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

[Bruce]

A different kind of end sign next to Costco HQ in Issaquah:

[Dirt Roads]

An intersection in the middle of a neighborhood with three different towns (or in this case, including Chicago) with three different guide signs for each of the towns/cities.

https://goo.gl/maps/D4bedEbqrpyjXiR5A

All I'm seeing is a street sign and a "snow route" sign.

I think he meant that one set of street blades is from Niles, one set of streetblades is from Chicago and then there is the city limit sign for Park Ridge.

[GenExpwy]

An intersection in the middle of a neighborhood with three different towns (or in this case, including Chicago) with three different guide signs for each of the towns/cities.

https://goo.gl/maps/D4bedEbqrpyjXiR5A

All I'm seeing is a street sign and a "snow route" sign.

I think he meant that one set of street blades is from Niles, one set of streetblades is from Chicago and then there is the city limit sign for Park Ridge.

The third (Park Ridge) street sign is the monument behind the white car.

Spinning around the middle of the intersection:
   Chicago
   Niles
   Park Ridge
(The fourth corner is also in Chicago)

[JoePCool14]

An intersection in the middle of a neighborhood with three different towns (or in this case, including Chicago) with three different guide signs for each of the towns/cities.

https://goo.gl/maps/D4bedEbqrpyjXiR5A

All I'm seeing is a street sign and a "snow route" sign.

I think he meant that one set of street blades is from Niles, one set of streetblades is from Chicago and then there is the city limit sign for Park Ridge.

The third (Park Ridge) street sign is the monument behind the white car.

Spinning around the middle of the intersection:
   Chicago
   Niles
   Park Ridge
(The fourth corner is also in Chicago)

My apologies for not being super clear. I was indeed referring to there being the three different set of street blades (or monument sign for Park Ridge). That's what was unique. I should've posted three different links.

[Dirt Roads]

The third (Park Ridge) street sign is the monument behind the white car.

Spinning around the middle of the intersection:
   Chicago
   Niles
   Park Ridge
(The fourth corner is also in Chicago)

I missed the monument.  Is it true that the street is named Howard Street in Chicago and Niles, but named Sibley Street in Park Ridge?  I've never heard of a street with one name on the left side of the road and another name on the right side.  (Sounds like a new thread with very few posts).

[Scott5114]

The third (Park Ridge) street sign is the monument behind the white car.

Spinning around the middle of the intersection:
   Chicago
   Niles
   Park Ridge
(The fourth corner is also in Chicago)

I missed the monument.  Is it true that the street is named Howard Street in Chicago and Niles, but named Sibley Street in Park Ridge?  I've never heard of a street with one name on the left side of the road and another name on the right side.  (Sounds like a new thread with very few posts).

Happens all the time in the Oklahoma City metro, especially places where Norman abuts Oklahoma City or Moore (since Norman numbers its N-S streets and OKC/Moore number their E-W streets).

[roadman65]

This one with the shields on the sign being out of proportion to each other.  By volume the US 321 shield is larger than the US 17 shield.

[J N Winkler]

This one with the shields on the sign being out of proportion to each other.  By volume the US 321 shield is larger than the US 17 shield.

This is by design in South Carolina.



One would probably have to find a state MUTCD from the days when South Carolina was an own-manual state to be sure of the precise rules, but I've seen a consistent pattern of 36" x 36" for two-digit US with "1" (e.g., US 17, US 21), 36" x 45" for two-digit US without "1" (e.g., US 52), 42" x 63" for three-digit US, 48" high for Interstates (two- or three-digit), and 36" high for state routes (two- or three-digit), the common denominator being that all digits are 18" high with adequate space padding.

It's actually a pretty elegant system, though execution has gotten a little janky in the last ten years or so since South Carolina got rid of its own manual (I think it is now either a supplementer or direct adopter).  In the past, for example, different-height shields would be centered vertically on each other rather than being top-aligned (which accentuates the height difference in a way that makes it distracting) as in the sign in the photo.

[US 89]

One would probably have to find a state MUTCD from the days when South Carolina was an own-manual state to be sure of the precise rules, but I've seen a consistent pattern of 36" x 36" for two-digit US with "1" (e.g., US 17, US 21), 36" x 45" for two-digit US without "1" (e.g., US 52), 42" x 63" for three-digit US, 48" high for Interstates (two- or three-digit), and 36" high for state routes (two- or three-digit), the common denominator being that all digits are 18" high with adequate space padding.

Maybe I'm seeing things weird, but I'm pretty sure the 321 digits are bigger than the 17 digits.

[J N Winkler]

Maybe I'm seeing things weird, but I'm pretty sure the 321 digits are bigger than the 17 digits.

In the photo, yes, they are.  In the plan sheet extract, they are both 18" tall.  (There used to be a standard plan sheet that controlled the relationship between digit height and shield size.)

In the photo, they are also both Series D.  In the (good) old days, only Interstate shields got Series D, while both state and US routes got Series E, as in the extract.

[odditude]

Maybe I'm seeing things weird, but I'm pretty sure the 321 digits are bigger than the 17 digits.

In the photo, yes, they are.  In the plan sheet extract, they are both 18" tall.  (There used to be a standard plan sheet that controlled the relationship between digit height and shield size.)

In the photo, they are also both Series D.  In the (good) old days, only Interstate shields got Series D, while both state and US routes got Series E, as in the extract.

the design also calls for Clearview for the legend and exit tab, while they're in Series E (or E(M) or whathaveyou) on the sign itself.

[Mapmikey]

Here is an example of a mid-period install (early 1980s) showing the same kind of shield disparities - http://www.gribblenation.com/scroads/photos/i26e-exit119-curley.jpg

I-95's original signage was from 1970ish and the 3-digit shields looked like this one with smaller shields of all types - https://goo.gl/maps/ftUHNJCt7N4Fq14YA

This one might have been a one-off - http://www.gribblenation.com/scroads/photos/calif-sc-nasiatka.jpg

[J N Winkler]

The design also calls for Clearview for the legend and exit tab, while they're in Series E (or E(M) or whathaveyou) on the sign itself.

The design dates from 2009 and corresponds to a sign that was in place as recently as June 2019.  I think the one in the photo is a knock-down replacement.

[LilianaUwU]

Today, on "this type of thing tends to kill people": the arrows on a two-way traffic are reversed on the Exit 53 ramp from US 1 to I-95 SB in Branford, CT. https://goo.gl/maps/zFe4zSu5JZG2pVsZA

[tolbs17]

They look uglier compared to Virginia and other states signage. I honestly don't like South Carolina-style highway signs that much. But, those signs that Mapmikey listed are better than this sign for sure! I'm not a fan of having exit tabs on top of the sign. I prefer the top right or left (if it's a left exit).

Here's a rare new sign that uses a type B arrow - https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5698875,-78.1629153,3a,15.9y,283.45h,91.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szGTUjKj5PY_jlmo_z0dYvQ!2e0!5s20210501T000000!7i16384!8i8192

That interchange used to be a death trap especially with Bagley Rd traffic entering I-95 north because the lane ended entirely before the bridge approach.

[7/8]

Today, on "this type of thing tends to kill people": the arrows on a two-way traffic are reversed on the Exit 53 ramp from US 1 to I-95 SB in Branford, CT. https://goo.gl/maps/zFe4zSu5JZG2pVsZA

[MCRoads]

Today, on "this type of thing tends to kill people": the arrows on a two-way traffic are reversed on the Exit 53 ramp from US 1 to I-95 SB in Branford, CT. https://goo.gl/maps/zFe4zSu5JZG2pVsZA

Hahaha! What is that from? Sounds really familiar, just can't place it...

[7/8]

Today, on "this type of thing tends to kill people": the arrows on a two-way traffic are reversed on the Exit 53 ramp from US 1 to I-95 SB in Branford, CT. https://goo.gl/maps/zFe4zSu5JZG2pVsZA

Hahaha! What is that from? Sounds really familiar, just can't place it...

I thought it was Top Gear, but Google's telling me it's from Arrested Development. I'm just starting season 2, so I haven't made it to this episode yet.

[LilianaUwU]

I thought it was Top Gear

Admittedly, it is a very Top Gear kind of joke.

[tolbs17]

These are in SNV and it must of been done by the city (not NCDOT). I know it's a European typeface used on highway and street signs there. Goldsboro has a lot of them, and Durham.

Surprisingly Wikipedia does not say anything about America using the SNV typeface on signs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNV_(typeface)

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.985383,-78.6859698,3a,32.4y,207.64h,82.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suLqYvn-X8ikC9-YYV8E04Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8180846,-78.2565013,3a,15y,302.9h,89.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-NvueKhDrv-vybIN955PSw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3819819,-77.9828952,3a,15y,256.77h,87.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLA_FbNYUZbXXzGHeSXu1MQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9969424,-78.9038238,3a,18.3y,282.96h,97.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSaR28x2qhcZvPuqObngngQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

[Scott5114]

Surprisingly Wikipedia does not say anything about America using the SNV typeface on signs.

That's because America doesn't use it, some random dolt that doesn't know how to use the font-selector box misclicked a few times. Not worth mentioning on a reference site since it would give people the wrong idea that it's widely and intentionally used.

[tolbs17]

Are these signs supported by NCDOT or SCDOT? They are increment so most likely NCDOT but the offset exit tab and partial yellow EXIT ONLY tab makes me question this. Otherwise, a very unique sign. Prior to 2012 in the street view, it was definitely a SCDOT sign.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0983749,-80.9318776,3a,53.1y,5.17h,104.46t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sO3uCQuD53qJSbK07WH_VlQ!2e0!5s20210501T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Same thing here. But back in the older street view, it was definitely SCDOT because the signs were extruded. But they have been replaced and are increment so I can't tell if they are supported by NCDOT or SCDOT because of the exit tabs are directly above the sign and not to the top right. Or could be just a unique sign supported by NCDOT but who knows...

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.504608,-79.3045148,3a,41.5y,241.5h,100.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD03celZuOXPLUNcPr-3Ncg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

To add, I'm pretty sure these signs were first supported by VDOT and later changed to NCDOT style.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5353588,-79.468754,3a,53.2y,19.16h,102.09t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNOVNY_kBdyoadYGkKB4UTQ!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Same here.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5177059,-79.4747516,3a,24.6y,16.44h,97.65t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYxwtnmlstetXYozJquMhWA!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656

[wanderer2575]

Not "End Road Work" but simply "End" is used in Québec province.

[thenetwork]

Not "End Road Work" but simply "End" is used in Québec province.

....land sharks.

[Kniwt]

On 800 North in Hurricane UT, this seems to be telling drivers to close their eyes before cresting the hill.