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

[J N Winkler]

I'm bothered by this one nearby

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJDpk98ogvLzz6AS8

What about it, specifically?

For what it's worth, here's a closeup.  This is in my neighborhood.

Both of these signs are original to the respective interchange construction contracts--the exit direction sign to Woodlawn Boulevard and the advance guide sign to Rock Road.  They were designed by engineering consultants working for the City of Wichita, which also handled letting, contract award, and construction, though the plans sets have the same look and feel as those for KDOT-administered projects.

The exit direction sign uses demountable copy while the other two use direct-applied copy.  KDOT transitioned away from the former after construction finished on Woodlawn but before it started on Rock.

The two arrows on the exit direction sign are definitely a mistake.  At the time Woodlawn was undergoing design, the MUTCD called for no arrow on the bottom yellow panel and just one arrow on green for an exit direction sign for a simple lane drop.  The last two editions (2009 and 2023) have also called for just one arrow in this situation, positioned on the bottom yellow panel.

And yes, the border treatment is wrong.  The white border is supposed to run out to the edge, not to be inset on the green background.  Usual practice in Kansas is to provide a black border along the bottom and sides of a yellow bottom panel and run it out to the edge as well.  (Texas uses a white border that runs out to the edges of the whole sign panel, but insets the yellow panel on the green background so that the white and yellow do not actually touch, let alone overlap.)

KDOT and they're leaving off the descriptor of the road name.  I believe they're putting it back from what I've read here on this forum.

KDOT put descriptors back on when it re-did signs on I-135, I-235, and K-96 about a decade ago, but has yet to come through and update signs on Kellogg.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/u8Bh2D489H66RN6B9

What's up with Sidney, NE having a West Entrance?

Quite a few other I-80 corridor towns in Nebraska have a "W. Entrance" and an "E. Entrance."

[kphoger]

(Texas uses a white border that runs out to the edges of the whole sign panel, but insets the yellow panel on the green background so that the white and yellow do not actually touch, let alone overlap.)

Oh, wow!  I never noticed that before, probably because the inset is by such a small margin.

[Amaury]

Left-pointing arrows on a half-gantry on Interstate 5 northbound in Washington at milepost 9: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FcimSce8Ydy7U4ZE7

Looks like they used to point down: https://maps.app.goo.gl/faR3TG6tCc5pmJZMA

The next half-gantry has the more standard right-pointing ones.

[74/171FAN]

A couple that can be accessed via a parking lot next to the US 211/US 522 intersection in Sperryville, VA.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220048357119731&set=a.10220048367039979)



(https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220048263837399&set=a.10220048367039979)



On US 522 NB in Front Royal, VA (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220048352639619&set=a.10220048367039979)

[chrisg69911]

This janky looking gantry
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXmPpU5x2hvpaBpi7

This may be better suited for the NJ topic, but is there a reason why the NJDOT decided to change from bridge mounted signs to gantries in front of the bridges?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2LbbBMKPw2CGAa4U8
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ucc4EoMcSBEKuLW7A

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YbTiD8qsGABR7ci67
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UyMrmVPJdmUVLbE7

[mglass87]

Here's a collection of some interesting speed limit signage:

"Please drive slowly we heart our children":
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5jirMJ2d92m5x1ig8

A highlighted speed limit:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NPbHzZLLzJyc9ubR7

"Reduce speed to 5 MPH, DIM YOUR LIGHTS":
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AH4FLypPwubCy1R39

[Big John]

^^ second sign: "hey, you're speeding."

[formulanone]

This janky looking gantry
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXmPpU5x2hvpaBpi7

Looks like the took down the old gantry, hacked at it, and installed it 90 degrees from normal...but that's more of a silly guess.

I didn't get the whole thing in this shot, back in 2013. (It also had overhead lighting frames.):

[jakeroot]

(Texas uses a white border that runs out to the edges of the whole sign panel, but insets the yellow panel on the green background so that the white and yellow do not actually touch, let alone overlap.)

Oh, wow!  I never noticed that before, probably because the inset is by such a small margin.

It is one of the more (IMO) peculiar aspects of Texas signage. I remember seeing a couple and thinking they were either one-off or part of a brief design strategy. And then I started to notice them everywhere. Through Google Street View of course...

Left-pointing arrows on a half-gantry on Interstate 5 northbound in Washington at milepost 9: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FcimSce8Ydy7U4ZE7

Looks like they used to point down: https://maps.app.goo.gl/faR3TG6tCc5pmJZMA

The next half-gantry has the more standard right-pointing ones.

To be clear, both the left-facing and right-facing arrows are (or, were) standard, with the left (slanted)-facing arrows used to point at the lane(s), and the right (up)-facing arrows pointing towards the direction of the exit ramp at the actual split. Down-slanted arrows, aka "dancing arrows", are not used anymore, and I think were removed from the 2009 MUTCD. And to be fair, the 2009 MUTCD also removed the option lane sign altogether, so there are at least two things non-compliant with that sign. Though I know WSDOT continued using the verboten option lane sign well into the 2010s.

[AABattery]

Here's a collection of some interesting speed limit signage:

"Please drive slowly we heart our children":
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5jirMJ2d92m5x1ig8

A highlighted speed limit:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NPbHzZLLzJyc9ubR7

"Reduce speed to 5 MPH, DIM YOUR LIGHTS":
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AH4FLypPwubCy1R39

Reminds me of these on Route 11 SB in Shawsville, VA that have a little yellow "NOTICE" sign above them
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1719144,-80.2441937,3a,23.6y,239.12h,91.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szsJbR_AeM-pGwfAd_iRp8w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[74/171FAN]

On I-64 WB/I-81 SB approaching US 11 (Exit 213- by the southern terminus of US 340) (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220064983055369&set=a.10220065049697035)





Heading south to the next US 11 (Exit 195) interchange (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220064987495480&set=a.10220065049697035)



On US 60 WB at US 11 NB in Lexington, VA (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220064994255649&set=a.10220065049697035)

[ClassicHasClass]

"What's that, boss? There's two of them? Oh, don't worry, chief, we'll fix it!"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eT6qiXz5NdCCYX6g9

[Big John]

"prisons"

[74/171FAN]

On TN 355 SB in Kingsport, TN.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075470517549&set=a.10220075698883258)



US 11W SB follows "RAMP" on both ends of its US 25E Concurrency. I presume this is a TN thing. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075499398271&set=a.10220075698883258)





On US 11W SB at Joppa Mountain Rd (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075505598426&set=a.10220075698883258)

[Scott5114]

On TN 355 SB in Kingsport, TN.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075470517549&set=a.10220075698883258)

Ah, yes, there's nothing like a relaxing drive on ||||||||||||||||IIII.

[74/171FAN]

Please do not park on US 11/US 70 if you are going to see the Tennessee Volunteers play college football. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075523678878&set=a.10220075698883258)

[Rothman]

In the only sort-of unique category, Seneca Nation signage north of Cuba, NY:

[Amaury]

On Washington State Route 14 between mileposts 19 and 20 is this equation milepost:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MZBGZM9eYH2ezZN4A (looking westbound)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EkUBqpLFJMwgEF4E8 (looking eastbound)

[roadfro]

This may be better suited for the NJ topic, but is there a reason why the NJDOT decided to change from bridge mounted signs to gantries in front of the bridges?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2LbbBMKPw2CGAa4U8
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ucc4EoMcSBEKuLW7A

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YbTiD8qsGABR7ci67
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UyMrmVPJdmUVLbE7

Nevada DOT has done the same thing recently. A few examples:

• I-580 NB at the 5th St OP: New Construction circa 2011
  
• I-80 EB at Wells Ave exit: Before & After reconstruction circa 2011-2012
  
• US 95 NV at Lake Mead Blvd West exit: During widening circa 2011 (you can see old signs on bridge and new sign already in place on gantry) & Current (option lane has since been removed and sign layout has been changed via green-out)
  

But here's some exceptions:

• I-580 SB at Alt (old) US 395 OP: New Construction circa 2014
  
• Moana Ln at I-580 OP: DDI conversion somewhere between 2011 & 2015 (although this may have been an RTC project, not NDOT).
  

I think NDOT adopted a policy around 2010 of not attaching overhead signs to bridges in urban areas anymore when the bridge has sidewalks or is reasonably expected to have pedestrian activity. Since this change has occurred, I have seen a drastic reduction in the amount of graffiti and vandalism to these types of signs.* So while it's a greater up-front cost for a separate gantry, it's likely cost effective maintenance-wise over the long term. This could also be a motivating factor for NJDOT.

*However, around the same time, some NDOT jurisdictions (notably District 2 around Reno) also started installing overhead BGSs with higher reflectivity sheeting, such that most overhead signs would no longer require external illumination. This has led to new sign structures without catwalks, or catwalks being removed. So I'm not sure if the drop in graffiti is related to sign placement on gantries or lack of lighting or both...

[GaryA]

There's been a missing panel on the gantry at the Telephone Road exit from NB US 101 in Ventura, CA for at least 12 years (https://maps.app.goo.gl/K8nQXJfL2R3gEPWHA).  I can see that the current advance sign is more useful than the old sign (which was past the gore point), but it still seems odd to have the framework there with no sign panel.

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

This janky looking gantry
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXmPpU5x2hvpaBpi7

Looks like the took down the old gantry, hacked at it, and installed it 90 degrees from normal...but that's more of a silly guess.

I didn't get the whole thing in this shot, back in 2013. (It also had overhead lighting frames.):

Also gotta love the zero warning lane drop. Only in NJ

[jeffandnicole]

This janky looking gantry
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXmPpU5x2hvpaBpi7

Looks like the took down the old gantry, hacked at it, and installed it 90 degrees from normal...but that's more of a silly guess.

I didn't get the whole thing in this shot, back in 2013. (It also had overhead lighting frames.):

Also gotta love the zero warning lane drop. Only in NJ

All 3 lanes continue thru here.

[74/171FAN]

On US 11 SB heading south of TN 39 and Riceville. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075645321919&set=a.10220075698883258)



Heading south on US 11 to Calhoun at the Resolute Forest Products Plant (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075663802381&set=a.10220075698883258)

[mrsman]

This janky looking gantry
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXmPpU5x2hvpaBpi7

Looks like the took down the old gantry, hacked at it, and installed it 90 degrees from normal...but that's more of a silly guess.

I didn't get the whole thing in this shot, back in 2013. (It also had overhead lighting frames.):

Also gotta love the zero warning lane drop. Only in NJ

All 3 lanes continue thru here.

But for a good while, there are 4 lanes here where the right lane does drop without sufficient warning.

[mrsman]

Here's a combination that I pass fairly regularly:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/zYqZ4gwpb8gc3EZi7

If you're headed for US 101 South, the overhead sign correctly tells you to just stay in the right lane.  But the sign on the pole on the right makes it look like you should turn right immediately (which would put you in a motel parking lot).  A little further up, there's another US 101 --> sign with nowhere to turn right, and an apparently random "Freeway Entrance" sign that leaves you wondering if you are supposed to be on the other side of the series of posts (you aren't, that's a bike lane, but it's not labelled at this point).  Finally, you pass under the freeway and are forced to turn right and merge with other traffic entering the freeway here.

(The "Freeway Entrance" sign is placed based on where the dashed line between the two traffic lanes becomes a solid line, then a gore point, as the two lanes split.  So it does make some sense if you look further into it, but on first glance you want to go "why here"?)

That bike lane screws it all up. Yes the groundsigns should be removed or state" Right Lane" as that is the lane for US 101 SB.

This is a very tricky one.  The bike lane does complicate things, but the freeway entrance sign is also somewhat confusing.

Yes it is true that once you pass onto the right lane past the gore, you can only go to the freeway.  But you are not quite at the entrance yet, since you will still have to yield to left turning traffic at the upcoming yield sign.  In the vast majority of cases, the freeway entrance is sort of like your signal to accelerate and be ready to mere onto the highway, but that would be inappropriate at this point.

THe freeway entrance sign should be placed at the intersection with the traffic signal.

A more appropriate sign (that is also unique) is like this sign on Bernard Street near Broadway in LA's Chinatown:

No outlet Except for Freeway:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0667761,-118.2359723,3a,15y,326.55h,88.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sfm_NC6-p7jefl0Ow3TcAMA!2e0!5s20211201T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

It gets the point across that you are beyond the point of no return, but is not an invitation to get to 65 MPH as soon as you pass the sign.

It seems like the signs were probably OK before the bike lane, but they should be updated to more closely align with the current reality.