Bedford, TX: Route Marker Assembly Includes Former Designation

Started by Brian556, October 01, 2020, 11:58:58 PM

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Brian556

On the SH 121 northbound frontage road at Cheek-Sparger Rd, the route marker assembly showns SH 121 and FM 157 continuing straight, when in fact FM 157 ends at SH 121.

History and conflicting information: Highway designation files state that SH 121 remained on its original alignment from Fort Worth to Grapevine until 1980, when it changed to where it is today, and that also in 1980, the OLD SH 121 became SH 26, and FM 157 was truncated to its current terminus.
However, the maps tell a very different story. They all show that SH 121 was moved to the Airport Frwy/ FM 157 corridor in 1973, and that the OLD SH 121 was designated as BUSINESS SH 121. On the FM 157 corridor, the maps show that the curve between Airport Frwy Industrial Blvd was not complete, and that all of FM 157 became SH 121 from Airport Frwy up to SH 114.

This is all very odd, and I'm wondering if the changes in 1973 were somehow unofficial, and maybe SH 121 and FM 157 could've been co-signed on this route

DSC_0088 by Brian Kosich, on Flickr


-- US 175 --

To add to the strangeness, this is what shows WB on Mid-Cities Blvd. at the Industrial intersection:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XaGWFD1RGQhHgXHJ7

But, only SB FM 157 is signed looking EB on Mid-Cities:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JX6HyAjdC1DLGrKV9

If you approach NB on FM 157-Industrial, you get no help.  Nothing saying left (or ahead) for 157 (or that it's about to end?), or even a TO for TX 121 to the left at Mid-Cities.  Not sure what TxDOT is trying to convey there, besides confusion.  And if the OP pic was to be believed, there's no further FM 157 signage to the north, from Euless all the way to Grapevine.

Brian556

Quote from: -- US 175 -- on October 02, 2020, 08:05:15 AM
To add to the strangeness, this is what shows WB on Mid-Cities Blvd. at the Industrial intersection:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XaGWFD1RGQhHgXHJ7

But, only SB FM 157 is signed looking EB on Mid-Cities:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JX6HyAjdC1DLGrKV9

If you approach NB on FM 157-Industrial, you get no help.  Nothing saying left (or ahead) for 157 (or that it's about to end?), or even a TO for TX 121 to the left at Mid-Cities.  Not sure what TxDOT is trying to convey there, besides confusion.  And if the OP pic was to be believed, there's no further FM 157 signage to the north, from Euless all the way to Grapevine.

I haven't seen any other FM 157 signs north of this intersection. Also, the northbound frontage road defaults onto the freeway with no warning, and there is no sign telling drivers that they have to turn right then left to continue north on the SH 121 frontage road. A unique BGS is needed to convey this

wxfree

The designation files are not authoritative.  I've noticed examples of roads being designated and not built until years later.  Some were designated decades ago and still aren't complete.  I know of one that was designated, and the pavement looks like a state highway, but it's signed as a county road.  Also, sometimes improvements are built and signed as the road, but the new segment and removal of the old segment aren't designated until years later.

This is somewhat disappointing, since TxDOT is so good about doing most things correctly.  Sometimes the paperwork gets ahead of the ground truth, and sometimes it doesn't keep up with the road work.  I would consider the maps to be more authoritative, since they're updated.  The designation files can be many years out of date.
I'd like to buy a vowel, Alex.  What is E?



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