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

[74/171FAN]

US 64 ALT (Tarboro) WB at McCaskey Rd in Williamston, NC.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219660646347204&set=a.10219660683028121)



US 13 SB/US 64 WB approaching US 64 ALT in Everetts (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219660651347329&set=a.10219660683028121)

[J N Winkler]

I know that mileposts and exit numbers are independent of each other, at least here in the US, or at least here in Washington, and an Exit 3, for example, isn't based on milepost 3. Although I did read something that said exits are based on the nearest milepost, which I know sounds contradictory, but I'm not too sure.

Per § 2E.31 of the MUTCD, exit numbering in the US is to be distance-based.  Neither of the examples you posted is anomalous--an exit number often won't match the milepost exactly (even if the latter is mounted right below the gore sign) since the number is based on the milepoint of the crossroad.

I have never heard that Washington state has used any exit numbering system other than distance-based.  Many states--Colorado being the westernmost such I am aware of--did used to number exits sequentially and a few of these are still in the process of converting to distance-based.  There can also be some flakiness near route termini depending on whether a given state allows an Exit 0 (some do, some don't).

[Amaury]

Distance based. Okay, Thank you. That's the one I couldn't think of. But in any case, that's why I find those two examples funny since they're just coincidences.

[LilianaUwU]

In the ugly category, a Maximum 70 sign reused to be a Maximum 50 sign, but whoever changed the number didn't consider using a number of the same size, or cutting it right:

Weird font on a Maximum 50 sign, Lévis by Liliana Vess, on Flickr

[74/171FAN]

At Sheetz in Petersburg, VA.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663417096471&set=a.10219663576820464)

[steviep24]

Found in Webster, NY.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1966459,-77.4845586,3a,15y,23.11h,82.27t,0.36r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sh0V_DT6AiN_BOro2viMaHw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu

SENSIBLE SALTING REQURES SENSIBLE DRIVING

The Town of Webster puts these signs up every winter.

[LilianaUwU]

Somewhere in Lévis, a blind left turn followed by a forced right at an intersection results in this unique sign:

Forced switchbacks, Lévis by Liliana Vess, on Flickr

[Tom958]

Crossposted from the Atlanta thread...

My mind is blown. 

First, some good news: The entire ramp from southbound GA 400 to westbound I-285 is being restriped for two lanes, including the tie-in to 285. This puts an end to the infuriating lack of a two-lane ramp for this heavy movement, leading to needless backups for most of the day. Yay, I guess, though the one-lane tie-in to 285 could've been done months ago. Thanks for wasting our time, GDOT. Further upstream, the southbound 400 CD is now its final three lanes, with two dandy APLs for the three-to-two-plus-two split.

However, the overhead signage for the 285-Roswell Road split is now a four-arrow overhead for a three-lane roadway. WTF? Either GDOT wants to cram more lanes where they won't fit before this $1.5 billion project is even done, or the plans are screwed up. Given that there are only three lanes upstream from here-- two for the ramp from southbound 400, one for the ramp for northbound 400 to Roswell Road-- I think the latter is more plausible.



Previously, the 285 sign wasn't there. The Roswell Road sign is pretty decently aligned over the two right lanes-- that's not a given with GDOT-- and I therefore assumed that the eventual 285 sign would have a single arrow. Between that and the inexplicable delay in opening the two-lane tie-in to 285, I don't feel stupid for not seeing this coming.

[74/171FAN]

On US 460 WB near SR 726 in Lynchburg, VA.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663543299626&set=a.10219663576820464)



And as we get closer to US 29 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663545339677&set=a.10219663576820464)



US 29 NB has a mileage sign north of US 60 in Amherst, VA, stating...Washington, DC...  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663563180123&set=a.10219663576820464)

[plain]

US 13 SB/US 64 WB approaching US 64 ALT in Everetts (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219660651347329&set=a.10219660683028121)

Hmmm.. can't say I've seen ALT posted in black on white on a modern BGS like that. Very interesting.

[Scott5114]

When your stop sign is faded so you mount a smaller one under it

This is at a Lowes in Webster, NY

I think it's not so much the fading that caused that as the fact that the tree blocks the full-size sign.

[74/171FAN]

On VA 151 NB north of SR 664 in Roseland, VA.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663496458455&set=a.10219663576820464)



On I-64 WB approaching US 340 in Waynesboro, VA. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663509658785&set=a.10219663576820464)



On VA 257 WB just west of US 11 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219663554939917&set=a.10219663576820464)

[steviep24]

When your stop sign is faded so you mount a smaller one under it

This is at a Lowes in Webster, NY

I think it's not so much the fading that caused that as the fact that the tree blocks the full-size sign.

I think you're right. The stop sign at the other approach is faded much worse and doesn't have another sign mounted under it.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2120751,-77.4725465,3a,75y,200.92h,87.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s04k8o3NYnTltBQVigiw1tQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?authuser=0&entry=ttu

[wanderer2575]

Apparently a birding route in Michigan's upper Lower Peninsula:

[roadman65]

US 13 SB/US 64 WB approaching US 64 ALT in Everetts (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219660651347329&set=a.10219660683028121)

Hmmm.. can't say I've seen ALT posted in black on white on a modern BGS like that. Very interesting.

It's funny that western NC uses the A Suffix still and hasn't changed over to using ALT banners like the rest of The Tar Heel State.  US 74 ALT is signed US 74-A.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cXXJjpxG72wNaknD7
I always found EXIT ONLY signs like this placed over merging areas rather odd despite its actually warning motorists entering the freeway to quickly merge and don't think your lane is permanent.

[Big John]

^^ An effect of exits being too close together for Interstate standards.

[wanderer2575]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cXXJjpxG72wNaknD7
I always found EXIT ONLY signs like this placed over merging areas rather odd despite its actually warning motorists entering the freeway to quickly merge and don't think your lane is permanent.

That's exactly the point of the sign.  The lane is exit only at the next exit, and you need to merge left to continue thru.  Nothing at all odd about it.

[D-Dey65]

Somewhere in Lévis, a blind left turn followed by a forced right at an intersection results in this unique sign:

Forced switchbacks, Lévis by Liliana Vess, on Flickr

Looks like just the Canadian standard to me.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cXXJjpxG72wNaknD7
I always found EXIT ONLY signs like this placed over merging areas rather odd despite its actually warning motorists entering the freeway to quickly merge and don't think your lane is permanent.

That's exactly the point of the sign.  The lane is exit only at the next exit, and you need to merge left to continue thru.  Nothing at all odd about it.

Looks odd, not saying it is odd.  In fact they're several examples like this around. So it's pretty common and in each case it still looks odd despite being effective.

[74/171FAN]

This is some private drive to somewhere at the new west end of PA 424 in Hazelton.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681332664349&set=a.10219681382825603)



On US 30 EB approaching PA 113 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681066017683&set=a.10219681205621173)

[jakeroot]

Crossposted from the Atlanta thread...

My mind is blown. 

First, some good news: The entire ramp from southbound GA 400 to westbound I-285 is being restriped for two lanes, including the tie-in to 285. This puts an end to the infuriating lack of a two-lane ramp for this heavy movement, leading to needless backups for most of the day. Yay, I guess, though the one-lane tie-in to 285 could've been done months ago. Thanks for wasting our time, GDOT. Further upstream, the southbound 400 CD is now its final three lanes, with two dandy APLs for the three-to-two-plus-two split.

However, the overhead signage for the 285-Roswell Road split is now a four-arrow overhead for a three-lane roadway. WTF? Either GDOT wants to cram more lanes where they won't fit before this $1.5 billion project is even done, or the plans are screwed up. Given that there are only three lanes upstream from here-- two for the ramp from southbound 400, one for the ramp for northbound 400 to Roswell Road-- I think the latter is more plausible.



Previously, the 285 sign wasn't there. The Roswell Road sign is pretty decently aligned over the two right lanes-- that's not a given with GDOT-- and I therefore assumed that the eventual 285 sign would have a single arrow. Between that and the inexplicable delay in opening the two-lane tie-in to 285, I don't feel stupid for not seeing this coming.

I believe this may be an attempt to go California-style, with two arrows pointing to one lane? That carriageway seems far too narrow to be four lanes, so I don't know how else they meant for it to be interpreted if the center arrows aren't for a middle lane.

I suppose this is a good example of why I'm not a fan of this style of signage. Unless it's designed perfectly it seems very easy to misinterpret.

Seems, much like the upstream signage, this should be an APL too.

[74/171FAN]

On PA 100 SB approaching Pottstown Pike south of US 30 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681032656849&set=a.10219681205621173)



On US 202 SB at PA 491 EB (I do not think I have ever seen the gas sign done this way.  There is a Wawa on the left here.)  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681079858029&set=a.10219681205621173)



On Society Dr north of the Wawa just west of the DE 92/I-95 interchange (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681047377217&set=a.10219681205621173)



On NJ 73 NB between the NJTP and I-295 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681101618573&set=a.10219681205621173)



Next to I-95 NB in Philadelphia (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681168860254&set=a.10219681205621173)



Here is Philly's attempt at using multiple banners on US 1 NB approaching PA 63.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681177220463&set=a.10219681205621173)



On PA 63 WB just west of PA 611 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681185180662&set=a.10219681205621173)



A couple by the Cabela's at the I-78/US 22/PA 61 interchange.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681307463719&set=a.10219681382825603)



(https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219681307903730&set=a.10219681382825603)

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ewyLx6UMTS4gZwXd9
Location of the far left SR 23 shield is still placed where it was when this road was a one way. Now that it's two way, that shield is definitely out of place as it's over opposing traffic lanes.

[LilianaUwU]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ewyLx6UMTS4gZwXd9
Location of the far left SR 23 shield is still placed where it was when this road was a one way. Now that it's two way, that shield is definitely out of place as it's over opposing traffic lanes.

Don't forget the lazy IN 933 patches over the US 33 shields.