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

[dougI5]

This seems like a good place to ask this: the other day I saw a fairly new sign for Washington SR 14, but it had a federal shield, not George Washington's bust. Does anyone have any information about that? Thanks!

Like this?


Simple error by the agency that posted it; US-14 has never gone as far west as Washington. If you wanted, you could probably contact the agency and they'd correct it. This mixup happens a lot, though some agencies are more prone than others. I understand Oregon DOT is particularly afflicted.

Thanks for the information...speaking of Evergreen Highway, I assume it was a federal or state highway at one time, before the SR 14 freeway between Vancouver and Camas was built in the 1960s. Does anyone know what its former designation was?

[ErmineNotyours]

This seems like a good place to ask this: the other day I saw a fairly new sign for Washington SR 14, but it had a federal shield, not George Washington's bust. Does anyone have any information about that? Thanks!

Like this?


Simple error by the agency that posted it; US-14 has never gone as far west as Washington. If you wanted, you could probably contact the agency and they'd correct it. This mixup happens a lot, though some agencies are more prone than others. I understand Oregon DOT is particularly afflicted.

Thanks for the information...speaking of Evergreen Highway, I assume it was a federal or state highway at one time, before the SR 14 freeway between Vancouver and Camas was built in the 1960s. Does anyone know what its former designation was?

830.

[jakeroot]

Not sure this is a state install. Might be Clark County.

Might be able to find out by looking for an inventory sticker on the back, right?

Good point. I don't see any sort of sticker or black date number. Probably Clark County.

Found a strange FRA sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7418093,-89.6031303,3a,20.5y,43.09h,86.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snGt88EYzgY-9v4HhUZQC1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 and http://www.billburmaster.com/rmsandw/illinois/images/sigsheridanrdpeoriail0512.jpg

Honestly, that's really cool. Flashing red arrows are an option in the MUTCD and that's the first time I've ever seen one. Too bad it seems to have been replaced with a FYA.

It's almost like Illinois' version of the FYA before flashing yellow was a thing. Odd location for the placement of the FRA, though.

Flashing red arrows are very common in Maryland, and in Delaware too IIRC.

[Scott5114]

The parts of Norway with Sami placenames sure have some interesting signs.


(From @ingridsprell on Instagram, found as part of my Trafikkalfabetet research.)

[MNHighwayMan]

These signs at the EB entrance to the Holland Tunnel are pretty interesting.

[ErmineNotyours]

Mentioned at yesterday's Alaska Way Viaduct & Tunnel meet, though we did not go to look at the sign as a group: this sign on Coleman Dock, Seattle Ferry Terminal of "TEMP" I-90.  I-90 hasn't been temp. since about 1989 to 1993, when the last few western miles of the freeway were finally built.  This sign will likely go down in the next few months has they rebuild the terminal.

Temp I-90 sign at Coleman Dock by Arthur Allen, on Flickr

[Rick1962]

"Warning Low Flying Owls", 36th & Louisville,  Tulsa.

SM-T580

[paulthemapguy]

^That would have been super appropriate two days ago, with the big Superb Owl and everything!! 

This pedestrian symbol is walking with a beer mug.  Posted on a street outside of Lazy Magnolia Brewery in Kiln, MS


IMG_8111 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

[roadman65]

This one in Tulsa.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/46991370162/in/dateposted-public/
Not only are the direction missing going WB but the exit only arrow is inconsistent with the regular arrow.

[ipeters61]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

[bcroadguy]

BC doesn't really use Freeway Entrance signs either, and the few times they have, they're usually black on white, but there's a pair of WSDOT style white on green Freeway Entrance signs at the same interchange in Vancouver:

#1: https://www.google.com/maps/@49.283717,-123.0313927,3a,15.2y,16.3h,89.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxVoUgLnpRCZF1cAw_yzOXw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

#2:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2806291,-123.0316273,3a,16.3y,224.3h,91.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suA3uKP8NShcPN_s3edauLg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Ian]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

[jakeroot]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

If this is how they all look, I'm thinking WV briefly had a Caltrans engineer heading things? Very cool!

[kendancy66]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

If this is how they all look, I'm thinking WV briefly had a Caltrans engineer heading things? Very cool!

One difference is that the california signage is usually closer to the ground.  But the freeway entrance sign itself looks the same

[csw]

I've seen "Freeway "Entrance" signage in Charlotte as well. https://goo.gl/maps/JcdnPEXCdV92

[jakeroot]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8076/29446536216_d34d09d6f0_z.jpg

If this is how they all look, I'm thinking WV briefly had a Caltrans engineer heading things? Very cool!

One difference is that the california signage is usually closer to the ground.  But the freeway entrance sign itself looks the same

that's true. The shields look bigger as well.

I've seen "Freeway "Entrance" signage in Charlotte as well. https://goo.gl/maps/JcdnPEXCdV92

Oh cool. Guess they're common than I thought! Do Carolinians even use the term "freeway"? That's why I've always thought of the signs as being a western thing..."freeway" being more of a west-coast term, with "highway" or "interstate" being more common in the east.

BC doesn't really use Freeway Entrance signs either, and the few times they have, they're usually black on white, but there's a pair of WSDOT style white on green Freeway Entrance signs at the same interchange in Vancouver:

#1: https://www.google.com/maps/@49.283717,-123.0313927,3a,15.2y,16.3h,89.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxVoUgLnpRCZF1cAw_yzOXw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

#2:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2806291,-123.0316273,3a,16.3y,224.3h,91.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suA3uKP8NShcPN_s3edauLg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

(missed this)

I've only seen the white "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" signs at the Hwy 91/Westminster Hwy interchange (northern ramp only). Never seen any white-on-green variants in BC before. Thanks for pointing those out.

[bcroadguy]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8076/29446536216_d34d09d6f0_z.jpg

If this is how they all look, I'm thinking WV briefly had a Caltrans engineer heading things? Very cool!

One difference is that the california signage is usually closer to the ground.  But the freeway entrance sign itself looks the same

that's true. The shields look bigger as well.

I've seen "Freeway "Entrance" signage in Charlotte as well. https://goo.gl/maps/JcdnPEXCdV92

Oh cool. Guess they're common than I thought! Do Carolinians even use the term "freeway"? That's why I've always thought of the signs as being a western thing..."freeway" being more of a west-coast term, with "highway" or "interstate" being more common in the east.

BC doesn't really use Freeway Entrance signs either, and the few times they have, they're usually black on white, but there's a pair of WSDOT style white on green Freeway Entrance signs at the same interchange in Vancouver:

#1: https://www.google.com/maps/@49.283717,-123.0313927,3a,15.2y,16.3h,89.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxVoUgLnpRCZF1cAw_yzOXw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

#2:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2806291,-123.0316273,3a,16.3y,224.3h,91.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suA3uKP8NShcPN_s3edauLg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

(missed this)

I've only seen the white "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" signs at the Hwy 91/Westminster Hwy interchange (northern ramp only). Never seen any white-on-green variants in BC before. Thanks for pointing those out.

I never noticed those Highway 91 signs before. They're kinda weird looking.
There's two more near Highway 1:

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.1975295,-122.8000951,3a,46.3y,47.79h,81.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRjleyOFopvrmsNv5hdMcJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2301428,-122.842767,3a,28.2y,140.33h,83.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saSDnnUkfFWuY3DtXormvjw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

There also used to be this huge one on the Mary Hill Bypass:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.227782,-122.8194413,3a,18.7y,300.56h,88.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPSanrMSybuAj5_FJOvBymw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

There also used to be this huge one on the Mary Hill Bypass:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.227782,-122.8194413,3a,18.7y,300.56h,88.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPSanrMSybuAj5_FJOvBymw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That on-ramp is a doppelganger for a WSDOT on-ramp...freeway entrance sign, and ramp meters! Two rare things in BC.

[hbelkins]

Some of WV's signs are blue, not green like the example pictured.

[frankenroad]

I feel like this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in this thread.  This is on US-50 in Parkersburg WV.  I thought "Freeway Entrance" was strictly a California thing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2674348,-81.5001927,3a,15.6y,171.01h,102.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTKyqMDmWR8p125bcNtDBbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

California, Nevada, Washington, et al...but definitely haven't seen it back east. The sign itself seems more similar to the CA style than that used by NV and WA.

I think West Virginia is one of the few (if not the only) states on the eastern side of the country to use these signs. Here's another example in Wheeling...

If this is how they all look, I'm thinking WV briefly had a Caltrans engineer heading things? Very cool!

There are a handful in Ohio.  I have seen two sets (in both cases they appear on both sides of the ramp).  One is on Colerain Ave (US-27) at the entrance to OH-126 in Cincinnati and the other is on OH-53 at the entrance to US-20/6/OH-19 in Fremont (only US-20 appears on the signs). They tend to be low like CA.

[jakeroot]

Some of WV's signs are blue, not green like the example pictured.

I have seen exactly three blue "freeway entrance" sign in WA, all of which were in place for a very short time.

There are a handful in Ohio.  I have seen two sets (in both cases they appear on both sides of the ramp).  One is on Colerain Ave (US-27) at the entrance to OH-126 in Cincinnati and the other is on OH-53 at the entrance to US-20/6/OH-19 in Fremont (only US-20 appears on the signs). They tend to be low like CA.

These are cool, although they're missing the coveted "freeway entrance" signs.

[Amtrakprod]

Look at this: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4367947,-71.1901159,3a,17.7y,185.51h,88.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJt_PbyAnOb830YJSCRxcDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
"Use signal for Right or Left Turn

[D-Dey65]

I've been looking to post this for so long:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stop_Ahead_Symbol_Sign_(with_Words).jpg


It used to be on Flickr.


So was this one:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hernando_CR_576_%26_Hancock_Lake_Road.jpg

Actually, I'm pretty sure they were on Yahoo Photos before they were on Flickr.

[Ian]

I've been looking to post this for so long:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stop_Ahead_Symbol_Sign_(with_Words).jpg

Reminds me of the ones used in Quebec, only in English.