AARoads Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

TRIVIA MOVED BACK TO WEDNESDAY. Your host isn't any happier about these changes than you are. Sign up to host in the future.

Author Topic: The Worst of Road Signs  (Read 194151 times)

Ian

  • Regional Moderator
  • Turnpike
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 2178
  • Formerly PennDOTFan

  • Age: 17
  • Location: Always Sunny Philadelphia
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:16:23 PM
    • My Flickr
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1075 on: March 02, 2012, 11:00:01 PM »

I'm guessing that they're going to just recycle the old signs and gantry? It would be awesome if they could figure out how to display that at a service plaza or something. I'd especially like to see this happen with the old neon REDUCE SPEED signs.
Logged
-Ian L ... if you're reading this, hello!
Youtube l Flickr l Where have I been?

Steve

  • Do Not Molest
  • Admin
  • Interstate
  • *****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 6400
  • Fire Sather! Fire Goodell! Ban Isiah Thomas!

  • Age: 30
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:40:24 PM
    • Alps' Roads
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1076 on: March 03, 2012, 02:31:55 AM »

They're not bad for what they are. This thread is mostly for incompetently designed signage.

I can agree with that, though I'm sure some might complain about the lack of exit tab (not to mention the exit number is centered). Other than that, the signs are fine, but I'll miss the old ones.

The lack of exit tab and centered number is Turnpike standard.  (If you take a look at the old sign, it had more or less the same issue, although the top said "EXIT 6 FOR" instead of the more traditional "non-tab" without the preposition.)

I realize this seemingly contradicts what I said a couple of pages back, how following a bad standard doesn't make a sign okay.  However, I think general consensus is that Turnpike standard rocks, while the Atlantic City Expressway "standard" is unadulterated shite.
Turnpike is going to move toward FHWA. Expect exit tabs.

For the record, the noncentered I-276 is because I-95 will be on the left (and maybe a TO in between).
South I-95 TO, to be exact.  The space at the bottom will eventually say Philadelphia.  They are actually green overlays on the panel for now.

Well you win one contest - getting the NJTA to accept greenouts! They HATE panels on their signs! One of the reasons they're putting up exit tabs on future signs is so that they won't have to panel over the sequential exit numbering in the event of renumbering - they'll just replace the exit tabs. (Of course, it's silly to anticipate FHWA caring about renumbering and not caring about exit numbers within the sign.)

I'm guessing that they're going to just recycle the old signs and gantry? It would be awesome if they could figure out how to display that at a service plaza or something. I'd especially like to see this happen with the old neon REDUCE SPEED signs.
It's going to be preserved, but I don't know if they figured out how. At least one or two of the neon signs are also preserved. This is true history, folks.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2012, 02:35:47 AM by Steve »
Logged
~ Steve
http://www.alpsroads.net
If the rainbow in my avatar offends you, you're wrong.

tollboothrob

  • DOT Employee
  • Side Road
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 31
  • Age: 29
  • Location: South Jersey, NJ (Formerly of WV)
  • Last Login: January 21, 2013, 03:57:18 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1077 on: March 03, 2012, 05:18:31 AM »

Hell, series F can look good sometimes (though some might not find this appealing)...

Those Series F 378 signs certainly work as far as imparting the information, and are visible at a glance, so they work, but they just look odd to me.  Whenever I see Series F or other series stretched to that width, it just looks, off.  I feel the same about this exit/gore sign, it works, looks OK, but just doesn't seem right. 



No, I didn't bother to go down the rest of the thread to see if this was mentioned, but this style is West Virginia's standard, although the tab with the exit number is flush with the rest of the sign. Sorry if someone (H.B. probably) already pointed this out.
Logged
Longtime roadgeek, MTR and AARoads follower. Employee of NJ Turnpike Operations Department

Stratuscaster

  • Trafficway
  • ****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 165
  • Last Login: June 01, 2013, 10:13:07 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1078 on: March 03, 2012, 06:50:28 PM »

If you are going to do per lane arrows, then maybe just do per lane signage instead of one massive BGS.

The new MUTCD specs encourage lots of empty green space, what with the tall lane arrows and the "LEFT" requirement above the EXIT tabs.

Take the old signs, put the arrows at the bottom, and (my own personal preference) make them the same height - in this case, they could all be as tall as the SOUTH I-435 sign if done correctly.
Logged

Brian556

  • DOT Employee
  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 556
  • Location: Lewisville, TX
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:57:05 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1079 on: March 03, 2012, 08:39:09 PM »


Lantana Neighborhood, Denton County, Texas
Logged

Kacie Jane

  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 894
  • Age: 27
  • Location: Bellingham, WA
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 06:28:23 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1080 on: March 04, 2012, 12:59:31 AM »

I love the duct tape yellow-out to cover the embarrassing mistake.  (Not that the sign makes any sense when it just says "Limited Distance", but it's a cute touch.)
Logged
don'tbitethenewbiesdon'tbitethenewbiesdon'tbitethenewbies

Brian556

  • DOT Employee
  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 556
  • Location: Lewisville, TX
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:57:05 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1081 on: March 04, 2012, 01:20:52 AM »

Look Closely. The duct tape has "sight" written on it; somebody was trying to correct the error.
Logged

Central Avenue

  • County Route
  • *****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 402
  • Okey Dokey Lokey!

  • Age: 22
  • Location: Columbus, OH
  • Last Login: Today at 01:10:59 AM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1082 on: March 04, 2012, 01:58:00 AM »

That mistake wouldn't have been nearly as funny without the hasty "correction."
Logged

empirestate

  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 953
  • Last Login: June 17, 2013, 11:47:15 PM
    • Empire State Roads
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1083 on: March 04, 2012, 12:31:22 PM »

One of the signs on I-80 WB between 280 and 287 has a control city reading "Delaware Water G p". I find it apropos. :)
Logged

1995hoo

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 2689
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:09:39 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1084 on: March 05, 2012, 09:29:55 AM »

They're not bad for what they are. This thread is mostly for incompetently designed signage.

I can agree with that, though I'm sure some might complain about the lack of exit tab (not to mention the exit number is centered). Other than that, the signs are fine, but I'll miss the old ones.

The lack of exit tab and centered number is Turnpike standard.  (If you take a look at the old sign, it had more or less the same issue, although the top said "EXIT 6 FOR" instead of the more traditional "non-tab" without the preposition.)

....

The "FOR" was somewhat consistent with other Turnpike signage that referred to a particular feature rather than a road number, though. Consider the northbound advance sign for Exit 10 that says "Exit 10 FOR Edison Township/Outerbridge Crossing". A similar one for Exit 13 lists the Goethals and Verrazano Bridges along with Elizabeth, NJ. I seem to recall another one somewhere for the Burlington–Bristol Bridge.

The big difference was that in those cases the "FOR" sign was a secondary sign; the primary sign for the interchange contained route numbers and a city (e.g., Exit 10 lists I-287 and NJ-440 to Woodbridge and Metuchen; Exit 13's lists I-278 with the same three destinations as the "FOR" sign).

As soon as they announced the widening project I knew that Exit 6 sign bridge was doomed. Shame to see it go, though. While the roadgeek in me hates to see interesting stuff disappear, the practical road-user in me recognizes the absurdity of not allowing improvements. The old South Ferry loop station on the 7th Avenue IRT was similar—the subway geek in me hated to see a unique and interesting station closed, but from a practical standpoint I knew it had to happen.
Logged
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

bassoon1986

  • County Route
  • *****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 342
  • Finish I-49 north in LA!

  • Location: Denton, Texas
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 05:58:55 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1085 on: March 05, 2012, 12:36:38 PM »


DSCN1466 by GeoJosh, on Flickr

Some of our Texas-sized signs in North Texas. I'm not a fan when the directional banner or arrows beneath the shield aren't the same size.
Logged

Takumi

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1641
  • midsibidi the crasy man

  • Age: 27
  • Location: Lnrvdxkk Oblast, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:00:47 PM
    • Flashing Lights (blog)
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1086 on: March 05, 2012, 12:57:33 PM »

Another misplaced arrow, courtesy of VDOT's Powhatan residency. This is on westbound VA 13 approaching the old west/north end of VA 38.

Logged
"It's only a Honda" is shorthand for "I'm embarrassed that I lost to a car that cost less than mine did."

Latest blog post: Hampton Roads III | Latest video: VA 182

Brian556

  • DOT Employee
  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 556
  • Location: Lewisville, TX
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:57:05 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1087 on: March 05, 2012, 08:40:36 PM »



 It used to be worse:
Logged

Takumi

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1641
  • midsibidi the crasy man

  • Age: 27
  • Location: Lnrvdxkk Oblast, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:00:47 PM
    • Flashing Lights (blog)
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1088 on: March 05, 2012, 08:50:43 PM »

There's an I-95 assembly like that here.
Logged
"It's only a Honda" is shorthand for "I'm embarrassed that I lost to a car that cost less than mine did."

Latest blog post: Hampton Roads III | Latest video: VA 182

Michael

  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 656
  • Age: 23
  • Location: Auburn, NY
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 03:02:53 AM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1089 on: March 07, 2012, 12:07:57 AM »

Those I-35 shields remind me of this huge thing on I-690 in Syracuse.  Zoom out to see a wider view of the sign.  While I was looking for it in Street View, I came across this I-81 shield that I'd forgotten about just a bit to the west.  Again, zoom out for a wider view.
Logged

bassoon1986

  • County Route
  • *****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 342
  • Finish I-49 north in LA!

  • Location: Denton, Texas
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 05:58:55 PM
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1090 on: March 07, 2012, 11:26:31 AM »

There are few more further south with 35E signs probably after the reconstructed ramps and extra lanes around Swisher Rd and Lake Dallas
Logged

hbelkins

  • DOT Employee
  • Freeway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 4159
  • All bytes used & opinions given here are my own.

  • Age: 51
  • Location: Kentucky
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:25:36 PM
    • Millennium Highway
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1091 on: March 07, 2012, 03:47:01 PM »

There are some outrageously huge signs in Massachusetts. I've seen some for MA 128 and I-495 that are probably the biggest ground-mounted route marker signs I've ever seen.
Logged
I'm for the 14 and the 29, and whoever's racing against the 24 and the 48.

Steve

  • Do Not Molest
  • Admin
  • Interstate
  • *****
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 6400
  • Fire Sather! Fire Goodell! Ban Isiah Thomas!

  • Age: 30
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:40:24 PM
    • Alps' Roads
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1092 on: March 07, 2012, 07:53:46 PM »

There are some outrageously huge signs in Massachusetts. I've seen some for MA 128 and I-495 that are probably the biggest ground-mounted route marker signs I've ever seen.
Forget that, you can see them on 16, 3, and other non-freeways. (There would also be 3 on the freeway as well)
Logged
~ Steve
http://www.alpsroads.net
If the rainbow in my avatar offends you, you're wrong.

The High Plains Traveler

  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 663
  • Age: Just an old prairie dog

  • Location: Pueblo West CO
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 06:01:18 PM
    • Unofficial Minnesota and New Mexico Highway Pages
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1093 on: March 07, 2012, 09:52:11 PM »

Another creative "96" posting. CDOT probably not to blame here because this is on a road exiting Pueblo Municipal Airport, directing traffic to U.S. 50 and CO-96, which are concurrent here. This was posted after a Pueblo County road project and is mounted on square rather than CDOT-standard round signpost. I call this one, "Wind Blowing From Right?".


Then there is an all-time epic fail for a U.S. route junction. This particular one is U.S. 50/50 Business east of Pueblo. The photo makes a little more sense if you substitute "BUSINESS" for "END". Except for that second "WEST" on top of the signpost. I even went around to the eastbound end of U.S. 50B to see if perhaps it was posted with "BUSINESS BUSINESS U.S. 50", but no, it was properly constructed.

 

Both have been fixed, though the stray "West" is still on top of the 50/50B signpost.





Logged
"Tongue-tied and twisted; just an earth-bound misfit, I."

formulanone

  • Expressway
  • **
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1194
  • Runs the voodoo down

  • Age: 39
  • Location: Sbarro® Oblast ✈ FLL
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 07:46:33 PM
    • My site, in the middle of the street.
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1094 on: March 08, 2012, 01:06:35 AM »

There's an I-95 assembly like that here.

There's a bunch of them in South Florida popping up around I-95 as well. They look like Master Billy Quizboy.

North Carolina was also bitten by the bug:



Logged

Takumi

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1641
  • midsibidi the crasy man

  • Age: 27
  • Location: Lnrvdxkk Oblast, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:00:47 PM
    • Flashing Lights (blog)
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1095 on: March 08, 2012, 09:45:22 AM »

Actually, I was initially referring to an interstate trailblazer with white banners, but there are a few oversized I-95 shields here too. (I think one of them was posted well upthread.) One was even replaced with a smaller shield, but in the same central spot on the post, so there's a sizable gap between the North banner and the shield.

Oh, and +10 points for the Master Billy Quizboy reference. I was a huge Venture Brothers fan in college.
Logged
"It's only a Honda" is shorthand for "I'm embarrassed that I lost to a car that cost less than mine did."

Latest blog post: Hampton Roads III | Latest video: VA 182

agentsteel53

  • invisible hand
  • Site Contributor
  • Likes The Forum Way, Way Too Much
  • **
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 12476
  • long live button copy!

  • Age: 32
  • Location: San Diego, CA
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 10:28:09 PM
    • AARoads Shield Gallery
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1096 on: March 08, 2012, 03:19:25 PM »

that is the worst of road signs for a variety of reasons, none of which are the size - the hideous '70 neutered spec, the utterly useless I-73 number...
Logged

Takumi

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1641
  • midsibidi the crasy man

  • Age: 27
  • Location: Lnrvdxkk Oblast, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:00:47 PM
    • Flashing Lights (blog)
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1097 on: March 13, 2012, 05:23:40 PM »

This is all kinds of weird.



There's nothing really wrong with this sign, per se, but considering the road curves to the left here, and it's on VA 40 Business, it's completely unnecessary.

Logged
"It's only a Honda" is shorthand for "I'm embarrassed that I lost to a car that cost less than mine did."

Latest blog post: Hampton Roads III | Latest video: VA 182

WillWeaverRVA

  • State Highway
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 938
  • Age: 28
  • Location: Lake Unerie, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:35:10 PM
    • WillWeaverRVA Photography
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1098 on: March 13, 2012, 11:45:47 PM »

This is all kinds of weird.



I'm assuming that's a temporary sign to replace the overhead that fell in the same place. I'm guessing there was an I-95 reassurance marker attached to the overhead, and VDOT decided to just toss it on the BGS for no apparent reason...
Logged
Will Weaver
WillWeaverRVA Photography | Twitter

"But how will the oxen know where to drown if we renumber the Oregon Trail?" - NE2

Takumi

  • Turnpike
  • ***
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1641
  • midsibidi the crasy man

  • Age: 27
  • Location: Lnrvdxkk Oblast, Alanland
  • Last Login: June 18, 2013, 11:00:47 PM
    • Flashing Lights (blog)
Re: The Worst of Road Signs
« Reply #1099 on: March 13, 2012, 11:59:00 PM »

According to this photo from Alex that's the case. The exit "tab" was what I thought was worst about it.
Logged
"It's only a Honda" is shorthand for "I'm embarrassed that I lost to a car that cost less than mine did."

Latest blog post: Hampton Roads III | Latest video: VA 182
 


Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.