Regional Boards > Northeast
Interstate 95 signing work
agentsteel53:
--- Quote from: roadman on March 06, 2012, 08:12:36 PM ---
'Parkway' lettering was a short-lived 3M product that was produced in the mid to late 1960s and was touted at the time as a less expensive alternative to button copy. Essentially, it consisted of raised one-piece plastic letters made from early retro-reflective material (similar to today's Super Engineer Grade - or Type II - sheeting). On close inspection, it has a similar appearance to button copy except for the absense of reflectors.
It was used on a handful of overhead sign installations in Massachusetts (including MA Route 128 in the Wellesley and Waltham areas) in the late 1960s and early 1970s before 3M's encapsulated lens sheeting (now known as high intensity - or Type III) became the industry norm. As I noted, all the signs on 128 with 'Parkway' legend were replaced during the 1990s update project.
Somewhere in my archives I have some old 3M 'Parkway' lettering sales brochures. If I get a chance, I'll dig them out and scan them for posting to the group.
--- End quote ---
I had no idea that stuff was called "Parkway". I believe Virginia used it as well in the 60s. it is aluminum forms covered in Engineer Grade scotchlite, if I recall correctly? and it is the same standard fonts as button copy (namely EM and subtle variants thereof)
PurdueBill:
--- Quote from: KEVIN_224 on March 07, 2012, 02:29:05 AM ---Is that last picture from Recreation Road or whatever?
--- End quote ---
Yes, Recreation Rd. over the onetime mainline lanes that became NB C-D road for Exits 23-24-25. It wasn't a bad place to get a somewhat unique view of the particular-to-Mass. button copy shields on otherwise reflective signs.
It also was a good example of how they would mix shields with button copy numerals only and shields with button copy numerals AND outlines, sometimes on the same assembly of signs (but never on the same sign as far as I ever saw).
The pics are from August 2010.
roadman:
--- Quote from: PurdueBill on March 06, 2012, 10:07:37 PM ---Too bad that it sounds like a goodly amount of button copy I-shields will go away. Last spring I was in Boston for several days and managed to catch a local news investigative report about replacement of signs that didn't appear to need replacing yet; MassDOT's response on camera was that they got the money to replace the signs so they might as well spend it. (There may be more actual need than that but they didn't say so very well. They made it sound like they were basically spending stimulus money that was thrown at them.) Except for the pull-through that is peeling, the signs in question are in good shape and no doubt the public may be wondering why they are being replaced when there appear to be more urgent needs.
Assuming that signage on intersecting roads and places like the C-D Exits 23-24-25 northbound section of original MA 128 get new signs, it will be the end of these beauties. Pity.
--- End quote ---
The news report in question aired on the local FOX station last May. Here's the link:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/undercover/state-spending-22m-on-signs-20110512
Most of the report focuses on the now completed re-signing project on I-95 between Lexington and Reading. Note that, prior to this project, the panels in this area were last replaced in the early 1990s, and the structures dated from the mid-1970s.
And thanks for the clarification - I forgot to mention that the button copy numeral Interstate shields will indeed go away when these panels are replaced. Current MassDOT standards still require demountable numerals on overhead-mounted Interstate shields. However, the numerals are now fabricated from high-intensity prismatic (HIP) sheeting instead of button copy.
roadman:
--- Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 07, 2012, 11:05:35 AM ---
I had no idea that stuff was called "Parkway". I believe Virginia used it as well in the 60s. it is aluminum forms covered in Engineer Grade scotchlite, if I recall correctly? and it is the same standard fonts as button copy (namely EM and subtle variants thereof)
--- End quote ---
Yes, I stand corrected - it was made from aluminum forms, not plastic. And it was produced in standard fonts (Em, etc) like button copy.
PurdueBill:
--- Quote from: roadman on March 07, 2012, 01:59:48 PM ---The news report in question aired on the local FOX station last May. Here's the link:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/undercover/state-spending-22m-on-signs-20110512
Most of the report focuses on the now completed re-signing project on I-95 between Lexington and Reading. Note that, prior to this project, the panels in this area were last replaced in the early 1990s, and the structures dated from the mid-1970s.
--- End quote ---
That's the one! I was in town for four days and managed to see that report while I was there. (I grew up there but the fun button copy shields didn't hit until just as I was going away to college.) The comparison at 1:40 of the video between old and new sign is interesting....the old one isn't much less reflective than the new one. The comments by the motorist are probably typical of what a lot of people are thinking--what is wrong with the old signs that requires they be replaced when there are more pressing needs? (Not arguing that myself up or down--just thinking about what John and Jane Q. Motorist must be thinking.)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version