News:

Thank you for your patience during the Forum downtime while we upgraded the software. Welcome back and see this thread for some new features and other changes to the forum.

Main Menu

Old Washington Signs Left?

Started by thefraze_1020, May 18, 2015, 03:21:47 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

thefraze_1020

It seems that WSDOT is likes to replace road signs frequently, but what examples of unusually old signs remain on state-maintained highways in Washington state?

This can also include state-made signs on former state routes.

To start, I can think of the "Exit 199" advance sign on SB I-5 in Marysville:

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.069403,-122.185026,3a,75y,222.8h,87.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbveCX3WlF9gv7fQLgnyOkg!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en

...and an old mileage sign on former US395 north of Eltopia:

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.461242,-119.004186,3a,75y,111.75h,88.24t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srIRRa1YNkT8EY3GreeT9Rw!2e0?hl=en
Alright, this is how it's gonna be!


TEG24601

WSDOT is pathological about their sign replacement... except for those that actually need it.


There were some old two-piece signs on SR 20 on Whidbey until last summer, and a few LGS for SR 525 both on Whidbey and on the Speedway, but nothing too old since.


Of course we are talking about the same WSDOT that has never bothered to replace the US 99 Sign to the Viaduct, nor tells cities like Vancouver to stop calling a street "Hwy 99".
They said take a left at the fork in the road.  I didn't think they literally meant a fork, until plain as day, there was a fork sticking out of the road at a junction.

thefraze_1020

What irks me is that WSDOT takes old signs down all the time, yet it is illegal according to state law to purchase retired road signs, even if they are in a scrap yard.
Alright, this is how it's gonna be!

corco

#3
These are probably my favorites of the oldies- certainly the only button copy left on an interstate in WA.
http://www.corcohighways.org/highways/blog/?p=295

thefraze_1020

Classic.

I liked the signs on the off-ramp at the 85th St exit of I-5 SB near Northgate, the old button copy ones, before they were replaced.
Alright, this is how it's gonna be!

jakeroot

Quote from: corco on May 18, 2015, 04:19:45 PM
These are probably my favorites of the oldies
http://www.corcohighways.org/highways/blog/?p=295

I was just going to post those. I drive under them at least once a day. They have to be the oldest in the system. And amazingly, they're still there, but once the HOV project is done through there, they'll be gone.

If not, Exit 27 off I-205 in Vancouver is pretty damn old. It even has button copy: https://goo.gl/S0j7pe

thefraze_1020

Does anybody know of any WSDOT relics orphaned on former state highways?
Alright, this is how it's gonna be!

thefraze_1020

Alright, this is how it's gonna be!

jakeroot

There are also these three button copy sign sets in Puyallup:




jakeroot

Another old button copy sign, this one in Tacoma just west of the Portland Ave/I-5 interchange, facing east:



As well, there is this old sign outside Puyallup along Canyon Road at its junction with SR-512. State named shield is obviously the coolest part about the sign:



jakeroot

Quote from: thefraze_1020 on May 20, 2015, 11:10:15 AM
...and the old "US97" sign in Ellensburg:

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.010329,-120.577479,3a,75y,271.01h,79.42t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sZRR73E3ZmIKbJvkCjhflsQ!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en

I always liked that sign, particularly because of the rounded corners. I don't think WSDOT had done it before this sign, and hasn't done it since. Shame. I quite like it.

Anyways, why did they cover the US-97 shield? Isn't that still the route to Wenatchee?


jakeroot

Quote from: KEK Inc. on May 21, 2015, 02:26:29 AM
Vancouver has a few rounded signs still.  They're not button-copy, though.

Still fantastic. Too bad they stopped this practice. I quite like it.

Kacie Jane

Quote from: corco on May 18, 2015, 04:19:45 PM
These are probably my favorites of the oldies- certainly the only button copy left on an interstate in WA.
http://www.corcohighways.org/highways/blog/?p=295

Nope, though I wasn't aware of Jake's I-205 example.  In addition to the 199 advance in the OP (I can't get Street View close enough to make out the button copy, but I swear to you it is), there's also a weigh station sign on I-5 SB south of Everett.

Quote from: TEG24601 on May 18, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
...nor tells cities like Vancouver to stop calling a street "Hwy 99".

Why would WSDOT have any control over what the city of Vancouver names their streets?  Granted it would be nice if they included the word "Old" as Skagit County does, but that's not something you can fault WSDOT for.

TEG24601

Quote from: Kacie Jane on May 21, 2015, 12:06:02 PM

Quote from: TEG24601 on May 18, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
...nor tells cities like Vancouver to stop calling a street "Hwy 99".

Why would WSDOT have any control over what the city of Vancouver names their streets?  Granted it would be nice if they included the word "Old" as Skagit County does, but that's not something you can fault WSDOT for.


Actually, in most states is isn't legal to name a roadway "Hwy XX" without that actually being the designation, and when the designation is removed, the name must change.  Vancouver has been stubbornly holding onto that Hwy 99 name for nearly 50 years, and it is time they renamed the road.
They said take a left at the fork in the road.  I didn't think they literally meant a fork, until plain as day, there was a fork sticking out of the road at a junction.

corco

#16
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 12:14:34 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on May 21, 2015, 12:06:02 PM

Quote from: TEG24601 on May 18, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
...nor tells cities like Vancouver to stop calling a street "Hwy 99".

Why would WSDOT have any control over what the city of Vancouver names their streets?  Granted it would be nice if they included the word "Old" as Skagit County does, but that's not something you can fault WSDOT for.


Actually, in most states is isn't legal to name a roadway "Hwy XX" without that actually being the designation, and when the designation is removed, the name must change.  Vancouver has been stubbornly holding onto that Hwy 99 name for nearly 50 years, and it is time they renamed the road.
What? In what state is that illegal? Street names are usually a power divested to local government from the state, are often tied to a 911 or public safety type ordinance, which usually (going off NENA standards) just require the street name to be legibly posted and not duplicate, so if you moved 99 onto the freeway, it'd possibly be illegal (depending on local ordinance) to keep calling the surface street 99, but if it's decommissioned entirely I'd be surprised to see that.

Bickendan

I actually like that Vancouver and Clark County keep calling former US 99 'Highway 99'.

jakeroot

Quote from: Bickendan on May 22, 2015, 12:57:55 PM
I actually like that Vancouver and Clark County keep calling former US 99 'Highway 99'.

I prefer the alternative "Old Highway 99".

KEK Inc.

There's no shield or anything associated with the Hwy 99 in Salmon Creek and Hazel Dell.
Take the road less traveled.

noelbotevera

Quote from: corco on May 18, 2015, 04:19:45 PM
These are probably my favorites of the oldies- certainly the only button copy left on an interstate in WA.
http://www.corcohighways.org/highways/blog/?p=295
what's SR 167 patched over?

corco

Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 11:22:42 PM
Quote from: corco on May 18, 2015, 04:19:45 PM
These are probably my favorites of the oldies- certainly the only button copy left on an interstate in WA.
http://www.corcohighways.org/highways/blog/?p=295
what's SR 167 patched over?

SR 410

noelbotevera


Kacie Jane

Quote from: jakeroot on May 20, 2015, 01:17:29 PM
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on May 20, 2015, 11:10:15 AM
...and the old "US97" sign in Ellensburg:

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.010329,-120.577479,3a,75y,271.01h,79.42t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sZRR73E3ZmIKbJvkCjhflsQ!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en

I always liked that sign, particularly because of the rounded corners. I don't think WSDOT had done it before this sign, and hasn't done it since. Shame. I quite like it.

Anyways, why did they cover the US-97 shield? Isn't that still the route to Wenatchee?

My guess from the blurry image is that it's not actually covered; rather the 97 shield fell off, leaving a cleaner background behind it.  (Not certain why the clean spot would be square then, but it's certainly possible i.e. the 167 shield in the example above.)

thefraze_1020

It seems that sign-wise, Vancouver has a lot of unusual things going. The only place in the state with Exit 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D. The freeway signs there have rounded edges, the sign bridges are unique, and a few exit signs list the upcoming exit as "xxx feet ahead".

On another note, there is a button copy weigh station sign on WB WA-20 on the way to Anacortes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.446389,-122.4519,3a,75y,305.41h,85.25t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1spCp0S4mJCMfMGdGqasPFAQ!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en

There is an old state-erected mileage sign on Lacrosse Airport Rd (an old alignment of WA-26) in Lacrosse:

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.814275,-117.883911,3a,81.5y,285.94h,81.59t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1skadFaeJcwOe9suX4KJNyIw!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en
Alright, this is how it's gonna be!



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.