Terrible Billboard Placement

[Flint1979]

This is the sub we've all been waiting for!
(if one already exists it can be merged).

In this Topic people can post the billboards they know that are in bad spots to look at while driving.

Ex: Google Earth Link
https://earth.app.goo.gl/sYtpHt #googleearth




Even from far back it's still a bad spot & its on a curve in tight area prone to traffic, they couldn't have picked a better spot for a billboard.


iPhone

You mean this billboard?
https://goo.gl/maps/gMKo8gJCChpCMkFR9

Winner winner billboard dinner, yes everyone the billboard can be seen but is it easily seen, this sub is for billboards that are in tough spots or you have to break your neck to see them. Someone posted a few examples above.


iPhone

After looking at that sign from various vantage points I don't think it's in a bad spot at all. The ramp traffic can see it easily and you can see it on mainline I-95 before the bridge. However you can't see it from US-13.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

This is the sub we've all been waiting for!
(if one already exists it can be merged).

In this Topic people can post the billboards they know that are in bad spots to look at while driving.

Ex: Google Earth Link
https://earth.app.goo.gl/sYtpHt #googleearth




Even from far back it's still a bad spot & its on a curve in tight area prone to traffic, they couldn't have picked a better spot for a billboard.


iPhone

You mean this billboard?
https://goo.gl/maps/gMKo8gJCChpCMkFR9

Winner winner billboard dinner, yes everyone the billboard can be seen but is it easily seen, this sub is for billboards that are in tough spots or you have to break your neck to see them. Someone posted a few examples above.

The billboard in question, from Tonytone, I believe was designed for those traveling on the ramp from I-95 NB to I-476 NB
The google link I'm providing is 3 years older than what is offered for the ramp from I-95 SB to I-476 NB, but you can see the difference in visibility.
https://goo.gl/maps/gjVbsjFsdguxTFik6

[ErmineNotyours]

Does it count if it was placed in a good place, but Then someone built a bridge over the sightlines?

Or if the state refuses to cut the trees along side the road?  (It can still be seen okay in the winter.)

[Tonytone]

Does it count if it was placed in a good place, but Then someone built a bridge over the sightlines?

Or if the state refuses to cut the trees along side the road?  (It can still be seen okay in the winter.)

I guess that can count since its been made into "terrible location"  


iPhone

[Flint1979]

Does it count if it was placed in a good place, but Then someone built a bridge over the sightlines?

Or if the state refuses to cut the trees along side the road?  (It can still be seen okay in the winter.)

Was the railroad crossing in the first link at one time an at grade crossing and then a bridge was built?

[Tonytone]

I wonder why Google earth links act so wacky & the only other highway is 476 & the ramps would only be able to really see it. But that defeats the purpose of the billboard.

There are other highways near the I-95/I-476 interchange, most notably US 13. It doesn't help that, with the broken links, you can't tell exactly where the Google Earth image was taken.

Here is GMSV from slightly further back.  I'm not seeing much wrong with this placement...  https://goo.gl/maps/oVgozux956kpFnfg7

You can also see it just fine from the flyover - https://goo.gl/maps/3ED4onub3vs4vgb18

Are you serious, do you really think most people can really see what that says from that far, I mean I can but its a little far even with my 20/20 vision.

How about this view?  Seems halfway decent.

Or how about this view?  Even better.

For the first one, if I'm in a car there I'm seeing that billboard before the bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8671109,-75.3442747,3a,75y,30.19h,79.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFC_xFUXux2VfPu1uOj41Jw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For the second one, that's perfect that's probably the ramp they are trying to get you to view it from.

Yes for a quick second on 95 NB. But is it really safe to look at a billboard on a ramp with a curve?


iPhone

[Flint1979]

I wonder why Google earth links act so wacky & the only other highway is 476 & the ramps would only be able to really see it. But that defeats the purpose of the billboard.

There are other highways near the I-95/I-476 interchange, most notably US 13. It doesn't help that, with the broken links, you can't tell exactly where the Google Earth image was taken.

Here is GMSV from slightly further back.  I'm not seeing much wrong with this placement...  https://goo.gl/maps/oVgozux956kpFnfg7

You can also see it just fine from the flyover - https://goo.gl/maps/3ED4onub3vs4vgb18

Are you serious, do you really think most people can really see what that says from that far, I mean I can but its a little far even with my 20/20 vision.

How about this view?  Seems halfway decent.

Or how about this view?  Even better.

For the first one, if I'm in a car there I'm seeing that billboard before the bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8671109,-75.3442747,3a,75y,30.19h,79.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFC_xFUXux2VfPu1uOj41Jw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For the second one, that's perfect that's probably the ramp they are trying to get you to view it from.

Yes for a quick second on 95 NB. But is it really safe to look at a billboard on a ramp with a curve?


iPhone

The suggest speed on the ramp is 35 mph and you can view the entire sign before the curve and even as your on the curve it's wide open to see.

This right here is a ramp I use every day. https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4334117,-83.8902812,3a,75y,329.39h,90.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sERzipEb1jgSEzgrvP--ipg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And this is the view on NB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4329195,-83.8906232,3a,75y,4.8h,87.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxhk8Bk9FTOTNPo36Kxz5_g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And SB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4343147,-83.8909396,3a,75y,178.89h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-9N-0o3tSKttewgHzXQbzA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I guess that's not a real good example but it's one I've noticed before.

[Tonytone]

I wonder why Google earth links act so wacky & the only other highway is 476 & the ramps would only be able to really see it. But that defeats the purpose of the billboard.

There are other highways near the I-95/I-476 interchange, most notably US 13. It doesn't help that, with the broken links, you can't tell exactly where the Google Earth image was taken.

Here is GMSV from slightly further back.  I'm not seeing much wrong with this placement...  https://goo.gl/maps/oVgozux956kpFnfg7

You can also see it just fine from the flyover - https://goo.gl/maps/3ED4onub3vs4vgb18

Are you serious, do you really think most people can really see what that says from that far, I mean I can but its a little far even with my 20/20 vision.

How about this view?  Seems halfway decent.

Or how about this view?  Even better.

For the first one, if I'm in a car there I'm seeing that billboard before the bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8671109,-75.3442747,3a,75y,30.19h,79.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFC_xFUXux2VfPu1uOj41Jw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For the second one, that's perfect that's probably the ramp they are trying to get you to view it from.

Yes for a quick second on 95 NB. But is it really safe to look at a billboard on a ramp with a curve?


iPhone

The suggest speed on the ramp is 35 mph and you can view the entire sign before the curve and even as your on the curve it's wide open to see.

This right here is a ramp I use every day. https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4334117,-83.8902812,3a,75y,329.39h,90.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sERzipEb1jgSEzgrvP--ipg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And this is the view on NB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4329195,-83.8906232,3a,75y,4.8h,87.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxhk8Bk9FTOTNPo36Kxz5_g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And SB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4343147,-83.8909396,3a,75y,178.89h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-9N-0o3tSKttewgHzXQbzA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I guess that's not a real good example but it's one I've noticed before.

SB & NB 75 are good, but the one on the ramp is unsafe imo because you have to turn your head like a owl.


Also that ramp that I posted is a major highway & people go faster then 35 MPH & the curve is tight so if you make a mistake you can really cause an accident. Looking at that billboard is the last of anyone's concern in that area. Thats why its bad placement.


iPhone

[Flint1979]

I wonder why Google earth links act so wacky & the only other highway is 476 & the ramps would only be able to really see it. But that defeats the purpose of the billboard.

There are other highways near the I-95/I-476 interchange, most notably US 13. It doesn't help that, with the broken links, you can't tell exactly where the Google Earth image was taken.

Here is GMSV from slightly further back.  I'm not seeing much wrong with this placement...  https://goo.gl/maps/oVgozux956kpFnfg7

You can also see it just fine from the flyover - https://goo.gl/maps/3ED4onub3vs4vgb18

Are you serious, do you really think most people can really see what that says from that far, I mean I can but its a little far even with my 20/20 vision.

How about this view?  Seems halfway decent.

Or how about this view?  Even better.

For the first one, if I'm in a car there I'm seeing that billboard before the bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8671109,-75.3442747,3a,75y,30.19h,79.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFC_xFUXux2VfPu1uOj41Jw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For the second one, that's perfect that's probably the ramp they are trying to get you to view it from.

Yes for a quick second on 95 NB. But is it really safe to look at a billboard on a ramp with a curve?


iPhone

The suggest speed on the ramp is 35 mph and you can view the entire sign before the curve and even as your on the curve it's wide open to see.

This right here is a ramp I use every day. https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4334117,-83.8902812,3a,75y,329.39h,90.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sERzipEb1jgSEzgrvP--ipg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And this is the view on NB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4329195,-83.8906232,3a,75y,4.8h,87.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxhk8Bk9FTOTNPo36Kxz5_g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And SB I-75
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4343147,-83.8909396,3a,75y,178.89h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-9N-0o3tSKttewgHzXQbzA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I guess that's not a real good example but it's one I've noticed before.

SB & NB 75 are good, but the one on the ramp is unsafe imo because you have to turn your head like a owl.


Also that ramp that I posted is a major highway & people go faster then 35 MPH & the curve is tight so if you make a mistake you can really cause an accident. Looking at that billboard is the last of anyone's concern in that area. Thats why its bad placement.


iPhone

You don't have to turn your head to see that sign, the vantage point I had the GSV at was after the curve. Here's the same ramp with the GSV moved back slightly. I could go take a picture of it myself too. Even if you did turn your head to look at it that's not that big of a deal. Most traffic going around that curve is going about 60 mph. Honestly though it's a sign meant for I-75 traffic. In the GSV they are advertising for Covenant Hospital which in reality you'd have to take I-675 to get to anyway. The other side of the sign is advertising for some website. It's not much of a distraction though on the ramp.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4319982,-83.8890185,3a,20.2y,339.91h,90.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOhnIUFPkLR6FTH6ZmmisYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Flint1979]

As for the billboard in Philly you're still going to be able to see the sign regardless of how fast you are driving on the ramp. 35 is only the suggested speed I'd probably be doing about 50 mph around that ramp.

[Flint1979]

I just drove past the sign that I mentioned earlier and I read the whole sign before the curve doing 70 miles an hour

[jon daly]

I think that they're a form of visual pollution and wouldn't mind if they were banned.

That said, I have a soft spot for large gas station signs.

[bdmoss88]

I drive past this one all the time, for the bingo hall/old dog track. It's been there for years. It's on northbound I-85 about a quarter mile north of exit 22.

https://goo.gl/maps/PzmF446RAKpLUT2D7

[roadman]

Meanwhile, AFAIK, Maine and Vermont don't allow for billboard advertising along their interstates.

I sometimes wonder if billboard advertising is up to the state or town here in Connecticut. A great example is I-84 in Waterbury, between the CT Route 8 exits east to the Cheshire town line. The line of tall and giant billboards (some electronic) literally stop at that point. You don't see any again until at least the next town (Southington, in Hartford County).

There was once an unintended connection of billboards in the Milford, CT area of I-95. I want to to say they were for:

A V.I.P. place for adult toys and lingerie, etc.
Five Guys
A touring exhibit for the late Princess Diana which was at Foxwoods at the time. 

In Massachusetts, billboard advertising adjacent to Interstates and freeways is overseen and approved by MassDOT.  However, a request to place billboards requires local approval (including a public hearing) before the application can be reviewed.

[Tonytone]

Yes, it is easily seen.  I have never had an issue seeing it from the various vantage points, and obviously someone is paying good money to advertise there so they would agree too. 
Tonytone, you are the only person so far who thinks otherwise.  Why is that?

I just think this billboard is in a bad spot, with all the traffic that can occur & people driving like idiots, I would not look at that billboard. But since that wasn't a good example, let me find some more .


iPhone

[Flint1979]

Yes, it is easily seen.  I have never had an issue seeing it from the various vantage points, and obviously someone is paying good money to advertise there so they would agree too. 
Tonytone, you are the only person so far who thinks otherwise.  Why is that?

I just think this billboard is in a bad spot, with all the traffic that can occur & people driving like idiots, I would not look at that billboard. But since that wasn't a good example, let me find some more .


iPhone

Well you'd be looking at that billboard regardless if you were trying to or not since it's right in front of you. It does not require you to turn your head that violently to read it.

[Tonytone]

Yes, it is easily seen.  I have never had an issue seeing it from the various vantage points, and obviously someone is paying good money to advertise there so they would agree too. 
Tonytone, you are the only person so far who thinks otherwise.  Why is that?

I just think this billboard is in a bad spot, with all the traffic that can occur & people driving like idiots, I would not look at that billboard. But since that wasn't a good example, let me find some more .


iPhone

Well you'd be looking at that billboard regardless if you were trying to or not since it's right in front of you. It does not require you to turn your head that violently to read it.

What! You cannot force me to look at that billboard thats Communist behavior.


iPhone

[Flint1979]

Yes, it is easily seen.  I have never had an issue seeing it from the various vantage points, and obviously someone is paying good money to advertise there so they would agree too. 
Tonytone, you are the only person so far who thinks otherwise.  Why is that?

I just think this billboard is in a bad spot, with all the traffic that can occur & people driving like idiots, I would not look at that billboard. But since that wasn't a good example, let me find some more .


iPhone

Well you'd be looking at that billboard regardless if you were trying to or not since it's right in front of you. It does not require you to turn your head that violently to read it.

What! You cannot force me to look at that billboard thats Communist behavior.


iPhone

Where else you going to be looking? The side of the road? I'm not getting how you don't understand that the sign can be read before the curve or even while on the curve.

[roadman]

I think that they're a form of visual pollution and wouldn't mind if they were banned.

That said, I have a soft spot for large gas station signs.

The big thing around the Boston area of late is companies converting their static boards to digital, which can reasonably support 5 to 6 messages.  So why aren't companies who petition for converting a location to a digital board required to remove 4 to 5 of their other static boards?

The other odd thing about billboards adjacent to Interstates is that they can have a minimum spacing of 500 feet between billboards.  Yet, the minimum spacing between major guide sign sis 800 feet.  So, the billboards with the less critical messages can be spaced more closely together than the guide signs with important messages.  Am I the only one who sees something wrong here?

[kphoger]

The big thing around the Boston area of late is companies converting their static boards to digital, which can reasonably support 5 to 6 messages.  So why aren't companies who petition for converting a location to a digital board required to remove 4 to 5 of their other static boards?

That math doesn't work out.  Each message can only been seen 20% of the time.  On a static sign, the message is visible 100% of the time.

[Tonytone]

I think that they're a form of visual pollution and wouldn't mind if they were banned.

That said, I have a soft spot for large gas station signs.

The big thing around the Boston area of late is companies converting their static boards to digital, which can reasonably support 5 to 6 messages.  So why aren't companies who petition for converting a location to a digital board required to remove 4 to 5 of their other static boards?

The other odd thing about billboards adjacent to Interstates is that they can have a minimum spacing of 500 feet between billboards.  Yet, the minimum spacing between major guide sign sis 800 feet.  So, the billboards with the less critical messages can be spaced more closely together than the guide signs with important messages.  Am I the only one who sees something wrong here?

I guess the advertisements pay to play in this situation, but then again the difference in spacing of feet between the billboards could be because they want you to see the advertisements first & then the Guide signs next, or vice versa. You cant look at both at the same time.... this is unless you're crossed eyed.


iPhone

[sparker]

When US 99 was expanded out to an expressway in the San Joaquin Valley in the '50's, there was always one anomaly that affected NB traffic between Madera and the CA 152 junction -- the carriageway, which was the closest to the RR tracks at that point, swerved on a westward arc on about a 50-60' center (into the median) to avoid a single billboard that for some reason had been placed farther away from the tracks than others along that same segment.  That persisted throughout the '80's and into the early '90's (long after it became CA 99), and wasn't corrected until the initial project to convert that section into a full freeway ca. 1994; at which point all the billboards, including the oddly placed one, were removed and the carriageway straightened out (that particular location became a merge point from a diamond on-ramp).  IIRC, this was an older-style billboard perched on a massive base; most of its neighbors were on single or dual poles -- and invariably carried advertising for a broker dealing in farm equipment insurance (not surprising for the region).  But how that particular billboard got what amounted to a "pass" from the Division of Highways/Caltrans had always intrigued me -- but not to the point where I did any more than ask my now ex-wife (Madera-based attorney) if she, being a local, knew anything about the situation (she didn't).  Today, obviously a moot issue.   

[Roadwarriors79]

Billboard restrictions vary from state to state. Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, and Vermont have banned billboards for decades.