The Best of Road Signs

[Roadsguy]

I know this might not classify as "best" but it's best in my book. This sign in New Cumberland, PA. The way they put "TOLL I-76 PENN TURNPIKE ROAD" is pretty unique, I would not have thought of that. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2068478,-76.8752275,3a,43.9y,313.39h,114.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sER2k5C1xlvUf04p432xp8g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That's the old way that they used to do it before they adopted the standard yellow TOLL banner seen on their newest signs, so don't expect any more new ones. I will say, though, that as Clearview signs go, that one is pretty good.

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

Since we're talking about PA, I found this massive Penn Turnpike sign in Mechanicsburg, PA. At the US-15/I-76 interchange. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1992679,-76.9723908,3a,15y,214.85h,89.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sd48BDoomK83IX6xWQFrD-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Roadsguy]

Since we're talking about PA, I found this massive Penn Turnpike sign in Mechanicsburg, PA. At the US-15/I-76 interchange. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1992679,-76.9723908,3a,15y,214.85h,89.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sd48BDoomK83IX6xWQFrD-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Those exist at almost every interchange (except the E-ZPass only ones), though the newer ones are unfortunately not cutout, so the cutout style is becoming more and more rare.

[ErmineNotyours]

Another Washington State multi-lane arrow.

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

I found theese different sized US-22/30 shields while looking at some freeway signage in Pittsburgh, i'm assuming theese are original shields, or mabye they could just be replacements. Who knows? https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4394016,-80.0092133,3a,75y,97.48h,90.88t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slZPu0Q8yQ8i5S8owIvrzJg!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656 i'm assuming theese are replacements because of what I found here: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4393992,-80.0092161,3a,25.1y,140.84h,86.83t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swaridtZpDaXaG7BGKlk8eQ!2e0!5s20110801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

Again another interesting sign from Pittsburgh, PA. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4372449,-80.0021716,3a,40.1y,262.9h,119.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s16BP8iQECx_mWPfbxgZP_A!2e0!5s20170901T000000!7i13312!8i6656 This one is at the Fort Pitt Blvd exit and I-376/US-22/30 interchange.

[csw]

Funny, there's a topic for interesting signs.

[kphoger]

Funny, there's a topic for interesting signs.

Seriously.  I'm not sure what is supposed to make "different sized US-22/30 shields" the best of road signs.   

[jakeroot]

Another Washington State multi-lane arrow.

I think what I find most interesting about the diagrammatic "stipled arrow" exit signs is the lack of any black-on-yellow exit-only messages. Such messages seem to be essential for APL signs, yet their predecessor had no such message on overhead signage (instead only on the ground). Besides being hard to read, they would have been redundant, since it's blatantly obvious looking at the signs which lane goes which place (although they are comparatively harder to read at-speed compared to APLs, in my experience).

[Eth]

Another Washington State multi-lane arrow.

I think what I find most interesting about the diagrammatic "stipled arrow" exit signs is the lack of any black-on-yellow exit-only messages. Such messages seem to be essential for APL signs, yet their predecessor had no such message on overhead signage (instead only on the ground). Besides being hard to read, they would have been redundant, since it's blatantly obvious looking at the signs which lane goes which place (although they are comparatively harder to read at-speed compared to APLs, in my experience).

Ah, but GDOT says you'll be happy for such messages when the signs start fading!



(This sign was replaced with an APL sometime between April 2017 and April 2018.)

[jakeroot]

Another Washington State multi-lane arrow.

I think what I find most interesting about the diagrammatic "stipled arrow" exit signs is the lack of any black-on-yellow exit-only messages. Such messages seem to be essential for APL signs, yet their predecessor had no such message on overhead signage (instead only on the ground). Besides being hard to read, they would have been redundant, since it's blatantly obvious looking at the signs which lane goes which place (although they are comparatively harder to read at-speed compared to APLs, in my experience).

Ah, but GDOT says you'll be happy for such messages when the signs start fading!

http://ten93.com/roadphotos/i85n_ga316_advance.jpg

(This sign was replaced with an APL sometime between April 2017 and April 2018.)

I guess there had to be at least one example!

That sign actually highlights a possible sign design that may not have been utilized yet: an arrow that points in two directions, without any lane markings within the arrow, and a message on either side of the arrow that indicates the lanes that go in that direction.

For example, on your sign, on the right would be a message indicating "RIGHT 2 LANES", and on the left side of the sign, "LEFT 5 LANES".

If an option lane exists, you just add an extra number. To quote your example again, the messages would become "RIGHT 3 LANES" and "LEFT 5 LANES" (assuming the option lane was the #5 lane, allowing a driver to go straight or left).

I don't think the sign is as intuitive as an APL, but would save some space when necessary.

[Scott5114]

OkDOT loves "LEFT 3 LANES" to get out of having to have signs wide enough to avoid dancing arrows. It sucks having to count lanes at speed because the DOT cheaped out, especially when there's a curve or the lane markings are obscured by rain or lack of maintenance.

[Roadsguy]

OkDOT loves "LEFT 3 LANES" to get out of having to have signs wide enough to avoid dancing arrows. It sucks having to count lanes at speed because the DOT cheaped out, especially when there's a curve or the lane markings are obscured by rain or lack of maintenance.

Hmm... use dancing arrows, or have hard-to-interpret signage that might lead to wrong turns or cause accidents from last-minute lane changes?

The correct choice is obviously the second option

[jakeroot]

OkDOT loves "LEFT 3 LANES" to get out of having to have signs wide enough to avoid dancing arrows. It sucks having to count lanes at speed because the DOT cheaped out, especially when there's a curve or the lane markings are obscured by rain or lack of maintenance.

Of course, you have to count lanes regardless with those stipled arrow signs. And I've never considered those easy to read at-speed either, having to then visually transfer the thought down to the road below the sign to figure out the correct lane.

Assuming exit-only markings, you'd really only need to look for the closely-spaced dotted line to figure out the division between the x-number of lanes leaving the freeway, and the x-number of lanes staying on.

All told, I'd still rather have APLs. Less fool-proof and don't require English-language proficiency like my idea.

[kphoger]

It sucks having to count lanes at speed because the DOT cheaped out, especially when there's a curve or the lane markings are obscured by rain or lack of maintenance.

I'm always aware of which lane I'm in, even in city traffic on wide highways.  To me, three lanes is fairly easy to compute:  are there two lanes next to me, or are there more?

Of course, you have to count lanes regardless with those stipled arrow signs. And I've never considered those easy to read at-speed either, having to then visually transfer the thought down to the road below the sign to figure out the correct lane.

Agreed.

All told, I'd still rather have APLs.

Agreed even more.

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

This amazing bunch of signs in New Castle, Delaware. That flashing arrow really stands out! https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6967763,-75.5697346,3a,18.5y,275.24h,95.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZAN3O0kKiJqzLIISyNVN5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

I found these old, rusty button copy signs in Los Angeles, CA. There is no doubt that these are original! https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0344987,-118.2744132,3a,51.7y,17.62h,103.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slCdBQNxC5XWfhofBu3qB9A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Scott5114]

The signs themselves aren't actually rusty! What happened there is that those signs are actually painted with porcelain enamel, and they predated button copy. At some point Caltrans went back and glued button reflectors on the enameled letters to make them reflective. The glue used unfortunately picks up smog from the atmosphere, which makes it look horrifically dirty.

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

The signs themselves aren't actually rusty! What happened there is that those signs are actually painted with porcelain enamel, and they predated button copy. At some point Caltrans went back and glued button reflectors on the enameled letters to make them reflective. The glue used unfortunately picks up smog from the atmosphere, which makes it look horrifically dirty.

Yeah but are they original though? I think they're from the 90s.

[ThatTenneseeRoadgeek]

Yet again another amazing sign from LA, this one is a varible message panel! https://www.google.com/maps/@34.074901,-118.2322674,3a,15y,37.78h,101.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA5BBY74XsetVEouVhx2Dng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[ipeters61]

Yet again another amazing sign from LA, this one is a varible message panel! https://www.google.com/maps/@34.074901,-118.2322674,3a,15y,37.78h,101.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA5BBY74XsetVEouVhx2Dng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

They used to have something similar on the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4319043,-79.9974202,3a,75y,210.95h,77.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sd0W9HFIEM3y_VctPjXBzsQ!2e0!5s20140501T000000!7i13312!8i6656

[PHLBOS]

This amazing bunch of signs in New Castle, Delaware. That flashing arrow really stands out! https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6967763,-75.5697346,3a,18.5y,275.24h,95.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZAN3O0kKiJqzLIISyNVN5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Similar flashing arrow signs are also in NJ along the Al-Jo curve via I-295 southbound at the I-76/NJ 42 interchange.

[ClassicHasClass]

The signs themselves aren't actually rusty! What happened there is that those signs are actually painted with porcelain enamel, and they predated button copy. At some point Caltrans went back and glued button reflectors on the enameled letters to make them reflective. The glue used unfortunately picks up smog from the atmosphere, which makes it look horrifically dirty.

Yeah but are they original though? I think they're from the 90s.

Those? Oh, heck, no. The first clue is that the 110 shields are on greenout (they're covering CA 11s). The second clue is the large size of the control cities; Caltrans hasn't used that convention in decades. The bridge log for this crossing says it was widened in 1961; the signs probably aren't quite that old, but I'd hazard 1970s-era, probably the early part of the decade.

If you meant the buttons, IIRC those came on around the late 1970s, early 1980s.

[mrsman]

Yet again another amazing sign from LA, this one is a varible message panel! https://www.google.com/maps/@34.074901,-118.2322674,3a,15y,37.78h,101.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA5BBY74XsetVEouVhx2Dng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Great sign indeed.  One thing I cannot figure out is why this arrangement is only available in rush hour.  Certainly, the main connection from Downtown LA to I-5 north would justify having 2 lanes at all times.  The second lane from the left should be an option lane to either I-5 north or CA-110 north at all times. 

Then the VMS can be converted to an APL.

[Max Rockatansky]

Yet again another amazing sign from LA, this one is a varible message panel! https://www.google.com/maps/@34.074901,-118.2322674,3a,15y,37.78h,101.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA5BBY74XsetVEouVhx2Dng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Great sign indeed.  One thing I cannot figure out is why this arrangement is only available in rush hour.  Certainly, the main connection from Downtown LA to I-5 north would justify having 2 lanes at all times.  The second lane from the left should be an option lane to either I-5 north or CA-110 north at all times. 

Then the VMS can be converted to an APL.

I'm kind of partial to this one on I-80 east/I-580 west:

4CAa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr