Ugliest route marker?

[mgk920]

Am I the only one who doesn't see the 1970 spec as outrage porn?

it's not as terrible as many of the erroneous shields (see: "acorn"), but as far as a standard design is concerned, it's a pretty terrible design.

'70 spec interstate looks a lot better with 10" numbers on a 24" blank as opposed to 12".  as for the US route markers, using the '57 spec California cutout shape on the black square would make things look a lot better, and allow for the same 12" number size.

^^
Plover, WI.



Anyways, my #1 ugly marker is the USA MUTCD 'county' pentagon - IMHO, those shields are so 'busy' and inconsequential looking that their route numbers simply get lost in the flotsam.  My #2 ugly is the MUTCD circle state shield - too plain and uninspiring.

An honorable mention is the Minnesota state shield.  During my first drive in the state long ago I kept confusing them with interstate shields and they tend to look totally BLEEECH! after they've had a chance to fade in the Sun for a few years.

Mike

[bugo]

I just think that head profiles don't make good highway shields at all.

(Unless they actually represent a large rock that looks like a face)

Or they have feathers in the back to give more room (sup ND).

Racist.

[PHLBOS]

standard '70 spec interstate and US shields.  blecccch!

Personally, I don't mind the '70 spec'd shields at all (*ducks*).  It's the PennDOT font that's ugly IMHO.  At least it's not in Clearview.

[tckma]

Looking for pictures of route markers for American Samoa (yes, call me bored), I found this thread.  And poked around GMSV for a time.  Then I looked at other US non-state territories.

Such as the Northern Mariana Islands, and their route marker.  What even IS this thing?  It is not a shape of anything I recognize.

https://www.google.com/maps/@15.1511468,145.729535,3a,27.2y,254.84h,88.5t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUaVnmWv41lJ6ZnCVO94U4g!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656

[Bickendan]

At least it's not a circle or a square?

[Max Rockatansky]

I think that I prefer the square or circle...

[formulanone]

Looking for pictures of route markers for American Samoa (yes, call me bored), I found this thread.  And poked around GMSV for a time.  Then I looked at other US non-state territories.

Such as the Northern Mariana Islands, and their route marker.  What even IS this thing?  It is not a shape of anything I recognize.

https://www.google.com/maps/@15.1511468,145.729535,3a,27.2y,254.84h,88.5t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUaVnmWv41lJ6ZnCVO94U4g!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656

I'm going to guess it's a latte stone, which appears in their seals and flag as a symbol Chamorro identity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latte_stone

[ekt8750]

standard '70 spec interstate and US shields.  blecccch!

Personally, I don't mind the '70 spec'd shields at all (*ducks*).  It's the PennDOT font that's ugly IMHO.  At least it's not in Clearview.

Am I the only one here that doesn't dislike the PennDOT font?

[SP Cook]

Wow this thread is back from the dead.

IMHO,

- American Samoa.  Seems quite unnecessary to write "American Samoa" on the sign.  Wouldn't you already know that?

- Really dislike Kentucky's parkways signs.  Don't look like road markers.  Don't care about minor politicians.  And this is what, the third set of signs for some of these roads?

- As far as stand alone toll road signs, yeah, NJT, for sure. 

- As far as state route markers, I have never been a fan of green.   

[machias]

standard '70 spec interstate and US shields.  blecccch!

Personally, I don't mind the '70 spec'd shields at all (*ducks*).  It's the PennDOT font that's ugly IMHO.  At least it's not in Clearview.

Am I the only one here that doesn't dislike the PennDOT font?

Not at all. I've never minded the PennDOT font. It has a classic look to it.

[hbelkins]

- Really dislike Kentucky's parkways signs.  Don't look like road markers.  Don't care about minor politicians.  And this is what, the third set of signs for some of these roads?

Same here. I know they were trying to promote the new "Unbridled Spirit" logo, but this is one of the few things the Fletcher administration did that I really dislike.  I much preferred the older markers, that used the parkway's initials -- BG and WK -- or with the oversized first letter, and definitely the old Mountain and Daniel Boone parkway logos. And you're right, some of the parkways transitioned to new signs when the politicians' names were added to the roads. Best way to do that, I thought, was adding the little banner atop the route markers as was done for the Mountain and Cumberland parkways.

[SP Cook]

Same here. I know they were trying to promote the new "Unbridled Spirit" logo...

I much preferred the older markers.  Best way to do that, I thought, was adding the little banner atop the route markers as was done for the Mountain and Cumberland parkways.

Yep.  While the ideal would be to, now that the tolls are gone, just incorporate the roads into the numbered system, the basic retangular signs like "BG" or "WK" and the round logo signs (Mountain was a tree, IIRC, I'm sure you know then all, were far better than the over busy current ones. 

I never cared for "Unbirdled Spirit" deal anyway.  Kentucky has so many long standing nicknames and mottos that it doesn't need a PR campaign made up one.