I-88 IL is basically a state only interstate between the Quad Cities and Chicagoland. Also, at the start, I hate signing Sterling, Rock Falls & Dixon. The reason why they did this is because they're not on the tolled portion of the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. If you're on the tolled portion, the rest of the signage is Chicago. For me, the biggest problem is signing eastbound I-88 IL and the signage of both directions is simple for me.
Eastbound I-88 IL:
•Chicago (all the way)
Westbound I-88 IL:
-Aurora, IL
•Quad Cities (Moline, IL | Rock Island, IL)
If you plan on making the I-89, it better be on one video only.
Todd, I have a feeling with the I-80/I-88 IL/IL 5/IL 92 interchange that the signage on each direction are as follows and I'll say those in clockwise order.:
•Eastbound I-88 IL/IL 92: Aurora, IL & Chicago
•Southbound I-80 to I-74: Chicago or Peoria, IL
•Westbound IL 5/IL 92: Moline, IL & Rock Island, IL (both Illinois core cities of the Quad Cities)
•Westbound I-80: Bettendorf, IL & Davenport, IL (both Iowa core cities of the Quad Cities)
I-90/I-790 (Rte 5) in Utica has that dual setup too.
As a proud New Yorker, I have to agree that I-88 western is the real I-88. In NY I-88 should be a state highway that connects the State Capital (Albany) to Bighamton and what also should be (and was/is) a state highay (I-86/NY Rte 17). It is like one unjustified interstate is the rationale for the other unjustified interstate.
@dans656 I wouldn’t consider either route (86 and 88) illegitimate. If it passes through (or links) two metro areas, then I’m okay with it as an Interstate. Even without the (possible) extension through Middletown, 86 is legitimate since it goes Erie-Elmira-Binghamton; 88 doing Binghamton-Schenectady is also enough to warrant 2DI status. Routes that SHOULD be downgraded include 19, 42 (based on the proposed route), 66, 76W, 86W and 97…
i didn't even know this existed until this video came out, i thought there was only one 88 in new york
I-88 Illinois is just as well known. It’s similar too
From I-87 to I-88, you clearly see the differences between Rounded & Pointy sings. I rather see rounded than pointy because it just looks too off and doesn’t fit well like they had a little much left over. Look at the edges of NY, NC, FL, & 1/2 of VA & then the rest of the county and you’ll see what I mean.
Eastern I-88: Westbound: Binghamton. Eastbound: Albany / Schenectady (goes back and forth between them).
Spoilers!
I would just sign Albany.
@9:50 Plus, if you had Rock Island as a third control city on there, it'd be three Rock-related things in a row! Rock on!🤘
Rockford/Rock Falls/Rock Island
And if you sign the river too
Something tells me that Charizard would not like that.
That’s where the Chicago Street Course is for NASCAR
I'm from the Atlanta Metro so when you said De KA-L-B instead of De-CAB- that pained me .
DeKalb IL and DeKalb GA are different
It is pronounced DEE KALB.
Yes, I was about to comment that! It was driving me crazy how he was saying it!
9:03 Look, DeKalb is on the sign Haha
East I84 from Scranton PA to Worcester MA,East I86 from Erie PA to Middletown NY,East I76 from Camden NJ to Dayton OH...
@tomtbi I thought I 76 ended in Medina, between Akron and Mansfield?
Beginning at Exit 6, control cities at eastbound ramps switch from Sterling/Rock Falls to Dixon. And it hasn't gotten to Sterling yet. I'm guessing it's because Dixon is the hometown of former President Reagan, whose childhood home is now a tourist attraction there. But Dixon isn't a control city at westbound ramps east of there; it's Moline/Rock Island, just like it is on I-80.
@mikeshumaker I’ve seen brown tourist signs along I 80, but it always confused me. Whiteside County (where Tampico is) is upstream of the Quad Cities…
What I dont understand is why use i-88 if it was already used. They have enough numbers to use.
Every number from 68 to 91 is in use, and 92 doesn’t work because it’s south of 90.
Agree. Didn’t Todd say this was the “Newer” I-88
It HAS milage signs
What is your opinion on toll roads in general? Do you think it is worth it to pay money just to drive on a highway that is usually somewhat better maintained than a normal freeway, or do you think highways should not be tolled at all, for the sake of long distance travel?
It depends on the road and the toll. I’ve taken 88 to and from Chicago plenty of times. I’ve taken the Skyway to Indiana plenty of times too, but not in the last decade and change since the tolls got so high
Interstate 88 in New York is shorter than I-476 and isn’t even that significant of a road. The I-88 in New York should just be a 3 digit route of I-81 and that this is the real I-88. Also I think the exits aren’t even mileage based so yeah.
I think I-88 in Illinois should ride along I-290 to it’s end.
I don’t agree. Both are “REAL” I-88’s despite being Intrastate 88’s.
I agree. I-290 used to be I-90, but I-90 is different now. I agree on that concurrency. Should be the “where I-88 becomes straight to I-290”
I think I-88 in NY is important. It helps connect the Binghamton area to Albany.
9:21 it’s Iowa, so you don’t have to complain about it being Sterling or Rock Falls.
Moline/Rock Island would be better but Iowa beats Rock Falla
Moline/Rock Island would be better but Iowa beats Rock Falla
If Chicago had control CITIES for each Interstate in Chicago, this would be how it should be imo:
I-55
(NB): Chicago
(SB): St. Louis
I-57
(NB): Chicago
(SB): Memphis
I-65 (yes, it counts)
(NB): Chicago
(SB): Indianapolis
I-80
(EB): Detroit
(WB): Davenport
I-88
(EB): Chicago
(WB): Aurora/Davenport
I-90
(EB): Detroit
(WB): Milwaukee, Rockford
I-94: same thing as I-90 but without Rockford of course
I-90 should be Toledo or South Bend. It’s I-94 that goes to Detroit
Indiana’s signs are so nice.
I’d rather use Toledo or even South Bend for I-80 or I-90.
First three are all the same. Indiana has at every interchange on I-65(North Chicago, South Indianapolis)
@@spellcast1391 Doesn’t matter. 90 and 80 meet 94 which goes to Detroit. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go there.
This interstate should trade names with I-82. More specifically, in my opinion at least, current I-82 east of its split with US 97 should be I-88, and US 97 should become I-9. Current I-88, and I-290 east of 294 should be Interstate 82.
Also the control cities for my proposed I-82 should be “Aurora/Chicago” EB and “Aurora/Davenport, Iowa” WB
The smile on your face when you played the Married with Children song soundbit aaahahahahaha
Ha total coincidence, the sound clip was a late addition in post
Interstate 88 eastern on the next video will get tricky.
(EAST)
Tri-Cities/Capital District
(WEST)
Binghamton
Onetona is too small to be a control city.
@atworkstation On the contrary, it should be very easy: Binghamton westbound and Schenectady eastbound.
It’s really sad that you don’t consider your own hometown sign-worthy. I mean, the only mark I can find against Lawrence is no Costco or Sam’s Club (I can always count on such locations for the cheapest gas, especially next to a generic Shell or 76)
Yeah but it’s also right in between Topeka and KC, which aren’t that far apart from each other in their own right. There is no need for a control city in between, especially a city significantly smaller than both places.
It’s fine on State Routes, but not on I-70 for sure.
@moderateproductions Back in the I 80 East video (my introduction to this series!), there was discussion about listing Davis, of which this situation is essentially identical: replace Kansas City with Sacramento, and replace Topeka with any of the three Solano County cities (Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo). The only difference is that Lawrence is truly a standalone area; Davis only accomplishes this thanks to a 15 mile wide floodplain that (based on what I’m hearing is going on 2.5 hours away from my location) isn’t working as intended…
I am a numbers guy, so proximity to larger metros is irrelevant to me. Trust me, I know that listing every place that has a McDonalds or a WalMart is overkill.
@@tylermarchand2996 So, we should sign San Bernardino from Phoenix on 10? Or Newark from Philadelphia, Allentown, and Youngstown? Or Utica from Syracuse and Albany on 90? Because by your logic of "distance from larger metros are irrelevant", that's what it should be like.
Davis should not be signed, nor should Lawrence. I absolutely love Lawrence, but it shouldn't be a control city.
@moderateproductions If I can’t find a ‘continuous’ path of urban sprawl between a city in question and another urban center, then that’s what I consider a “stand-alone” area. Rivers are the exception to the rule (since there are countless cities that span both banks of a river, I can’t consider them a true “break” in urban sprawl in most cases).
Since rivers are all that separate Vancouver or Newark from their larger counterparts, they don’t qualify as stand-alone areas. Since Buckeye connects to the main Phoenix sprawl through Goodyear, it fails as well.
Utica is very isolated from Syracuse and Albany, so it counts.
Riverside-San Bernardino qualifies based on it being a completely different metro area from Los Angeles (different economies, and different climates).
I’m like to think I’m not THAT liberal when it comes to assigning controls (between Reno and Omaha exclusive, for example, I only consider 4 locales worthy of the bottom-line!); but I am an equal opportunity lister.
i think 88 should be signed for chicago, and 80 should be signed for the south side of chicago and indiana (eastbound). aurora is ok, but being a suburb, the quad cities might be a better option (westbound)
Agree. I would use Chicago on every sign Eastbound(Quad Cities, DeKalb, and Aurora are all much smaller). I-80 I would do “Joliet” instead of South Side. I-80 goes into the Joliet city limits and it’s a well known suburb. Aurora is about 180k and in “Township” about 200k.
Quad Cities might be more well known, but Aurora is closer to Chicago and is what is used?
Todd, when you did take Lower Wacker Drive, did you have a pack of cigarettes, a full tank of gas while wearing sunglasses?
For sure. Also did all my automotive repairs at Dawson’s Garage
@@ControlCityFreak Perfect. 😂
Would you call both I-88's: Intrastate 88 Western and Eastern? Cause both only travel within a single state.
True!
I-88 Illinois and I-88 New York
Both work.
I-88’s
Moline-Chicago
Binghamton-Albany
Interesting you have 2 Interstate 84s,86s,87s and 88s...
also 76
My way it should be:
Eastbound:
Aurora (Secondary)
Chicago
Westbound:
Aurora (Secondary)
Moline
Don’t think Rock Island needs to be signed, just keep it simple. Sterling and Rock Falls need a sign just before 80 meets I-88 and a mention on the mileage signs. Also Des Moines should be mentioned on Westbound mileage signs since I would assume that people from the NW suburbs of Chicago would use I-88 for any long distance Westbound trips on I-80.
Davenport might make better sense than Moline. It's the biggest one and the most well known one. I know 88 doesn't even enter Iowa, but Davenport is in the same metro as Moline and is also bigger as stated before.
Otherwise, this list is perfectly fine!
@@mxderateprod I thought about making it Davenport but I didn’t mainly because 88 doesn’t go there, Illinois insists on keeping it in-state and Illinois 92/5 heads straight into Moline after 88’s terminus.
@@highway2heaven91 I don't think it matters whether or not it goes there. It's the same metro as Moline.
I’ve heard of both Davenport and Moline before. Actually all of the QC I have
The way I think it should be
EAST: Chicago
WEST: Davenport
Will you to Interstate 287 NJ/NY
Northbound From Edison to Morristown it's Morristown Mahwah for I-87
Morristown to NY Border Exit 66
Mahwah White Plains NY or
Albany White Plains
Eastbound from Suffern to White Plains
Tappan Zee Bridge Stamford CT
Westbound & Southbound
White Plains Tappan Zee Bridge then Morristown New Brunswick Edison instead of the Morristown Somerville Perth Amboy.
Excellent video overall
I don’t understand why I 88 runs all the way to downtown Chicago and replace I 290
Historical context. I-290 was the original routing of I-90 until the mid 70s. And the configuration design of the Hillside Strangler has 290 as the through highway. 88 should be cosigned with 290 to go in.
Ha ha I knew about NY 88 (baseball hall of fame) before IL 88
but drove on the IL Highway first
Both are similar. Significantly big metros at each end.
I've always thought naming it 88 was a real mistake; I think 82 would have been much better. It is hard to imagine the need of a 2 digit between 80 and the E-W Tollway corridor. But quite easy to imagine a new 2 digit interstate to the North of the E-W Tollway corridor. The U.S. 20 corridor comes to mind. Also IL ended up renumbering IL 88 to IL 40 because the 2 intersected. (probably overkill, but the whole problem would not have come up in the first place if they had used a little bit of fore thought.
Yeah good point
It’s better
I would’ve have done I-82. I would’ve done I-86, because it’s a little closer to I-90 than I-80.
Also, if this was I-86, this would be the “REAL” I-86! DeKalb is bigger than Jamestown NY.
I would then renunber the I-82 in Washington and Oregon as I-88, would use the Idaho route as I-84, and the Portland-Echo route as I-82. Or, the Idaho one would become a 3-digit?
2 Interstate 76s too...
Where getting so close to the I-90 video I-90 is the longest interstate In the US
@jadenosborne5452 I still think I 95 will be longer…
@@tylermarchand2996 Agreed. I-90 may be the longest Interstate, but I think it will be significantly shorter than 80 and 95 because it serves much less urban areas, not to mention it is signed pretty well outside of Wyoming.
@@mxderateprod I would like to see how he reacts to a the "mysterious Exit" in Wyoming. On Google maps, it shows on/off ramps; but when you turn on satellite it's a dirt road. It's not even signed for anything. It's roughly 5 miles outside of Buffalo, if you need the precise location.
@thederphog I’m hoping he gets off I 90 past the Vantage Bridge (on the Moses Lake side) to see the horses on the hill…
@@tylermarchand2996 That sounds pretty.
Because I-80 doesn’t enter the Chicago city limits I would sign it Joliet/Gary and 88 as Aurora/Chicago
No. Gary could be used once at Joliet. People use I-80 to I-55. Then at the I-55 and I-80 junction, I would say Joliet/Indiana because I-80 goes in
@@spellcast1391 how about just Joliet until it gets to 180, and then from there, Joliet/Chicago, until Joliet and then from there “Gary, Indiana”?
Why would you possibly sign Joliet over Chicago? I 80 doesn’t enter the New York, Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, or Des Moines city limits either. Skip those too?
@@ControlCityFreak fair point. I still stand by starting to sign Chicago after 180 because at the quad cities I-88 is the way to Chicago. Wouldn’t want someone heading from the south to see “80 east Chicago” and take it when they meant to take I-88
@@ControlCityFreak no. Cleveland is only given because it’s duplexes with I-90 and I-90 goes into Cleveland
I do notice your frustration at Interstates being 'provincial' regarding the towns they list on overheads, and I do see your point...and theirs. Interstates are designed to be fast routes to key places in the nation, the BIG MAJOR towns and connections to other Interstates to make a high-speed, powerful network. On the other hand, state locals also use these roads to get from one locality to another (and are often the reason for rush hour jams). I suspect that part of Federal negotiations to get Interstates built through certain areas involved the listing of such small places most of the country doesn't know (I 80 in PA is the best example of this!). Politics!!
Yeah but unless locals are new to the area, they know the area pretty well. Most long-distance travelers don’t know the area very well.
I'm not completely against smaller cities being listed as control cities. Even if they're not tourist attractions, quite a few of them are the commercial/economic centers for the region. Places like Plattsburgh NY, Elko NV, and Monroe LA are definitely in that category. At the very least, if anyone is headed to those cities, it's likely for business.
As for I-80 in PA, they could have easily listed Williamsport or State College as it passes by close enough to them. PennDOT is just being ridiculous with their control cities.
@@Handle_Needs_3_Or_More_Charact Williamsport and State College is okay westbound. Eastbound, New York City all the way from Youngstown.
@@Handle_Needs_3_Or_More_Charact Every place has something though. You gonna sign Limon CO because it has an iHop?
Wait till NJ with the carriageways coming at you on both sides!
Yep those are wild!
@jognm.teague8125 My understanding of that layout was to keep cars and trucks separated? What I think is interesting is how the freeway splits at the Hackensack River, providing separate carriageways to the Lincoln Tunnel and to MetLife Stadium…
I’m glad SOMEONE agrees with the two different listings for Chicago! It is so expansive that it requires it.
Eastbound is just Aurora-Chicago (of course, to differentiate between Joliet-Chicago) and westbound is just Moline.
Chicago for 88 and Peoria for 80 until 74 could work too, that way you know the most direct way to Chicago, especially the Chicago Loop
If you do Aurora it should be WEST out of Chicago.
I’ll never be a fan of signing states or “southwest suburbs.” Milwaukee, Toledo, Detroit, Davenport, Des Moines, plenty of cities to use.
I-57 uses Memphis consistently but we get Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana on other interstates.
@pauls49 I’m not too familiar with which particular suburbs are bigger (apart from Aurora, Elgin, Joliet and Naperville being over 100k), but my best pick for an alternative to “NW suburbs”, at least where 88 meets 355, would likely be one of Arlington Heights, Palatine or Schaumburg (whichever is the biggest). “SW suburbs” is more cut and dry: Joliet…
@pauls49 As for signing Memphis, I’m not really hot on that idea; for a city of its size, the metro population is quite underwhelming (like Jacksonville, Tucson or El Paso). Well before it meets I 55 in Missouri, I 57 serves two college based metropolitan cities: Champaign and Marion (indirect link to Carbondale) 220k and 130k may look small, but in non-Chicagoland Illinois, they are massive…
@@tylermarchand2996 Schaumburg makes the most sense. It is the most well known, and is on I-290(which is where I-355 dead ends to). The others are out of the way.
Schaumburg/Joliet
For NB/SB I-355
@@tylermarchand2996 Joliet is about 150,000
@@tylermarchand2996 Champaign would be the best play for Southbound I-57 from Chicago if no Memphis. Marion is too small, already pass Champaign(I-24 junction near there would be useless)
Champaign has the I-74 junction, and meeting I-72 West.
Champaign and then Marion? After Marion then Memphis?
To me, Illinois’s I-88 Should Be Illinois 110 to match the Chicago-Kansas City Expy or or at least Have I-88 Be entirely tolled.
It is signed as such on the trailblazer markers.
Also, historically, the tollway section was built under ISTHA in phases (originally as IL Rt 190). First to IL Rt 56 towards Sugar Grove, then to US 30 at Rock Falls. IDOT then built up IL Rt 2 & 5 east from I-80 to Rock Falls. That's why it's not entirely a tollway.
I would like to explain what I think it should be at the Quad Cities 80-88 Interchange, because it is a little different:
88 East: JUST Chicago
80 East TO 74 East: Peoria
That's really all you need and signing Chicago on both sign would only make it confusing. This is why I am also against the same situation in Emporia, KS. Also, I-80 AFTER I-74 should just be Chicago after that.
Anyways, Mod's the way it should be: I-88 Illinois
(EAST): Chicago
(WEST): Aurora/Davenport, Davenport
Aurora is fine as a secondary as it is the 2nd biggest city in Illinois but should not be a primary because it is a suburb.
Solid
I would use Aurora as a primary out of Chicago. The area is bigger than you think. I-88 is Aurora’s only interstate.
Well. I would use Davenport instead of Iowa on the mileage signs once in Aurora.
I would do
Next Exit
DeKalb
Davenport(if wanting to do something in Iowa)
I would do Moline because I-88 doesn’t go to Iowa.
@@spellcast1391 Doesn't matter if it doesn't go there. It's much more well known than Moline.
@@spellcast1391 yeah but it's also a suburb.
This I-88 really is as boring as the suburbs it goes through. I strongly prefer the other one you'll get to in the next video.
I would say both are the “real” I-88
A two-digit interstate which ends at a three-digit interstate is just wrong. Should have truncated I-290 at 294/88 and had 88 go downtown.
64's loopback on a beltway is marginally defensible, though southern I-87 being completed would hopefully address that.
I think if that were to happen, it would be at least the fourth different designation that the Eisenhower Expwy. will have had in its history. So keeping it as 290 was probably done so nothing would need to be changed, which I’m sure the locals would have been against. And the East-West Tollway wouldn’t have had any exit numbers changed because I don’t think it even had exit numbers until fairly recently, like most ITA Tollways.
You do know it ends at a two digit interstate on the other end. Who cares if the other end end is at a three digit.
It ends at I-80
@@andykillsu it should end at both ends at another 2di (or national border or coastal city streets... Lake Michigan qualifies as a coast for this). 2dis dominate 3dis.
I think that the Eisenhower Expressway should be redesignated as Interstate 88
Funny. The 2 “Republican” interstates in Chicagoland.
@@spellcast1391 There are 3. I-88 is called the Ronald Regan Memorial Frwy/Tollway.
What the third? Or are you counting freeway/tollway as 2
@@ControlCityFreak It's my mistake. There are only 2. Guess I only know my local roads (ie The Triangle Expwy, 15-501, etc.) better than Chicago Highways. 😁
because of Married... with Children Love and Marriage is mall time favorite Frank Sinatra song
Lol
I-90 SOON
Yea!!! After I-88 Eastern(NY) and I-89.
Reason why sterling/rock falls, is due to the amount of warehouses and factories in the area
Then why aren’t they signed westbound?
@Control City Freak because most of the trucks coming eastbound are going there to deliver unless there going to Chicago and coming westbound you'd get off on us30
@@lancehammons5918 Yeah but they still aren’t signed before 30
@Control City Freak it's due to West bound having the warehouses and factories past Sterling but before rock falls
@@lancehammons5918 My point is it’s bad signage. Every place has something. Signing a couple of towns for a few warehouses and factories over CHICAGO (got a couple warehouses and factories there too) is just the wrong move.
I'm not as familiar with Western I76,I84 or I86...
New York I87 from New York City to The Canadian Border and North Carolina I 87 To Be Determined....
Chicago kansas city expressway 💀
I consider the New York I-88 to be the official I-88. It goes through better scenery and it has no tolls.
Why? I would use both. The NY one could be given an odd number. Although, I wouldn’t call either 88 “Fake”
@@spellcast1391 both are valid, he just said he considered this one to be the "real" I-88. I just think the Illinois one is inferior to the New York one.
I-88 is also
Known as the Elgin -O'Hare Expressway.
I would go with
Eastbound
Dekalb, Aurora, Chicago
Westbound
Aurora, Dekalb, Omaha (it blends into 80)
Wrong. Elgin O'Hare is Route 390. 88 was the East West Tollway. Now it's Reagan Tollway.
@@danhobson2879 but Mannheim Road does go to O'Hare so it would be the logical Airport Exit. Mannheim Road also served Schiller Park, where the Airport is located.
You could go with Dekalvlb, Aurora, O'Hare Airport Chicago
O'Hare / Aurora, DeKalb , Quad Cities/ Omaha
@@peterwarner358 Not from 88 or 290 since 294 is right there. Trust me. I've been a chauffeur here in the Chicago area for over 25 years.
Omaha? What about Des Moines and the Quad Cities? Also, no DeKalb, especially not going east. Should be Chicago all the way going East from the start.
@@mxderateprod agree. No DeKalb EB unless used instead of Aurora on that sign in Quad Cities
No Omaha on I-88 Western
3:13-3:30 nice
Still feel that this should be either I-680 or I-880...
If it was a 3 digit interstate, it would be the longest at 141 miles, beating I-476 by 9 miles.
No.
JMccovery It links two metros together (Davenport-Chicago), so it’s eligible in my eyes. My candidates for 3DIs are 19, 66, 76W, 86W and 97. Based on what the proposed route looks like, 42 should also be a spur route.
Once again, there’s ANOTHER I-88 in the Northeast 😡 You should skip the one in New York and go straight to I-89
Lol
@@ControlCityFreak I’m being for real though
Cool including of married with children