Why does Tennessee have 2 different style route shields?

[dvferyance]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields. One is a triangle. The other is a square with the shape of the state and the word Tennessee written across it. Any reason for this?

[wdcrft63]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields. One is a triangle. The other is a square with the shape of the state and the word Tennessee written across it. Any reason for this?

According to Wikipedia ("List of Tennessee State Routes" ), the Triangle is the original design. When I lived in Knoxville in the 70s that was all we saw. In 1984 the square design was introduced, supposedly to designate "primary"  or "arterial"  state routes.

[Dirt Roads]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields. One is a triangle. The other is a square with the shape of the state and the word Tennessee written across it. Any reason for this?

According to Wikipedia ("List of Tennessee State Routes" ), the Triangle is the original design. When I lived in Knoxville in the 70s that was all we saw. In 1984 the square design was introduced, supposedly to designate "primary"  or "arterial"  state routes.

I thought that South Carolina was trying to the same thing as Tennessee when they rolled out a similar design sometime around 2009.  But when SCDOT started replacing the signs on the lesser routes, it became obvious that the new sign was for systemwide use.

[froggie]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields.

It's actually not unique.  Texas and Vermont also have 2 different style shields for state routes.  One could argue Virginia as well.

[wdcrft63]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields.

It's actually not unique.  Texas and Vermont also have 2 different style shields for state routes.  One could argue Virginia as well.

I guess the way to view this is the roads with triangular signs were demoted from being primary routes to being secondary routes. Any state that has two route systems, primary and secondary, would have distinct shield designs. That is the situation in Virginia.

[hotdogPi]

Idaho has two state highway shields, and they're not primary/secondary. So does Louisiana.

[hbelkins]

Idaho has two state highway shields, and they're not primary/secondary. So does Louisiana.

Aren't Idaho's scenic vs. regular? And aren't Louisiana's changed from green to black vs. not yet changed?

[oscar]

Idaho has two state highway shields, and they're not primary/secondary. So does Louisiana.

Aren't Idaho's scenic vs. regular? And aren't Louisiana's changed from green to black vs. not yet changed?

Idaho has at least three variants (black state shape (with or without state name) on white background, white state outline w/black border on white background, white state shape on black background). No obvious pattern except the last seems to be the default on standalone markers, and the second one is most common on BGSes. There are perhaps also some newer variants using larger blanks accommodating larger route numbers. Idaho also has both state and US markers for scenic routes, with brown backgrounds.

I think you have Louisiana right. The older green markers are often horribly sun-faded.

[Anthony_JK]

Idaho has two state highway shields, and they're not primary/secondary. So does Louisiana.

Nope, Louisiana's official state shields are the reflective white-on-black. The old white-on-green ones are being retired and replaced with the newer design.

[wriddle082]

In Tennessee you will have situations where a route will switch from primary to secondary multiple times (TN 46 is a good example).  The secondary (triangle) sections will be of less importance and usually of a lesser quality than the primary sections.  But technically they're all the same route.

[Rothman]

Idaho has two state highway shields, and they're not primary/secondary. So does Louisiana.

Aren't Idaho's scenic vs. regular? And aren't Louisiana's changed from green to black vs. not yet changed?

Idaho has at least three variants (black state shape (with or without state name) on white background, white state outline w/black border on white background, white state shape on black background). No obvious pattern except the last seems to be the default on standalone markers, and the second one is most common on BGSes. There are perhaps also some newer variants using larger blanks accommodating larger route numbers. Idaho also has both state and US markers for scenic routes, with brown backgrounds.

I think you have Louisiana right. The older green markers are often horribly sun-faded.

Idaho is just Sad Nixon.

[vdeane]

In Tennessee you will have situations where a route will switch from primary to secondary multiple times (TN 46 is a good example).  The secondary (triangle) sections will be of less importance and usually of a lesser quality than the primary sections.  But technically they're all the same route.

Vermont does something like this, except it's maintenance responsibility in its case.  The areas with green shields are VTrans, and the areas with circle shields are "class 1 town roads" maintained by the municipality.

[froggie]

In Tennessee you will have situations where a route will switch from primary to secondary multiple times (TN 46 is a good example).  The secondary (triangle) sections will be of less importance and usually of a lesser quality than the primary sections.  But technically they're all the same route.

Vermont does something like this, except it's maintenance responsibility in its case.  The areas with green shields are VTrans, and the areas with circle shields are "class 1 2 town roads" maintained by the municipality.

FTFY.

But it's worth noting that all Vermont shields were the generic circle prior to the green shield being introduced in the mid-90s.

[brad2971]

Tennessee unlike any other state is unique that it has 2 different style route shields.

It's actually not unique.  Texas and Vermont also have 2 different style shields for state routes.  One could argue Virginia as well.

Montana has the rectangular shield and the arrowhead for their state routes.