Connecticut News

[shadyjay]

That sign was definitely up back when the I-91/CT 9 interchange did not include "westward" movements.  Well, the movements were partially there, they just didn't lead anywhere. 

Wonder if the original shield on that sign was button copy as well.

[TravelingBethelite]

Speaking of CT 202, I saw this in Brookfield today... 

[jp the roadgeek]

That sign was definitely up back when the I-91/CT 9 interchange did not include "westward" movements.  Well, the movements were partially there, they just didn't lead anywhere. 

Wonder if the original shield on that sign was button copy as well.

Some of the movements were.  My 8th grade Earth Science class actually had a field trip on the then under construction Route 9 extension.  Part of the East Berlin Formation lies within the I-91/CT 9 interchange.  It was fascinating to follow the striations in the bedrock that was blasted through during the construction, especially for the ramp from 91 North to 9 North.  As a roadgeek, I got to brag that I (almost) clinched that section of Route 9 2 months before it opened to the public (had to enter on a makeshift entry near Clark Dr. in East Berlin). 

[connroadgeek]

There's a CT 1 sign pointing the way to the Post Rd half way down the exit 56 S/B ramp. That's the only example of a U.S. 1 goof that I know of.

[RobbieL2415]

There's a handful of signs on I-395 that were not in the contract.  These include all blue logo signs for FOOD, LODGING, and GAS, plus signs for the "reservations" (casinos), and some of the signage for the Plainfield service plaza (which still says "REST AREA - GAS/FOOD" on some signs).  The reservation sign at Exit 9 still has a centered exit tab. 

There's also a sign that didn't get removed as part of the project... the blue exit services text sign for I-95 Exit 75 on I-395 South near MM 0.  Exit services were moved to the service bar at the bottom of the Exit 75 1 mile sign, but for some reason, the Exit 75 all-text services sign was not removed. 

It seems like every sign replacement has that one lone sign that was forgotten about.  CT 9 has the "Jct 91 1 1/2 miles" non-reflective button copy northbound near Exit 19.  I-84 West has a similar blue service sign near Exit 15. 

I'm this it may date to before the interchange with I-91 was completed.  It's a lighter green, it wasn't until the mid 1970's did they start using the dark forest green.

And of course it has the "Ugly 91" shield that makes an appearance near East Windsor/Windsor Locks. Same contractor also put up I-84 shields in East Hartford that look the same.

[Mergingtraffic]

Still waiting for the Merritt signing contract that was originally supposed to be let out in June.

[shadyjay]

Rescheduled, now it's coming out September 6.

Also, coming out on August 23, CT 8 from Shelton to I-84 in Waterbury.

[Mergingtraffic]

Also, coming out on August 23, CT 8 from Shelton to I-84 in Waterbury.

90% of the state's non-reflective button copy are within that stretch.

[JJBers]

I found a ancient sign on CT 11 near the CT 2 interchange in Colchester.

[shadyjay]

Quite a few of those brown button copy reflective signs have faded badly.  See some of the ones on Route 9, for example.  They date to the mid/late 1980s and should all be replaced.  Maybe by 2025.  By that time, they'll be nearly 40 years old.  Seems about right, by ConnDOT standards.

[doogie1303]

There's a handful of signs on I-395 that were not in the contract.  These include all blue logo signs for FOOD, LODGING, and GAS, plus signs for the "reservations" (casinos), and some of the signage for the Plainfield service plaza (which still says "REST AREA - GAS/FOOD" on some signs).  The reservation sign at Exit 9 still has a centered exit tab. 

There's also a sign that didn't get removed as part of the project... the blue exit services text sign for I-95 Exit 75 on I-395 South near MM 0.  Exit services were moved to the service bar at the bottom of the Exit 75 1 mile sign, but for some reason, the Exit 75 all-text services sign was not removed. 

It seems like every sign replacement has that one lone sign that was forgotten about.  CT 9 has the "Jct 91 1 1/2 miles" non-reflective button copy northbound near Exit 19.  I-84 West has a similar blue service sign near Exit 15. 

I think the older signs that used to just say "FOOD PHONE GAS LODGING" were more cost effective for the DOTs, although the motorist had no clue what they were getting (a chain fast food restaurant or some back woods dive bar). Nowadays its like every establishment has it logo plastered all over the blue signs and every time one is opened or goes out of business, the DOT has to go out there and change it.

BTW do they even advertise PHONE anymore (either spelled out or the little blue phone sign)?

[relaxok]

What's the latest news on mileage exit renumbering on I-84?  Is that still just a 'maybe someday' thing or is there an actual plan in place?

I'm going to be pretty depressed when that actually happens.

[shadyjay]

Around 2000, CT finally made the switch to using symbols vs spelling out the services.  Thank god those blue logo signs aren't for every exit, and are rare on state highways.  I can see their use for more than 2 establishments.  Otherwise, it seems like a large waste of a sign. 

PHONE was still used in those early symbol sign installations but is no longer used, but still seen on older all-text signs. (Vermont completely phased out the PHONE symbol as it replaced its signs)

[connroadgeek]

Around 2000, CT finally made the switch to using symbols vs spelling out the services.  Thank god those blue logo signs aren't for every exit, and are rare on state highways.  I can see their use for more than 2 establishments.  Otherwise, it seems like a large waste of a sign. 

PHONE was still used in those early symbol sign installations but is no longer used, but still seen on older all-text signs. (Vermont completely phased out the PHONE symbol as it replaced its signs)

I think it's better when they put a blue section along the bottom of a regular green guidance sign with those symbols. That format conveys more information on less signs.

[shadyjay]

It's funny how years ago, the all-text FOOD-PHONE-GAS-LODGING was posted below (usually) the 1/2 mile advance guide sign.  Then the reflective button copy era moved the services to their own separate sign.  This was retained until around 2000 when the WCP, Merritt, and I-95 (Exits 60-82) got the blue "service bar" added back to either the bottom of the 1 or 1/2 mile advance signs.  Unfortunately, now the service bar is the primary color of the sign, so in most cases, it's green.  I-395 and CT 8 have the green bar and there's a case on I-395 of a brown bar as well.  The symbols are blue, however. 

Here's some examples:

This was the 1970s-era method of advertising exit services.  Note this sign was not originally like this, but was modified to save space in confined spaces of the I-84 Waterbury construction project:
IMG_3127 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The reflective button copy era separated the exit services from any guide sign, as in this example (which should have been removed as part of a signing project) on I-395 SB in Waterford:
IMG_2462 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Starting c 2000, the first use of symbols to denote services, and incorporated into a primary guide sign, as this one installed 2000 on I-95 SB in Old Saybrook:
95SB-Exit66-1 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The green service bar, on I-395 NB Exit 2 (sign installed c 2015):
NB-Exit 02-3 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The green service bar, on an overhead (the first in the state), on CT 8 SB Exit 39, installed Spring 2017:
CT8SB-Exit40 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

[jp the roadgeek]

What's the latest news on mileage exit renumbering on I-84?  Is that still just a 'maybe someday' thing or is there an actual plan in place?

I'm going to be pretty depressed when that actually happens.

I'm waiting for the sign replacement project to start between Exits 30 and 41.  Supposed to take place sometime in 2017., but I'm still seeing reflective button copy and sporadic mileposts.

[shadyjay]

I'm sure a contractor has been selected for Exits 30-39A but it'll probably be until (at least) next year when we'll see actual progress.  Same goes for the I-95 Exits 86-93 project.  Maybe some regulatory sign replacement and such but as far as actual guide signs, anything requiring a poured foundation will probably take time.

Meanwhile, here in VT, our sign contracts take a matter of months, not years.  Granted, there's less signs and less exits, but a 40 mile section of I-91 is getting resigned, under a contract that started in May and will wrap up this fall.  It represents the last significant stretch of "older signage" in the state. 

[shadyjay]

Earlier today, the latest CT 8 resigning contract plans were released.  It encompasses signage from the Shelton/Derby Line (Commodore Hull Bridge) up to the vicinity of the I-84 interchange in Waterbury.  Some interesting guide sign changes, including overlays on signs not yet replaced or those recently replaced, a further reduction of overhead supports and complete replacement of those remaining which haven't been replaced yet, enhanced mile markers, and such.  Continuing the practice of recent signing contracts, the service bars continue to be green, ATTRACTIONS signs are included (only one, however - not many attractions in the Naugatuck Valley apparently), and the use of NEXT # EXITS is replaced with EXITS ##-## for town line signs.  Even if there's just a single exit in the town, it still gets an "EXIT #" in between the town name and TOWN LINE.  Just another sign that will need to be modified when CT 8 gets mile-based exits.

The continued phasing-out of a street name and a town name is evident in this project.  "34/MAIN ST/DERBY" is becoming "34/DERBY/NEW HAVEN", but yet, a mile up the road, "PERSHING DRIVE/ANSONIA" will remain, as will "SOUTH MAIN ST/WATERBURY".  In Naugatuck, "NORTH MAIN ST" is now overlayed with just "NAUGATUCK". 

One more contract to go after this one (Bridgeport to Shelton) and all of CT 8 will be ready for mile-based exits.  That contract I believe is to be released later this year or early next year.   It will be interesting to see if that contract will have the new numbers shown in the plans. 

Just a couple weeks to go before the next sign contract gets released, for the replacement of Merritt Parkway signage.

[jp the roadgeek]

I assume the Pershing Drive/Ansonia and South Main St/Waterbury signs are ok because 1.  There's no route number involved, and 2. The exits are in another town (Derby and Naugatuck respectively).  The fact that they are replacing the "Next x Exits" with "Exits x-x" is laying the groundwork for mileage based conversion.  The I-84 Exit 30-39A sign project still has "Next x Exits" in the plan.

[bob7374]

Earlier today, the latest CT 8 resigning contract plans were released.  It encompasses signage from the Shelton/Derby Line (Commodore Hull Bridge) up to the vicinity of the I-84 interchange in Waterbury.  Some interesting guide sign changes, including overlays on signs not yet replaced or those recently replaced, a further reduction of overhead supports and complete replacement of those remaining which haven't been replaced yet, enhanced mile markers, and such.  Continuing the practice of recent signing contracts, the service bars continue to be green, ATTRACTIONS signs are included (only one, however - not many attractions in the Naugatuck Valley apparently), and the use of NEXT # EXITS is replaced with EXITS ##-## for town line signs.  Even if there's just a single exit in the town, it still gets an "EXIT #" in between the town name and TOWN LINE.  Just another sign that will need to be modified when CT 8 gets mile-based exits.

The continued phasing-out of a street name and a town name is evident in this project.  "34/MAIN ST/DERBY" is becoming "34/DERBY/NEW HAVEN", but yet, a mile up the road, "PERSHING DRIVE/ANSONIA" will remain, as will "SOUTH MAIN ST/WATERBURY".  In Naugatuck, "NORTH MAIN ST" is now overlayed with just "NAUGATUCK". 

One more contract to go after this one (Bridgeport to Shelton) and all of CT 8 will be ready for mile-based exits.  That contract I believe is to be released later this year or early next year.   It will be interesting to see if that contract will have the new numbers shown in the plans. 

Just a couple weeks to go before the next sign contract gets released, for the replacement of Merritt Parkway signage.

According to the CT DOT advertising schedule, the last CT 8 contract is to be advertised on June 6, 2018. Any guesses as to which route will be renumbered first, I-295 in RI or CT 8?

[roadman]

I think the older signs that used to just say "FOOD PHONE GAS LODGING" were more cost effective for the DOTs, although the motorist had no clue what they were getting (a chain fast food restaurant or some back woods dive bar). Nowadays its like every establishment has it logo plastered all over the blue signs and every time one is opened or goes out of business, the DOT has to go out there and change it.

Unlike the older generic signs, which were 100% paid for by the state DOT, in most states LOGO service signs are paid for by the businesses, either through directly contracting with a sign fabricator (example - MassDOT) or by paying the state a fee for fabrication and installation (example - PennDOT).  Several states also charge an annual fee for business to keep their LOGOs on the panels once the signs are installed.  The good thing is that it's actually a profit center for state DOTs.  The bad thing is that it may encourage some states to overpopulate their roadways with signs in order to get the additional fees.

The various aspects of LOGO service signs been discussed before in several other threads, most recently

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=20347.0

BTW do they even advertise PHONE anymore (either spelled out or the little blue phone sign)?

As MUTCD and most state's policies for services signs require that a phone be available at the facility**, the need to state PHONE on the signs themselves is now redundant.  The PHONE symbol sign is typically used to identify locations such as rest or parking areas where a public phone normally would not be available.

** Although the term 'phone' implies public pay phone to most people, Massachusetts and some other states consider wired landline phones such as front desk phones in hotels or phones at cashier stations in restaurants, that - while not public pay phones - are accessible to the public in an emergency as meeting the phone requirement.

[Mergingtraffic]

Earlier today, the latest CT 8 resigning contract plans were released.  It encompasses signage from the Shelton/Derby Line (Commodore Hull Bridge) up to the vicinity of the I-84 interchange in Waterbury.  Some interesting guide sign changes, including overlays on signs not yet replaced or those recently replaced, a further reduction of overhead supports and complete replacement of those remaining which haven't been replaced yet, enhanced mile markers, and such.  Continuing the practice of recent signing contracts, the service bars continue to be green, ATTRACTIONS signs are included (only one, however - not many attractions in the Naugatuck Valley apparently), and the use of NEXT # EXITS is replaced with EXITS ##-## for town line signs.  Even if there's just a single exit in the town, it still gets an "EXIT #" in between the town name and TOWN LINE.  Just another sign that will need to be modified when CT 8 gets mile-based exits.

The continued phasing-out of a street name and a town name is evident in this project.  "34/MAIN ST/DERBY" is becoming "34/DERBY/NEW HAVEN", but yet, a mile up the road, "PERSHING DRIVE/ANSONIA" will remain, as will "SOUTH MAIN ST/WATERBURY".  In Naugatuck, "NORTH MAIN ST" is now overlayed with just "NAUGATUCK". 

One more contract to go after this one (Bridgeport to Shelton) and all of CT 8 will be ready for mile-based exits.  That contract I believe is to be released later this year or early next year.   It will be interesting to see if that contract will have the new numbers shown in the plans. 

Just a couple weeks to go before the next sign contract gets released, for the replacement of Merritt Parkway signage.

SB at Exit 25, it will add on "TO CT-63" in addition to Cross St.  Which is interesting b/c people going SB do not use Cross St to get to CT-63.  Northbound they do but the NB signs don't change in the plans.  Its still just CROSS ST.  makes no sense to me.

PS...new signage on CT-34  @ CT-8 with new BGS signs pointing to the lanes on CT-34. 

And for those going east on CT-34 towards New Haven, heading into the intersection with the CT-8 NB off-ramp is two-thru lanes with "guide dots."  Before, if you were in the left lane you had an option to continue on CT-34 or get into the just beginning left turn lane for CT-115.  Now, they have restriped it where the left thru lane goes into the left turn lane for CT-115 only.  Forcing drivers now have to change lanes to stay in the left lane for CT-34.  I don't get it.  Why the change?

[Alps]

Earlier today, the latest CT 8 resigning contract plans were released.  It encompasses signage from the Shelton/Derby Line (Commodore Hull Bridge) up to the vicinity of the I-84 interchange in Waterbury.  Some interesting guide sign changes, including overlays on signs not yet replaced or those recently replaced, a further reduction of overhead supports and complete replacement of those remaining which haven't been replaced yet, enhanced mile markers, and such.  Continuing the practice of recent signing contracts, the service bars continue to be green, ATTRACTIONS signs are included (only one, however - not many attractions in the Naugatuck Valley apparently), and the use of NEXT # EXITS is replaced with EXITS ##-## for town line signs.  Even if there's just a single exit in the town, it still gets an "EXIT #" in between the town name and TOWN LINE.  Just another sign that will need to be modified when CT 8 gets mile-based exits.

The continued phasing-out of a street name and a town name is evident in this project.  "34/MAIN ST/DERBY" is becoming "34/DERBY/NEW HAVEN", but yet, a mile up the road, "PERSHING DRIVE/ANSONIA" will remain, as will "SOUTH MAIN ST/WATERBURY".  In Naugatuck, "NORTH MAIN ST" is now overlayed with just "NAUGATUCK". 

One more contract to go after this one (Bridgeport to Shelton) and all of CT 8 will be ready for mile-based exits.  That contract I believe is to be released later this year or early next year.   It will be interesting to see if that contract will have the new numbers shown in the plans. 

Just a couple weeks to go before the next sign contract gets released, for the replacement of Merritt Parkway signage.

According to the CT DOT advertising schedule, the last CT 8 contract is to be advertised on June 6, 2018. Any guesses as to which route will be renumbered first, I-295 in RI or CT 8?

I-295 was renumbered first.

[jp the roadgeek]

Didn't get a pic because I was driving, but there's some new APL signage for CT 9 North + South on CT 72 East that were replaced as part of a recent paving project.  This is in addition to a couple of signs that were on the Curtis St. bridge that were lowered to ground posts.  No other signs were replaced; just a mix of 2000 era signage with a couple of reflective button copy signs.

[shadyjay]

Didn't get a pic because I was driving, but there's some new APL signage for CT 9 North + South on CT 72 East that were replaced as part of a recent paving project.  This is in addition to a couple of signs that were on the Curtis St. bridge that were lowered to ground posts.  No other signs were replaced; just a mix of 2000 era signage with a couple of reflective button copy signs.

Those APL's were installed as part of the state's spot overhead sign replacement project.  The 2017 version will add an APL on CT 9 SB for Chestnut St, probably to be installed sometime in 2018 or shortly after.