Milestone 285728 224810992 2008-07-10T14:55:17Z Northernhenge 5558684 Photo is specifically [[National Road]], [[United States|USA]]. {{redirect|Milemarker|the American post-hardcore band|Milemarker (band)}} {{otheruses}} {{Refimprove|date=June 2008}} [[Image:AUT 0345.JPG|thumb|A mile marker on the [[National Road]], [[United States|USA]] giving distances from many places]] A '''milestone''' or '''kilometre sign''' is one of a series of [[number]]ed markers placed along a [[road]] or [[border|boundary]] at regular [[interval (mathematics)|interval]]s, typically at the side of the road or in a [[Central reservation|median]]. Milestones are constructed to reassure [[travel]]lers that the proper path is being followed, and to indicate either [[distance]] travelled or the remaining distance to a destination. They are alternatively known as '''mile markers''', '''mileposts''', or '''mile posts''' (sometimes abbreviated '''MPs'''), notably in the [[United States]]. This term is sometimes used to denote a location on a road even if no physical sign is present. This is useful for accident reporting and other record keeping (e.g. "an accident occurred at the 13.45 km mark" even if the road is only marked with a stone once every 10 km). == History == The historical term ''milestone'' (from the [[Latin]] '''''milliarium''''') is still used today, even though the "stones" are typically [[metal]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}} signs. Also found today are more closely spaced signs containing fractional numbers, and signs along railways and beaches. [[Image:Milestone@Penrhosgarnedd 2.jpg|left|thumb|Slate milestone near [[Bangor, Wales|Bangor]], [[Wales]]]] [[Image:Zeropost-1923.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Zero Milestone]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]]] Milestones were originally [[Rock (geology)|stone]] [[obelisk]]s – made from [[granite]], [[marble]], or whatever local stone was available – and later [[concrete]] posts. They were widely used by [[Roman Empire]] road builders and were an important part of any [[Roman road]] network, in which when the distance travelled per day was only a few miles in some cases. The first Roman milestones appeared on the [[Appian way]]. At the centre of Rome, the "[[Golden Milestone]]" was erected to mark the metaphorical centre of the empire. This milestone has since been lost. The Golden Milestone inspired the [[Zero Milestone]] in Washington, D.C., intended as the point from which all road distances in the United States should be reckoned. [[Image:Spain traffic signal s574b.svg|thumb|left|Spanish ten kilometres marker on highways]] == Highways == === Europe === In [[Europe]], the distance measured typically starts at specified point within a [[city]] or [[town]], as many roads were named for the towns at either end. For example in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]], a plaque near the [[Eleanor cross]] at [[Charing Cross]] is the reference point from which distances from London to other towns and cities are measured. In the UK, milestones are especially associated with [[Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom|former Turnpike roads]]. === United States === In the U.S. [[Interstate Highway System]], the numbers usually measure the distance to the southern or western [[U.S. state|state]] line, while other [[highway]]s use the [[county]] line as the [[benchmark]]. Often, the [[exit]]s are numbered according to the nearest milepost, known as the [[mile-log]] system. Some historic and scenic [[route]]s – such as along the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] in [[North Carolina]] and [[Virginia]] and the [[Overseas Highway]] of the [[Florida Keys]] – use mileposts to mark points of interest. === India === [[Image:Haridwar Holy Ganges En Route Milestone.jpg|thumb|A milestone near [[Haridwar]] on an Indian highway]] Milestones on [[Indian highways]] typically have white backgrounds with yellow tops (on national highways) or green tops (on state highways). The names of cities and distances are painted in black. The names of the nearest towns and cities are written along with distance in kilometers. On undivided highways, both sides of the milestones are used, telling the distance to the nearest cities in each direction. The highway number is written on the head of the milestone. The sum of the distances of two nearest cities in each direction from the milestone is listed on the side. == Railway mileposts == [[Image:railmileposts.jpg|thumb|Old and new railway mileposts in the UK, indicating a distance of 33¼ miles from the zero point]] In 1845, the [[Railways Clauses Consolidation Act]] was passed, compelling UK railway companies to provide their passengers with a means of determining the distance traveled (fares were set by distance at this time). Section 94 states: "The company shall cause the length of the railway to be measured, and milestones, posts, or other conspicuous objects to be set up and maintained along the whole line thereof, at the distance of one quarter of a mile from each other, with numbers or marks inscribed thereon denoting such distances."<ref>{{citeweb | url = http://www.railsigns.co.uk/sect26page1/sect26page1.html | work = Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain | title = Section 26: Distance Markers | accessdate = 2007-04-08 }}</ref> Similar laws were passed in other countries. On the modern railway, these historical markers are still used as infrastructure reference points. At many points, the distances shown on the markers are based upon points no longer on the network – for example, distances measured via a closed line or from a junction which has subsequently been moved. Whole mileposts are usually supplemented by half and quarter posts. Structure signs often include the mileage to a fair degree of precision; in the UK, a [[Chain (unit)|chain]] is the usual accuracy. In the U.S. and Canada, miles are "decimalized", so that, for example, there may be a "milepost 4.83". In [[Metrication|metricated]] areas, the equivalent is the "pointe kilometric". == Boundaries == [[Surveying|Surveyors]] place milestones to mark the boundaries between the jurisdictions separated by borders. A series of such boundary markers exists at one mile intervals along the [[Boundary Stones (District of Columbia)|borders of the District of Columbia]] in the [[United States]]. == Gallery == '''UK Mile stones''' <gallery> Image:Milestones on the A148 22nd October 2007 (6).JPG| A milestone on the old route of the A148, close to the center of [[Holt]]. Note the measurement in furlongs. Image:Milestones on the A148 22nd October 2007 (5).JPG| The other side of the same milestone in Holt Image:Milestones on the A148 22nd October 2007 (2).JPG| A milestone on the A148 in the village of [[High Kelling]] Image:Milestones on the A148 22nd October 2007 (4).JPG| The other side of the same milestone in High Kelling Image:Mile Stone Horsham St Faiths 25th Oct 2007.JPG| A milestone on the [[A140 road|A140]] in [[Horsham St. Faith]] </gallery> == See also == *[[Boundary marker]] *[[Milestone (project management)]] *[[Milepost equation]] *[[Reassurance marker]] – a road sign with a route number, but no distance == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{Commonscat|Milestones}} * [http://www.milestone-society.co.uk/ The Milestone Society UK] * [http://www.towpathtreks.co.uk/LLC/mileposts.html Mileposts and milestones on the Leeds Liverpool Canal] * [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Milliare.html Article in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities] with further links, including to a photograph of a Roman milestone in Orvieto * [http://www.archeolyon.com/Bornemil/Milrepertoire.html#repertoire_debut Inventory of Roman milestones in France] (in French) * [http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2d2.htm#section2D46 Section 2D.46] of the U.S. [[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]] * [http://mile.stonesgur.us/ MileStonesGurus] a weblog pictures project with only milestones with an equal KM point [[Category:Street furniture]] [[Category:Monument types]] [[Category:Surveying]] [[da:Milepæl]] [[de:Kilometerstein]] [[fr:Borne routière]] [[it:Pietra miliare]] [[he:אבן מיל]] [[la:Milliarium]] [[mk:Миљоказ]] [[nl:Mijlpaal]] [[ja:マイルストーン]] [[no:Milepel#Milepel]] [[pl:Kamień milowy]] [[sv:Milsten]] [[th:หลักกิโลเมตร]] [[tr:Mil taşı]] [[zh-yue:里程碑]]