Jeff Royston passed along a photo from Oklahoma City showing that Oklahoma now is using Clearview font on its signs. The state joins a growing number of jurisdictions that are implementing the new font throughout their highway signs.
This led me again to ponder the question of which states are using it and which are not. To address the issue, we have created a guide to catalog each state and whether it uses Clearview of not. Included are examples either photographed by ourselves or by contributors showing examples of the font in each state.
Feel free to write with additional sightings, omissions, or corrections.
Oklahoma DOT received approval to use Clearview in Fall of 2006. The first CV signs in Oklahoma appeared early in 2007; the first ones I spotted were “Lauren Nelson Miss America 2007” signs in the Lawton area. The next ones I spotted were along I-44 near the Red River (to replace signs damaged by severe storms). I’ve seen a handful of CV signs in Tulsa.
Some CV signs in OK look a little odd compared to the numerous ones in Texas. OK DOT seems to like using Clearview 6W whenever possible.
http://www.millenniumhwy.net/new_signs_ky_2007/new_signs_ky_2007.html
I got some good comparison shots of FHWA vs. Clearview when signs were being replaced on I-64.
Kentucky generally is using Clearview only for guide sign installations. I have not seen Clearview used on any of the smaller green mileage or destination signs.
In Virginia, I have seen very limited use of Clearview for signage on non-interstate routes.
Wow! That’s a surprise that Oklahoma is going that way with the freeway signs. First, OKC, and next, the rest of the state.
The New York State Thruway Authority has begun to use Clearview. However, its use is sporadic along the 641-mile system. I have also seen that Clearview has begun to be installed on signs for roads maintained by Westchester County DPW, particularly in Rye and Mount Vernon.
Pennsylvania certainly has a lot of clearview signs, but to be honest, a lot of new installs in the Harrisburg area have not been clearview. So, who knows what the future of that font is here.
I have seen Clearview on signs crossing northern Texas between Okla. and New Mexico. I am not sure whether it is better or clearer than the Highway Gothic fonts. I saw Kansas on the list as using Clearview but so far I have seen in very limited mostly by the cities of Lenexa and Olathe, KS. They are being tested on overhead street name signs at present. I have not seen anything from KDOT or the Kansas Turnpike Authority which incorperates Clearview. To me, Highway Gothic (1966 version) is still the best and easiest to read on road signs and Street Name signs.
Virginia has been increasing its usage of Clearview on non-interstate routes; it has been appearing on guide signs for cross streets at intersections, as well as on sign name tabs in Richmond (though those are done by the city and not VDOT).
There is even a Clearview sign in Stony Creek, Virginia (a town of about 200 people) indicating the town’s corporate limits. I’d say at this point that Clearview is being implemented throughout the Virginia state highway system, as it’s appearing on newly installed (or patched-over) signage, even on secondary routes. VDOT isn’t replacing all existing signage, though – this only applies to new signs and patched/replaced signs.