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

[bzakharin]

Is Wichita the only place with this much overkill for frontage road signage?
https://goo.gl/maps/nC5WxzpRts82

No.

But that's the opposite situation:  exit signage from a major highway.  Texas would be full of examples like that, where no route number is assigned to an exit.  My example is signage on a surface street.

You didn't clarify that you're referring specifically to signage on the frontage road itself.

Is this a one-off or one of many such signs? Perhaps there is a good reason to call that much attention to the frontage road at that particular point.

The example I posted is definitely an example of overkill. This is not an exit but an ordinary intersection. There is no justification for signing this intersection like an exit, especially with an overhead gantry.

Not a one-off. No good reason for the overkill; trust me, it's less than a mile from my house.

Why is this overkill? If you're on the frontage road you probably either just exited from the freeway or are looking for an entrance. Why is providing signage for both of these overkill? The only way I can think of to improve it is to list the destinations from the exit itself (Oliver in this case)  instead of just saying "Frontage Road"

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/26912637193/in/dateposted-public/

Need I say more!

[jakeroot]

I've never quite understood why "only" was necessary for lane-use signs ... seems at least one Puyallup, Wash. engineer, several years ago, agreed with me (I saw this out walking yesterday):

[vtk]

I've never quite understood why "only" was necessary for lane-use signs ... seems at least one Puyallup, Wash. engineer, several years ago, agreed with me (I saw this out walking yesterday):

It looks weird. There's room in there to add the ONLY legend; it might look better if the margins were adjusted to account for the lack of text.

[jakeroot]

I've never quite understood why "only" was necessary for lane-use signs ... seems at least one Puyallup, Wash. engineer, several years ago, agreed with me (I saw this out walking yesterday):

http://i.imgur.com/V77Tqbr.jpg

It looks weird. There's room in there to add the ONLY legend; it might look better if the margins were adjusted to account for the lack of text.

Perhaps they just forgot to apply the "only" legend. The old signs used full-height arrows, interestingly: https://goo.gl/I3tskD

[opspe]

Ah that reminds me of this little gem in Vancouver BC, which was removed when the intersection was converted to a roundabout a few years ago.  Location: https://goo.gl/maps/fe686W83KiD2

[Jet380]

The text label for this sign on Mitchell Freeway looks like it was printed as 'ADDED LANES' and the 'S' removed afterwards.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.9426388,115.8456388,3a,76.9y,321.45h,78.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8-N27PR2AwvrMUjRm2JpwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[roadman65]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_State_Route_7#/media/File:Georgia_State_Route_7_Alternate_end,_Valdosta.JPG
This one here is interesting due to the fact that two US 41 shields are here side by side, even though one per direction, the fact that a TO US 41 assembly was not decided to be used is quite odd.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/27560334365/in/dateposted-public/
This one is one of many in the State of Georgia.  At many highway junctions where concurrencies meet you will have a bunch of LGSes listing two control points of the said routes.  Most of them, however, are on double guy mast arms, but this one here in Downtown Valdosta got to be a span wire assembly.  For me I find these to be quite fascinating and in a way unique as many states do not sign junctions like GA does here and in other areas of it.

[Bluenoser]

From GSV...an old speed limit sign in Glenbain, Saskatchewan (just off SK 19):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.851076,-107.0165682,3a,75y,163.06h,70.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbWor-Vv3se981k1Z6gKIVw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

25 MPH roughly equals 40 km/h, the usual speed limit in Saskatchewan rural communities.

[tckma]

From GSV...an old speed limit sign in Glenbain, Saskatchewan (just off SK 19):

25 MPH roughly equals 40 km/h, the usual speed limit in Saskatchewan rural communities.

That looks like a US-spec sign, though.  I'm used to seeing "MAXIMUM 100" or whatever as speed-limit signs in Canada.  Wouldn't the old standard have then been "MAXIMUM 25"?

Oregon, apparently, doesn't feel the need for "LIMIT" on speed limit signs: "SPEED 55."  Then there's New York and their verbose "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" or "VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30."  Who cares what the jurisdiction imposing the limit is?  "SPEED LIMIT" is sufficient.

[kphoger]

Then there's New York and their verbose "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" or "VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30."  Who cares what the jurisdiction imposing the limit is?  "SPEED LIMIT" is sufficient.

I would care if I were to turn off onto a side road that had no posted speed limit.  In that case, I would know what the general state or village speed was.

[jay8g]

I know this is on a trail, but what is going on with those arrows??

[roadman65]

This one here is not so much the sign design, but the fact that PennDOT is inconsistent and ignores a whole entire route number.  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9878385,-75.2390432,3a,75y,138.31h,93.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWRq3DHVamggCSti54t_dVg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
You will see how on the next exit PennDOT engineers did sign Main Street as US 209 Business, however they left off PA 611 for the Ninth Street Exit.

[SignGeek101]

From GSV...an old speed limit sign in Glenbain, Saskatchewan (just off SK 19):

25 MPH roughly equals 40 km/h, the usual speed limit in Saskatchewan rural communities.

Is it me, or that sign looks embossed (or button copy)? If that is the case, and it's imperial, that should be in The Best of Road Signs thread.

That looks like a US-spec sign, though.  I'm used to seeing "MAXIMUM 100" or whatever as speed-limit signs in Canada.  Wouldn't the old standard have then been "MAXIMUM 25"?

You mean like this?



I'm pretty sure that sign is gone now, though it's possible it's still there.

[tckma]

Then there's New York and their verbose "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" or "VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30."  Who cares what the jurisdiction imposing the limit is?  "SPEED LIMIT" is sufficient.

I would care if I were to turn off onto a side road that had no posted speed limit.  In that case, I would know what the general state or village speed was.

I got my driver's license (and permit, before that) in New York.  The permit test book stated that "if there is no posted speed limit on a road in New York State, the speed limit defaults to the state speed limit of 55."  No mention of other states.  Granted, this was in 1994 and the laws may have changed since then, but that's at least what NY does, which is the state we're talking about here.  I suppose it's nit-picky -- you're asking for an accident if you take a quiet residential street at 55 -- but that's what the law is.

[tckma]

You mean like this?

Yes, exactly.  I'm not sure what Saskatchewan does, but this seems to be the standard in the three provinces I've been to (ON, QC, and NL).

[Jim]

Then there's New York and their verbose "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" or "VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30."  Who cares what the jurisdiction imposing the limit is?  "SPEED LIMIT" is sufficient.

I would care if I were to turn off onto a side road that had no posted speed limit.  In that case, I would know what the general state or village speed was.

It actually ends up being a little less verbose than many places where you can see signs like "City of XYZ.  Speed Limit 30 Unless Otherwise Posted." or something similar.  Of course the "defaults" are overridden in some places.  In Amsterdam, for example, the limit on Church Street, carrying NY 67 for most of its length, is posted very frequently at (an unreasonably low) 25.  So if I turn off of Church onto one of the side streets, the "City Speed Limit" tells me the limit is back up to 30 without the need for the city to post a sign on every side street.

[Bluenoser]

A couple of bilingual old-skool Yield signs from Northern New Brunswick:

Kedgwick (corner of St-Jean-Baptiste and St-Andre, by the Fatima Theatre):
https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.6462747,-67.3504079,3a,75y,309.76h,75.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smCR0f8tYKeQHy7do1JYpaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

St-Quentin (corner of Industrielle and Labrie, a two-fer showing old and new Yield signs):
https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.5045988,-67.3957938,3a,75y,342.59h,87.29t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sH4T9MOa3qo9K_AP6-FvziA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DH4T9MOa3qo9K_AP6-FvziA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D24.76602%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Stop signs in both communities are mainly bilingual, but the odd French-only sign can be found...

[thefraze_1020]

From GSV...an old speed limit sign in Glenbain, Saskatchewan (just off SK 19):

25 MPH roughly equals 40 km/h, the usual speed limit in Saskatchewan rural communities.

Is it me, or that sign looks embossed (or button copy)? If that is the case, and it's imperial, that should be in The Best of Road Signs thread.

That looks like a US-spec sign, though.  I'm used to seeing "MAXIMUM 100" or whatever as speed-limit signs in Canada.  Wouldn't the old standard have then been "MAXIMUM 25"?

You mean like this?



I'm pretty sure that sign is gone now, though it's possible it's still there.

I nominate this for "Best of Road Signs".

[vdeane]

Then there's New York and their verbose "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" or "VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30."  Who cares what the jurisdiction imposing the limit is?  "SPEED LIMIT" is sufficient.

I would care if I were to turn off onto a side road that had no posted speed limit.  In that case, I would know what the general state or village speed was.

I got my driver's license (and permit, before that) in New York.  The permit test book stated that "if there is no posted speed limit on a road in New York State, the speed limit defaults to the state speed limit of 55."  No mention of other states.  Granted, this was in 1994 and the laws may have changed since then, but that's at least what NY does, which is the state we're talking about here.  I suppose it's nit-picky -- you're asking for an accident if you take a quiet residential street at 55 -- but that's what the law is.

It's a bit more nuanced than that.  Zones such as "city speed limit 30", "area speed limit 35", etc. override that.  Basically, whatever "[word] speed limit XX" sign you last saw is the limit to assume if you don't see something posted unless you pass an "end XX limit" sign or a different "[word] speed limit YY" sign.

[jay8g]

Service logo signs without a service type can't be very common... This one used be a gas logo sign, but the legend was plated over at some point even though the logo stayed the same.

[jakeroot]

Service logo signs without a service type can't be very common... This one used be a gas logo sign, but the legend was plated over at some point even though the logo stayed the same.

Interesting predicament. Anyone here know if propane is one of the services offered by logo sign adverts? I know that the MUTCD has a propane symbol (http://goo.gl/9vkxtX), but that's generally reserved for generic service signs.

[SignGeek101]

Service logo signs without a service type can't be very common... This one used be a gas logo sign, but the legend was plated over at some point even though the logo stayed the same.

Interesting predicament. Anyone here know if propane is one of the services offered by logo sign adverts? I know that the MUTCD has a propane symbol (http://goo.gl/9vkxtX), but that's generally reserved for generic service signs.

Is that EV (electric vehicle) sign ever used? I don't recall ever seeing it.

[jakeroot]

Service logo signs without a service type can't be very common... This one used be a gas logo sign, but the legend was plated over at some point even though the logo stayed the same.

Interesting predicament. Anyone here know if propane is one of the services offered by logo sign adverts? I know that the MUTCD has a propane symbol (http://goo.gl/9vkxtX), but that's generally reserved for generic service signs.

Is that EV (electric vehicle) sign ever used? I don't recall ever seeing it.

Yes, definitely. At least in Oregon and Washington. Here's a rather lengthy article about EV signage: http://www.westcoastgreenhighway.com/evsigns.htm

Here's a GMaps link of an example: https://goo.gl/U53vSv

[SignGeek101]

Ah that reminds me of this little gem in Vancouver BC, which was removed when the intersection was converted to a roundabout a few years ago.  Location: https://goo.gl/maps/fe686W83KiD2

What is equally interesting is the use of 'ONLY' on the pavement in the right turn lane in the Aug 2015 streetview. I haven't seen that anywhere else in the country.