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

[rarnold]

It is illegal to bring straw or hay that is not certified weed-free into a pacific northwest National Forest. Sadly, I do not have a picture of the sign but have seen it many times on US-93 just north of Lolo, Montana, and on US-12 just west of Lolo Pass.

[wanderer2575]

^^  In a similar vein as these signs posted in Ohio at the Michigan border -- I don't know if they're still posted, but they went up at the time the emerald ash borer epidemic started in Michigan.

[roadman65]

I like it when a freeway is close to a state line as you get this:

[ipeters61]

I like it when a freeway is close to a state line as you get this:

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

[roadman65]

I like it when a freeway is close to a state line as you get this:

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

and uses mismatching shields as NJ 168 is black bordered while US 130 is cutout.  Nice, but yeah why does NJ get a PA exit number?  That is not NJDOT doing that as exit numbers go from S to N on the E-W signed route in NJDOT world as they consider both I-76 and 676 to be one highway.

[MNHighwayMan]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

Is it really invented, though, when the exit itself is also signed with that number?

[ErmineNotyours]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview* mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

*I knew after I posted this that it wasn't Clearview, but I didn't know exactly what font it was.

[myosh_tino]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

That's not Clearview.  "Gloucester" is in Helvetica.

[Big John]

^^ That looks like Helvetica instead of Clearview, and it looks like it has a movable median barrier, thus the lighted arrows.

[jeffandnicole]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

Is it really invented, though, when the exit itself is also signed with that number?

It's invented because the DRPA - the Bridge agency that operates this bridge, decided to give it Exit 354 rather than Exit 2.  This is on I-76 East.   On I-76 West, within NJDOT's jurisdiction, the exit is properly signed as Exit 2.   Many years ago, I called the DRPA about this.  I was told that since the bridge was in both states, they were allowed to continue using PA's exit numbers, which made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

^^ ...and it looks like it has a movable median barrier, thus the lighted arrows.

Correct.  The arrows light up based on which lanes are open. 

[bcroadguy]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

This diamond shaped green exit sign down the interstate is pretty interesting too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8907264,-75.1057697,3a,15.5y,192.19h,85.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTjNS6b7fvi00JxGYDgJYkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[GenExpwy]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

This diamond shaped green exit sign down the interstate is pretty interesting too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8907264,-75.1057697,3a,15.5y,192.19h,85.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTjNS6b7fvi00JxGYDgJYkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

...And, just before that one, an overhead has an especially nasty case of the shrunken-lowercase letters.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8910076,-75.1058557,3a,50.8y,175.62h,97.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sk5RqAlPI7ZlVs5aMZsdVOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Ian]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

This diamond shaped green exit sign down the interstate is pretty interesting too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8907264,-75.1057697,3a,15.5y,192.19h,85.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTjNS6b7fvi00JxGYDgJYkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

There used to be a similar green diamond gore sign not too far from this location, along I-676/US 30 at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden. It's since been taken down, but it shows up on the September 2009 GSV:

https://goo.gl/maps/EDrt1NdjpQAc9xkf6

[jeffandnicole]

How about when the neighboring state "invents" an exit number that doesn't apply once crossing the state line? https://goo.gl/maps/HcMiNuud63VdGP7n6

I like the next sign assembly.  Clearview mixed with Highway Gothic, mismatched shield sizes, redundant down arrow lane control.  https://goo.gl/maps/GhUnycCmcd4C5eJK6

This diamond shaped green exit sign down the interstate is pretty interesting too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8907264,-75.1057697,3a,15.5y,192.19h,85.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTjNS6b7fvi00JxGYDgJYkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That sign somehow survived a construction project many years ago, when it was used within the roadway to point to the exit when barriers were up.  I want to say it's been in place since the late 1990's, when the express/local lane divider was removed and the 2 roadways became one. Not only is the sign unusual, but NJ doesn't usually use the horizontal cross pieces to mount diamond signs either.

Edit to add: Could've been during the soundwall project; same time period.

...And, just before that one, an overhead has an especially nasty case of the shrunken-lowercase letters.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8910076,-75.1058557,3a,50.8y,175.62h,97.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sk5RqAlPI7ZlVs5aMZsdVOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That was a temporary coverup, when that right lane ended at 130 due to the current interchange project going on downstream.  The temporary coverup was removed within about a year when the lane became a thru lane again.

[D-Dey65]

Remember when I mentioned that diamond shaped brown and white Park Entrance sign along Hillsborough CR 579 in Hillsborough River State Park?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_Park_Entrance_Warning_Sign;_NB_Morris_Bridge_Road.JPG


Here are some brown and white Road Closed signs at the gate to the Juniper Springs Recreational Area off of FL 40 in Ocala National Forest:


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniper_Springs_Recreation_Area_Gate-3.jpg


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniper_Springs_Recreation_Area_Gate-4.jpg

Check out the object marker signs next to them too.

[ErmineNotyours]

All of the original construction BGS on I-5 from North Seattle through Lynnwood were louvered.  They were square grids with backing that angled down.  Viewed from the air you could see right through them but they had a green background when viewed from the freeway.  They were olive drab and ugly.  I'm not surprised they were all replaced, but now I'm trying to find a picture of them to confirm they existed.

I've had terrible luck finding evidence of the louvered signs I was thinking of, but luckily someone on the "there is NO way that is MUTCD-compliant" Facebook page posted photos of Alabama louvered signs, which are exactly the way I remembered the Washington louvered signs, down to the ugly dark green color.  Just outside Mobile.

[DRMan]

All of the original construction BGS on I-5 from North Seattle through Lynnwood were louvered.  They were square grids with backing that angled down.  Viewed from the air you could see right through them but they had a green background when viewed from the freeway.  They were olive drab and ugly.  I'm not surprised they were all replaced, but now I'm trying to find a picture of them to confirm they existed.

I've had terrible luck finding evidence of the louvered signs I was thinking of, but luckily someone on the "there is NO way that is MUTCD-compliant" Facebook page posted photos of Alabama louvered signs, which are exactly the way I remembered the Washington louvered signs, down to the ugly dark green color.  Just outside Mobile.

There used to be one in Portsmouth, NH, on I-95 South approaching Exit 5 (I think it was the 1 mile advance sign). I'll try to find a picture.

[ipeters61]

All of the original construction BGS on I-5 from North Seattle through Lynnwood were louvered.  They were square grids with backing that angled down.  Viewed from the air you could see right through them but they had a green background when viewed from the freeway.  They were olive drab and ugly.  I'm not surprised they were all replaced, but now I'm trying to find a picture of them to confirm they existed.

I've had terrible luck finding evidence of the louvered signs I was thinking of, but luckily someone on the "there is NO way that is MUTCD-compliant" Facebook page posted photos of Alabama louvered signs, which are exactly the way I remembered the Washington louvered signs, down to the ugly dark green color.  Just outside Mobile.

There used to be one in Portsmouth, NH, on I-95 South approaching Exit 5 (I think it was the 1 mile advance sign). I'll try to find a picture.

There also used to be louvered signs on I-495 near the Port of Wilmington in Delaware.

[inkyatari]

First time I ever saw the "cigarette smuggling" sign was entering Illinois on I-64 from Indiana. My guess is there's an issue with smokes bring brought from Kentucky, which has one of the lowest taxes in the country.

I saw some of these signs coming back into illinois from Missouri.

[J N Winkler]

First time I ever saw the "cigarette smuggling" sign was entering Illinois on I-64 from Indiana. My guess is there's an issue with smokes bring brought from Kentucky, which has one of the lowest taxes in the country.

It will be interesting to see if this signing is maintained along Illinois' border with Kentucky now that the latter has a significantly higher cigarette tax (up 50c/pack from 60c/pack to $1.10/pack as of mid-2018).  This is still lower than Illinois', but IMV high enough that Kentucky is no longer an attractive origin point for contraband cigarettes, especially with Missouri a comparable distance away from Illinois' population centroid (near Mazon, just a bit to the SW of Chicago) and still at 17c/pack.

[PHLBOS]

It's invented because the DRPA - the Bridge agency that operates this bridge, decided to give it Exit 354 rather than Exit 2.  This is on I-76 East.   On I-76 West, within NJDOT's jurisdiction, the exit is properly signed as Exit 2.   Many years ago, I called the DRPA about this.  I was told that since the bridge was in both states, they were allowed to continue using PA's exit numbers, which made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Actually, when that ramp was first assigned an exit number during the late(?) 90s; DRPA designated it as Exit 48, then a continuation of PA's sequential numbers for I-76.  In retrospect, it's too bad that DRPA didn't correct this error (by redesignating it as the more appropriate Exit 2) when PA converted to mile-marker-based interchange numbers 19 years ago.

[roadman65]

Here is something along the new I-369 in Texarkana.

Not only two panels for the same exit but the left one gets an NEXT RIGHT in yellow warning!  Then why do you need two panels anyway for the next exit anyhow?

[PHLBOS]

Here is something along the new I-369 in Texarkana.

Not only two panels for the same exit but the left one gets an NEXT RIGHT in yellow warning!  Then why do you need two panels anyway for the next exit anyhow?

Some history, via older GSVs, are in order here.  The TX 93/FM 3527 BGS on the right was added to the gantry circa 2013.

That BGS ultimately replaced a ground-mounted BGS further down that contained all of the info that the above-two BGS'.
Nov. 2012 GSV of the same area.  One or two of the 2013-vintage GSVs show just the single overhead BGS but no ground-mounted BGS.

As for the reasoning why a larger replacement (for the US 59 South sign) BGS containing the above-info. wasn't simply placed on the gantry is unknown.

[D-Dey65]

This agricultural inspection station sign on US 129 near Live Oak, FL has faded:

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3891204,-82.9389698,3a,75y,23.04h,92.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfxAksORAS9WUC6so_Ytt_g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en-US

The orange lettering there is now as white as the rest of the sign.

[roadman65]

Here is something along the new I-369 in Texarkana.

Not only two panels for the same exit but the left one gets an NEXT RIGHT in yellow warning!  Then why do you need two panels anyway for the next exit anyhow?

Some history, via older GSVs, are in order here.  The TX 93/FM 3527 BGS on the right was added to the gantry circa 2013.

That BGS ultimately replaced a ground-mounted BGS further down that contained all of the info that the above-two BGS'.
Nov. 2012 GSV of the same area.  One or two of the 2013-vintage GSVs show just the single overhead BGS but no ground-mounted BGS.

As for the reasoning why a larger replacement (for the US 59 South sign) BGS containing the above-info. wasn't simply placed on the gantry is unknown.

Well if its the same person who did not give the order to the sign contractors to add I-369 (or IH 369) shields to all the ramps that apply no wonder why the confusion.