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

[roadfro]

Here's a combination that I pass fairly regularly:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/zYqZ4gwpb8gc3EZi7

If you're headed for US 101 South, the overhead sign correctly tells you to just stay in the right lane.  But the sign on the pole on the right makes it look like you should turn right immediately (which would put you in a motel parking lot).  A little further up, there's another US 101 --> sign with nowhere to turn right, and an apparently random "Freeway Entrance" sign that leaves you wondering if you are supposed to be on the other side of the series of posts (you aren't, that's a bike lane, but it's not labelled at this point).  Finally, you pass under the freeway and are forced to turn right and merge with other traffic entering the freeway here.

(The "Freeway Entrance" sign is placed based on where the dashed line between the two traffic lanes becomes a solid line, then a gore point, as the two lanes split.  So it does make some sense if you look further into it, but on first glance you want to go "why here"?)

That bike lane screws it all up. Yes the groundsigns should be removed or state" Right Lane" as that is the lane for US 101 SB.

This is a very tricky one.  The bike lane does complicate things, but the freeway entrance sign is also somewhat confusing.

Yes it is true that once you pass onto the right lane past the gore, you can only go to the freeway.  But you are not quite at the entrance yet, since you will still have to yield to left turning traffic at the upcoming yield sign.  In the vast majority of cases, the freeway entrance is sort of like your signal to accelerate and be ready to mere onto the highway, but that would be inappropriate at this point.

THe freeway entrance sign should be placed at the intersection with the traffic signal.

A more appropriate sign (that is also unique) is like this sign on Bernard Street near Broadway in LA's Chinatown:

No outlet Except for Freeway:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0667761,-118.2359723,3a,15y,326.55h,88.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sfm_NC6-p7jefl0Ow3TcAMA!2e0!5s20211201T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

It gets the point across that you are beyond the point of no return, but is not an invitation to get to 65 MPH as soon as you pass the sign.

It seems like the signs were probably OK before the bike lane, but they should be updated to more closely align with the current reality.

I would have used additional post-mounted signage that says "right lane freeway only" where the freeway entrance assembly is now (also some pavement markings to reinforce this and the prior overhead sign). The freeway entrance assembly should be moved downstream right in front of the bridge, since that is truly the point of no return and could be installed on both sides of the road without ambiguity/interference from the bike lane.

(The whole situation of this direction of travel splitting the ramp traffic from through traffic between bridge piers is a bit peculiar to begin with...)

[ClassicHasClass]

The kids on summer vacation, though, you can hit.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QYB8R26CNEKqZdLc8

[D-Dey65]

In the only sort-of unique category, Seneca Nation signage north of Cuba, NY:

Just looks bilingual to me. Probably the same message written in the language of the Seneca people. I haven't seen that on road signs within the Shinnecock or Poospatuck reservations.

[Rothman]

In the only sort-of unique category, Seneca Nation signage north of Cuba, NY:

Just looks bilingual to me. Probably the same message written in the language of the Seneca people. I haven't seen that on road signs within the Shinnecock or Poospatuck reservations.

Onondaga Nation signage includes translation as well.

Lately, they've asked NYSDOT to decorate bridges in or very near their Nation with the Hiawatha Belt.  Good ask, good result.  See Sentinel Heights over I-81 and, in a couple of years, I-81 over US 11 in Nedrow.

[mrsman]

Here's a combination that I pass fairly regularly:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/zYqZ4gwpb8gc3EZi7

If you're headed for US 101 South, the overhead sign correctly tells you to just stay in the right lane.  But the sign on the pole on the right makes it look like you should turn right immediately (which would put you in a motel parking lot).  A little further up, there's another US 101 --> sign with nowhere to turn right, and an apparently random "Freeway Entrance" sign that leaves you wondering if you are supposed to be on the other side of the series of posts (you aren't, that's a bike lane, but it's not labelled at this point).  Finally, you pass under the freeway and are forced to turn right and merge with other traffic entering the freeway here.

(The "Freeway Entrance" sign is placed based on where the dashed line between the two traffic lanes becomes a solid line, then a gore point, as the two lanes split.  So it does make some sense if you look further into it, but on first glance you want to go "why here"?)

That bike lane screws it all up. Yes the groundsigns should be removed or state" Right Lane" as that is the lane for US 101 SB.

This is a very tricky one.  The bike lane does complicate things, but the freeway entrance sign is also somewhat confusing.

Yes it is true that once you pass onto the right lane past the gore, you can only go to the freeway.  But you are not quite at the entrance yet, since you will still have to yield to left turning traffic at the upcoming yield sign.  In the vast majority of cases, the freeway entrance is sort of like your signal to accelerate and be ready to mere onto the highway, but that would be inappropriate at this point.

THe freeway entrance sign should be placed at the intersection with the traffic signal.

A more appropriate sign (that is also unique) is like this sign on Bernard Street near Broadway in LA's Chinatown:

No outlet Except for Freeway:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0667761,-118.2359723,3a,15y,326.55h,88.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sfm_NC6-p7jefl0Ow3TcAMA!2e0!5s20211201T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

It gets the point across that you are beyond the point of no return, but is not an invitation to get to 65 MPH as soon as you pass the sign.

It seems like the signs were probably OK before the bike lane, but they should be updated to more closely align with the current reality.

I would have used additional post-mounted signage that says "right lane freeway only" where the freeway entrance assembly is now (also some pavement markings to reinforce this and the prior overhead sign). The freeway entrance assembly should be moved downstream right in front of the bridge, since that is truly the point of no return and could be installed on both sides of the road without ambiguity/interference from the bike lane.

(The whole situation of this direction of travel splitting the ramp traffic from through traffic between bridge piers is a bit peculiar to begin with...)

Agree completely.

If I were to give advice on signage to the municipality, assuming that no physical changes are made to the road, I would:

Remove the US 101 south right arrow sign from the sign bridge.  Misleading and unnecessary.

Remove the US 101 south arrows, freeway entrance sign, and truck restriction sign from in front of Motel 6.  Wrong place for any of these signs.  Your recommendation of "right lane freeway only" would be appropriate here.

At the bridge pier, signage where the yellow trash cans are to delineate that US 101 south should be to the right of the pylons and Auto Center Drive to the left of the bridge piers. [Even though I don't see an old GSV for this location, it is pretty clear that the bridge piers used to separate northbound and southbound traffic of Johnson Drive, but was changed to accommodate the bike lane.]

Adding the yellow diamond two arrow sign at the yellow trash cans would also be helpful:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2406049,-119.1808418,3a,15y,208.75h,91.04t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sll19BmM49CFJPR-1DQckCg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dll19BmM49CFJPR-1DQckCg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D33.47124%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Freeway entrance signs can be put in place at the intersection with the traffic signal, near the existing yield signs.

Freeway entrance signs currently don't exist at all for traffic from Auto Center Dr that is making a left onto US 101 south.  There needs to be signage here facing that direction of traffic.

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/51323583533
The arrows on the Exit Only have a lot to be desired.


Didn't even realize they were arrows until I studied the photos. Imagine motorists at full speed driving past aren't seeing.

[kphoger]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/51323583533
The arrows on the Exit Only have a lot to be desired.


Didn't even realize they were arrows until I studied the photos. Imagine motorists at full speed driving past aren't seeing.

Yeah, they look like when a marker bleeds on paper.

[74/171FAN]

On US 11 SB/US 64 WB at Little Debbie Dr/Artesian Cir in Ooltewah, TN.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075780365295&set=a.10220075941089313)



On TN 58 SB south of I-24 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075828806506&set=a.10220075941089313)





Lookout Mountain signage at Ruby Falls (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075842206841&set=a.10220075941089313)

[Hunty2022]

Found this interesting looking, possibly old font and arrows at the east end of VA-34 in South Boston on GSV while looking at the route for my website:



Imagery is from May 2023.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Found this interesting looking, possibly old font and arrows at the east end of VA-34 in South Boston on GSV while looking at the route for my website:



Imagery is from May 2023.

Looks like a really old town installation.

[kphoger]

Well, it's been there since at least July 2006:  http://www.vahighways.com/va-ends/va034.htm

[D-Dey65]

Intereseting. What happens when us non-colorblind people use it?

[kphoger]

Intereseting. What happens when us non-colorblind people use it?

You'll see racism.

[74/171FAN]

On US 41/US 76/GA 2/GA 3/GA 151 in Ringgold (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075870087538&set=a.10220075941089313)







On Spring Creek Rd SB at Parkridge East Hospital in Chattanooga (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075878487748&set=a.10220075941089313)







On US 41 SB/US 76 EB at I-75 NB (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220075837246717&set=a.10220075941089313)

[D-Dey65]

Utilizing school speed zone signs with flashing yellow lights as hospital signs? Damn, that's innovative!

[74/171FAN]

This sign seems to be QuikTrip specific.  I noticed it at the Acworth, GA, location along US 41/GA 3.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220085750814550&set=a.10220085901258311)

[Rothman]

That implies other nearby places are unsafe.

[Big John]

Why do they want to advertise where they store the money? /s

[kphoger]

This sign seems to be QuikTrip specific.  I noticed it at the Acworth, GA, location along US 41/GA 3.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220085750814550&set=a.10220085901258311)

Nope, not unique to QT.  That has been the standard sign for the National Safe Place Network since 2012.  QT just seems to do the best at actually using the signs, at least as far as I've seen.

Before that (before a slight name change due to a merger), the organization used a sign that, honestly, looks like a white guy groping a black girl's breasts from behind—which doesn't exactly seem all that "safe":



Here is one at a fire station in Wichita.  And here is the same location before the sign changed.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/snxhqz7NZ2W6dwRW9
This sign bugs me. It should read I-375 TO I-75 not have I-75 first.

Yeah I know next year I-375 gets filled in with dirt to become another boulevard. So this will soon come down.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/s2C7T6LAzXJ3LKhT7
No sign also for I-375 on SB I-75 is odd.

[wanderer2575]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/snxhqz7NZ2W6dwRW9
This sign bugs me. It should read I-375 TO I-75 not have I-75 first.

Yeah I know next year I-375 gets filled in with dirt to become another boulevard. So this will soon come down.

With no exits or route confirmation assemblies on that northbound side, it might be better that it read only I-75 as though it's a long connector ramp.

Maybe the thought was to sign it similar to the connector from Gratiot Avenue (M-3):  https://maps.app.goo.gl/QZ6by5STyQS8a1FP8

https://maps.app.goo.gl/s2C7T6LAzXJ3LKhT7
No sign also for I-375 on SB I-75 is odd.

I agree with you there.  There has not been an I-375 exit sign there as long as I can recall.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/k5A4PrVjAnhgU9aD9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rhmKvZHj1LoRrngK8
What's in a name?

Technically the Canadian side name is right as you are heading from Windsor into Detroit.  Just as the American side name is correct as you are going from Detroit to Windsor.

[AABattery]

Around me on US 460 Business heading into Blacksburg is a sign that's just blank. It's been that way for well over a decade now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1906021,-80.4044617,3a,73.8y,35.63h,91.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sc-VXO0EiY9c3rXwCEH2enA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[74/171FAN]

Around me on US 460 Business heading into Blacksburg is a sign that's just blank. It's been that way for well over a decade now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1906021,-80.4044617,3a,73.8y,35.63h,91.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sc-VXO0EiY9c3rXwCEH2enA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I think that is related to "Future I-73", which was supposed to follow an extenion of the SMART Road to I-81.

On I-20 EB approaching the eastern I-285 interchange (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220085829136508&set=a.10220085901258311)



On Glenridge Point Pkwy north of Johnson Ferry Rd near the I-285/GA 400 interchange (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220085948339488&set=a.10220085980660296)



In the same area, on Perimeter Center Pkwy at Lake Hearn Dr (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220085947139458&set=a.10220085980660296)

[WillWeaverRVA]

Around me on US 460 Business heading into Blacksburg is a sign that's just blank. It's been that way for well over a decade now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1906021,-80.4044617,3a,73.8y,35.63h,91.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sc-VXO0EiY9c3rXwCEH2enA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I'm assuming that sign was intended for one of the closed off ramps in the massive US 460/US 460 Business interchange that leads to the Smart Road and associated streets.