Largest BGS in Your Area

[jakeroot]

Actually, the problem with the Georgia sign is that APLs are only allowed if there's an option lane, which this example does not have.

GDOT appears to care not one whit about that particular rule. Apart from perhaps wasting money on unnecessarily large signs, I don't really have a problem with it, as there's no loss of accuracy or clarity (assuming, again, that the arrows are actually lined up correctly).

They must have had some trouble deciding on the sign... GDOT replaced the signs quite a few times in the last decade until finally settling on the APL-style.

[SignGeek101]

Another big one, courtesy of new Google Streetview of these very new signs.



GMSV: http://goo.gl/maps/Y1A6T

[jakeroot]

Another big one, courtesy of new Google Streetview of these very new signs.

I've been waiting very patiently for a Lower Mainland Street View update. Thank Christ, it's finally here.

[Occidental Tourist]

From the AARoads Gallery

The I-5 pull-through sign in the photo above is approximately 400 sq ft (40 ft wide by 10 ft high) and is probably one of the largest in the state (there's another pull through in Sacramento also spanning 4 lanes of traffic).  The only way there's a larger California BGS is a pull-through sign spanning 5+ lanes and I don't know of any freeway that wide.

I think one of these two signs, which are about seven miles south of the above-picture's location on the 5, might be bigger. 

From the AARoads Gallery

From the AARoads Gallery

Of humorous note:  When Caltrans originally installed the panels in the second photo, they had a button copy "San" on the left panel of the 5 freeway pullthrough, and about 40 feet to the right on the larger right sign panel, the word "Diego".  The offset shield and cardinal direction are original.

[MarkF]

Of humorous note:  When Caltrans originally installed the panels in the second photo, they had a button copy "San" on the left panel of the 5 freeway pullthrough, and about 40 feet to the right on the larger right sign panel, the word "Diego".  The offset shield and cardinal direction are original.

Yes, left lane goes to San, right lanes go to Diego:

[PurdueBill]

That is bonkers.  The I-5 shield and direction may appear way off-center now, but when the signs were separate, the shield and direction were perfectly centered on their own panel!  Poor San all alone there.

[thenetwork]

Grand Junction, CO:

[roadman]

Grand Junction, CO:

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

[NE2]

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

Two in Sacramento, and what's the fourth?

[thenetwork]

Grand Junction, CO:

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

[Johnny Carson] I did not know that [/JC]

And yet it's STILL wrong -- The BL-70/US-50 East arrows should be straight arrows, not curving to the right!  Then again, nearly all the BGSs along the loop have arrow errors of one way or another:

Exhibit A:  https://www.google.com/maps/@39.077915,-108.497053,3a,75y,260.74h,86.72t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sXTocx9mOrDVj1K42xbf-ZQ!2e0

[Buffaboy]

Just for shits and giggles, I think this is the most lanes Buffalo is signed for in NYS:



I could be wrong though. And if that ending lane is ever extended, we're talking 4 arrows...

[odditude]

Tall, even for an APL, on I-95 SB in DE south of the I-295 merge. It's tall enough that you actually have to take your eyes off the road to read it.

[cl94]

Similar in scale to the Delaware example, I-90 outside of Buffalo

[noelbotevera]

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

Two in Sacramento, and what's the fourth?

Colorado had one. A Michael Summa photo on I-70 at exit 288 shows an APL. The photo is dated 1987. Not sure if that sign is dated 1987 too, but that's all four I guess (the one shown above, and the Michael Summa photo I mentioned, and the two in Sacramento already mentioned).

[cl94]

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

Two in Sacramento, and what's the fourth?

Four signs in the United States. Most other countries use some form of APL.

[SignGeek101]

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

Two in Sacramento, and what's the fourth?

Four signs in the United States. Most other countries use some form of APL.

I have seen FHWA APL's in BC, meaning they have been using them since before 2006 (since BC went Clearview in 2006).

Any idea when the first APL was installed in the US?

[cl94]

Prior to the 2009 MUTCD mandate, this was one of exactly four arrow per lane signs in the entire country.  Interesting how we based a national standard on only FOUR signs.

Two in Sacramento, and what's the fourth?

Four signs in the United States. Most other countries use some form of APL.

I have seen FHWA APL's in BC, meaning they have been using them since before 2006 (since BC went Clearview in 2006).

Any idea when the first APL was installed in the US?

Going from Alps's site and AARoads, 1982 or earlier.

I'm counting one more Colorado sign pre-2006. Alps has one at Exit 269A on I-70 WB. AARoads has a modern version dating from 2004. Adding these up, we have:

I-70 Exit 269A
I-70 Exit 288
US 6/US 50/BL 70

That makes 5 if we include the 2 Sacramento ones.

[jbnv]

Mine: Northern terminus of I-310 west of New Orleans. Diagrammatic signs like this are apparently out of style in Louisiana.

[slorydn1]

How about this monstrosity on I-40 westbound approaching exit 283 in the RDU area. The first time I saw it I cringed as a semi was approaching it, I did't think it was going to make it underneath at first. Of course, it did with many feet to spare, LOL.

[Rothman]

Albany:
It's pretty close...

Made me wonder about if the new "New York City" BGS on the Thruway could be considered "larger":

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6942352,-73.8442651,3a,75y,154.96h,99.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snaqh6egKAa5qdHWQgLZSxw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

...

Nope.

[theline]

Made me wonder about if the new "New York City" BGS on the Thruway could be considered "larger":

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6942352,-73.8442651,3a,75y,154.96h,99.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snaqh6egKAa5qdHWQgLZSxw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

...

Nope.

Functionally, that seems to be the world's largest reassurance marker.

[cl94]

Made me wonder about if the new "New York City" BGS on the Thruway could be considered "larger":

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6942352,-73.8442651,3a,75y,154.96h,99.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snaqh6egKAa5qdHWQgLZSxw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

...

Nope.

Functionally, that seems to be the world's largest reassurance marker.

It is and a version of the same sign existed before it was widened, except that one made slightly more sense because it was at a lane drop. With the reconstruction, I have no idea why it was retained, let alone why they installed a new gantry for a new sign that is unnecessary.

[r-dub]

Back to Colorado, I believe this is the biggest BGS/APL sign along the Front Range...

https://goo.gl/maps/fkx47JwJ6Hq

The largest one I found in the Denver metro is on I-70 eastbound at the I-225 exit:

https://goo.gl/maps/hhAC7hmh8V62

[cjk374]

This is what I don't like about Georgia's "APL" signs they seem to be placing around Atlanta - unless I'm blind, the lane the car taking the photo is in is not clearly marked - are you in the straight lane, are you in the exit lane for I-20? This could be a possible candidate for Redesign This!, I already have a few solutions in mind...

This wretched assembly easily comes to mind:

Same with this one. The point of APL signs is that the arrows are positioned over EACH lane! I don't see how diagrammatic signs were so confusing when these signs have arrows that don't match up to anywhere!

Construction is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

On the Georgia sign, I see the EXIT half of an EXIT ONLY label...split by the lane arrow. That tells me that that lane and the one next to it exit to I-20 east to Augusta.

[mrsman]

For the Naples/Tampa sign above, it seems that the right lane is closed off due to construction.  Probably when there is no construction the sign is more properly aligned between the two highways, but temporarily it is not.  This saves the DOT the trouble of changing the whole sign, instead they simply re-position the arrows.

In that context, I would prefer they put black arrows on orange signs that are attached to the BGS.  That would at least alert people to the temporary nature of the marking.