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Phoenix Area Highways

Started by swbrotha100, February 22, 2015, 07:18:10 PM

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Henry

Always glad to see lots of progress on the new South Mountain Freeway project! Don't be surprised if it is finished way ahead of schedule, although some additional lawsuits may still block that from happening.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!


mrsman

That is a wide ROW.  The existing 4 lane road is maybe like 1/5 of the entire ROW.  This would be an ideal corridor for a freeway with TX style frontage roads.

ztonyg

Quote from: Pink Jazz on March 26, 2018, 10:19:43 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on March 26, 2018, 10:12:21 AM
QuoteThe new font is smaller and more difficult to read. I'm not quite sure why this was done (I'd assume it had to do with a software update).

If these displays work anything like other LED-based variable message signs the message composing software should allow for different letter sizes based on pixel height. The software would have to be very primitive (we're talking 1980's & 1990's primitive) to allow for only one lettering size. Daktronics' Galaxy message centers (used on commercial businesses) provide a whole lot more creative control regardless if the unit is monochrome or full color. The price difference between color and monochrome has narrowed in recent years, which might explain why we're seeing some new highway digital message signs being installed with full color capability.


ADOT didn't even adopt full matrix until around 2012 when it signed its previous contract with Skyline. Most DMS in the state are fixed character matrix.

Here's a photo I took of the new font on some of the Skyline DMSs. I'm not a big fan (as I stated in my earlier post).


Pink Jazz

The ones on the Loop 202 SanTan Freeway are still in the old font.

Roadwarriors79

Over the course of this week, the new westbound I-10 frontage road will be opening between 51st Ave and 67th Ave. Hopefully as the month of May goes on, there will be more work on the future ramps connecting Loop 202 to WB I-10.

Also as of now the entire future Loop 202 corridor is under construction.

andy3175

According to the project webpage, the project is scheduled for completion in late 2019: https://www.azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/loop-202-(south-mountain-freeway)/construction-info

QuoteMajor construction of the 22-mile freeway project began in early 2017 in the I-10 Papago, Salt River and Pecos segments. Visit the segment pages for detailed construction information, including a 2018 schedule and maps of major activities starting early-to mid 2018. Most construction will occur on weekdays, although some construction activities will require work every day and at night to complete the freeway by late 2019. 

Here is the construction map as of January 2018:

Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

Pink Jazz

#206
Another Daktronics color DMS has been installed on the Loop 202 SanTan Freeway in the southbound direction near Elliot Road and I think possibly another one in the westbound direction between SR 24 and Power.  It looks like next weekend ADOT will be installing one in the northbound direction near Guadalupe.

Also, according to ADOT's website, ADOT will be installing some of these Daktronics color DMS on the southern portion of the Loop 303.

ztonyg

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 06, 2018, 09:24:16 PM
Another Daktronics color DMS has been installed on the Loop 202 SanTan Freeway in the southbound direction near Elliot Road and I think possibly another one in the westbound direction between SR 24 and Power.  It looks like next weekend ADOT will be installing one in the northbound direction near Guadalupe.

Also, according to ADOT's website, ADOT will be installing some of these Daktronics color DMS on the southern portion of the Loop 303.

I saw one of those Daktronics signs in operation on S/B I-17 just south of AZ 69 a few weeks ago.

The resolution on those is impressive.


Pink Jazz

Quote from: ztonyg on May 10, 2018, 12:33:20 PM

I saw one of those Daktronics signs in operation on S/B I-17 just south of AZ 69 a few weeks ago.

The resolution on those is impressive.

I wonder if ADOT will eventually take full advantage of these signs.  I presume the current control software doesn't support colors, fonts, or graphics.

Pink Jazz

If anyone hasn't seen one of the new color Daktronics DMS, here is a photo of one posted on ADOT's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/a.137665612971817.29041.117553941649651/1956680831070277/?type=3&theater

The ones on the 202 SanTan though are on overhead gantries instead of the roadside mounts found on I-17.  Interestingly those were the first in Arizona to use that style of mount.

roadfro

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 11, 2018, 08:12:38 PM
If anyone hasn't seen one of the new color Daktronics DMS, here is a photo of one posted on ADOT's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/a.137665612971817.29041.117553941649651/1956680831070277/?type=3&theater

Can we talk about how that "W" is really just an upside-down "M"...? For a sign with higher resolution than a standard dot-matrix LED layout, you'd think it would be shaped more naturally...
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Pink Jazz


Quote from: roadfro on May 11, 2018, 09:51:16 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 11, 2018, 08:12:38 PM
If anyone hasn't seen one of the new color Daktronics DMS, here is a photo of one posted on ADOT's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/a.137665612971817.29041.117553941649651/1956680831070277/?type=3&theater

Can we talk about how that "W" is really just an upside-down "M"...? For a sign with higher resolution than a standard dot-matrix LED layout, you'd think it would be shaped more naturally...


I'm pretty sure it is a control software limitation that only supports monospaced fonts and how those signs are interfacing with the old software probably defaults to that font.

roadfro

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 12, 2018, 01:02:52 AM

Quote from: roadfro on May 11, 2018, 09:51:16 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 11, 2018, 08:12:38 PM
If anyone hasn't seen one of the new color Daktronics DMS, here is a photo of one posted on ADOT's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/a.137665612971817.29041.117553941649651/1956680831070277/?type=3&theater

Can we talk about how that "W" is really just an upside-down "M"...? For a sign with higher resolution than a standard dot-matrix LED layout, you'd think it would be shaped more naturally...

I'm pretty sure it is a control software limitation that only supports monospaced fonts and how those signs are interfacing with the old software probably defaults to that font.

Not sure that it's a monospaced font, given the width of the "I" characters appears to be less narrow than the other characters. But even a monospaced font could have a better designed "W"...
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Roadwarriors79

Some updates on the Loop 202 construction on the I-10 corridor. It looks like there are now mileage signs up referencing "202 South" going along WB I-10 from the I-17 Stack to the construction zone. Also, all the on/off ramps to 59th Ave are permanently closed. The WB frontage road from 51st Ave to 67th Ave is open. The EB frontage road from 67th Ave to 59th Ave is open. In July, the EB frontage road from 59th Ave to 51st Ave is scheduled to open.

Pink Jazz

#214
Looks like ADOT has installed their first APL signage in the Phoenix area, on US 60 WB in Tempe. This is due to a lane option change. Still no Clearview though.

The Ghostbuster

Once the AZ-202 South Mountain Freeway is completed, are there any dates for when the AZ-30 freeway might be constructed? And how about any dates on when more of the AZ-24 freeway might be constructed?

Pink Jazz

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on July 18, 2018, 04:55:38 PM
Once the AZ-202 South Mountain Freeway is completed, are there any dates for when the AZ-30 freeway might be constructed? And how about any dates on when more of the AZ-24 freeway might be constructed?

The interim SR 24 will not be a full freeway but will be a major arterial road.  If funding becomes available it may be converted into a full freeway.

Zonie

It would probably be similar to the Ironwood/Gantzel corridor - four lanes with the cable barrier between the right-of-ways. 

Wonder if SR 24 will skirt north of the industrial park at Pecos/Mountain.

Pink Jazz


jakeroot

Quote from: Pink Jazz on July 21, 2018, 01:47:31 PM
Here are some pics of the new APL signage in Tempe:

https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642566940769/?type=3&theater


https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642933607399/?type=3&theater

Looks really good. I appreciate all these agencies using their own custom arrows (UT, CA, MI, WI). The MUTCD arrows are far too large.

roadfro

Quote from: jakeroot on July 21, 2018, 03:57:15 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on July 21, 2018, 01:47:31 PM
Here are some pics of the new APL signage in Tempe:

https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642566940769/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642933607399/?type=3&theater

Looks really good. I appreciate all these agencies using their own custom arrows (UT, CA, MI, WI). The MUTCD arrows are far too large.

Shields and text on the APL signs appear to be oversized, so the result looks cluttered. But I agree that MUTCD APL arrows are way too big and the smaller arrows work just fine here.

(Also, why are the bridge vertical height clearance signs white on green? They should be black on yellow.)
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Pink Jazz

#221
Quote from: roadfro on July 21, 2018, 07:23:48 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on July 21, 2018, 03:57:15 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on July 21, 2018, 01:47:31 PM
Here are some pics of the new APL signage in Tempe:

https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642566940769/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/AZDOT/photos/pcb.2064643526940673/2064642933607399/?type=3&theater

Looks really good. I appreciate all these agencies using their own custom arrows (UT, CA, MI, WI). The MUTCD arrows are far too large.

Shields and text on the APL signs appear to be oversized, so the result looks cluttered. But I agree that MUTCD APL arrows are way too big and the smaller arrows work just fine here.

(Also, why are the bridge vertical height clearance signs white on green? They should be black on yellow.)


ADOT uses white on green for bridge vertical height clearance. I think possibly NMDOT might also use white on green.

As for the large text, ADOT has been doing this since the Clearview era for freeway to freeway interchanges.

EDIT: Speaking about the custom arrows, I do recall reading somewhere that one of ADOT's initial issues with APL signage was due to the larger sign requirements, thus increasing sign production costs.  It looks like ADOT was able to get around that by designing custom smaller arrows.

roadfro

Quote from: Pink Jazz on July 21, 2018, 09:25:35 PM
Quote from: roadfro on July 21, 2018, 07:23:48 PM
(Also, why are the bridge vertical height clearance signs white on green? They should be black on yellow.)
ADOT uses white on green for bridge vertical height clearance. I think possibly NMDOT might also use white on green.

That's just weird, and blatant non-compliance with MUTCD...
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Pink Jazz

#223
Looks like ADOT might be resuming their Loop 202 SanTan Freeway ITS project after a three month hiatus since May.  AZ511.gov shows a closure this weekend.

EDIT: Confirmed that the ITS project is resuming.  I wonder if the Daktronics color DMS in the northbound direction between SR 24 and Elliot will finally be going up.

Roadwarriors79

There were pics of the South Mountain Freeway construction, as well as a little freeway photo history of the Phoenix area, in the link below:


https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-traffic/2018/06/21/south-mountain-freeway-metro-phoenix-more-than-halfway-done/707104002/



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