Florida Colored Route Markers

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18 U.S. highways serve the state of Florida. Between 1956 and 1993, a specific color was assigned to each route to aid in motorist navigation. When two or more routes overlapped, each would retain their respective color on shield assemblies.

Table from the 1963 Official Florida Highway Map showing the colored U.S. Route system.

The system assigned a unique color for each route, under the premise that a U.S. highway would not intersect another route using the same color scheme. An exception to this rule took place in 1971. With both routes signed with green markers, U.S. 192 was extended west from Kissimmee to U.S. 27 at Four Corners.

Florida discontinued the colored U.S. route system in 1993 to comply with federal signing standards outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Going forward, all routes were signed with nationally standard black and white markers. However as existing stock was used, some new colored route markers were installed until 1996.

Over the ensuing decades, colored U.S. route markers in Florida were replaced, leaving very few remaining assemblies across the state. Those still standing are generally found in rural areas of the Florida Panhandle, the Big Bend area, and North Florida on county roads or former state secondary roads.

U.S. 1 south of Sample Road (then Fla S-834) in Pompano Beach. Photo by Michael Summa 1974

U.S. 1-301-23 overlap near Callahan in Nassau County. Photo by Michael Summa 1968

U.S. 90 east splits with U.S. 1 south in Jacksonville. Photo by Jeff Royston July 2000

U.S. 1 trailblazer in New Smyrna Beach. Photo by Jeff Royston July 2000

U.S. 1 Alternate and U.S. 90 Alternate overlapped in Jacksonville. Photo by Michael Summa 1978

U.S. 27 Alternate ran along what is now Florida 17, including a short overlap with U.S. 17-92 through Haines City, until 1998. Photo by Michael Summa 1983

U.S. 17-92 overlap between Lake Alfred in Polk County and DeLand in Volusia County. This assembly was posted on CR 557/Haines Boulevard in Lake Alfred and replaced by 2007. Photo by Justin Cozart December 2003

U.S. 17-92-441 shields near Kissimmee. Photo by Michael Summa 1983

U.S. 441 travels the state from Miami north to Lake City via Broward County, Palm Beach County, Orlando and Ocala. Here it is routed with U.S. 17-92 along Orange Blossom Trail. Photo by Jeff Royston July 1997

Like U.S. 1, U.S. 19 shields were also red. These assemblies were posted in St. Petersburg. Photo by Michael Summa 1976

Levy County Road 320 west at U.S. 19-98-27 Alternate in Chiefland. 08/12/06

The south end of U.S. 221 at U.S. 19-27A-98 in Chiefland. Photo by Michael Summa 1978

Levy County Road 326 westbound approaching U.S. 19/98 at Gulf Hammock. 08/12/06

U.S. 19 Alternate and SR595 shield assembly posted ahead of 5th Avenue N in St. Petersburg. Photo by Michael Summa 1975

An older style U.S. 27 confirming marker with the cardinal direction below near Clewiston. Photo by Michael Summa 1982

Prior to 1987, U.S. 27 and SR 27 intersected northwest of Hialeah. SR 27 was subsequently renumbered as SR 997 and SR 9336 to alleviate confusion. Photo by Michael Summa 1978

U.S. 27, U.S. 441, and Alachua County Road 236 converge in High Springs at the north end of SR 45. Photo by Michael Summa 1984

U.S. 27 Alternate shield assembly posted on Levy County Road 321 northbound. 08/12/06

Looking south from the junction of U.S. 27-301-441 at Belleview. U.S. 441 ALT was never signed alone and was always cosigned with U.S. 27 ALT. Now signed solely as SR 25, the alignment in Bellview represented the old U.S. 27/441. Photo by Michael Summa 1974

Escambia County Road 4 east at U.S. 29 in Century. 12/07/99

U.S. 29 north just prior its interchange with Interstate 10 northwest of Pensacola. Photo by Michael Summa 1989

U.S. 29 assembly posted on what was Fla S-97 north near Molino. Photo by Michael Summa 1978

County installed marker for U.S. 41 posted along CR 92 (San Marco Road) east of Marco Island. 12/31/03

7th Street W links U.S. 41 Business with U.S. 41 in Palmetto. This set of overheads preceded the intersection with U.S. 41/301 along 7th Street eastbound. Photo by Justin Cozart December 2003

7th Street W east ahead of U.S. 41/301 in Palmetto. 10/28/06

U.S. 41/441 shields at the west end of SR 238 at Ellisville. The previously familiar thin black outline around the white 41 numerals on the standard 24 inch marker were removed by this time. Photo by Michael Summa 1989

U.S. 27, U.S. 441, and CR 236 converge in High Springs at the north end of SR 45. Photo by Michael Summa 1984

U.S. 41 is signed as an east west route in Miami-Dade County. This assembly was located near the south end of Interstate 95 in Miami. Photo by Michael Summa 1975

U.S. 41 Business shield posted along U.S. 92 in Tampa. Photo by Michael Summa 1975

U.S. 41 Business assembly in Ft. Myers with the style of reverse color shields. Photo by Michael Summa 1982

The last remaining blue U.S. 90 shield within Escambia County was posted on Millview Road north between SR 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) and U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway). 12/21/03

Blue U.S. 90 shield along 17th Avenue north at Cerventes Street in Pensacola. This sign was replaced by 2001. 08/27/99

Gadsden County Road 269A south at U.S. 90 east of Chattahoochee. CR 269A links U.S. 90 with Georgia State Route 97. 06/12/06

U.S. 92, along with U.S. 192, are the only two intra-state U.S. highways in Florida. The route was signed with blue shields. Photo by Jeff Royston April 1998

U.S. 92 Business in Lakeland when a detour was in place. This explains why the arrow was turned upside down. Photo by Michael Summa 1978

Faded U.S. 98 shield posted in Frankln County in the Florida Panhandle. Photo by Justin Cozart 2004

Shoreline Drive (former CR 30A) east ahead of U.S. 98 in Gulf Breeze. The sign remained in place through to at least Summer 2004. 06/23/01

U.S. 231 northbound ahead of U.S. 98 in Panama City. 07/31/06

Overheads for U.S. 98 east at U.S. 231 in Panama City. 06/12/06

Pasco County installed shields along Lock Street in Dade City. As of October 2006, these shields were replaced with standard black and white assemblies. Photo by Justin Cozart December 2003


Photos by AARoads

Page Updated Friday January 24, 2025.