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

[myosh_tino]

US 480, and some California cities (did this highway ever exist?).

480 did exist in San Francisco as the Embarcadero Freeway.  Originally an Interstate, it was later downgraded to a California state route before the 1989 Loma Prieta quake damaged the double-deck freeway enough that it was torn down.

[US 89]

US 480, and some California cities (did this highway ever exist?).

480 did exist in San Francisco as the Embarcadero Freeway.  Originally an Interstate, it was later downgraded to a California state route before the 1989 Loma Prieta quake damaged the double-deck freeway enough that it was torn down.

I believe he was referring to the US 480 designation, which has never existed.

[MNHighwayMan]

I believe he was referring to the US 480 designation, which has never existed.

Right, but according to Google Maps it is approximately 390 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which suggests that the distances on this sign are correct, even if the sign is the wrong colors and refers to the wrong route type.

[JJBers]

Well, this is odd.

Uses a regular RI sign for the number and direction, but uses a yellow "WEST" sign at the top.

[KEVIN_224]

Staying in Rhode Island...this "beauty" is along US 6 Bypass in Johnston. It clearly dates to when I-295 opened here:

[Mapmikey]

Well, this is odd.

Uses a regular RI sign for the number and direction, but uses a yellow "WEST" sign at the top.

Did not start out yellow...faded to it:

https://goo.gl/maps/mB9LAB414TK2

[jakeroot]

Well, this is odd.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4421/35997511894_899a3167b2_z.jpg
Uses a regular RI sign for the number and direction, but uses a yellow "WEST" sign at the top.

Did not start out yellow...faded to it:

https://goo.gl/maps/mB9LAB414TK2

Interesting. I'm used to seeing signs fade from "color" to "no color", not the other way around. Must be the result of the fabrication style?

[D-Dey65]

Another unusual one in Bushnell, Florida:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EB_Sumter_CR_610_@_CR_616_in_Bushnell.jpg

[jakeroot]

Another unusual one in Bushnell, Florida:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EB_Sumter_CR_610_@_CR_616_in_Bushnell.jpg

Brilliant. I love seeing custom symbol signs like this. Too bad this isn't a standard sign.

^^ Riiga, check this out ^^

[riiga]

Certainly unique! The pictogram could be better though, the ditch symbol to the left looks like the dip symbol in Europe. Something like

would probably be better, though this is "soft verge or dangerous shoulder".

[JJBers]

Staying in Rhode Island...this "beauty" is along US 6 Bypass in Johnston. It clearly dates to when I-295 opened here:

No Attleboro...aww

[US71]

Sanborn, MN, has a retro feel to it


New London, MN

[jakeroot]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4385/36017567813_313dcab3fc_z_d.jpg

New London, MN

What's the context of this one? Looks like a slip lane, but the 71 shield indicates that you can turn left, so that must not be the case.

[US71]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4385/36017567813_313dcab3fc_z_d.jpg

New London, MN

What's the context of this one? Looks like a slip lane, but the 71 shield indicates that you can turn left, so that must not be the case.

I'm guessing it's a bad intersection

The 71 & 9 signs are off kilter.

[hbelkins]

Those intersection warning signs, or a variant of them, are becoming more common. There are sensors that indicate when traffic is approaching from the cross road to alert motorists that a driver may pull across traffic. They are commonly used at intersections where drivers run stop signs or otherwise pull out into oncoming traffic and there is a high crash history.

[theline]

Those intersection warning signs, or a variant of them, are becoming more common. There are sensors that indicate when traffic is approaching from the cross road to alert motorists that a driver may pull across traffic. They are commonly used at intersections where drivers run stop signs or otherwise pull out into oncoming traffic and there is a high crash history.

I spotted one of those signs on US 431 on eclipse day, though I can't remember just where. It was the first time I had seen one, so perhaps they are more prevalent in the Bluegrass State.

[Truvelo]

The 5 on this sign looks a little dodgy.

[D-Dey65]

Certainly unique! The pictogram could be better though, the ditch symbol to the left looks like the dip symbol in Europe. Something like

would probably be better, though this is "soft verge or dangerous shoulder".

We already have "Soft Shoulder" signs in the US. This goes beyond a mere soft shoulder, though.

[PHLBOS]

The 5 on this sign looks a little dodgy.

That 5 looks like the ones that used to posted above gasoline pumps... prior to the prices going over $1/gallon.

[jakeroot]

Certainly unique! The pictogram could be better though, the ditch symbol to the left looks like the dip symbol in Europe. Something like

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Czech_Republic_road_sign_A_28.svg/200px-Czech_Republic_road_sign_A_28.svg.png

would probably be better, though this is "soft verge or dangerous shoulder".

We already have "Soft Shoulder" signs in the US. This goes beyond a mere soft shoulder, though.

Technically we have every sign, in that we can put any text on a warning sign and call it good. But we don't have a symbol sign to represent it. Though I'm not sure we need this particular sign, since most roads have paved shoulders.

A ditch symbol sign would be nice though. Especially if the ditches have tall grass that give the illusion of a soft shoulder. Potentially quite dangerous.

[7/8]

I like this sign on US 15 north of Frederick, MD (heading NB). It lets you know that the freeway is ending and turning into a divided highway, and that the speed limit switches to 55, all in one sign!

[plain]

^ Nice sign. I travelled that section years ago but don't remember it. I've always been a fan of Maryland's signs, they're usually a nice size and easy to read. Even their state route markers and shields on BGS's are bigger than most states.

[wanderer2575]

^ Nice sign. I travelled that section years ago but don't remember it. I've always been a fan of Maryland's signs, they're usually a nice size and easy to read. Even their state route markers and shields on BGS's are bigger than most states.

What I don't like about Maryland's signs is the inconsistency of font sizes and shield sizes across multiple signs together...

(three signs, three design standards)



... or even within the same sign.



This sign for exit 14A looks like it's on steroids, compared to the other two:

[plain]

^ I never said they were the prettiest  but still one of my favorite states sign wise. I also agree about the lack of consistency (especially along the Capital Beltway)

[Mr. Matté]

At least the words/numerals are proportional to the standard CR shield unlike Mercer's new shields.