I-384 westbound Exit 2
This is a new sign gantry for eastbound I-384 exit 2. I’m not quite sure why Conn DOT elected to replace the old one seeing as it was not damaged and completely functional. The other part about this seemingly preemptive replacement is that there are other signs throughout the state that could be updated first. Here’s what the old one looked like:
I-384 westbound old Keeny St. exit sign
Another example of this new sign gantry is one for exit 3 on westbound I-384:
New Exit 3 sign for I-384 westbound
Like the previously mentioned sign, the change was not really necessary:
I-384 exit 3 old sign
Last but not least, the last new sign gantry that I found was warranted because it replaced a substandard sign. Here’s the new one:
New Exit 3 sign for I-384 westbound
Now for the old one:
Old Exit 3 sign for I-384
Clearly, this old sign was small compared to the rest of the signs that appear along I-384. A few more signs like this one appear on various interstates in Connecticut, but they are uncommon. What is interesting to note is that Conn DOT has not jumped onto the Clearview font bandwagon which seems to be the norm in states that have a bit more road construction activity. The other change that Conn DOT has been working on for several years now, is that when a U.S. route or Connecticut state route shield is replaced on an overhead sign, it’s with one that is with black numbering and filled in white. Older signs are easy to spot because they have white borders, and the numbers are in white.
This seems to be the growing standard operation procedure from across the country. Delaware routinely replaces signs that are not yet at their lifespan for instance. Delaware and other states are a part of the carbon copy bandwagon too, where signs are replaced without the artwork being updated. That is a problem when updates to the signs should have been made.
While I cannot speak for Delaware, in the case of Connecticut, I think the artwork is fine. I don’t see what’s gained by making other changes.
Well, on the other side, they could had let them a way much longer lifespan like those BBS (big blue signs instead of BGS dating from the era when A-10 was tolled) on A-10 in Quebec who really need to be replaced
http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/qc/a-10/
There are several cases where the replaced signs should have been updated with new information, such as the fact that since 1984 U.S. 202 was moved onto Delaware 141 south at Exit 5. New signs continue to ignore that overlap. There are other cases where Dover is still signed at Delaware 273, and when signs were updated, they retained that control city when it should have been moved to Exit 4 (Delaware 1 & 7)…
It’s just nice to see new signs being put up for no reason here!