Aging road signs

[Billy F 1988]

They're not necessarily damaged road signs like those in the Damaged road signs thread. If you have pictures of road signs, whether they be US shields, Interstate shields, BGSes, or any road sign thereof showing signs of aging, show them here.


For starters, this is a closeup shot of this US 89 shield in downtown Gardiner, MT where I stayed for Christmas. Look at how the "8" is just bound to peel off. Poor little 8. The 9 isn't that bad. (This one, btw, is along Scott Street, the main drag of US 89 leading up to the Roosevelt Arch and the gate entry through Yellowstone Park on the Gardiner-Cook City road.)

[NE2]

[Alps]

www.alpsroads.net/roads/2.html

[vdeane]

There was a junction US 11 sign that was peeling, though it got replaced before I was able to get a picture.  There's a zillion on NY 260 though.

[agentsteel53]

this is the oldest 11 I've got offhand. the gantry also includes a rare 20" Thruway shield.

[Billy F 1988]

Must be 1940's or earlier due to that much rust on the thruway shield and directional plate.

[Ian]

Old US 9 shield in Albany.


Old NY 5 shield and a train station sign in Schenectady.




I photographed all three of those signs three years ago, so I have no idea if any of them still exist or not.

[Brandon]

Must be 1940's or earlier due to that much rust on the thruway shield and directional plate.

Can't be.  The Thruway opened in 1954.

[US71]

Peculiar, MO 2008


Ashdown, AR 2004 (no longer there)


Fort Gibson, OK


Lexington, MO 2004


Berryville, AR 2003 (no longer exists)


Blue Eye, MO 2004 (the MO 86 dates back to the 1960's, I think)

[Billy F 1988]

Must be 1940's or earlier due to that much rust on the thruway shield and directional plate.

Can't be.  The Thruway opened in 1954.

I just wasn't sure how far the signs dated back at first. All I knew was that it had to have been that far back in time to show that much rust and colorfade today.

[Kacie Jane]

Must be 1940's or earlier due to that much rust on the thruway shield and directional plate.

Can't be.  The Thruway opened in 1954.

I just wasn't sure how far the signs dated back at first. All I knew was that it had to have been that far back in time to show that much rust and colorfade today.

Right.  Except not.

[bugo]

[agentsteel53]

I just wasn't sure how far the signs dated back at first. All I knew was that it had to have been that far back in time to show that much rust and colorfade today.

probably 54-64 or so.  I don't know for sure if the Thruway followed NY state MUTCD requirements, but I know that the 1964 New York MUTCD got rid of all shields smaller than 24 inches.  they hadn't been made since 1955, but there were stragglers getting renovated, including one example I know of a 1926-31 style embossed cutout with a 1962 (!) issue stamp on the back.

[Billy F 1988]

(from the AARoads Montana shield gallery)

This is nearly 60 years of age. At one point, from the abandoned brackets below the I-90 Business shield, this DID have a US 10 shield, a US 12 shield, a US 93 shield, and/or a Montana 200 shield. This one dates back to '58 especially with the white "EAST" cardinal plate instead of the now-standard green plates for Interstate Business routes. As far as I know, that assembly with the missing US 10, 12, 93 and/or MT 200 shields is still there since Chris Kalina last photographed this one in 2006.

[agentsteel53]

this is a fun one



they tried to "retrofit" a 1961-spec state named shield to just black-border-and-number style, but neglected to note that the reflective sheeting was a lot less faded underneath the peeled-off sections.

[Central Avenue]

I love the lettering on "EAST".

[ctsignguy]

Some signs that aged gracefully.....








And a couple that didnt.....

[Brandon]

This is a style I'd like to see make a comeback.  Plain, simple, a cutout, and rather nice looking, IMHO.

[hbelkins]

Did that US 33 cutout, perchance, come off the old Ohio River bridge?

http://www.millenniumhwy.net/NW_WV_July_2002/NW_WV_July_2002-Pages/Image8.html

[Quillz]

Do any specs exist on that style of Ohio US route shield? I really like the looks of it but have never been able to replicate it.

[Billy F 1988]

My guess is just as good as anyone else's. My guess is that it's a 24x24 '61 series cutout.

The I-70, US 151 and Tennessee triangle signs are one of my favorites.

[ctsignguy]

Did that US 33 cutout, perchance, come off the old Ohio River bridge?

http://www.millenniumhwy.net/NW_WV_July_2002/NW_WV_July_2002-Pages/Image8.html

Yes it did.....i made arrangements with the contractor who was putting up the new bridge to collect the old 33 when they took it off the old bridge prior to its demolition.  Took about two years of gentle prodding and reminders, but it paid off with the whole assembly, not just the 33 shield

[brownpelican]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Billy F 1988]

Uber-aged US 10 shield painted on the old Milwaukee Road trestle that crossed over Old US 10 (present day Nine Mile Road).


There's the bridge I'm talking about. The US 10 shield is on the right.


This sign plate dates back to the very late 60's to mid 70's when US 10 was still in commission. The underpass in Frenchtown is named after Henry Lavoie, thus "LAVOIE UNDERPASS". Much of the "UNDERPASS" lettering has fallen off over time, and parts of the border have fallen off, too.

[NE2]

This sign plate dates back to the very late 60's to mid 70's when US 10 was still in commission. The underpass in Frenchtown is named after Henry Lavoie, thus "LAVOIE UNDERPASS". Much of the "UNDERPASS" lettering has fallen off over time, and parts of the border have fallen off, too.

Is it just me, or did someone modify this to say UNDERPANTS?