Then and Now

[agentsteel53]

I like the use of the Maine custom font on the exit numbers.

here is a sign in Tennessee that is slowly peeling to oblivion.  It is a 1948 specification sign that was originally a white square that had the black background added on sometime after 1961 to update it to the newer specs.

1993 (HB Elkins):


2007 (HB Elkins):


2010 (me):

[hm insulators]

That sign's definitely seen better days!

[MDOTFanFB]

Unsigned BS I-375 in downtown Detroit. First photo by Howard Goldman, 2003.


What it looks 7 years later, taken by me.



I-75 northbound entering Michigan. First photo by AARoads, 2005.


6 years later...

[Roadsign199qc]

I don't have photos, but I have seen a brand new Québec 199 sud, and, 1 year later, the half of the Sud was gone!

EDIT: I will try to have photos.

[US71]

2007 (HB Elkins):

That's so faded, it almost looks like white numbers on black. Someone needs to rescue that poor thing 

[agentsteel53]

That's so faded, it almost looks like white numbers on black. Someone needs to rescue that poor thing  

it is one of four known state-named shields in Tennessee (not counting the ubiquitous post-1982 state route markers).  No known state-named interstates (please! won't somebody find one for us!) and that US-25E, a pair of US-78s in Memphis...



the remarkable thing about that 78 pair is that they sit on current, mainline US-78 - not an obscure side street or anything.  the only reason no one has gone and stolen them yet is that they are difficult to remove (you'd have to set your stepladder into the middle of traffic) and too badly worn to be all that valuable.

and there is another 25E which is clearly of recent, local manufacture, but it they must've decided to carbon-copy an older sign, because it says "Tennessee US 25E", just like back in the day.  the shield shape is wrong, the fonts are wrong; I do not yet have it uploaded to the shield gallery but apart from it being a rude facsimile of a classic sign, it really isn't much to write home about.  let's just say I found out that it existed about 6 months ago, and I have not yet knocked over heaven and earth to log into Orbitz and book a plane ticket to photograph it.

I also know of two of the old triangle route markers with the TENN... a 68 and a 99.  So that makes six old-style markers in existence in TN.  

[agentsteel53]

let's just say I found out that it existed about 6 months ago, and I have not yet knocked over heaven and earth to log into Orbitz and book a plane ticket to photograph it.

here is a sign gantry for which I did, upon learning of their existence, book a flight the very next weekend to get my own photos.



I'm not going to say where the shields are.  In fact, I will attempt to throw everyone off course by insisting that they reside in a state whose name begins with the letter "E".

[ctsignguy]

let's just say I found out that it existed about 6 months ago, and I have not yet knocked over heaven and earth to log into Orbitz and book a plane ticket to photograph it.

here is a sign gantry for which I did, upon learning of their existence, book a flight the very next weekend to get my own photos.



I'm not going to say where the shields are.  In fact, I will attempt to throw everyone off course by insisting that they reside in a state whose name begins with the letter "E".

And their mascot is a cute cuddly kitten, right?

[agentsteel53]

And their mascot is a cute cuddly kitten, right?

if by kitten you mean "goat"... then, yes.

[hbelkins]

it is one of four known state-named shields in Tennessee (not counting the ubiquitous post-1982 state route markers).  No known state-named interstates (please! won't somebody find one for us!) and that US-25E, a pair of US-78s in Memphis...

On a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. many years ago with my wife, I saw two state-named I-40 shields southbound on Winfield Dunn Parkway approaching the interstate at Exit 407. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the ready and had already gotten on I-40 before what I saw had registered. I always said I would remember to get a photo the next time we went back, as we were regular vacationers there, but alas we haven't been back since and it's been 11 years. With the amount of development north of the exit since then, and what appears to be a minor widening of the road a bit north to accommodate the Bass Pro Shops and baseball stadium, I'd say those signs are long-gone.

[agentsteel53]

On a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. many years ago with my wife, I saw two state-named I-40 shields southbound on Winfield Dunn Parkway approaching the interstate at Exit 407. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the ready and had already gotten on I-40 before what I saw had registered. I always said I would remember to get a photo the next time we went back, as we were regular vacationers there, but alas we haven't been back since and it's been 11 years. With the amount of development north of the exit since then, and what appears to be a minor widening of the road a bit north to accommodate the Bass Pro Shops and baseball stadium, I'd say those signs are long-gone.

those are, alas, quite gone.  as is the old-style 73 shield on a brown sign.



the last time I saw a Tennessee state-named shield was January 1st, 2006.  It was on 640 westbound and I do not remember if it was a 640 or a "TO 40", but it was the last shield before the merge with 40.

[hbelkins]

Wonder if this one is still up?

[agentsteel53]

Wonder if this one is still up?

the link is broken.  and copying and pasting as a direct image is also broken.

[NE2]

Works fine for me... What kind of 'broken' is it for you?

[hbelkins]

http://www.millenniumhwy.net/interestingsigns/tn/441-73parksign.jpg

[Alex]

I-85 northbound at Exit 106 2005:



I-85 northbound at Exit 106 2011:

[agentsteel53]

Works fine for me... What kind of 'broken' is it for you?

I do not recall... but, a year later, it works fine.

I did not see the sign in Feb, 2010 - but I did not know where it was so I did not go out of my way specifically to look for it.

with regard to the Georgia gantry Alex posted - I thought GA was using EM instead of D on their signs now?

[Eth]

with regard to the Georgia gantry Alex posted - I thought GA was using EM instead of D on their signs now?

Yes, but that only started very recently (2010? 2011?) and I'm pretty sure these signs were replaced before that change.

All the HOT lane signage, however, is new enough to be in E(M).  It's a little hard to make out, but that next BGS at the far left of the photo is E(M).

[Morriswa]

I-95 northbound just after entering Maine. First photo by Michael Summa in 1976:


43 years later, a photo my me:


I-395 northbound at exit 10 in Washington, DC. First photo by Alex on June 2nd, 2003:


7 years later, a carbon copied replacement:

1976+43=2019!  Are you saying that you went into the future to take this photo?

[Ian]

1976+43=2019!  Are you saying that you went into the future to take this photo?

Why yes, yes I am. (I seriously don't know where I got 43 from. I obviously calculated it wrong)

[Morriswa]

So how long was it, 33?

[Ian]

So how long was it, 33?

Yes 

[Morriswa]

It seems like you "fat-fingered" it.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

Here's a gantry on northbound 101 at the Tully Road intersection in San Jose.

Before:


After:


New signs have been installed as a result of the Tully Road reconstruction.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

Another before/after shot. This one is the CA-58 eastern terminus on I-15.

Before (July 2011):


After cardinal directions were added (January 2013):