Overhead Sign Gantrys -- The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

[thenetwork]

One thing I do as a roadgeek, is to take notice of the different overhead gantry assemblies each state uses.  Some states are very uniform (Ohio), while some states use just about every design ever made (Pennsylvania).

What are your favorite/least favorite/most beautiful/most ugly assemblages?  Photo examples would help as I don't believe they have official names.

Some that come to mind :

Best Endangered or "Antique" Gantries:  Those Art Decos still on the Jersey Turnpike.


Favorite Foreign Gantry:  The older gantries on Ontario with the "curved" edges.


Favorite US Gantry:  The California Gantries which have a single, colored panel to which the BGSs are attached to.


Favorite Modern Gantry:  The Simple Tubular Arch assembly.


Ugliest:  The Kentucky "Erector Set" -- the ones with the "Boxy" vertical assembly, usually a right shoulder-only  assembly.



Others??

[Chris]

Check out this one in Italy 


(they have extremely messy signage in Italy by the way)

[J N Winkler]

Most gantry designs do have names, at least for types if not for specific designs.

In the case of traditional gantries with separate vertical and horizontal supports, the vertical supports are called posts (if they actually consist of just one member with a closed cross-section) while the horizontal support is called the truss.  Within the truss itself, the parts of the individual support members which are between joints are called chords.  Truss used by itself generally refers to the traditional design with horizontal members at the top and bottom which are secured to each other by lengths of pipe or angle iron, some of which run at an angle off vertical.  If flat panels are used to conceal the structural elements, the result is called a box truss or closed truss.  This design is particularly common in California.  Some states, including Illinois, use a Vierendeel truss in which there are no diagonal chords, all chords being either vertical or horizontal.  In structural engineering, truss is a general term for any object in which linear members are joined together to form a load-bearing structure, and this is the origin of the use of the term to refer to gantry designs.

The gantry design where the sign panels are strapped to a single pipe which functions as both the horizontal and vertical support is called monotube.  Notwithstanding the designation, however, most monotube gantries are typically fabricated out of multiple lengths of pipe which are bolted to each other through thick flanges.

[ctsignguy]

Check out this one in Italy 


(they have extremely messy signage in Italy by the way)

Man, that is one messed-up gantry!  Although i imagine one of the Italian designers made that up....

Count me as one who does like the gracefully curved gantries i saw in Ontario on I-401, I-403, and I-QEW....

oops there i go again.......

[Chris]

These are the most common gantries in the Netherlands:


I like these, simple and sufficient.

[myosh_tino]

Favorite US Gantry:  The California Gantries which have a single, colored panel to which the BGSs are attached to.

I believe Caltrans calls these "Box Beam" sign bridges.

Example (resized image - original from AARoads)...


They come in a variety of colors including tan (Interstate 280 north of Cupertino - example), mint green (Interstate 280 thru downtown San Jose - example), red (CA-85 between Almaden Expwy and I-280) and forest green (CA-85, Exit 1B/Bernal Road).

[Alps]

Art Deco, anyone?
http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/us_1-9/nel.jpg
http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/us_1-9/nelb.jpg

[Michael]

I like the ones used here in New York the best. The following pictures are from I-690 eastbound in Syracuse.  All pictures are from AARoads.com

Cantilevered gantry:


Full length (in background of previous photo):


On a side note, I have no idea why there are four cross members in this sign.  It's the only one like it I've ever seen:

[cu2010]

On a side note, I have no idea why there are four cross members in this sign.  It's the only one like it I've ever seen:

I've seen more and more like that pop up throughout the state...I definitely like the old design better. The new one looks a lot boxier than the old design.

I like Ontario's old curved ones, too.

[Hellfighter]

Standard Michigan Gantry

[Revive 755]

IL example of the vierendeel truss:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.477849,-90.22964&spn=0,359.956055&t=h&z=15&layer=c&cbll=38.474425,-90.235041&panoid=Wu-6Ki2HT8uVWMQz0rUHpQ&cbp=12,107.19,,0,-8.54

Otherwise IDOT seems to use a box truss on trussed posts:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.469609,-90.22508&spn=0,359.989014&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.469338,-90.225017&panoid=pTRXH7q_yFOWe2ZmHKgxNg&cbp=12,358,,0,-5.81

Although the cantilevered signs seem to use a solid post:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.663028,-90.064952&spn=0,359.989014&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.663005,-90.065055&panoid=a7erpCpURLNYOq7OAbVCyA&cbp=12,77.57,,0,-6.43

MoDOT uses solid posts
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.506715,-90.34844&spn=0,359.994507&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.506754,-90.348535&panoid=RfAR2KDUfo0lU7ekUc2ctw&cbp=12,104.33,,0,-29.63
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.482418,-90.35807&spn=0,359.994507&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.482345,-90.358131&panoid=rXpcT5sXbTQKSPeYaw81HQ&cbp=12,63.72,,0,-10.82

I think Kansas uses a box truss with thicker gussetts, and usually trussed posts:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.935912,-94.740858&spn=0,359.978027&t=k&z=16&layer=c&cbll=38.935803,-94.740563&panoid=9hkK4lYJ8V2vVXhDBtfLWA&cbp=12,314.51,,0,-7.92

Nebraska gantry:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.226409,-95.964332&spn=0,359.989014&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.226357,-95.964655&panoid=r4DRM2JsLHuHc1gcUi1xLg&cbp=12,88.76,,0,-3.17

I think this one on US 77 is an older design Nebraska used:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.741291,-96.717217&spn=0,359.989014&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.741548,-96.717319&panoid=ooYEny6h5vdT3zXS1QZ29g&cbp=12,152.94,,0,0.78

And another design in Nebraska:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.857318,-96.713312&spn=0,359.978027&t=k&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.859089,-96.714477&panoid=ZT82iawat0clQk_7Hm2j1g&cbp=12,350.11,,0,-10.03

EDIT: fixed a link - ms

[SSOWorld]

Here's a classic Chicago Gantry.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.840441,-87.630773&spn=0,359.961419&z=15&layer=c&cbll=41.840891,-87.630769&panoid=O3GZiSk7GL29du0XsiEt1w&cbp=12,359.41,,0,0.12

and the bridge version...
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.859605,-87.644205&spn=0,359.98071&z=16&layer=c&cbll=41.859693,-87.644207&panoid=6wbXZMUJTG9Mg_5EkXigog&cbp=12,9.74,,0,4.4

Here's one on the Milwaukee Airport Spur
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.942617,-87.923455&spn=0,359.990355&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.942618,-87.92345&panoid=ZRNHiN-iBYPGdR3BKCU2oQ&cbp=12,243.55,,0,-6.01

[Duke87]

Is there any agency other than CONNDOT which employs these rather twiggish things that are + shaped in cross-section? I don't think I've seen one anywhere else.

[J N Winkler]

Is there any agency other than CONNDOT which employs these rather twiggish things that are + shaped in cross-section? I don't think I've seen one anywhere else.

That is actually the standard gantry design in France.

Also, what folks call the "Chicago design" is actually a Vierendeel truss.

[Ian]

Is there any agency other than CONNDOT which employs these rather twiggish things that are + shaped in cross-section? I don't think I've seen one anywhere else.

Yea I haven't seen any like these anywhere else, but very interesting!

I like how MA and RI use the single beam style like these:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/RhodeIslandTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5324330227069203122

I also like these:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/RhodeIslandTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5324329358970077666

And gotta love PA's older standard still seen in the central PA area and Louisiana. Anyone else see these anywhere else?:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/PennsylvaniaTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5311013299124332818

Any New Hampshire goers notice how wide some of the sign bridges can get?????:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/NewHampshireTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5353972729827000642

Im also pretty keene on these:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/NewHampshireTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5353972743933808674
and these:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/NewHampshireTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5350720091939193138

I am also a fan of the sign gantries seen around the Boson's "Big Dig" site:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/MassachusettsTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5323963870353675346
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/MassachusettsTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5323964038176005986

Ian

[Ian]

I also like Philadelphia's gantries:

[Marc]

Favorite Bridge Design (found very commonly in the southeast U.S.):


Favorite Cantilever Design (The Florida Cantilever):


Least Favorite Bridge Design (The Louisiana 'vintage' Sign Bridge):


Least Favorite Cantilever Design (also from Louisiana):

[thenetwork]

And gotta love PA's older standard still seen in the central PA area and Louisiana. Anyone else see these anywhere else?:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/PennsylvaniaTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5311013299124332818

Back in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember seeing that assembly in just a single spot in (Northeast) Ohio -- On the I-90 Innerbelt @ the I-77 interchange in downtown Cleveland.

That one was not a bad design either.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Favorite:

[Mergingtraffic]

Is there any agency other than CONNDOT which employs these rather twiggish things that are + shaped in cross-section? I don't think I've seen one anywhere else.

Actually Connecticut is replacing the above square/boxy mid 1980s gantries with the singular tubular style gantries below. The tubular ones look sleek and good.  Notice on the pic, in this case the DOT just replaced the gantry and not the signs.  The signs will be replaced next year.  Pic courtesy of NE Roads.




and Note on the below pic: More tube style and I-84 here has been since widened to 6-lanes plus slow vehicle lanes and the construction is complete!  Also notice the tri-level stack with I-691 in the background!




Connecticut also has these from the 60s & 70s.  This style holds up well.


or the old fashioned "bridge gantry!"

courtesy: NE Roads

[Scott5114]

The standard Oklahoma design:


But my favorite is Kansas:


I hate monotubes. They just have no character.

[roadfro]

I'm actually rather surprised nobody has posted any pictures of sign gantries that look similar to what Nevada uses.  I thought these were more common. 

Anyway, NDOT only has two main styles of sign bridge in its current standard plans: the standard truss and the "light duty" truss.  Here's a couple pics of the standard truss:


Interstate 80 EB in Sparks


Interstate 15 NB in Las Vegas


US 95 SB in Las Vegas

Some things to note.  NDOT tends to make the height uniform for all signs on one truss, even if it could be shorter.  The sign height is generally equal to (or slightly taller than) the distance between the top and bottom chords.  There are also slight variations depending on lighting.  Originally, lights were level with the bottom of the sign, as on the I-80 pic (especially when fluorescent fixtures were common). Then, NDOT started slightly raising the signs with extra supports, as in the I-15 pic.  Current practice for newer installations, like the US 95 pic, is generally to lower the lights below the bottom chord of the truss.


The light duty sign is typically used on city streets, as seen below.


US 395 NB at US 50 EB split in Carson City

A slightly different design (using no vertical members) is actually used in about four places on the US 395 freeway in Reno.


US 395 SB in Reno

(Photos from various images from RockyMountainRoads)

[Chris]

 Some states, including Illinois, use a Vierendeel truss in which there are no diagonal chords, all chords being either vertical or horizontal. 

Is there a reason why they choose a Dutch name? "vierendeel" means something like a "four-part" or something.

[thenetwork]

I'm actually rather surprised nobody has posted any pictures of sign gantries that look similar to what Nevada uses.  I thought these were more common. 

I believe they are -- especially the single post gantries.  I've seen them in multiple states.

In Colorado, those gantries are one of the original styles I have seen being used -- rapidly being replaced by the tubular variety.

[Mr_Northside]

Some states are very uniform (Ohio), while some states use just about every design ever made (Pennsylvania).

I'll agree with that.  Even just in Allegheny county one can see a smorgasbord of structures.  There's a couple big structures over the 6-lanes of the (technically newer) Parkway East Monroeville by-pass section that I've never seen anywhere else.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Carnegie,+PA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.357162,79.013672&ie=UTF8&ll=40.442081,-79.824514&spn=0.010484,0.054932&z=15&layer=c&cbll=40.442068,-79.824495&panoid=-EEmknxaWDSH-e6UuYzZ5A&cbp=11,269.68,,0,-7.94

The downtown Pittsburgh area has a bunch of ones made from (what people must have determined to be more aesthetic) brown beams...

One of these:

And gotta love PA's older standard still seen in the central PA area and Louisiana. Anyone else see these anywhere else?:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/PennsylvaniaTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5311013299124332818

can be found at the Parkway West / I-279 interchange.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Carnegie,+PA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.357162,79.013672&ie=UTF8&ll=40.421501,-80.095224&spn=0.02336,0.054932&z=15&layer=c&cbll=40.42144,-80.095113&panoid=12AA3kDNIbfmjzUh1SpkcA&cbp=12,111.84,,0,-7.3

It seems that PennDOT has started using more 2-dimensional (for lack of a better term?) overhead signs a lot.  I personally don't like how they look when spanning more than 3 lanes:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Carnegie,+PA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.357162,79.013672&ie=UTF8&ll=40.426931,-80.294518&spn=0.093432,0.219727&z=13&layer=c&cbll=40.426906,-80.294648&panoid=e-KgT4Uprqb2Aq9I2qa_aA&cbp=12,263.57,,0,-5.76
(That particular example actually might have been installed by the PTC as part of the Findlay Connector project... but I've seen them spring up elsewhere)
Which brings up the fact that the PTC has been doing their own thing for overhead sign gantrys. The last couple of years they have started using the Monotube sign structures. There are some green ones up (without signs yet) at the Allegheny Valley exit area.  And there are others elsewhere that have been up for a little while now.
Around the Warrendale toll plaza they used some designs I've never seen anywhere else in PA (no street view of those)

I'd have to say that Kentucky has the most consistent structures that I've ever seen.  (Though I've only ever been on I-71 down to Louisville, and Louisville area highways).  But, then again, there's a lot of places I've never been to.