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

[sprjus4]

Four is much less common - I think New Jersey has a few with four destinations.

Here's one leaving Baltimore, MD on I-70 Westbound.

Also, it's one of the few long-distance mileage signs.

[ClassicHasClass]

Must be very windy in that area. They probably did that so it wont break the arm gantry.

Interesting solution but even in this area where the Santa Anas lay waste every fall and the utility lines are buried (no poles), I've never seen that out here.

Well thats a traffic light so this is different, have you ever saw when its windy they bounce, well they do that so it wont break like a tree in the wind, but even trees break under very windy stormy conditions so an arm mast made of metal will have a higher chance of breaking especially with signs that give it resistance to the wind.


iPhone

That's exactly what I mean -- we don't use traffic lights hanging off wire lines here; everything is a mastarm because of the winds, but regular signs are mounted to it.

[Tonytone]

Must be very windy in that area. They probably did that so it wont break the arm gantry.

Interesting solution but even in this area where the Santa Anas lay waste every fall and the utility lines are buried (no poles), I've never seen that out here.

Well thats a traffic light so this is different, have you ever saw when its windy they bounce, well they do that so it wont break like a tree in the wind, but even trees break under very windy stormy conditions so an arm mast made of metal will have a higher chance of breaking especially with signs that give it resistance to the wind.


iPhone

That's exactly what I mean -- we don't use traffic lights hanging off wire lines here; everything is a mastarm because of the winds, but regular signs are mounted to it.

It has to be alot of wind on that specific road for them to do that if you guys already have mast arms everywhere. Maybe it's something new they are doing or it could be just a strong flow of wind down that corridor, I've only seen that hole punched design on high bridges & plastic signs.


iPhone

[Ian]

Many have heard of louvered backplates, but I saw louvered signs for the first time:
[image snipped]

Overhead "louvered" signs are very common around Maine. You'll mostly see it with lane assignment signs such as seen in your photo, but they sometimes make it onto smaller guide signs...

[jakeroot]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[TBKS1]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

That's really odd, I've never seen that before either. I don't know if the word "Required" would fit on that sign though.

[6a]

I didn't think this warranted its own thread, but I wanted to ask. Does any other state use the state route shield for purposes other than marking a state route? 

[Amtrakprod]

Many have heard of louvered backplates, but I saw louvered signs for the first time:


iPhone

That looks to be US Route 1 in Saco, ME. I used to live one town over in Old Orchard Beach. 

Correct, took a trip to Winnocks Neck Rd in Scarborough


iPhone

[Amtrakprod]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[Image Deleted]

Interesting, why didn't they just use needed or another synonym


iPhone

[ipeters61]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

That's really odd, I've never seen that before either. I don't know if the word "Required" would fit on that sign though.

That reminded me of a sign on the ramp from DE-1 NB to DE-58 WB in Churchmans Crossing ("Right Turn on Red Permitted"): https://goo.gl/maps/2cEH37qyNmZKVYob8

[ErmineNotyours]

All of the original construction BGS on I-5 from North Seattle through Lynnwood were louvered.  They were square grids with backing that angled down.  Viewed from the air you could see right through them but they had a green background when viewed from the freeway.  They were olive drab and ugly.  I'm not surprised they were all replaced, but now I'm trying to find a picture of them to confirm they existed.

[Tonytone]

All of the original construction BGS on I-5 from North Seattle through Lynnwood were louvered.  They were square grids with backing that angled down.  Viewed from the air you could see right through them but they had a green background when viewed from the freeway.  They were olive drab and ugly.  I'm not surprised they were all replaced, but now I'm trying to find a picture of them to confirm they existed.

Please do.


iPhone

[Mapmikey]

I didn't think this warranted its own thread, but I wanted to ask. Does any other state use the state route shield for purposes other than marking a state route? 

A Pennsylvania example, possible a one-off - (https://goo.gl/maps/pRjQp)
South Carolina uses an inverted colors version of their shield to say DRIVE SAFELY.  I have seen several examples of this and here is one - https://goo.gl/maps/18HmtaZeakxeJhGN9

[US 89]

Utah uses the state highway shield with "Utah" inside to mark various DOT properties such as maintenance sheds:

https://goo.gl/maps/c2hRhQgMveDtPjdq7
https://goo.gl/maps/zShZaeCDzuLQQzdM8
https://goo.gl/maps/cfgJrEHY5sNzaiXH7

[Eth]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[Image Deleted]

Interesting, why didn't they just use needed or another synonym

I usually see the much simpler message "KEEP MOVING" instead.

[hotdogPi]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[Image Deleted]

Interesting, why didn't they just use needed or another synonym

I usually see the much simpler message "KEEP MOVING" instead.

"KEEP MOVING" doesn't allow you to stop. The way the sign is currently worded, if there is no gap in traffic, you are allowed to stop.

[Big John]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[Image Deleted]

Interesting, why didn't they just use needed or another synonym

I usually see the much simpler message "KEEP MOVING" instead.

"KEEP MOVING" doesn't allow you to stop. The way the sign is currently worded, if there is no gap in traffic, you are allowed to stop.

Would a YIELD sign suffice?

[jakeroot]

^^
I believe the sign I posted is synonymous with "keep moving" signage or "added lane" signage.



This seems like an obvious rule...when you're light turns red, stop to let left turns finish their maneuver. Not sure why they needed to sign this. My guess is, because traffic from the right immediately gets a green left arrow, the right turn can very nearly proceed without stopping. But they do need to stop momentarily to let left turns go. But, this is a very common setup all over the place, so the sign is still a bit redundant.

Mountain Hwy @ Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver, BC

[PurdueBill]

Tooele, UT:

Not sure I've seen "REQ'D" on a sign before.

[Image Deleted]

Interesting, why didn't they just use needed or another synonym

I usually see the much simpler message "KEEP MOVING" instead.

"KEEP MOVING" doesn't allow you to stop. The way the sign is currently worded, if there is no gap in traffic, you are allowed to stop.

Would a YIELD sign suffice?

YIELD is not the right sign because traffic gets its own lane.  The Akron-area sign for a right turn (usually channelized) with no need to yield unless there is some other reason downstream is a wordy one: CONTINUOUS RIGHT TURN WITH CAUTION.  It is not uncommon to see people stop anyway...something to the effect of "no need to stop" would clarify.  I like the "no stop required" one.

[riiga]

Or put no sign at all. Or a W4-3/W4-6.

[jakeroot]

Or put no sign at all. Or a W4-3/W4-6.

Precisely. There is already a symbol to indicate this exact situation. No need to use a wordy text-only sign. Or a sign at all, assuming the markings were clear enough.

[PurdueBill]

Or put no sign at all. Or a W4-3/W4-6.

Precisely. There is already a symbol to indicate this exact situation. No need to use a wordy text-only sign. Or a sign at all, assuming the markings were clear enough.

The problem is at otherwise-signalized intersections like the one I linked to, people often like to think they have to stop, even with the sign.  The added-lane sign should be enough, but doesn't seem to be enough to get through some people's dense skulls.  They would probably claim that they thought it meant that they had to merge/yield...

[plain]

A couple days ago I saw an "Arrive Alive" posting on a sign that is very Pennsylvania keystone-like, but in Virginia. Couldn't get a pic but here it is on GSV.

US 60 Warwick Blvd in front of Warwick High School in Newport News



SM-S820L

[jakeroot]

I keep running into all sorts of weird signs.

Here's one I found in Florida, from Hwy 574 to northbound I-75.

Interstate shield without any of the coloring. I personally love it, but I can see others not sharing that opinion.

Or put no sign at all. Or a W4-3/W4-6.

Precisely. There is already a symbol to indicate this exact situation. No need to use a wordy text-only sign. Or a sign at all, assuming the markings were clear enough.

The problem is at otherwise-signalized intersections like the one I linked to, people often like to think they have to stop, even with the sign.  The added-lane sign should be enough, but doesn't seem to be enough to get through some people's dense skulls.  They would probably claim that they thought it meant that they had to merge/yield...

It seems to be enough around here. I know of no textual signs like those listed up-thread in either WA or BC, and the latter has a ton of right-turn slip lanes, many that are added lanes. Both places use the standard "added lane" symbol. If people stop, big deal. Just make sure drivers are ready to honk!

[kphoger]

Interstate shield without any of the coloring. I personally love it, but I can see others not sharing that opinion.

I loved it at first glance, but then my feelings for it quickly began to fade.  If I were unfamiliar with the neighborhood and just wanted to get back on the Interstate, my eyes would be hunting for the red and blue more than the shape or number.