Unique, Odd, or Interesting Signs aka The good, the bad, and the ugly

[roadman]

TX 93/FM 3527 BGS on the right was added to the gantry circa 2013.

Thus doubling the loading on the structure (cringes).

[J N Winkler]

Thus doubling the loading on the structure (cringes).

TxDOT sign elevation sheets often have outlines marked "Future Sign."  So it is likely this structure was designed for the load it currently carries even if the sign on left was added later.

As for whether that is the case for this structure--dunno.  I'd have to find the control section before I could consult my TxDOT signing sheet collection (which has well over 20,000 sign panel detail and sign elevation sheets at this point).  It likely won't have documentation that is on point if the signs and structure were erected by state forces rather than through contract.

[Scott5114]

TxDOT regularly mounts two signs on cantilever structures, so I'm guessing their standard structure design is built to support that.

[J N Winkler]

I am leaning against any part of this cantilever sign assembly having been erected by contract.

StreetView showing it faces southbound traffic on I-369/US 59 north of SH 93 interchange

The relevant state highway control sections in the area are 0218-02, 0218-01, and 2050-03.  Nothing relevant turns up for plan sheets filed under those control sections.  This is all in TxDOT's Atlanta district, numbered 19, so one or both signs could have been erected under a districtwide sign replacement contract with a control section fitting the 0919-XX mask (XX usually 00).  Again, I see no relevant plan sheets.  This leaves two other options:  (1) filed under another control section (likely since the Atlanta district is semi-famous in this community for using oversized independent-mount FM shields as guide sign shields, and none of those plans is filed under an 0919-XX mask--most of them were installed as part of CCSJ 0046-03-031); or (2) I don't have the plans in my TxDOT signing collection because they were not pattern-accurate (happens with TxDOT, though thankfully not often).

[KEVIN_224]

https://goo.gl/maps/EJMf48hAkAhjzqXH6

It was still readable in this older shot.

[D-Dey65]

https://goo.gl/maps/EJMf48hAkAhjzqXH6

It was still readable in this older shot.

I see that. But that's not so good if the lettering can be washed out like that in four months.

[TBKS1]

Hi, might as well provide this.

Interstate 44 WB in Pacific, MO. Taken on June 2nd, 2019.

[ipeters61]

I've been going through a list of locations today at work and noticed that the "11TH" on this street blade feels off.  Maybe a bit more space between the second "1" and the "T"?  https://goo.gl/maps/Z3FFkuVMWa39CiWv9

[odditude]

I've been going through a list of locations today at work and noticed that the "11TH" on this street blade feels off.  Maybe a bit more space between the second "1" and the "T"?  https://goo.gl/maps/Z3FFkuVMWa39CiWv9

ordinals are normally superscript (e.g. 11^TH).

[Amtrakprod]

Look at this sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3617227,-71.1454869,3a,27.9y,342.1h,95.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9L4KnVMQ7acl3yTF91u9xA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
"Right Turn Yield on Green"

[ipeters61]

Here's a very interesting "ALL TRAFFIC" sign (former "Reduce Speed"?) around Wilmington DE: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7391271,-75.580771,3a,24.1y,333.82h,85.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOef7lP6ckrmhifo5V42Amg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

Look at this sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3617227,-71.1454869,3a,27.9y,342.1h,95.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9L4KnVMQ7acl3yTF91u9xA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
"Right Turn Yield on Green"

Wow. Might as well be a yield sign. Not sure that signal is permissible anyway.

[Brian556]

Yellow Rectangle SLOW sign for road work on county road in KS

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9725469,-97.6121187,3a,25.2y,270.52h,86.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSZRDQh0-0dEt8wzBodMyVA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DSZRDQh0-0dEt8wzBodMyVA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D173.59047%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

[Bruce]

Red street blades at the City of Seattle's Joint Training Facility for police and firefighters.

[jakeroot]

Red street blades at the City of Seattle's Joint Training Facility for police and firefighters.

https://i.imgur.com/dIxNJpq.jpg

With complementary fake street names! Nice find.

[Jovet]

In the northern frontier tier states like Nebraska and South Dakota, there are what are called brand inspection areas.  Cattle based in these areas that are sold or transferred must (with certain exceptions) have their brands inspected by state officials.  There have been state line signs to indicate these requirements but not how to fulfill them, so they constitute classic examples of cryptic signing.

I think it's more of a "if you're in the cattle business you know what it's talking about; otherwise pay no mind."  The obvious goal is to prevent selling or buying stolen ("hot") livestock.
I could have sworn we had a "Entering Brand Inspection Area" sign, but can't I find any evidence of one.  I can only find a "Leaving" sign, which is designated as R19-2.
Leaving:  https://goo.gl/maps/PiBYZxcnun5ppXL58  #2: https://goo.gl/maps/wrwQxtTx1gMBFN718
On a separate note, I've always admired the boldness of this standard Nebraska sign (W25-11):  https://agronomy.unl.edu/faculty/Twidwell/redcedar/rangfiressign.png
The page with that image (it isn't mine) indicates these signs have been removed. That's too bad.  https://agronomy.unl.edu/eastern-redcedar-science-literacy-project/science-literacy-action

[D-Dey65]

Red street blades at the City of Seattle's Joint Training Facility for police and firefighters.

I saw one of those in a park in Dade City, Florida where they had a Santa Claus shack for Christmas.

[1995hoo]

Never seen this before. Spotted it this morning at the corner of Spadina Road and MacPherson Avenue in Toronto while we were walking from the subway stop to Casa Loma.




Later in the afternoon I saw this admonition at the corner of Bay and Wellington downtown. The traffic coming the other way gets a green turn arrow before the pedestrian walk signal comes on, so that's probably the reason for the sign. Still not one I'd seen before.

[ErmineNotyours]

Neon blankout sign, at the west end of the I-90 transit lanes in Seattle, 2014.  The ramp used to be reversible, but Metro wanted all-day access to the Rainier Avenue Freeway Station, and it became two-way transit only.  You can barely see neon elements for "BUS CARPOOL" that used to light up green when it was open as a reversible lane.  The sign and ramp has been and is being removed to convert the lanes to light rail use, and blankout signs continue to be made only in conventional LEDs.

[chays]

I've never seen this type of arrow before.  This is at the WB SR-408 ramp onto EB I-4 in downtown Orlando.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/GMv7U3L9yHgmqBxQ9
NYSTA signs NY 17 with a directional header, but does not for NY 59.   Yes, I know NJ 17 south departs from another interchange nearby (the same road) so this is to avoid confusion for motorists as its intended for all routes in this normally to be without directions where only one direction heads away from the signed ramp as it really is here too.  However, it still looks interesting here to see it signed this way.

[MNHighwayMan]

The city of Des Moines recently completed a project on E McKinley Ave near SE 14th St. At each end of the redone roadway were one of these signs:



What is it about the new pavement that requires less salt? Also seems a little odd that they're posting signs about road salt, when it's nearly July.

[Big John]

Speed limit 25 not 35: https://www.wbay.com/video?vid=511986612

[vdeane]

On I-390 north at exit 20B for I-490 west, an overhead speed advisory warning sign was installed.
http://nysroads.com/photos.php?route=i390&state=NY&file=102_0132.JPG

[wanderer2575]

The city of Des Moines recently completed a project on E McKinley Ave near SE 14th St. At each end of the redone roadway were one of these signs:



What is it about the new pavement that requires less salt? Also seems a little odd that they're posting signs about road salt, when it's nearly July.

I think it's not that it requires less salt but rather the hope to reduce corrosion and failure of the concrete until it's had more time (I'm talking a few years) to continue curing and gaining strength.  That sign could be up for a few years, so might as well post it now as part of the project.