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

[Big John]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[noelbotevera]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not a border. I think that's a red reflective piece of metal with a speed limit sign slapped on.

[odditude]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not a border. I think that's a red reflective piece of metal with a speed limit sign slapped on.

semantics aside, it's a giant red attention-grabber for the speed limit sign - which is what I think Big John's original point of interest was.

[Brandon]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It's similar to this: https://goo.gl/maps/V9QRy3kTK152

[roadfro]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It's similar to this: https://goo.gl/maps/V9QRy3kTK152

Not incredibly weird, since using a colored outer border on a sign is an MUTCD-approved method of enhancing sign conspicuity. However, the color is typically yellow (or black and yellow stripes). In the first example, it appears to have used the color that would normally be allowed for conspicuity flags.

[jbnv]

Wide attention-grabbing border on a speed limit sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.487586,-87.9647355,3a,75y,324.08h,89.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGKkEUcpWOPtNj07dB153A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It's similar to this: https://goo.gl/maps/V9QRy3kTK152

Not incredibly weird, since using a colored outer border on a sign is an MUTCD-approved method of enhancing sign conspicuity. However, the color is typically yellow (or black and yellow stripes). In the first example, it appears to have used the color that would normally be allowed for conspicuity flags.

It's not odd or unique at all. I've seen red-bordered speed limit signs in Texas. Virtually all are in places where a rural highway enters a town and the speed limit quickly drops from 70 to 55 and less.

[TravelingBethelite]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4521133,-72.4626924,3a,75y,286.52h,68.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA5wWrVpa-dYddjoX8myqTA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Here's one in East Haddam, for a swing bridge.

One nearby as an advisory for said swing bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4519934,-72.4623249,3a,15y,236.84h,85.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGjDRaS5xMI8qsfbPlt4TKA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[cjk374]

One nearby as an advisory for said swing bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4519934,-72.4623249,3a,15y,236.84h,85.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGjDRaS5xMI8qsfbPlt4TKA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I find the "resident state trooper" sign to be very interesting also (rotate the image 180°). What exactly does that indicate?

[cappicard]

I first ran into AC overheat signs on our way back from the summit of Pikes Peak in '87. About 3/4s of the way down, there's a checkpoint for such.

[TravelingBethelite]

One nearby as an advisory for said swing bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4519934,-72.4623249,3a,15y,236.84h,85.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGjDRaS5xMI8qsfbPlt4TKA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I find the "resident state trooper" sign to be very interesting also (rotate the image 180°). What exactly does that indicate?

From the Wikipedia article on the CT State Police:

The Connecticut State Police is the primary law enforcement agency for approximately 1/2 of the state's 169 municipalities, and serves as the de facto highway patrol for the state's roadways and expressways. Connecticut does not have a county sheriff system that participates in routine law enforcement duties, as exists in most other states.

Approximately 40 of these communities are patrolled solely by State Troopers. The other communities have engaged in a cost-sharing contract agreement with the CSP known as a "Resident Trooper" which provides a trooper assigned to the community on a full-time basis. The title dates to a time when the Resident Trooper was an actual resident of the town, and had an office and official telephone located at his personal residence. Resident Troopers have for many decades not been required to be residents of the community they are assigned to, and offices have been moved to space provided by the host community. Costs, which include salary, equipment, and cruiser, are split between the town (70%) and state (30%). In towns that have a Resident Trooper program, the State Police will supervise and dispatch local constables with police powers (if any). Some towns with large Resident Trooper and constable programs will include State Police Sergeants in the Resident Trooper program to provide an appropriate level of supervision to full-time constable forces.

What's weird is, the town this in, East Haddam, does have a police department.

[1995hoo]

I get the feeling that the sign serves little purpose these days. New cars don't really overheat, so far as I know (or at least not as often as they may have).

Depending on which of our cars I'm driving, I may turn off the AC on a big uphill grade to gain more power. But that's different from avoiding overheating!

[AsphaltPlanet]

An unusual attempt (by Ontario standards anyways) at signing two closely spaced interchanges from the 35/115:

[SignGeek101]

An unusual attempt (by Ontario standards anyways) at signing two closely spaced interchanges from the 35/115:

That sign is new too (it wasn't there in June 2015, look at the asphalt on the shoulder for the following link). https://goo.gl/maps/2sMdCdyw82G2

I like the green on white, looks unique. Though 'Second Exit' I feel would only be used if that second exit is close to the first, which in this scenario is the case. Mixed-case is also a bit interesting. Most times it's always written as 'NEXT EXIT' (in caps) or simply 'NEXT' at least here where I live.

Was it recently added to the Ontario Traffic Manual? I don't remember seeing that in previous versions, only the G416 and G417 signs in Book 8.

[cl94]

An unusual attempt (by Ontario standards anyways) at signing two closely spaced interchanges from the 35/115:

That sign is new too (it wasn't there in June 2015, look at the asphalt on the shoulder for the following link). https://goo.gl/maps/2sMdCdyw82G2

I like the green on white, looks unique. Though 'Second Exit' I feel would only be used if that second exit is close to the first, which in this scenario is the case. Mixed-case is also a bit interesting. Most times it's always written as 'NEXT EXIT' (in caps) or simply 'NEXT' at least here where I live.

Was it recently added to the Ontario Traffic Manual? I don't remember seeing that in previous versions.

Whatever it is, I like it. The Wilcox Rd exit has no number, so that's proper form (at least in America). It is quite strange looking at the 115 and seeing a bunch of interchanges that look like they belong in New York. There is exactly one "semi-normal" diamond I drive through between here and Toronto and that's only if I don't take the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

[cappicard]

The advanced signs to I-470 and I-335 from westbound I-70 on the Kansas Turnpike always give me a chuckle when I drive through Topeka.

I-335 isn't for another couple miles off I-470. The rather minuscule I-335 shield seems to be an afterthought by KDOT on this sign bridge. Technically it should say TO I-335.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0309857,-95.5802354,3a,75y,280.53h,102.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4tAh_K44m5u9qUeQGvA-NQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664

[AsphaltPlanet]

An unusual attempt (by Ontario standards anyways) at signing two closely spaced interchanges from the 35/115:

That sign is new too (it wasn't there in June 2015, look at the asphalt on the shoulder for the following link). https://goo.gl/maps/2sMdCdyw82G2

I like the green on white, looks unique. Though 'Second Exit' I feel would only be used if that second exit is close to the first, which in this scenario is the case. Mixed-case is also a bit interesting. Most times it's always written as 'NEXT EXIT' (in caps) or simply 'NEXT' at least here where I live.

Was it recently added to the Ontario Traffic Manual? I don't remember seeing that in previous versions, only the G416 and G417 signs in Book 8.

I am not sure if this sign style is reflected in the Ontario Traffic Manual.  I suspect this sign was designed to deliberately be a bit unique in order to make it stand out more to drivers.  The MTO tried a similar approach on this sign at the north end of Hurontario Street in Brampton to try and make Highway 10 stand out more as the through route:

[Mr. Matté]

GSV recently went through portions of Warren County, NJ and the US 611 sign that used to be on the off ramp from US 46 east to the Portland, PA bridge (this) got replaced with a sign straight from US 98 in Florida pre-1994: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9240292,-75.0905912,3a,21.8y,179.37h,88.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sLjLkz8VUiY-H2Qc3epYrlg!2e0!5s20150801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US

[cappicard]

Central Kansas for years had the green US highway signs, specifically for 56.

[busman_49]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules the anything-goes rule, but creativity points ought to be given here...
P1210360 by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

[jbnv]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules, ...

Construction signage has rules?

[cappicard]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules, ...

Construction signage has rules?

The one construction signage rule is that there are no rules!

[busman_49]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules the anything-goes rule, ...

Fixed it!

[cappicard]

Here's an strange one.

https://goo.gl/maps/NNSweSjjqJ62

This is the advance exit sign for K-153 Spur from southbound K-61. KDOT, for whatever reason, decided to outline the sunflower in black.

[noelbotevera]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules the anything-goes rule, but creativity points ought to be given here...
P1210360 by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

Ew. No. NO. Make it stop, get it away from all of us! This sign is a disgrace to everyone.

[TravelingBethelite]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules the anything-goes rule, but creativity points ought to be given here...
P1210360 by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

It's almost......cute. I can't believe I'm saying it. Like, they tried and failed so hard, it's cute.