Numbers on 3-digit Interstate shields are getting narrower

[bandit957]

Anyone else notice this lately? The numbers on 3-digit Interstate shields seem to be generally getting narrower. They're not as narrow as some old 4-digit state route signs in Kentucky were, but still mighty narrow.

I associate this with newer Interstates. Although I think I have seen it even in the Northeast, it looks un-Northeastern, as I think of the Northeast as having older freeways where 3-digit Interstate shields use smaller but wider numbers.

[SkyPesos]

Most likely a change from a Series D to Series C 3di shield. It seems like Series C is the new "standard"  for 3dis that don't have a 1 in its number.

Otoh, I've seen 3di numbers get larger too. Ohio used to use Series B for a brief period in the late 2000s-early 2010s, and those were awful to read when driving at highway speed.

[Big John]

Series C looks best on a 3DI shield.  Series B looks terrible on an Interstate highway shield.

[bandit957]

I looked at a picture of the series, and I think it's actually series B, but it might be even narrower.

I've also noticed over the years that 2-digit U.S. route shields have generally gravitated from series C to series D. But I think there are still some new series C shields though.

[Mergingtraffic]

you mean narrow like this?


I don't understand why 3-digit numerals are so hard to do. They're either too big, small, narrow or something.
Can't we go back to this?

[bandit957]

you mean narrow like this?

Much narrower than that.

[SkyPesos]

you mean narrow like this?

Much narrower than that.

Yea, you're referring to Series B then, as that pic was Series C. I haven't seen a new (from the past 5 years) Series B install yet; mostly only seen Series C and a couple Series D (for highways like I-170 or I-471) sprinkled in there.

[bandit957]

I've seen some I-275 shields with the narrow font cropping up in the past few years, but I think that's just Ohio, not Kentucky.

[SkyPesos]

I've seen some I-275 shields with the narrow font cropping up in the past few years, but I think that's just Ohio, not Kentucky.

They're out there, though I think those are some older installs, as OhioDOT went through a period of using Series B 3di shields about a decade ago. All of the newest ones (from within the past 5 or so years) I've seen of I-275 are Series C.

[Henry]

I've seen some I-275 shields with the narrow font cropping up in the past few years, but I think that's just Ohio, not Kentucky.

They're out there, though I think those are some older installs, as OhioDOT went through a period of using Series B 3di shields about a decade ago. All of the newest ones (from within the past 5 or so years) I've seen of I-275 are Series C.

GDOT also used Series B in most 3di shields at the same time it put up the vintage Series D guide signs. One such example is on I-285 at the through movement for the I-675 interchange. Note that the I-675 sign shows the customary Series C.

[wanderer2575]

I've seen some I-275 shields with the narrow font cropping up in the past few years, but I think that's just Ohio, not Kentucky.

Michigan says "Hello," sometimes:


I don't really have a preference for standalone shields, but when a 3di and a 2di are signed together I prefer the narrower font so the numerals on both shields have the same height.  I prefer this first sign ^ rather than this one:

[Road Hog]

Plate metal costs money, so I expect to see more of this on side highways as well as interstates.

[vdeane]

I've seen some I-275 shields with the narrow font cropping up in the past few years, but I think that's just Ohio, not Kentucky.

Michigan says "Hello," sometimes:


I don't really have a preference for standalone shields, but when a 3di and a 2di are signed together I prefer the narrower font so the numerals on both shields have the same height.  I prefer this first sign ^ rather than this one:

I do prefer the second one, but mainly because it at least has a shield with normal-sized numbers rather than jumbo-sized ones.  It would look better if the I-75 shield used the same font/size as the I-275 shield.  Then it would be perfect (at least in terms of shields; I don't mind the Clearview place names on those signs too much, but Clearview numerals just don't look good).

[SSR_317]

Michigan says "Hello," sometimes:

...

The thing I noticed on this one is the poor choice in abbreviation for "Grand River Avenue", as I think "Grand Rvr Ave" might be more appropriate than something that might be misinterpreted as "Goddamned River Ave", especially by some religious fanatic.

[GaryV]

There's plenty "religious fanatics" in west Michigan, and "Gd Rapids" is the standard on signs.

[epzik8]

Parts of I-695 in Maryland have had narrow-numbered shields for some time. If you ask me, it's practical as a cost- and material-saving measure.

[ilpt4u]

I think 355's numbers in IL have gotten fatter, not narrower. I remember older 355 from the 90s/early 2000s shields with skinny numbers and most of those are gone, replaced with a thicker font face. Which FHWA series is which, that I don't know

http://www.billburmaster.com/rmsandw/illinois/interstate/355.html
The Bill Burmaster page on 355 has examples of both the newer, fatter font and the older, skinny font for the shields

[Henry]

I think 355's numbers in IL have gotten fatter, not narrower. I remember older 355 from the 90s/early 2000s shields with skinny numbers and most of those are gone, replaced with a thicker font face. Which FHWA series is which, that I don't know

http://www.billburmaster.com/rmsandw/illinois/interstate/355.html
The Bill Burmaster page on 355 has examples of both the newer, fatter font and the older, skinny font for the shields

I really can't tell the difference; they all look the same. Although unless I'm mistaken, the new font would be the Series D that is normally used on 2di signs. As I recall upthread, there's been lots of hate for the narrow Series B, but it would look even more hideous on a 2di shield (as would Series C), which is why it's restricted to 3di use.

[paulthemapguy]

This varies greatly not only by state but also by DOT district and by road agency.  The entire world isn't leaning toward narrower numerals. Some districts are going the opposite direction (I like that ISTHA was mentioned as an example of this). I am starting to see a few more route markers with wider numerals on Iowa's roads, for example, but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

[ilpt4u]

Crediting billburmaster.com's I-355 page, but this is an example of the 355 font difference, in a single picture, from US 6

[tmoore952]

Michigan says "Hello," sometimes:

...

The thing I noticed on this one is the poor choice in abbreviation for "Grand River Avenue", as I think "Grand Rvr Ave" might be more appropriate than something that might be misinterpreted as "Goddamned River Ave", especially by some religious fanatic.

For whatever it's worth -- I have never seen this picture before, and it's been 20+ years since I've been in Michigan, so I have no preconceived notions, or knowledge about what locals know.

I would have guessed this abbreviation was "Good River Avenue".

[PColumbus73]

Series D has always been my preferred for shields. Series C is decent for 2 & 3dis.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2341159,-77.9795366,3a,15y,117.91h,93.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL2cxYR-m7Twg1-VvJQtvGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I've always liked Illinois' shields

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0015508,-88.5878354,3a,15y,28.83h,90.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9bsSXHMgp5D56r7SUyq2-w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I also like Iowa's shields.