Every time I see a Wilmington News Journal sign tidbit such as today’s http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090112/NEWS/90112006/-1/updates?GID=C1R9A4E9Z/HpnFG4+iSdxRnJNbSThsoydRJACoK+G9I%3D, I know that DelDOT is yet again carbon copying signs that usually don’t need replacing in their current form (but should be updated to reflect new information, which they will not be). All the while the state budget continues to run at a deficit and the economic recession continues to worsen:
Work on overhead traffic signs will require lane closures at several New Castle County locations beginning today, the Delaware Department of Transportation says.
All of the closures will be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., weather permitting:
Today
• Del. 72 and Del. 273 (the panel for DE 2B/273 westbound was replaced in 2004)
Tuesday
• James Street and Christian Street in Newport
• James Street and Boxwood Road (these were installed in the 1997 resigning/resurfacing project of Delaware 141!)
Wednesday
• Del. 62 and Kiamensi Road, Belvedere (which is nothing more than a subdivision)
• Centerville Road at Walmart (also installed in 1997 as part of the DE 141 project)
Thursday
• Del. 141 (& U.S. 202) southbound at Exit 1B/Del. 13 (U.S. 13) south ramp (these were installed during the 2004 Basin Road project)
One lane will remain open for traffic at all times.
I’m familiar with everyone of those locations (see links above). Sign crews will again replace the older rounded-edge signs with the new corrugated sharp-edge signs that will display the exact same information. The signs in Newport will continue to acknowledge Delaware 41, a route that has not traveled through Newport since the 1970s for instance.
What is for me an annual rant, here’s a few other examples of recent carbon copying’s that should have been updated or are a waste money wise:
This sign was installed in 1997 when the new alignment of Delaware 273 opened. Posted on Salem Church Road ahead of its end/signalized intersection with the state route, the sign erroneously signs the turn-lane onto Delaware 273 east as “TO DE 273 I-95” when it should display “DE 273 East to I-95”.
11 years later, the signs above showed their age (just kidding) and were carbon copied to the new sharp-edged sign type. The light assemblies were removed and the signs were carbon copied and continue to show the same error for the eastbound ramp. All Delaware 4 signs at this junction also display the same error “TO DE 273” instead of “DE 273 east”. Our tax dollars at work!
Another favorite of mine, this sign was adjusted in 2000 during the complete closure of Interstate 95 northbound, to direct motorists to Wilmington’s budding Riverfront Attractions. Unfortunately noone remembered to remove the attractions placard once construction was complete.
As if leaving the placard was bad enough through the 2000s, sign crews carbon copied the entire assembly in 2008, including the placard!
The actual riverfront attractions are located next to Interstate 95, easily accessible from Exit 6 along northbound. The placard on Interstate 495 was added during 2000 because all through traffic was redirected onto the bypass as the much of Interstate 95 northbound was closed for three whole months. What makes this placard a bad idea, is that Delaware 9A ends at U.S. 13 nearby in one of Wilmington’s more blighted and crime-ridden areas, not the gateway to the river that chamber of commerce officials likely envision. U.S. 13 is generally a local through route and tourists bound for the attractions are better off taking U.S. 13 Business north from Exit 1 to the riverfront, but signs never reflected that.
These signs were installed between 2004 and 2007 along Interstate 95 northbound, to carbon copy the ones that preceded them. U.S. 202 has traveled southward with Delaware 141 to U.S. 13/40 since 1984, yet signs have never been updated to reflect this realignment.
As part of the 2007-08 five-laning project of Interstate 95, the sign bridge above was replaced with a new assembly featuring Clearview.
Signs installed by 2007 were not retained, and instead new overheads were carbon copied, again omitting U.S. 202 from the Exit 5A panel. How much does each panel cost and how much of the DelDOT budget is directed toward sign replacements?
I happen to be a sign designer for a consultant, and, unfortunately, this (“carbon copying”) happens much more often than it should. There seems not to be enough importance put on keeping the motoring public informed to catch these details.
Thanks for letting me get on my soap box for a moment!
P.S. Guide signs run about $30-$40/square foot in my area.
Anytime, your comments are greatly welcomed.
I wish there was something that we could do to change such things. The carbon copying sign problem happens nationwide, yet inquiries to DOT’s always fall on deaf ears.
It’s funny how the state is so eager to carbon-copy update these signs but have taken so long to get some of the signs right on much more intimidating, congested roads such as I-95 and DE-1. I haven’t been back since January but I’m wondering if the large “I-95 South/Newark” sign over the highway right past the 141/295/495 merge still only points towards four lanes instead of five as there now are.