There is also signage in New Jersey for Easton at the Diamond Hill Road (county road 655) exit 43 westbound It’s kinda a weird layout for exit 43 and 41. East bound, those exits are pretty much the same of where they drop you off, Both New Providence and Scotch Plains, but westbound traffic 43 takes you to New Province and 41 takes you to Scotch Plains. I guess it helps with traffic demand, but both roads get super busy during rush hour.
@@langstonreese7077 Opps. It must have spell checked without me noticing. I’ll fix it now. Thanks for letting me know! I looked stupid calling that road that. On a side note, it’s 655, not 665
I-78 is unique in that none of its 3-digit spurs intersect with the main line. (I-278, 478, 678). As Edwin notes, this is due to I-78 never being built beyond its current terminus. I-78 across Manhattan would have destroyed some of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, such as West Village, Greenwich Village as well as much of central Brooklyn. Also, I believe New Jersey seems to have an inferiority complex being overshadowed by NYC and Philly. Their signage reflects this by going out of their way to mainly sign only in-state cities and towns. The one exception is I-80 eastbound which consistently signs NYC as the primary control city.
Yeah no one cares about New Jersey so they aren't going to sign the enormous cities on either end of their state. They are trying to make it think like their state is important when we know it isn't.
There used to be an I-378 in PA. However, after I-78 was realigned to go south of Allentown and Bethlehem (previous alignment followed US 22 which goes to the north of the two cities), it left I-378 orphaned. It was downgraded after and now is signed PA 378, a state route with exit numbers.
We drove on 78 from the split with 81 all the way to 287 and the entire time, I was thinking, I can't wait for Control City Freak to see these. I 100% agree about cosigning every city on that road with NYC. Crazy how provincial they are. Great video. Hope you enjoyed your vacation!
From Edison to Morristown 287 North is always Morristown Mahwah for NY Thruway Exit 66. This is actually seen on entrance ramps at exits 1 10 & 14B exit 13 RT-28. If NJ DOT does the Southbound side correctly then from Exit 66 it should be Morristown Somerville then Somerville Perth Amboy At the exit 21 I-78
The sign for 95 North with Trenton is funny cuz that reminds me of the gap that existed with 95 for DECADES, before 95 traffic was diverted onto the PA Turnpike just before the toll bridge over the Delaware.
Lived 10 mins from 78 for 10 years and learned to drive on it. Definitely a love/ hate relationship. Couple of fun facts: Right before it turns into local/ express it passes through the Watchung Reservation. It got held up in court for years, so there was a big gap between the Newark portion and the junction with I-287 (a section did exist east of that junction but didn't really go anywhere). Same thing for the street between Allentown & Pburg. It was originally supposed to follow 22, but due to & thank God for local opposition, it was delayed and the 78 thru Hunterdon & Somerset countries was a road to nowhere for many years.
I grew up in the early 70s 5 minutes from 78 (near the old Bell Labs - now Nokia Bell Labs). It used to take 30-40 minutes to get to Newark Airport via Route 22. Once the state got a favorable court ruling on the Watchung Reservation, the bulldozers were out the next day. Of course, this stretch was completed after I moved away. When I last visited, the drive from Newark Airport was 10-15 minutes - much different than when I was a kid. Even with that, it saddens me that I-78 scars what was a beautiful forest reserve and plows right behind my old high school. In addition, I-78 west from the Plainfield Ave. exit on the Berkeley Heights/Watchung town line (where the highway used to end) was almost all farmland all the way to PA. Because of the Watchung Reservation gap, traffic on the highway was minimal. From what I am told, much of I-78 is now jam-packed during the morning and evening commutes - even with the express lanes. In short, the saga of I-78 is a reminder to me of a time and place that no longer exists...
@@johnbaldwin4952 Good story but remember you still have to deal with Bedminster to Clinton section that's why on 287 you see signs for I-78 West take exit 14B US-22 West to 202 206 78 West Since you actually merge with it at exit 18
I, too, grew up in Berkeley Heights. I remember all those years of delays and arguments around the route that 78 would take between where it ended on the West Side of Berkeley Heights and ultimately where it would pass through the Reservation. I moved up to northern Morris County in the mid 1970's and eventually out of New Jersey in 1988. I returned several times on business trips and some pleasure trips to show my son where I grew up, and boy was I surprised to see I-78 in its completion and seeing exits for local roads (like Diamond Hill Road) right off the highway. That and seeing I-287 finished north of Boonton.
@@ajankowski2 You mean the December 1993 section exits 47-66. For I-287 Northbound from Edison to Bedminster, you see this Morristown Mahwah for I-287 North For I-287 Express lanes to I-78 West Morristown Pompton Lakes
I had a heck of a time with the entrance to the Holland Tunnel when I took my trip to finish NYC interstates. Couldn't figure out how to get there from West Street via my atlas (online map sites weren't a thing yet). So I asked an old newsgroup misc.transport.road (if you're under 40...ask your dad what a newsgroup was) to get answers. Never got answered well because my trip was slated for September 16, 2001 and driving in NYC for non-essential reasons had become impossible the week before, obviously. Anyway...when I did take the trip in 2002, I still didn't get it right. Got caught in the middle of the left turn trying go get in and blocked the intersection as the light changed. Fortunately, NYC drivers showed me the patience and hospitality that they are renowned for. 😀
Back in late January I had to go work in Lower Manhattan for a couple of days and actually commuted there each of those days via the Holland Tunnel, as I was staying with a friend who lives off 287 near 80. So I took 280 down through The Oranges and Newark, and worked my way to NJ 139 and came out on I-78 in the far LEFT lanes through that Jersey City “Breezewood” section. Since I intended to start work at 6 AM, I had no traffic issues, and left at 2 PM so traffic wasn’t nearly as bad as I’m sure it is during rush hours. It was an interesting experience to say the least, and turned out much better than this old Southern dude had expected it to be.
The "I Love New York" logo was originally created by the New York State tourism board (or whatever it's official name is), to promote travel to New York State. Of course, New York City is known around the world (hence why people buy T-shirts with the logo on when they visit New York City), originally they made commercials promoting tourism not only specifically for New York City, but as well as the different natural sights in upstate New York. One particular commercial had people saying "I'm from (your home from somewhere in the world), but I Love New York.", ending with a guy saying "I'm from Brooklyn, and I Love New York". And of course, after 9/11, the campaign was resurrected, and focused more on New York City.
Yeah, there are roads in NJ with the control city of Philadelphia (Atlantic City Expressway / NJ 42 / I-76, I-295 west of Trenton, and even the Turnpike now in some places) while Maryland completely ignores it and signs 95 for NYC.
5:18 I actually think you're right, Todd. I think I-95 south should definitely be Philly. As for northbound, if I-78 is signed for Holland Tunnel, then I-95 has to be signed for the George Washington Bridge. If I-78 gets signed for the Holland Tunnel, then I-95 should be signed for the bridge since both of them are getting signed for different parts of NYC.
This is a video I wholeheartedly agree with. NYC should absolutely be signed throughout its eastbound portions, and I think you nailed it with the way it should be. I mean, we’re talking about one of the most famous cities in this entire planet for God’s sake! Can’t wait till you get to eastern 84 since I live just a few blocks north of it.
I-78 isn't the only two-digit Interstate highway within New York City; I-95 also goes through NYC - Bronx and upper Manhattan. The only portion of I-78 that's within NYC is the Holland Tunnel and a traffic circle at the end of the tunnel.
Here’s Speedboy14’s the way it should be for I-78 Eastbound: Allentown/New York City, Newark/New York City, New York City Westbound: New Jersey, Newark, Allentown, Harrisburg
I never thought I’d find a youtube channel like this. As a kid in the Chicago area , I’d read all the interstate signs out loud to my mon as we drive around the city and then later along the route to visit our families in New England. Thanks for dedicating a youtube channel to interstates and control cities. I feel like a kid again on road trips.
Yeah I've always enjoyed Interstates and control cities. I think it's a cool topic. Todd gives great suggestions and states should 100% take them into consideration and change the control cities, especially North Carolina, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.
North Dakota has some great control cities. They use Bismarck on I-94 West out of Fargo, and Minneapolis for EB even on secondary’s at Fargo. MN IDOT’s theirs and uses secondaries on interchanges, but on mainline is always Minneapolis. On I-29 South might be the only complaint(Grand Forks is signed from the Canadian border, I can get past it as it is home to a important university, the only urban area in that region, and over 50,000+ people. It’s not like signing Limon or Lyman.) In GF they use Winnipeg which is good.
I’m glad I found Control City Freak. I grew up in Chicagoland, so all the signs make sense(Wisconsin, Indiana, Chicago, Rockford(BAD on I-355)(good on I-90 West!)
78 is not the only interstate that is withing NYC city limits. Both 95 and 87 are in the Bronx, which is one of the 5 boroughs that make up the NYC city limits.
Funny story about the confusing I-78 entrance, this one time me and my friends went on a 2 day road trip from Ohio to the DMV and to NYC, we ended up being in NYC for 20 MINUTES because we drove through the holland tunnel and ended up looping back around due to how confusing it is and ended up back in New Jersey across the holland tunnel again, worst trip to NYC anyone could go on, we just ended up goin to Pittsburgh PA after that
Lol. The trip I did the Holland Tunnel wasn’t much longer. Drove from Baltimore to Maine and back and through NYC both times on different routes (FDR north, West Side Highway south) but didn’t actually stop. I’ve been to NYC several times by train, bus, or plane and drove through the once, but I’ve never actually parked there.
@@ControlCityFreak dude Maine looks like such a goregous state, all that wilderness just looks beautiful, I wanna go there one day for sure, especially goin up on I-95 through the whole New England, we got to hear stories from you about cool road trips you’ve been on in your life too!
In general, toll roads (and most especially the closed-system/ticket-based toll roads) tend to view the toll road designation as more important than any of the interstates which happen to have been designated onto them. Thus you see things like "exit to stay on 78 West" because you're exiting the toll road. There's also a tendency on the closed-system toll roads to have exits named for the nearest municipality to the exit and use that municipality as the main control city on signage, even if the highway being exited onto has better control cities. All in all, the broad tendency of these authorities is a degree of denial that highways outside of their respective authority's responsibility exist. Of course, legally speaking, those toll roads aren't actually interstates (in the sense that they're covered by the 1956 Act)... because it was eventually decided that it made no sense to build a parallel interstate to an existing more-or-less interstate-standard highway, everyone basically agreed to just stick the blue shields on the toll road.
The first time I went down I 78, I was not a big fan of the Interstate, along with I 81. I really didn't like it in Pennsylvania because of the Rain. As time came on however, I've started to love I 78. Beautiful through both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And it's a Great Way to New York City!
NYC does have two other 2 digit interstates in it. 95 briefly goes through the northern tip of Manhattan via the George Washington bridge and it goes through the Bronx. I-87 goes through The Bronx as well. Also New Jersey loves to not welcome you at all. They also like to sign 50,000 highways at one exit as controls even though some are miles away.
Yeah I meant to say even-numbered interstate and realized I didn’t in post so I added that caption. That should teach me not to record while hungover, but I know it won’t lol
@@ControlCityFreak By exclusion, you did catch the great "unmet expectation" of I-80, that it goes across the country all the way from San Francisco and then ends within sight of New York City, but never quite gets to the city limits. I don't remember how it is signed near the eastern end, but I'll look for that next month.
I believe the reason why Easton and Bethlehem are signed on 78 is due to A 78 uses the old 309 express way that terminated south of Bethlehem and that 78 was going to actually use the 22 expressway originally and go through center city Easton the way 22 does but go pushes aside which is why 78 for most part lays over most of the 22 expressway. As well at the time Allentown wasn't as big with Bethlehem having its own center city highway while Allentown didn't 78 and 222 in the 70s kinda do that for it
Back in December of 2019 there was a NJ welcome sign on the Eastbound median. Canal Street in NYC is interesting because it divides Little Italy from Chinatown. Otherwise, I'm not a big fan of NYC, too many people. 11:06 Washington NJ, the home of the late Riley Martin. Oqua Tangin Wann
The reason that there’s an exit for I-78 on the Turnpike is because the NJ Turnpike does a closed ticket toll system. The first few miles of I-78 are tolled. If you want to stay on I-78, you pay your toll and it’s free after this. But if you want to continue on the NJ Turnpike/I-95, you will pay based on how far you go
Probably similar to most "turnpike" systems as well, where the maintenance (including signing) is done by the turnpike authority, not the state department of transportation.
I-78 parallels US 22 from Lebanon County, PA to the New York metro area. However, US 22 ends east in Newark, NJ while I-78 ends east in Lower Manhattan.
For me, I'd rather sign cities and states as these follows.: Eastbound I-78: •Allentown, PA •New Jersey | •New York City •New York City -Newark, NJ | •New York City (Once you cross I-287.) -Jersey City, NJ | •Lower Manhattan (Once you cross I-95/NJTP and northbound I-95 should sign Upper Manhattan.) •New York City/Manhattan Westbound I-78: -Jersey City, NJ -Newark, NJ •Allentown, PA >Harrisburg, PA
@@CrystalClearWith8BE you could also put something like Hershey/Harrisburg or even York/Harrisburg since i78 terminates at 81 and then i81. splits with i83..... But I would give i78 the honor first of signing Hershey or York...
You will notice that the toll roads in the Northeast tend to sign cities along that toll road, not necessarily where the numbered interstate goes. For example, the NJ Turnpike existed long before I-78 and I-95 were added to sections of the Turnpike.
Another thing, the NJ Turnpike has been changing their signs over the last decade or so. I once saw in their planning that the control cities they planned on using were (SB) Newark, Trenton, Camden, Wilmington, and (NB) New York/New York City. In the field, I've only seen "Philadelphia" on mileage signs, where I-95 SB leaves the mainline Turnpike, and where the SB Garden State Parkway approaches the Turnpike.
Just an update, when you get to I-95, there are a couple SB pull through signs in NJ that now use "Philadelphia" as the control city. Near exits 7A and 7 going SB on the NJ Turnpike.
I wonder why no control-city sign has ever been posted EB on I-78 just after I-81. (The next exit is six miles away.) A sign showing how far Allentown and NYC would be cool.
I-78 actually ends at Varick Street, not Canal Street. I-78 actually runs parallel to Canal Street until it veers away from it at the Welcome to New York sign.
NYC is one of the few major East Coast cities I have not been to yet. My dad has a couple times but not me. Can’t wait to see I-79 next! And you know what’s next after I-79 - the second longest interstate highway in the country: I-80. Now that is going to be a very long video for both directions. Can’t wait to see that one.
I'd sign I-287 north from 78 eastbound to Albany and Stamford... I-287 is the route people take to get past New York City without going through. Stamford is a suburb of NYC, but it is the first city one gets to going (north? east?) on I-95 in Connecticut.
Signing Newark is perfect there, as I-87 pass right next to Newark Airport, that effectively double up as a signage to the airport from that area. (also, Newark the airport is more well-known than Newark the city)
@@samseddmedia eastbound of course. I-78 goes into Manhattan, and signing for NYC is very useless for cross-country truckers heading into the tri-state area as the destination is not Manhattan. Same go for out-of-state non-local drivers
@@champan250 20,000,000 people in population is pretty hard to beat. Everyone's heard of New York. Chances are, more people are going to New York than Newark.
@@champan250 I would have to agree with Moderate Railfan here. NYC’s population is too high to ignore, and like Todd said, it is the reason for 78’s existence. Of course, local people will either take alternate routes to get there or use something else such as a train, but in regards to the interstate itself, you need New York 100% of the time this time around. The dual controls that would list Allentown and Newark to be signed alongside New York is the way it should be.
Before watching, I believe this is the only interstate with traffic lights on it. I used to live a few blocks from the Holland Tunnel! Thanks to all that practice merging, idiots in Jacksonville who refuse to let you in to merge lanes can't actually stop me. I can pop a balloon on another car's rear bumper without touching it.
I 78 Unbuilt. I 78 was supposed to go through 4 out of 5 of the boroughs of New York City. Connect Manhattan with Brooklyn via JF K Airport, Queens and The Bronx . The decision not to build was in 1970. Multiple possibilities were discussed for either a tunnel or going through certain buildings removing two floors for Manhattan. Both Brooklyn and Manhattan proved to difficult and expensive. Built near JFK Airport as Ny 878. Partially in Queens Later I 295 and In the Bronx as I 295 and I 695.
@@samseddmedia I 278 was to connect in Brooklyn and the New Jersey suburbs. I 478 was supposed to make a connection with the Lower Manhattan Expressway (I 78) but does connect to I 278 in Brooklyn. NY 878 was supposed to be a Brooklyn Queens connection to current I 295 and ny 27
This is the last time we enter a new state until the I-84 Eastern vid. Speaking of I-84 Eastern, it's rather tricky but I will give it a go. EASTBOUND: Newburgh, Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, Boston WESTBOUND: Hartford/NYC (until the CT/MA border as most of the traffic is heading in that direction), Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury, Newburgh, Scranton
Going Westbound, I do agree with co-signing NYC, but not in MA since traffic going from Boston to the Big Apple would be going down 95 instead. Rather, I would sign it after Waterbury until the split with 684 because that is when NYC traffic would be staying on 84 for the longest time and not through the MassPike. In Hartford, you go straight on CT-15 since that takes you directly to the Bronx, and if starting from between that and the Mixmaster, you would head towards the Merritt Parkway through any number of roads.
I’m perfectly fine with the way it should be, but I’m fine with Allentown at the I-81 interchange and then NYC being mentioned later. Also NYC could be mentioned with Newark on 78 Eastbound in the Newark (or New York City?) metro.
I’m in Maryland ab to cross into Delaware and I-95 Maryland is singed New York but Delaware that stops 😐 oh yea on I-95 in NC after Fayetteville it’s actually signed for Richmond I was like wow NC you actually are signing something out of state
Pennsylvania at one time had a bunch of Unfinished Interstates in Western Pa The Parkway North ( I 279) I 79 in Erie from west 26th to 12th street. In Eastern Pa the blue route ( I 476) From I 95 to The Turnpike I 276 and at the time Pa 9. The vine st expressway (I 676). And the Allentown Bethlehem Easton and Phillipsburg Bypass of I 78. All these roads would eventually get done. I 78 would be done in 1989. The curves in Easton and the residents of Phillipsburg didn't want US 22 converted to I 78. The Bypass was the express route around the area and US 22 was the local route via pa 33 and I 78.
11:18 "Last exit in NJ"? More like "Last exit in NJ *and before toll* ." You know, most road crossings across the Delaware River while exiting New Jersey (westwards) require tolls. However, if you cross the Delaware River westwards from New York state to Pennsylvania like I-84 Eastern as an example, you don't charge tolls but they're free. Also, most road crossings across the Hudson River heading eastbound, only if you're south of Metro Albany, NY, require tolls. Finally, crossing the Arthur Kill or Kill Van Kull entering Staten Island (eastwards and southwards respectively) require tolls.
Tolls entering New York City are way to high like US$16.00. However, the Tappan Zee Bridge heading eastbound is US$5.00 which is the cheapest toll bridge in the New York metro area. Between that metro area and Metro Albany, NY, the rest of the bridges have a US$1.50 toll except that the Castleton Bridge have a US$1.05 toll for both directions as part of the Thruway cost.
"I ♥️NY" has always been a New York statewide tourism campaign. But for most of us south of I-87, New York City is the most of New York we'll ever see. Unless of course, you choose to go west I-94.
I always loved how new Jersey has those dual lanes for local or express which helps the traffic flow better than if they were like normal exits off of one particular lane.....
At least with all of NJ choices, Trenton is their capital and is a big enough city. I think it's ok this time. But you are so right about all these Newark, Bethlehem and Allentown suburbs need to go. They are probably worse than Limon lol
Trenton is certainly control city worthy in a vacuum, but I don’t think it should be used much given it’s location (between the biggest and 5th biggest city in the country, which themselves are less than 2 hours apart), and the fact that 95 doesn’t actually go there, never has gone there, and as of 1982 never would go there.
Trenton would be okay if it were in an area much more spread out (say, between Denver and KC). But since it's so close to the largest and 6th biggest city, like CCF said, it shouldn't be a control city.
@@ControlCityFreak I am certainly good with your point but I'm just saying that I'm good with Trenton as well. I-95 was originally going to run through NJ in a very strange way and technically I-95 fairly recently got it's current routing. Trenton is certainly more understandable than Clinton and so many other strange choices you expertly brought up in your video
I wouldn’t say they’re “Limon” bad. Two belong as primaries going westbound, and even eastbound just co-sign them with New York as the primary and you’re good to go. Even Bethlehem is more the Joliet kind of bad because it’s next to a city people have heard about (think if going northbound on I-75 in Florida and Brandon was signed over Tampa).
@@markwilson4078 I was talking about the suburbs of those cities being signed as well, I would have to go back to the video but Easton comes to mind. I was all right with Bethlehem because it's regionally important. I get just signing New York and Newark though but don't blame PA for Bethlehem
@@spellcast1391 It doesn't matter if NYC is too far away. It's frickin' 20,000,000 people. The only other city in North America that even comes close to the size of NYC is México City. Even if 80 was signed NYC from SF, I'd be okay with it.
As for your pick of cities, you, and I, were thinking the exact same. Sure, I know about places like Bethlehem, because of the old steel mill that used to be there, but, the signage on 78 in PA and NJ needs some serious HELP. Quick, call Sigmund Freud!
I defer to you because I've watched Todd's video three times and I've actually been on this road briefly many years ago and I can't make heads or tails out of it.
@@highway2heaven91 Yeah that's fine. But the problem is that there are many other secondaries besides Newark and Allentown (Easton, Phillipsburg, etc.)
@@mxderate New Jersey is strange, because it's a decently populated state without any huge cities. I mean outside of Newark and Atlantic City, are there any real notable cities there?
1:28 - Until about 1983, *I-78* was on the expressway with US-22, then I-78 was moved to go around the south of A-B-E / Lehigh Valley cities, beginning here with the pre-existing PA-309 highway.
Going west, the interchange with I-476 (PA Turnpike NE extension) signage is so pathetic. Instead of Tamaqua (never heard of it), how about Scranton and Philadelphia!
Dave's The Way It Should Be: EAST: New York City WEST: New Jersey (until the Holland Tunnel), Newark (past the Holland Tunnel), Allentown, Harrisburg I think NYC for Eastbound 78 is all you need, no need for Allentown or Newark, yeah those are important places in their own right but NYC is farrrrr and awayyyyyy the biggest and most important place so just New York from the jump is fine. But I would be fine signing Newark and Allentown going West on 78.
@@mxderate One exception I would put is that when the lanes on 78 are express and local lanes they could in theory use some of the local cities on there but otherwise the above is generally the way it should be.
@@mxderate it never sleeps so I can see that. 8Million people is hard to argue with. If Allentown was like 1Million people then I would go with that, but it’s not so agree with what he had. Use Allentown as 2nd Line EB, then Bethlehem, Easton, and all those terrible control cities in NJ. Trenton isn’t too bad compared to those(over 90,000 people, bigger than Cheyenne, would still use Philadelphia here because it is MUCH bigger and I’ve heard of it.
@@mxderate can’t argue against that. Just waiting for the 80 episodes when we hit PA. Control cities like Sharon, Mercer, Clarion, DuBois, Bellefonte, Bloomsburg, Berwick, et al.
@@mxderate I do have to say, growing up in the area, my mom was always happy to see DuBois on those signs. In the days before GPS or Mapquest, it helped her. She can’t navigate out of a wet paper bag with both ends cut out.
Trenton was probably selected as the control city since I-95 was meant to run directly towards it along the cancelled Somerset Freeway. Now the routing along the NJ Turnpike completely bypasses Trenton but you could argue that the I-195 connection into the city validates it much like I-565 and Huntsville signed along I-65. And Trenton is the capital city of New Jersey. But I agree, Philadelphia is the better choice.l
Yeah thought about that when making it but Somerset Freeway a) never existed and b) was officially cancelled in the early 80s. plenty of time to update the signs.
Hazleton is it a big distribution center for a lot of warehouses and companies that distribute their products in the East Coast OfficeMax Amazon AutoZone Walmart cargo plastics
This one brought back memories of moving to NJ. The express local thing was probably the most confusing and unnecessary. Cool pictures used as well.
I-95 goes into Manhattan as well and I-87 goes into the Bronx which is part of NYC. There is signage in NJ for I-78 west Easton from I-287.
Good job pointing this out I was going to mention it too. They literally call i-95 to Cross Bronx expressway
He mean't even-numbered 2-digit roads. See the correction.
There is also signage in New Jersey for Easton at the Diamond Hill Road (county road 655) exit 43 westbound
It’s kinda a weird layout for exit 43 and 41. East bound, those exits are pretty much the same of where they drop you off,
Both New Providence and Scotch Plains, but westbound traffic 43 takes you to New Province and 41 takes you to Scotch Plains. I guess it helps with traffic demand, but both roads get super busy during rush hour.
@@basil_1010 it’s “county road” 665 not country road.
@@langstonreese7077 Opps. It must have spell checked without me noticing. I’ll fix it now. Thanks for letting me know! I looked stupid calling that road that.
On a side note, it’s 655, not 665
I-78 is unique in that none of its 3-digit spurs intersect with the main line. (I-278, 478, 678). As Edwin notes, this is due to I-78 never being built beyond its current terminus. I-78 across Manhattan would have destroyed some of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, such as West Village, Greenwich Village as well as much of central Brooklyn.
Also, I believe New Jersey seems to have an inferiority complex being overshadowed by NYC and Philly. Their signage reflects this by going out of their way to mainly sign only in-state cities and towns. The one exception is I-80 eastbound which consistently signs NYC as the primary control city.
Yeah no one cares about New Jersey so they aren't going to sign the enormous cities on either end of their state. They are trying to make it think like their state is important when we know it isn't.
I-80 also signs Paterson
There used to be an I-378 in PA. However, after I-78 was realigned to go south of Allentown and Bethlehem (previous alignment followed US 22 which goes to the north of the two cities), it left I-378 orphaned. It was downgraded after and now is signed PA 378, a state route with exit numbers.
I live near 278!
If they built an interstate through Manhattan and Brooklyn, they might as well have made it an X0 interstate.
We drove on 78 from the split with 81 all the way to 287 and the entire time, I was thinking, I can't wait for Control City Freak to see these.
I 100% agree about cosigning every city on that road with NYC. Crazy how provincial they are. Great video. Hope you enjoyed your vacation!
Yeah NJ and PA both suck.
Thanks!
From Edison to Morristown 287 North is always Morristown Mahwah for NY Thruway Exit 66. This is actually seen on entrance ramps at exits 1 10 & 14B exit 13 RT-28. If NJ DOT does the Southbound side correctly then from Exit 66 it should be Morristown Somerville then Somerville Perth Amboy At the exit 21 I-78
The sign for 95 North with Trenton is funny cuz that reminds me of the gap that existed with 95 for DECADES, before 95 traffic was diverted onto the PA Turnpike just before the toll bridge over the Delaware.
Lived 10 mins from 78 for 10 years and learned to drive on it. Definitely a love/ hate relationship.
Couple of fun facts:
Right before it turns into local/ express it passes through the Watchung Reservation. It got held up in court for years, so there was a big gap between the Newark portion and the junction with I-287 (a section did exist east of that junction but didn't really go anywhere). Same thing for the street between Allentown & Pburg. It was originally supposed to follow 22, but due to & thank God for local opposition, it was delayed and the 78 thru Hunterdon & Somerset countries was a road to nowhere for many years.
I grew up in the early 70s 5 minutes from 78 (near the old Bell Labs - now Nokia Bell Labs). It used to take 30-40 minutes to get to Newark Airport via Route 22. Once the state got a favorable court ruling on the Watchung Reservation, the bulldozers were out the next day. Of course, this stretch was completed after I moved away. When I last visited, the drive from Newark Airport was 10-15 minutes - much different than when I was a kid. Even with that, it saddens me that I-78 scars what was a beautiful forest reserve and plows right behind my old high school.
In addition, I-78 west from the Plainfield Ave. exit on the Berkeley Heights/Watchung town line (where the highway used to end) was almost all farmland all the way to PA. Because of the Watchung Reservation gap, traffic on the highway was minimal. From what I am told, much of I-78 is now jam-packed during the morning and evening commutes - even with the express lanes.
In short, the saga of I-78 is a reminder to me of a time and place that no longer exists...
@@johnbaldwin4952 Good story but remember you still have to deal with Bedminster to Clinton section that's why on 287 you see signs for I-78 West take exit 14B US-22 West to 202 206 78 West Since you actually merge with it at exit 18
I, too, grew up in Berkeley Heights. I remember all those years of delays and arguments around the route that 78 would take between where it ended on the West Side of Berkeley Heights and ultimately where it would pass through the Reservation. I moved up to northern Morris County in the mid 1970's and eventually out of New Jersey in 1988. I returned several times on business trips and some pleasure trips to show my son where I grew up, and boy was I surprised to see I-78 in its completion and seeing exits for local roads (like Diamond Hill Road) right off the highway. That and seeing I-287 finished north of Boonton.
@@ajankowski2 You mean the December 1993 section exits 47-66. For I-287 Northbound from Edison to Bedminster, you see this Morristown Mahwah for I-287 North For I-287 Express lanes to I-78 West Morristown Pompton Lakes
I had a heck of a time with the entrance to the Holland Tunnel when I took my trip to finish NYC interstates. Couldn't figure out how to get there from West Street via my atlas (online map sites weren't a thing yet). So I asked an old newsgroup misc.transport.road (if you're under 40...ask your dad what a newsgroup was) to get answers. Never got answered well because my trip was slated for September 16, 2001 and driving in NYC for non-essential reasons had become impossible the week before, obviously. Anyway...when I did take the trip in 2002, I still didn't get it right. Got caught in the middle of the left turn trying go get in and blocked the intersection as the light changed. Fortunately, NYC drivers showed me the patience and hospitality that they are renowned for. 😀
lol
56 Airport LOL! LVI stands for Lehigh Valley International (Airport). Who's IATA 3 digit code is ABE for "Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton".
LVI is the new name. In my youth, the airport was named Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport. We just called it/still call it A.B.E.
I heart NY is definitely a state thing. They market it with Niagara Falls, finger lakes, ADK mts etc
Quote of the video…Jersey City, the “Breezewood” of New Jersey!
Back in late January I had to go work in Lower Manhattan for a couple of days and actually commuted there each of those days via the Holland Tunnel, as I was staying with a friend who lives off 287 near 80. So I took 280 down through The Oranges and Newark, and worked my way to NJ 139 and came out on I-78 in the far LEFT lanes through that Jersey City “Breezewood” section. Since I intended to start work at 6 AM, I had no traffic issues, and left at 2 PM so traffic wasn’t nearly as bad as I’m sure it is during rush hours. It was an interesting experience to say the least, and turned out much better than this old Southern dude had expected it to be.
This is just my opinion but I would probably sign Allentown right after leaving Newark
Fun fact: The MLB on field jerseys are made in Easton PA.
The "I Love New York" logo was originally created by the New York State tourism board (or whatever it's official name is), to promote travel to New York State. Of course, New York City is known around the world (hence why people buy T-shirts with the logo on when they visit New York City), originally they made commercials promoting tourism not only specifically for New York City, but as well as the different natural sights in upstate New York. One particular commercial had people saying "I'm from (your home from somewhere in the world), but I Love New York.", ending with a guy saying "I'm from Brooklyn, and I Love New York". And of course, after 9/11, the campaign was resurrected, and focused more on New York City.
Oh that makes sense. Thanks!
Honestly, that info should be in their welcome centers, not on the welcome signs.
On the other hand, Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" is about the city.
Nice Video! I can't wait for you to cover I-287. I live less then a mile from that highway in NJ
Thanks!
I used to take I78 to EWR(Newark Airport). Thanks for talking about it mate! 😁
"Because New Jersey hates Philly, I guess." Todd, everyone hates Philly.
Lol I only been once but I dug it! Still doesn’t stop me from making fun of my Philly buddies tho
Trenton also kind of makes sense because it's the capital of NJ, I think they should have both signed
@@ianb9851 agreed
To visit, fabulous! To live...
Yeah, there are roads in NJ with the control city of Philadelphia (Atlantic City Expressway / NJ 42 / I-76, I-295 west of Trenton, and even the Turnpike now in some places) while Maryland completely ignores it and signs 95 for NYC.
5:18 I actually think you're right, Todd. I think I-95 south should definitely be Philly. As for northbound, if I-78 is signed for Holland Tunnel, then I-95 has to be signed for the George Washington Bridge. If I-78 gets signed for the Holland Tunnel, then I-95 should be signed for the bridge since both of them are getting signed for different parts of NYC.
This is a video I wholeheartedly agree with. NYC should absolutely be signed throughout its eastbound portions, and I think you nailed it with the way it should be. I mean, we’re talking about one of the most famous cities in this entire planet for God’s sake!
Can’t wait till you get to eastern 84 since I live just a few blocks north of it.
I used to live 500 ft. off of I-71.
Welcome back, hope you had a good vacation!
Thanks!
I-81 North is probably signed Hazleton since that is where a major junction with I-80 is.
Yup. PennDot does just so.
Phillipsburg has the great Key City Diner - one of America's Classic Diners.
That's why it's signed so much. I kid you not.
I-78 isn't the only two-digit Interstate highway within New York City; I-95 also goes through NYC - Bronx and upper Manhattan. The only portion of I-78 that's within NYC is the Holland Tunnel and a traffic circle at the end of the tunnel.
Only east-west, which is what I said.
Home exit is exit 29 to I-287, been waiting for this one for a while
56 airport 😭 I guess it would be confusing but it stands for Lehigh valley international airport
4:45 "Here's our exit for the Newark Airport (lovely place)"
Here’s Speedboy14’s the way it should be for I-78
Eastbound: Allentown/New York City, Newark/New York City, New York City
Westbound: New Jersey, Newark, Allentown, Harrisburg
I’d never get lost in Manhattan by just using 7th avenue until I saw the “78 - NEW JERSEY” signs in downtown Manhattan for the tunnel 😂
I never thought I’d find a youtube channel like this. As a kid in the Chicago area , I’d read all the interstate signs out loud to my mon as we drive around the city and then later along the route to visit our families in New England. Thanks for dedicating a youtube channel to interstates and control cities. I feel like a kid again on road trips.
Thanks!
Yeah I've always enjoyed Interstates and control cities. I think it's a cool topic. Todd gives great suggestions and states should 100% take them into consideration and change the control cities, especially North Carolina, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.
North Dakota has some great control cities. They use Bismarck on I-94 West out of Fargo, and Minneapolis for EB even on secondary’s at Fargo. MN IDOT’s theirs and uses secondaries on interchanges, but on mainline is always Minneapolis. On I-29 South might be the only complaint(Grand Forks is signed from the Canadian border, I can get past it as it is home to a important university, the only urban area in that region, and over 50,000+ people. It’s not like signing Limon or Lyman.) In GF they use Winnipeg which is good.
I’m glad I found Control City Freak. I grew up in Chicagoland, so all the signs make sense(Wisconsin, Indiana, Chicago, Rockford(BAD on I-355)(good on I-90 West!)
This Breezewood(Jersey City) should absolutely be signed. If BPA was 200,000 people I’d absolutely sign it on I-70 East.
The sign on I-78 East at the NJ Turnpike… If 78 East is signed for the Holland Tunnel perhaps 95 North could be signed for George Washington Bridge.
That’s probably the move.
As a resident of Clinton Township, I am one of the few that benefits from the 78 West control city.
78 is not the only interstate that is withing NYC city limits. Both 95 and 87 are in the Bronx, which is one of the 5 boroughs that make up the NYC city limits.
Thanks!
I Love going interstate 78 in new jersey and Pennsylvania all the time thanks!
Have you tried driving the Pennsylvania Sections from exits 67-71 during the late nights? That section is prone to heavy roadworks and traffic
Had to laugh at "56" airport.... :) For those who don't know the initials it's Lehigh Valley International.
New york city is actually signed before that 76 mile one. It signed for 115 miles out west of Allentown
Oh cool
Suggestion - try I-87. Yankee Stadium to Albany to the Adirondacks.
I will. Going in order
@@ControlCityFreak video quality will be great by the 90’s. Where I live is big interstate numbers
Another great one, Todd!
Thanks!
10:12 "We get 95 South - Trenton still because New Jersey hates Philly i guess" this is 100% correct lol
“yes, i drove on 78 and took 476 to meet my friend at 56 airport”
lol
Funny story about the confusing I-78 entrance, this one time me and my friends went on a 2 day road trip from Ohio to the DMV and to NYC, we ended up being in NYC for 20 MINUTES because we drove through the holland tunnel and ended up looping back around due to how confusing it is and ended up back in New Jersey across the holland tunnel again, worst trip to NYC anyone could go on, we just ended up goin to Pittsburgh PA after that
Lol. The trip I did the Holland Tunnel wasn’t much longer. Drove from Baltimore to Maine and back and through NYC both times on different routes (FDR north, West Side Highway south) but didn’t actually stop. I’ve been to NYC several times by train, bus, or plane and drove through the once, but I’ve never actually parked there.
@@ControlCityFreak dude Maine looks like such a goregous state, all that wilderness just looks beautiful, I wanna go there one day for sure, especially goin up on I-95 through the whole New England, we got to hear stories from you about cool road trips you’ve been on in your life too!
In general, toll roads (and most especially the closed-system/ticket-based toll roads) tend to view the toll road designation as more important than any of the interstates which happen to have been designated onto them. Thus you see things like "exit to stay on 78 West" because you're exiting the toll road. There's also a tendency on the closed-system toll roads to have exits named for the nearest municipality to the exit and use that municipality as the main control city on signage, even if the highway being exited onto has better control cities. All in all, the broad tendency of these authorities is a degree of denial that highways outside of their respective authority's responsibility exist.
Of course, legally speaking, those toll roads aren't actually interstates (in the sense that they're covered by the 1956 Act)... because it was eventually decided that it made no sense to build a parallel interstate to an existing more-or-less interstate-standard highway, everyone basically agreed to just stick the blue shields on the toll road.
Good point!
The first time I went down I 78, I was not a big fan of the Interstate, along with I 81. I really didn't like it in Pennsylvania because of the Rain. As time came on however, I've started to love I 78. Beautiful through both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And it's a Great Way to New York City!
It’s pretty nice!
Well, if only NJ told you that you were heading toward NYC...
NYC does have two other 2 digit interstates in it. 95 briefly goes through the northern tip of Manhattan via the George Washington bridge and it goes through the Bronx. I-87 goes through The Bronx as well. Also New Jersey loves to not welcome you at all. They also like to sign 50,000 highways at one exit as controls even though some are miles away.
Yeah I meant to say even-numbered interstate and realized I didn’t in post so I added that caption. That should teach me not to record while hungover, but I know it won’t lol
@@ControlCityFreak By exclusion, you did catch the great "unmet expectation" of I-80, that it goes across the country all the way from San Francisco and then ends within sight of New York City, but never quite gets to the city limits. I don't remember how it is signed near the eastern end, but I'll look for that next month.
@@stuartwald2395 Teaneck, NJ is the last control city on I-80
@Zack actually it’s NYC
I believe the reason why Easton and Bethlehem are signed on 78 is due to A 78 uses the old 309 express way that terminated south of Bethlehem and that 78 was going to actually use the 22 expressway originally and go through center city Easton the way 22 does but go pushes aside which is why 78 for most part lays over most of the 22 expressway.
As well at the time Allentown wasn't as big with Bethlehem having its own center city highway while Allentown didn't 78 and 222 in the 70s kinda do that for it
I ❤ NY was meant for New York State tourism. Thr okd commercials always referenced upstate
Back in December of 2019 there was a NJ welcome sign on the Eastbound median.
Canal Street in NYC is interesting because it divides Little Italy from Chinatown.
Otherwise, I'm not a big fan of NYC, too many people.
11:06 Washington NJ, the home of the late Riley Martin. Oqua Tangin Wann
The reason that there’s an exit for I-78 on the Turnpike is because the NJ Turnpike does a closed ticket toll system. The first few miles of I-78 are tolled. If you want to stay on I-78, you pay your toll and it’s free after this. But if you want to continue on the NJ Turnpike/I-95, you will pay based on how far you go
Probably similar to most "turnpike" systems as well, where the maintenance (including signing) is done by the turnpike authority, not the state department of transportation.
I-78 parallels US 22 from Lebanon County, PA to the New York metro area. However, US 22 ends east in Newark, NJ while I-78 ends east in Lower Manhattan.
I find it quite funny that US 22 parallel I-78 in here while in AL and MS, I-22 parallels US 78.
Nice!
@@highway2heaven91 wow Lol.
For me, I'd rather sign cities and states as these follows.:
Eastbound I-78:
•Allentown, PA
•New Jersey | •New York City
•New York City
-Newark, NJ | •New York City (Once you cross I-287.)
-Jersey City, NJ | •Lower Manhattan (Once you cross I-95/NJTP and northbound I-95 should sign Upper Manhattan.)
•New York City/Manhattan
Westbound I-78:
-Jersey City, NJ
-Newark, NJ
•Allentown, PA
>Harrisburg, PA
@@CrystalClearWith8BE you could also put something like Hershey/Harrisburg or even York/Harrisburg since i78 terminates at 81 and then i81. splits with i83..... But I would give i78 the honor first of signing Hershey or York...
You will notice that the toll roads in the Northeast tend to sign cities along that toll road, not necessarily where the numbered interstate goes. For example, the NJ Turnpike existed long before I-78 and I-95 were added to sections of the Turnpike.
Yet they sign Trenton, which was never on the Turnpike
@@ControlCityFreak Would you rather they signed it "Thru Traffic" or "Turnpike South" or "Turnpike North"? That's what they used to do.
Another thing, the NJ Turnpike has been changing their signs over the last decade or so. I once saw in their planning that the control cities they planned on using were (SB) Newark, Trenton, Camden, Wilmington, and (NB) New York/New York City. In the field, I've only seen "Philadelphia" on mileage signs, where I-95 SB leaves the mainline Turnpike, and where the SB Garden State Parkway approaches the Turnpike.
Just an update, when you get to I-95, there are a couple SB pull through signs in NJ that now use "Philadelphia" as the control city. Near exits 7A and 7 going SB on the NJ Turnpike.
I95 is the cross Bronx expw across the GW bridge.
I love your sarcasm
I wonder why no control-city sign has ever been posted EB on I-78 just after I-81. (The next exit is six miles away.) A sign showing how far Allentown and NYC would be cool.
I-78 actually ends at Varick Street, not Canal Street. I-78 actually runs parallel to Canal Street until it veers away from it at the Welcome to New York sign.
NYC is one of the few major East Coast cities I have not been to yet. My dad has a couple times but not me.
Can’t wait to see I-79 next! And you know what’s next after I-79 - the second longest interstate highway in the country:
I-80.
Now that is going to be a very long video for both directions. Can’t wait to see that one.
80's gonna be nuts. I'm 60 slides deep and only to SLC
@@ControlCityFreak By the time you get after Wyoming, you'd probably be at 120 at minimum because of all the bad signs.
@@mxderate Not great Wyoming Control Cities EB(Lyman, Green River, Rock Springs(that’s not terrible WB), but EB should be CHEYENNE.
@@spellcast1391 Rock Springs is not good WB. Salt Lake City is what should be signed from Laramie, if not Cheyenne.
Also what is the purpose to NJ 1-9 ??? Like it's an unusual designation
Truck 1-9 seems even weirder
The All 70s Summer ends where the Pennsylvania Party begins and Easton is probably signed since we all know everyone is going there for the crayons
Lol
Lol 56 Airport lol. And Easton is a Conteol city because of Larry Homes and the Carotla Favtory.
I'd sign I-287 north from 78 eastbound to Albany and Stamford... I-287 is the route people take to get past New York City without going through. Stamford is a suburb of NYC, but it is the first city one gets to going (north? east?) on I-95 in Connecticut.
Sensible
Signing Newark is perfect there, as I-87 pass right next to Newark Airport, that effectively double up as a signage to the airport from that area. (also, Newark the airport is more well-known than Newark the city)
Are you talking about eastbound or westbound?
If eastbound, I believe that New York City should be signed as the primary control city. Newark is smaller than NYC.
@@samseddmedia eastbound of course. I-78 goes into Manhattan, and signing for NYC is very useless for cross-country truckers heading into the tri-state area as the destination is not Manhattan. Same go for out-of-state non-local drivers
@@champan250 20,000,000 people in population is pretty hard to beat. Everyone's heard of New York. Chances are, more people are going to New York than Newark.
@@champan250 I would have to agree with Moderate Railfan here. NYC’s population is too high to ignore, and like Todd said, it is the reason for 78’s existence. Of course, local people will either take alternate routes to get there or use something else such as a train, but in regards to the interstate itself, you need New York 100% of the time this time around. The dual controls that would list Allentown and Newark to be signed alongside New York is the way it should be.
Clinton, NJ:
*At least we’re not Limon 🤷♂️*
Lol. Clinton probably has a hospital.
I hear if you fall asleep in Clinton, NJ, you might actually wake up in Limon
@@ControlCityFreak Actually it doesn't lol.
@@mxderate lol
Can you please do I-278
Hi Todd! How long did it take from LIMON to Pascagoula?
5:24 I-95 north for New York & the bronx and Southbound for Philadelphia Baltimore
any vidoes about the three digits? It's important to understand the history for those as it's a bunch of cancelled projects.
Eventually yeah
Keep on trucking.....I-79....last one to the 80s
Starting those with a bang!
@@ControlCityFreak indeed
3:04 there was a welcome sign to the left, but was unknowingly dismantled a couple of years ago…
Before watching, I believe this is the only interstate with traffic lights on it. I used to live a few blocks from the Holland Tunnel! Thanks to all that practice merging, idiots in Jacksonville who refuse to let you in to merge lanes can't actually stop me. I can pop a balloon on another car's rear bumper without touching it.
Don't forget I-70 in Breezewood PA. But I don't ever see the traffic lights being removed from I-78.
I 78 Unbuilt. I 78 was supposed to go through 4 out of 5 of the boroughs of New York City. Connect Manhattan with Brooklyn via JF K Airport, Queens and The Bronx . The decision not to build was in 1970. Multiple possibilities were discussed for either a tunnel or going through certain buildings removing two floors for Manhattan. Both Brooklyn and Manhattan proved to difficult and expensive. Built near JFK Airport as Ny 878. Partially in Queens Later I 295 and In the Bronx as I 295 and I 695.
And I-78 doesn't even connect to any of its child Interstates because of that!!!
I think that was one of the last Robert Moses freeways to get the axe.
@@samseddmedia I 278 was to connect in Brooklyn and the New Jersey suburbs. I 478 was supposed to make a connection with the Lower Manhattan Expressway (I 78) but does connect to I 278 in Brooklyn. NY 878 was supposed to be a Brooklyn Queens connection to current I 295 and ny 27
@@JessicaKasumi1990 people are just trying to make freeway planners look bad.
@@samseddmedia Facts.
Wow there were some terrible control cities in that episode (NJ,PA)
lol
NY does a good job though. Probably as good as Arizona, Tennessee, etc.
This is the last time we enter a new state until the I-84 Eastern vid.
Speaking of I-84 Eastern, it's rather tricky but I will give it a go.
EASTBOUND: Newburgh, Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, Boston
WESTBOUND: Hartford/NYC (until the CT/MA border as most of the traffic is heading in that direction), Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury, Newburgh, Scranton
Solid. I would add NYC from the start EB before the split with 380, but I agree otherwise.
Going Westbound, I do agree with co-signing NYC, but not in MA since traffic going from Boston to the Big Apple would be going down 95 instead. Rather, I would sign it after Waterbury until the split with 684 because that is when NYC traffic would be staying on 84 for the longest time and not through the MassPike. In Hartford, you go straight on CT-15 since that takes you directly to the Bronx, and if starting from between that and the Mixmaster, you would head towards the Merritt Parkway through any number of roads.
It use to be a Welcome to New Jersey sign but something happen to it...!
I’m perfectly fine with the way it should be, but I’m fine with Allentown at the I-81 interchange and then NYC being mentioned later. Also NYC could be mentioned with Newark on 78 Eastbound in the Newark (or New York City?) metro.
But NYC is the bigger city. Why just sign Allentown at the interchange? If you're gonna sign one city, sign NYC.
By far bigger. NYC is why this road exists. It goes into the city of New York, Use It!!!
Yay I-78 and I’m currently following I-95 on google maps
That will be a huge one. I'm halfway considering skipping to 96, 97, and 99 and then finishing the initial phase of this channel with 95
I’m in Maryland ab to cross into Delaware and I-95 Maryland is singed New York but Delaware that stops 😐 oh yea on I-95 in NC after Fayetteville it’s actually signed for Richmond I was like wow NC you actually are signing something out of state
@@ControlCityFreak either way, your videos are great. Saving 95 until the end would be the perfect way to end your series.
@@ControlCityFreak the 80s interstates are interesting and interstate 80 will not be skipped,please skip the short or boring interstate.
@@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2 Not skipping any of em
On I-287 it has signs for I-78 W/Easton PA, and I-78 E/New York. Believe it is the only mention of Easton westbound.
Also 1:46 is my home exit.
I don't even think Easton should be a primary control city.
@@samseddmedia Agreed.
Pennsylvania at one time had a bunch of Unfinished Interstates in Western Pa The Parkway North ( I 279) I 79 in Erie from west 26th to 12th street. In Eastern Pa the blue route ( I 476) From I 95 to The Turnpike I 276 and at the time Pa 9. The vine st expressway (I 676). And the Allentown Bethlehem Easton and Phillipsburg Bypass of I 78. All these roads would eventually get done. I 78 would be done in 1989. The curves in Easton and the residents of Phillipsburg didn't want US 22 converted to I 78. The Bypass was the express route around the area and US 22 was the local route via pa 33 and I 78.
Since those parts are done, it's time they changed the control cities on those signs.
You might as well sign Los Angeles Because Traffic Can Use I-78 to I-81 to I-40 to I-15 to I-10 To L.A.
Aw yes, the route you would take from NYC to LA to avoid all of the tolls on the 80-70-15 and 70-44-40 routes.
11:18 "Last exit in NJ"? More like "Last exit in NJ *and before toll* ."
You know, most road crossings across the Delaware River while exiting New Jersey (westwards) require tolls. However, if you cross the Delaware River westwards from New York state to Pennsylvania like I-84 Eastern as an example, you don't charge tolls but they're free.
Also, most road crossings across the Hudson River heading eastbound, only if you're south of Metro Albany, NY, require tolls.
Finally, crossing the Arthur Kill or Kill Van Kull entering Staten Island (eastwards and southwards respectively) require tolls.
In NYC, it's free to go to New Jersey, but you have to pay to leave New Jersey to get back in the city....as it should be.
That’s because it’s worth paying to leave New Jersey
Tolls entering New York City are way to high like US$16.00. However, the Tappan Zee Bridge heading eastbound is US$5.00 which is the cheapest toll bridge in the New York metro area. Between that metro area and Metro Albany, NY, the rest of the bridges have a US$1.50 toll except that the Castleton Bridge have a US$1.05 toll for both directions as part of the Thruway cost.
I 79 Next Erie Pa where i came into this world 🌎.
"I ♥️NY" has always been a New York statewide tourism campaign.
But for most of us south of I-87, New York City is the most of New York we'll ever see. Unless of course, you choose to go west I-94.
I always loved how new Jersey has those dual lanes for local or express which helps the traffic flow better than if they were like normal exits off of one particular lane.....
Yeah those are nice
9:33 Newark should be Allentown instead of Newark since its close to NYC
I think you figured it out but LVI airport is Lehigh Valley International Airport not 56 Airport
At least with all of NJ choices, Trenton is their capital and is a big enough city. I think it's ok this time. But you are so right about all these Newark, Bethlehem and Allentown suburbs need to go. They are probably worse than Limon lol
Trenton is certainly control city worthy in a vacuum, but I don’t think it should be used much given it’s location (between the biggest and 5th biggest city in the country, which themselves are less than 2 hours apart), and the fact that 95 doesn’t actually go there, never has gone there, and as of 1982 never would go there.
Trenton would be okay if it were in an area much more spread out (say, between Denver and KC). But since it's so close to the largest and 6th biggest city, like CCF said, it shouldn't be a control city.
@@ControlCityFreak I am certainly good with your point but I'm just saying that I'm good with Trenton as well. I-95 was originally going to run through NJ in a very strange way and technically I-95 fairly recently got it's current routing. Trenton is certainly more understandable than Clinton and so many other strange choices you expertly brought up in your video
I wouldn’t say they’re “Limon” bad. Two belong as primaries going westbound, and even eastbound just co-sign them with New York as the primary and you’re good to go. Even Bethlehem is more the Joliet kind of bad because it’s next to a city people have heard about (think if going northbound on I-75 in Florida and Brandon was signed over Tampa).
@@markwilson4078 I was talking about the suburbs of those cities being signed as well, I would have to go back to the video but Easton comes to mind. I was all right with Bethlehem because it's regionally important. I get just signing New York and Newark though but don't blame PA for Bethlehem
Loved this!
Thanks!
Hazelton is where 81 and 80 meet. So I get why that’s signed.
It still should be Scranton though.
@@mxderate hazelton is decent, not much on I-80. Less than 30,000 people. Scranton is much more well known. It’s a funny name too.
@@spellcast1391 No it's not decent.
East: New York City
West: Cleveland
@@spellcast1391 It doesn't matter if NYC is too far away. It's frickin' 20,000,000 people. The only other city in North America that even comes close to the size of NYC is México City. Even if 80 was signed NYC from SF, I'd be okay with it.
As always, a great video, Todd. How was your vacation?
Thanks! It was great, hopefully got some future content stuff!
@@ControlCityFreak Always good to make some work out of it. Especially photography and your usual keen eye of pointing out DOT logic that fails.
As for your pick of cities, you, and I, were thinking the exact same. Sure, I know about places like Bethlehem, because of the old steel mill that used to be there, but, the signage on 78 in PA and NJ needs some serious HELP. Quick, call Sigmund Freud!
@@JessicaKasumi1990 Agreed lol. PA and NJ's control city choices are absolute garbage.
@@mxderate Steaming hot garbage?
Mod's the way it should be:
(EAST): New York City
(WEST): New Jersey, Newark, Allentown, Harrisburg
I think Allentown deserves a mention going east as well as Newark. Agree with you going west.
I defer to you because I've watched Todd's video three times and I've actually been on this road briefly many years ago and I can't make heads or tails out of it.
@@highway2heaven91 Yeah that's fine. But the problem is that there are many other secondaries besides Newark and Allentown (Easton, Phillipsburg, etc.)
@@mxderate New Jersey is strange, because it's a decently populated state without any huge cities. I mean outside of Newark and Atlantic City, are there any real notable cities there?
@@derekcabanaw1789 I guess Trenton.
1:28 - Until about 1983, *I-78* was on the expressway with US-22, then I-78 was moved to go around the south of A-B-E / Lehigh Valley cities, beginning here with the pre-existing PA-309 highway.
It's called the Lehigh Bypass and it was completed in 1989.
Going west, the interchange with I-476 (PA Turnpike NE extension) signage is so pathetic. Instead of Tamaqua (never heard of it), how about Scranton and Philadelphia!
Right?
Dave's The Way It Should Be:
EAST: New York City
WEST: New Jersey (until the Holland Tunnel), Newark (past the Holland Tunnel), Allentown, Harrisburg
I think NYC for Eastbound 78 is all you need, no need for Allentown or Newark, yeah those are important places in their own right but NYC is farrrrr and awayyyyyy the biggest and most important place so just New York from the jump is fine. But I would be fine signing Newark and Allentown going West on 78.
Agreed. NYC really is all you need.
@@mxderate One exception I would put is that when the lanes on 78 are express and local lanes they could in theory use some of the local cities on there but otherwise the above is generally the way it should be.
@@DMAN_2314 True. Plus, you gotta differentiate between Local and Express, or else it just gets confusing.
@@mxderate Allentown is okay to use as a secondary in PA given their habits. It’s not like Limon and it has over 3x the population of Cape Girardeau.
@@mxderate it never sleeps so I can see that. 8Million people is hard to argue with. If Allentown was like 1Million people then I would go with that, but it’s not so agree with what he had. Use Allentown as 2nd Line EB, then Bethlehem, Easton, and all those terrible control cities in NJ. Trenton isn’t too bad compared to those(over 90,000 people, bigger than Cheyenne, would still use Philadelphia here because it is MUCH bigger and I’ve heard of it.
LVI - Lehigh Valley International Airport
Your next video will cover the two-digit interstate from my childhood Pittsburgh days!
It will!
@@ControlCityFreak I80 is coming up I love near i15 and i80 and i215 so I'm excited for that one!
Then after is I-80. We will be re-visiting old states that we haven't been to in a while. (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming)
@@mxderate Yep, we only have 80, 82, W 84 and 86, 90 and 94 left in the West. Although 94 won’t get much of the West.
@@mxderate Will have been a year since Wyoming and since July 30, 2021 for Nevada. At that time this channel had 226 total views and 3 subscribers!
My Control Cities for I-78
East:
Allentown / New York City
New York City
West:
Jersey City
Newark
Allentown
Harrisburg
I just figure 81 North uses Hazelton as a control city because of its connection with I-80 nearby.
Still, it should be Scranton.
@@mxderate can’t argue against that.
Just waiting for the 80 episodes when we hit PA. Control cities like Sharon, Mercer, Clarion, DuBois, Bellefonte, Bloomsburg, Berwick, et al.
@@MikeyLew47 Yeah those are all horrible choices. It should be New York City, the way Ohio does it.
@@mxderate I do have to say, growing up in the area, my mom was always happy to see DuBois on those signs. In the days before GPS or Mapquest, it helped her. She can’t navigate out of a wet paper bag with both ends cut out.
@@MikeyLew47 Oh nice!
95 south Trenton because of the old gap. No 95 north because it’s going to the same control city as 78. Unless they add GWB as the control city
GWB would work just fine. Or “The Bronx.”
1:20 Allentown & New York for I-78 and for I-81 should be Scranton Binghamton
LVI Airport stands for Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Yeah he was doing it as a joke.
Trenton was probably selected as the control city since I-95 was meant to run directly towards it along the cancelled Somerset Freeway. Now the routing along the NJ Turnpike completely bypasses Trenton but you could argue that the I-195 connection into the city validates it much like I-565 and Huntsville signed along I-65.
And Trenton is the capital city of New Jersey. But I agree, Philadelphia is the better choice.l
Yeah thought about that when making it but Somerset Freeway a) never existed and b) was officially cancelled in the early 80s. plenty of time to update the signs.
How about doing it as Trenton Philadelphia Because you have entry signs in The Bronx still using South Trenton North New Haven.
Love this stuff
Thanks!
Hazleton is it a big distribution center for a lot of warehouses and companies that distribute their products in the East Coast OfficeMax Amazon AutoZone Walmart cargo plastics
Yeah but it still should be Scranton.