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I-90 highway closing gates?

PRB

PRB

Administrator
Staff member
While driving across South Dakota today, I came across three points along I-90 that had big red drop gates, which would close the highway if dropped. A mile from these points there are signs that say “Highway closed if lights are flashing.” The gates are placed just after an exit, so that you can take the exit, and just go back the way you came. Another sign, at the exit where the gate is placed, actually says that! It says “If highway is closed, exit here and return to [name of city]” I’ve never seen anything like this on any US Interstate before. Anybody know what there are about? They’re in the middle of nowhere too. Weird.
 
Dang...

Some sort of defense thing I can only imagine. You must have been near some missle fascilities perhaps?


Bill
 
Mid-winter blizzards can make life a living hell for drivers out in the middle of nowhere. When the wind blows and piles up drifts on the highway it can ruin your day. The gates prevent idiots from venturing where conditions are too hazardous and gives first responders a break.
 
paiken said:
Mid-winter blizzards can make life a living hell for drivers out in the middle of nowhere. When the wind blows and piles up drifts on the highway it can ruin your day. The gates prevent idiots from venturing where conditions are too hazardous and gives first responders a break.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. This is my first time on I-90... Thanks!
 
Almost every state and federal road in Wyoming has such gates on the outskirts of the towns. More than a few drivers have ignored them during winter storms, much to their surviving relatives sorrow.

By the way, did you stop and see the Badlands when crossing South Dakota or Devil's Tower after getting into Wyoming?
 
Jagdflieger said:
Almost every state and federal road in Wyoming has such gates on the outskirts of the towns. More than a few drivers have ignored them during winter storms, much to their surviving relatives sorrow.

By the way, did you stop and see the Badlands when crossing South Dakota or Devil's Tower after getting into Wyoming?
Click to expand...

Yep, I was there three years ago, in June..... We came up from Denver, and then went back East to New Jersey. It was a great seven week trip. I could not believe how long the coal trains were there in Wyoming. Went to Devil's Tower, Mount Rushmore, Chief Crazy Horse, Black hills, and Badlands, all in that general area. Having lived in Minnesota, I knew what the gates were for, but my wife could not believe me. BTW, you find those gates on I-94 too, as well as several other highways there way up North.
 
Paul, I take it that when you get to Sheridan, you will go north into Montana on I-25. You should pass near Little Big Horn. The Nat park is worth the stop.

You will find Montana to be beautiful!
 
PRB said:
While driving across South Dakota today, I came across three points along I-90 that had big red drop gates, which would close the highway if dropped. A mile from these points there are signs that say “Highway closed if lights are flashing.” The gates are placed just after an exit, so that you can take the exit, and just go back the way you came. Another sign, at the exit where the gate is placed, actually says that! It says “If highway is closed, exit here and return to [name of city]” I’ve never seen anything like this on any US Interstate before. Anybody know what there are about? They’re in the middle of nowhere too. Weird.
Click to expand...

Have one of those on I-29 close to the house here, few blocks away.
Yep. They used them 5 times in January on I-90 if I remember.
What a horrible month that was... :kilroy:



Hope you stopped at Wall Drug for your free ice water... :icon_lol:
 
jmig said:
Paul, I take it that when you get to Sheridan, you will go north into Montana on I-25. You should pass near Little Big Horn. The Nat park is worth the stop.

You will find Montana to be beautiful!
Click to expand...

North on I-90. I-25 stops at Buffalo, Wyoming. (Sorry, used to live there) :icon_lol:

PRB, the Little Big Horn Battlefield is just south-east of Crow Agency. Head east on US-212, short ways up the hill out of the valley. You can see it up on the top of the hill.
Have the time, take the drive from the monument south on the Interior Department road to the Reno-Benteen Battlefield.
It's beautiful in the spring.

From Sheridan, WY north on I-90, all the way to Billings, MT you'll be in the area I used to live and patrol for quite a few years, oh about 20 years ago now.

From Billings, MT all the way to Spokane, WA enjoy the view.
Bozeman used to home. :crybaby:
 
yup. I have to agree,
the Little Big Horn is a must.
Montana will be a long haul,
but the diversity of scenery will knock you out.
me old stompin grounds.
was born in Helena, and graduated from Billings Senior.
we still call it Bummings.
I've got to say though,
I'm partial to the west end of the state.
you'll see what I mean.
Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho is another stunning spot.

drive careful, there's idiots out there.

you're almost here
 
Dain Arns said:

Hope you stopped at Wall Drug for your free ice water... :icon_lol:
Click to expand...

lmao Wall Drug.

We just had to stop there when we went to SD like 5 years ago. I think the only thing we bought was an ice cream...

The amount of signs along the interstate is absolutely insane. I don't want to know how much money they spend on advertising. You see more Wall Drug signs than cars! :isadizzy:
 
Kiwikat said:
lmao Wall Drug.

We just had to stop there when we went to SD like 5 years ago. I think the only thing we bought was an ice cream...

The amount of signs along the interstate is absolutely insane. I don't want to know how much money they spend on advertising. You see more Wall Drug signs than cars! :isadizzy:
Click to expand...
Speaking of the signs reminds me of another place,South of the Border there signs would start a 100 miles away on I-95 in either direction. The kids loved them and there was no way they would let u pass it up, had to stop. *** was located just a few miles south of the NC border think thetown near by was Dillon.
 
smilo said:
....
I've got to say though,
I'm partial to the west end of the state.
you'll see what I mean.
Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho is another stunning spot...
Click to expand...

Me too, I agree with that.
Grew up in the Bitterroot Valley/Missoula area.
Went to North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene.

I always liked Sandpoint, ID and Lake Pend Orielle too.
Hard to imagine it was the home to the Farragut Naval Training Center during WWII.
It's certainly a large and deep enough lake.
Would have been neat to see the subs.
 
Kiwikat said:
lmao Wall Drug.

We just had to stop there when we went to SD like 5 years ago. I think the only thing we bought was an ice cream...

The amount of signs along the interstate is absolutely insane. I don't want to know how much money they spend on advertising. You see more Wall Drug signs than cars! :isadizzy:
Click to expand...
\

They actually have signs in other countries too. If I remember they even have a Wall Drug sign in Mongolia. :icon_lol:

Wall Drug is definitely the meaning for the term "Tourist Trap". :icon_lol:
 
Ah, shut up guys! You're making me wanna go onto a prolonged holiday through the States. :icon_lol:

Then again, I wouldn't know where to start and what to see anyways...meh.
 
smilo said:
yup. I have to agree,
the Little Big Horn is a must.
Montana will be a long haul,
but the diversity of scenery will knock you out.
me old stompin grounds.
was born in Helena, and graduated from Billings Senior.
we still call it Bummings.
I've got to say though,
I'm partial to the west end of the state.
you'll see what I mean.
Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho is another stunning spot.

drive careful, there's idiots out there.

you're almost here
Click to expand...





Took a trip across country several years ago...We stayed overnight in Helena and then went on up to Kalespi (sp) and into the umm, was it Glacier Nat. Park there??? It was beautiful out there...And yes I went thru the badlands, and went to Wall Drug too...LOl
 
LOL, I saw all these “Wall Drug” signs for miles and miles before I got to the city where it’s actually located. Never heard of Wall Drug before, so the signs were bizarre. “Wall Drug, as told by The New York Times!” At some point I gathered it was some sort of general store. I didn’t stop by and visit the place. I didn’t stop by any of the “must sees” across Montana, suffering, as I always do, from “getthereitis”. I did stop by the South Dakota Air & Space Museum though, outside of Ellsworth AFB. Airplane nuts! You take ‘em anywhere! Lookout Pass was awesome. I’ve stopped in Coeur ‘d Alene, Idaho, for the night. Spectacularly beautiful here.
 
Closing gates

They have closing gates along I-94 in Wisconsin also. They finished installing the gates in Kenosha on 9/11/2001--just a coincidence, but it made the hair on the back of my neck go up.
 
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