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

[ethanhopkin14]

This was tipped off to me by Jake's link on another thread, but button copy on a SPUI?  Either it's an old SPUI, a recent button copy installation, or signs reused from the previous interchange.

It's actually a really old SPUI. It was built circa 1993 or 1994, when the 215 was finished south of the 60 Freeway.

The only other place that might have a SPUI with button copy would be AZ, since some of their SPUIs were built in the 1990s (such as those along the 51).

The 1995 vintage CA 241 at Alton Pkwy SPUI still had button copy the last time I checked:
https://goo.gl/maps/iMSEnpDVRSkTpukx7

Nice!!! I knew there was another SPUI somewhere else in Southern California that was older, but I couldn't recall where. I even saved that location on my Google Maps because of the silver signals (fairly unusual color), but even that didn't tip me off. Oh well. Great find, and I guess that makes likely two remaining SPUIs in the US with button copy .

One more a couple of miles south on CA 241, at Portola: https://goo.gl/maps/eQdAtZU9qS3Vo8L29
This was the south end of CA 241 from 1995 to 1998.

Bloody hell. I'm just going to keep my mouth shut while you pull up yet-more examples

Those overhead signs are not beautiful though. Really odd arrows and the sign is tiny. But, +1000 for button copy.

Alright, new question: do any other states have SPUIs with button copy? I'm still pretty damn sure that California is the only one. I assume Arizona and Ohio would be most likely.

CAlifornia only counts because you know those are 1950s signs repurposed and greened out for use at SPUIs.   

[ethanhopkin14]

Nothing aesthetically wrong with this signs:

https://goo.gl/maps/2CpVD3adbXJbUfeH6

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

[JoePCool14]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

[US 89]

Do you know if UDOT puts any year-identification stickers on their signs? I see a couple of small stickers on the back of a few of those older signs.

They put the last two digits of the install year in the corner of most signs, but the older ones at 3200 West are probably too old for that. Not familiar with any sort of identification sticker program - at the very least, the button copy signs I've taken a closer look at all lack any stickers or year identification.

[ethanhopkin14]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

[JoePCool14]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless.

I thought that was why. But I turned and didn't even see a hill where that would be necessary. Seems like a waste then.

[Eth]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

[jakeroot]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

These are all very interesting. I have never seen a signal mounted above mast arm or span wire height.

The vast majority of signals placed to improve visibility around here are either placed on the backside of opposing signals, near-side on a pole, or on the mast itself. But the general rule of thumb seems to be: never above the mast arm.

[JoePCool14]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

That one just gives me Ontario vibes.

[STLmapboy]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

These are all very interesting. I have never seen a signal mounted above mast arm or span wire height.

The vast majority of signals placed to improve visibility around here are either placed on the backside of opposing signals, near-side on a pole, or on the mast itself. But the general rule of thumb seems to be: never above the mast arm.

Missouri does it rarely; this example was replaced in 2015. CA is the reigning king of putting mast arms on higher poles imo, especially facing the other direction.

[mrsman]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

These are all very interesting. I have never seen a signal mounted above mast arm or span wire height.

The vast majority of signals placed to improve visibility around here are either placed on the backside of opposing signals, near-side on a pole, or on the mast itself. But the general rule of thumb seems to be: never above the mast arm.

Missouri does it rarely; this example was replaced in 2015. CA is the reigning king of putting mast arms on higher poles imo, especially facing the other direction.

Here's another one that I would pass by regularly when I lived in CA.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0569425,-118.3459296,3a,75y,9.49h,82.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYw96O19zy8dM6TDhX0QDzg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Uphill and on a major bend in the road.

[STLmapboy]

I pass this sign all the time.  The problem is the actual road, and subsequent street sign at the signal is one word, not two.  Very frustrating. 

https://goo.gl/maps/oGzbRzaQ2Ntm3HHp8

If you turn the camera around, there's a pole-mounted signal that's way above the mast arms. Is that common practice in Texas?

Yes, in the last 20 years.  It's great for blind-ish hills, but they do it so much, even where there aren't blind hills or curves,  most of the time it's kinda useless. 

There's also this one on GA 154 in Atlanta, on a very tall mast arm above an otherwise span-wire assembly.

These are all very interesting. I have never seen a signal mounted above mast arm or span wire height.

The vast majority of signals placed to improve visibility around here are either placed on the backside of opposing signals, near-side on a pole, or on the mast itself. But the general rule of thumb seems to be: never above the mast arm.

Missouri does it rarely; this example was replaced in 2015. CA is the reigning king of putting mast arms on higher poles imo, especially facing the other direction.

Here's another one that I would pass by regularly when I lived in CA.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0569425,-118.3459296,3a,75y,9.49h,82.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYw96O19zy8dM6TDhX0QDzg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Uphill and on a major bend in the road.

Well that's an interesting pole design.

[ari-s-drives]

I don't know how unique this is, but this sign in San Diego directs bicycles to use a pedestrian button to request a left turn.

I was there yesterday and it seems that since the street view was taken, a second push button was added to the outside of the pole so that cyclists wouldn't have to dismount.

[Occidental Tourist]

This was tipped off to me by Jake's link on another thread, but button copy on a SPUI?  Either it's an old SPUI, a recent button copy installation, or signs reused from the previous interchange.

It's actually a really old SPUI. It was built circa 1993 or 1994, when the 215 was finished south of the 60 Freeway.

The only other place that might have a SPUI with button copy would be AZ, since some of their SPUIs were built in the 1990s (such as those along the 51).

The 1995 vintage CA 241 at Alton Pkwy SPUI still had button copy the last time I checked:
https://goo.gl/maps/iMSEnpDVRSkTpukx7

Nice!!! I knew there was another SPUI somewhere else in Southern California that was older, but I couldn't recall where. I even saved that location on my Google Maps because of the silver signals (fairly unusual color), but even that didn't tip me off. Oh well. Great find, and I guess that makes likely two remaining SPUIs in the US with button copy .

One more a couple of miles south on CA 241, at Portola: https://goo.gl/maps/eQdAtZU9qS3Vo8L29
This was the south end of CA 241 from 1995 to 1998.

Here's button copy on a SPUI on Haven at the 10.  It's just north of Ontario International Airport. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+Archibald+Ave,+Ontario,+CA+91764/@34.0679119,-117.5932352,3a,75y,224.02h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s_ODEF87fNuJTIIRfFEgv_A!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c335ab9c67944d:0xcfe7f2c6bcfa32e2

My recollection is that the new overpass with the SPUI was put in at around the time the new terminals were built and the airport entrance was moved from Vineyard to Archibald.  This would have been circa 1998.

[NYCDOT]

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8074209,-76.9767824,3a,75y,76.86h,100.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sifwBPzXeW3Czn-qmI4SKdQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Very strange font/font size.

[odditude]

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8074209,-76.9767824,3a,75y,76.86h,100.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sifwBPzXeW3Czn-qmI4SKdQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Very strange font/font size.

looks like Clearview 1-W.

[US71]

Greenland, AR

[Scott5114]

WARNING! WASHINGTON COUNTY ROAD!

[ozarkman417]

WARNING! WASHINGTON COUNTY ROAD!

WARNING!  This is the way.

[Scott5114]

I think signing it with a diamond tends to speak toward the quality of Washington County's road department more than anything, but that's just me.

[Bruce]

Taken a few weeks ago next to the new Lander Street Bridge in Seattle:

[GenExpwy]

WARNING! BIKE PATH CROSSES SCANDINAVIA!

[formulanone]

Greenland, AR

WARNING! WASHINGTON COUNTY ROAD!

WARNING!  This is the way.

That sign is begging for a hexagon inscribed in that route pentagon.

[jakeroot]

Brand new speed limit sign; Tacoma, WA.

Spotted this approaching the car park/truck loading zone of a new logistics facility.

For the record: Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.415 does not permit limits below 20mph, so this sign is worthless anyways.

[mrsman]

Brand new speed limit sign; Tacoma, WA.

Spotted this approaching the car park/truck loading zone of a new logistics facility.

For the record: Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.415 does not permit limits below 20mph, so this sign is worthless anyways.

Totally silly speed limit.  Usually a non-round MPH speed limit means a rounded speed limit in km/h, but in this case 11.5 MPH ~ 18.5 km/h, so