Connecticut News

[cl94]

I remember seeing some Clearview-looking street blades on Burnside Avenue in East Hartford a few years ago.

From my experience/observations, the fonts on streetblade signs vary a lot, even along state-onwed/maintained roadways; so seeing one in Clearview in a state that does normally use Clearview on their highway signs doesn't surprise me or is that unusual.

Similarly, in NY, there are some COUNTIES and CITIES that have used Clearview for several years, to the point where I expect Clearview in these municipalities even if no statewide agency currently uses it. Westchester County and Saratoga Springs immediately ring a bell there.

[Duke87]

I remember seeing some Clearview-looking street blades on Burnside Avenue in East Hartford a few years ago.

From my experience/observations, the fonts on streetblade signs vary a lot, even along state-onwed/maintained roadways; so seeing one in Clearview in a state that does normally use Clearview on their highway signs doesn't surprise me or is that unusual.

There's a very simple reason for this: ConnDOT is generally not responsible for street sign blades. Those Clearview signs on US 44 in East Hartford were installed by the town of East Hartford. Note how you can find examples of the same style of sign in East Hartford at intersections between two locally-maintained streets.

[RobbieL2415]

I mean, ConnDOT didn't name those streets.  Locals did.

[DJ Particle]

Before, the current style of signage on the Merritt Pkwy with the odd font were these 1970's non-reflective button copy signs that actually had the outline shields and hung over the highway.  This was also before Exit 44 was simplified.
(Contributed Photo to CTPost of unknown photographer)

I remember those signs.  Many of them were up as late as the early 1990s. (the Merritt was part of my "major snow avoidance" route from Cape Cod to Ithaca NY)

[shadyjay]

The state outline shields on the Merritt were around until the late 1990s, until the first round of sign replacement came through in 2000.  Prior to that, spot sign replacement for certain exits had taken place.  This included Exits 39 & 40 due to the slight northward extension of the US 7 expressway (resulting in Phase III signage), and the removal of ramps at Exit 44 (Fairfield, pictured above) and Exit 53 (Stratford).  This resulted in the unique Merritt Parkway signage being put up at those exits, though Exit 53-SB would wait until the rebuild of the Sikorsky Bridge before it got the fancy new signs. 

[RobbieL2415]

The state outline shields on the Merritt were around until the late 1990s, until the first round of sign replacement came through in 2000.  Prior to that, spot sign replacement for certain exits had taken place.  This included Exits 39 & 40 due to the slight northward extension of the US 7 expressway (resulting in Phase III signage), and the removal of ramps at Exit 44 (Fairfield, pictured above) and Exit 53 (Stratford).  This resulted in the unique Merritt Parkway signage being put up at those exits, though Exit 53-SB would wait until the rebuild of the Sikorsky Bridge before it got the fancy new signs.

The last time I ever saw a state-shaped SR shield was NB at the Sikorsky Bridge.  It's been gone since it was rebuilt.

[shadyjay]

Not sure if any of them are still there, but the backwoods of Greenwich used to have several.  In fact, here's some that may still be in the wild:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0988264,-73.5812145,3a,38.9y,194.48h,78.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVbFuh5gscWyyBrzuYZgYaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0907412,-73.6475686,3a,38y,189.32h,79.97t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1smEeM0PhvSSwM2q3pah5wjQ!2e0!5s20151201T000000!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DmEeM0PhvSSwM2q3pah5wjQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D28.418392%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0906911,-73.6479459,3a,75y,34.97h,73.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sipmsNbtpFWTvYGEyp-yt2g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Most of these have a streetview date of 2015.  They could still be there.  Really like that last one, as its unique, with the name of the road within the shield as well.

[jp the roadgeek]

I think I've maybe seen 1 state shield in my life outside of Fairfield County.  There used to be one on the BGS for the southbound WC Parkway entrance from US 5 in Wallingford.  I do remember a CONN 10 shield just north of the Southington/Plainville line that existed into the 1980's.

[Alps]

The state outline shields on the Merritt were around until the late 1990s, until the first round of sign replacement came through in 2000.  Prior to that, spot sign replacement for certain exits had taken place.  This included Exits 39 & 40 due to the slight northward extension of the US 7 expressway (resulting in Phase III signage), and the removal of ramps at Exit 44 (Fairfield, pictured above) and Exit 53 (Stratford).  This resulted in the unique Merritt Parkway signage being put up at those exits, though Exit 53-SB would wait until the rebuild of the Sikorsky Bridge before it got the fancy new signs.

The last time I ever saw a state-shaped SR shield was NB at the Sikorsky Bridge.  It's been gone since it was rebuilt.

That one was a contractor install while they were doing worked, probably grabbed from their scrap heap of prior removals. There are still a couple in the hinterlands along the coast.

[RobbieL2415]

The state outline shields on the Merritt were around until the late 1990s, until the first round of sign replacement came through in 2000.  Prior to that, spot sign replacement for certain exits had taken place.  This included Exits 39 & 40 due to the slight northward extension of the US 7 expressway (resulting in Phase III signage), and the removal of ramps at Exit 44 (Fairfield, pictured above) and Exit 53 (Stratford).  This resulted in the unique Merritt Parkway signage being put up at those exits, though Exit 53-SB would wait until the rebuild of the Sikorsky Bridge before it got the fancy new signs.

The last time I ever saw a state-shaped SR shield was NB at the Sikorsky Bridge.  It's been gone since it was rebuilt.

That one was a contractor install while they were doing worked, probably grabbed from their scrap heap of prior removals. There are still a couple in the hinterlands along the coast.

I think those are replicas, made in the 90s.

[Alps]

The state outline shields on the Merritt were around until the late 1990s, until the first round of sign replacement came through in 2000.  Prior to that, spot sign replacement for certain exits had taken place.  This included Exits 39 & 40 due to the slight northward extension of the US 7 expressway (resulting in Phase III signage), and the removal of ramps at Exit 44 (Fairfield, pictured above) and Exit 53 (Stratford).  This resulted in the unique Merritt Parkway signage being put up at those exits, though Exit 53-SB would wait until the rebuild of the Sikorsky Bridge before it got the fancy new signs.

The last time I ever saw a state-shaped SR shield was NB at the Sikorsky Bridge.  It's been gone since it was rebuilt.

That one was a contractor install while they were doing worked, probably grabbed from their scrap heap of prior removals. There are still a couple in the hinterlands along the coast.

I think those are replicas, made in the 90s.

Not all...

[Duke87]

Not sure if any of them are still there, but the backwoods of Greenwich used to have several.  In fact, here's some that may still be in the wild:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0988264,-73.5812145,3a,38.9y,194.48h,78.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVbFuh5gscWyyBrzuYZgYaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0907412,-73.6475686,3a,38y,189.32h,79.97t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1smEeM0PhvSSwM2q3pah5wjQ!2e0!5s20151201T000000!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DmEeM0PhvSSwM2q3pah5wjQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D28.418392%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0906911,-73.6479459,3a,75y,34.97h,73.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sipmsNbtpFWTvYGEyp-yt2g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Most of these have a streetview date of 2015.  They could still be there.  Really like that last one, as its unique, with the name of the road within the shield as well.

All of those are still there as far as I know. But the shield in your first link is in Stamford, not Greenwich. And the second and third are more recent town of Greenwich installs, not legit vintage state-issue outline shields.

There is another outline 15 that was still standing Westport as of last summer, and the 137 seen in my avatar is also somehow, amazingly, still there.

That's all that still survives in the wild. There was also a 25 until a few years ago but it perished in a sign replacement project.

[Mergingtraffic]

Got some pics of the new LGS signs at the CT-8 on-ramps in the Naugatuck and Beacon Falls area.
They don't look good...how are they going to last as long as the extruded aluminum signs? They aren't. The metal is already curving.




Below, is the sign the above one replaced. 1990-2019



Although a button copy sign was forgotten in Beacon Falls. This was back when CT put up "Next Left," or "Right Lane" BGSs in addition to the "enter here" BGS signs at the on-ramps.

[RobbieL2415]

I-91 construction update
-Sound barriers on CT 15 in East Hartford are being removed.
-Retaining wall for new flyover ramp is starting construction
-Grading on I-91 continues past Exit 28
-New conduit is being run in the median of I-91 from Exit 28.
-New signposts have been installed on I-91 from Exit 28.

[jon daly]

Hola, I have not been here in a while but thought that I'd mention somethings that I've seen recently.

On CT-27 North in Mystic, there is a new directional complex sign (I believe that's what it is called) as you approach the on-ramp for I-95 South. The shield is bigger than normal. But what really stands out for me is that the M3-2 rectangle says "SOUTH" in blue on a white background.

Also, there is anew medical center opening off of Jerry Browne Road. New stop signs have been installed and there is a new sign for it on Coogan Boulevard.

[abqtraveler]

Got some pics of the new LGS signs at the CT-8 on-ramps in the Naugatuck and Beacon Falls area.
They don't look good...how are they going to last as long as the extruded aluminum signs? They aren't. The metal is already curving.




Below, is the sign the above one replaced. 1990-2019



Although a button copy sign was forgotten in Beacon Falls. This was back when CT put up "Next Left," or "Right Lane" BGSs in addition to the "enter here" BGS signs at the on-ramps.

They really want to be cheap about replacing the highway signs on Route 8. The old ones they're replacing are 30 years old. The new ones probably won't last more tuan.10 years.  As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

[shadyjay]

Luckily, project plans for subsequent sign replacement projects (CT 8 from Bridgeport to Derby, CT 9 from Cromwell to I-84, I-84 from West to East Hartford) show the normal heavy duty extruded aluminum entry signs, vs these sheet aluminum signs. 

[shadyjay]

Took my new truck out for a spin today to check on some of the 2017 spot sign replacement locations.  After seeing ConnDOT web cam confirmation of some sites completed, I was hoping some other sites would be done.  Out of the 4 sites I passed, this one had the only noticeable progress:  I-691 East at Exit 10 in Meriden.
691EB-Exit10 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The next sign up the 'pike, at Exit 11, is also due to be replaced but no work observed there yet.  Also, just south of Exit 10 is another spot replacement site:  CT 15 South Exit 67W.  I only caught a glimpse as I passed by on I-691, but it looked like there were new signs/gantry in place, though I could've been mistaken.

[Alps]

Took my new truck out for a spin today to check on some of the 2017 spot sign replacement locations.  After seeing ConnDOT web cam confirmation of some sites completed, I was hoping some other sites would be done.  Out of the 4 sites I passed, this one had the only noticeable progress:  I-691 East at Exit 10 in Meriden.
691EB-Exit10 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Dear ConnDOT:
No.

New gantries go BEHIND existing, so that you can see the signs. If you need to put it in front, put up temporary signs plz.

[TravelingBethelite]

This is from years ago, but I'm seeing if anyone else saw it there. Somewhere in the Derby area - around the CT 8/34 interchange - there was a error "US 8" shield. (Inspired by the US/state error shield thread.) I saw it only once ever - and as soon I told my dad to turn around so we could take a photo of it, we couldn't find it again? I know I saw it, and I know it was there. Did anyone else ever see it? Where was it?

[shadyjay]

Never seen it in person, but saw it on the eastcoastroads.com site, and on Google maps, on CT 110:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2869891,-73.081629,3a,25.9y,104.18h,86.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKsExG7dHTV3gcT1I5gV4tQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Since we've gone "there", here's an erroneous US 15 shield in Meriden:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5440791,-72.7849245,3a,15y,60.26h,86.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUHVX_kSbu9IIKtgh3fQrXw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Not sure of any others in the state, though I know there are numerous erroneous CT 1, 5, and 6 shields scattered about.

[PHLBOS]

Took my new truck out for a spin today to check on some of the 2017 spot sign replacement locations.  After seeing ConnDOT web cam confirmation of some sites completed, I was hoping some other sites would be done.  Out of the 4 sites I passed, this one had the only noticeable progress:  I-691 East at Exit 10 in Meriden.
691EB-Exit10 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Dear ConnDOT:
No.

New gantries go BEHIND existing, so that you can see the signs. If you need to put it in front, put up temporary signs plz.

As much of a critic I am of ConnDOT; in this case, the likely reasoning for placing the new gantry in front of the existing gantry is due to the gore location with respect to the gantry.

That said & if that's the reason for doing such; I do agree that temporary signs or even portable VMS' should've been provided until the new signs are actually erected.

Judging by the number of support brackets on that new gantry; it would appear that the upcoming new pull-through sign for CT 66 eastbound will be larger and have more information (control city/cities) on the panel.

[jp the roadgeek]

As much of a critic I am of ConnDOT; in this case, the likely reasoning for placing the new gantry in front of the existing gantry is due to the gore location with respect to the gantry.

That said & if that's the reason for doing such; I do agree that temporary signs or even portable VMS' should've been provided until the new signs are actually erected.

Judging by the number of support brackets on that new gantry; it would appear that the upcoming new pull-through sign for CT 66 eastbound will be larger and have more information (control city/cities) on the panel.

Not sure if they will put a control on CT 66.  CTDOT has a sign on Route 9 North in Middletown saying the best route to Meriden is 9 North to 91 South.  Putting Middletown as a control for 66 East here would go against that.  But it's CTDOT, so you never know.

[PHLBOS]

As much of a critic I am of ConnDOT; in this case, the likely reasoning for placing the new gantry in front of the existing gantry is due to the gore location with respect to the gantry.

That said & if that's the reason for doing such; I do agree that temporary signs or even portable VMS' should've been provided until the new signs are actually erected.

Judging by the number of support brackets on that new gantry; it would appear that the upcoming new pull-through sign for CT 66 eastbound will be larger and have more information (control city/cities) on the panel.

Not sure if they will put a control on CT 66.  CTDOT has a sign on Route 9 North in Middletown saying the best route to Meriden is 9 North to 91 South.  Putting Middletown as a control for 66 East here would go against that.  But it's CTDOT, so you never know.

Another possibility for that center sign, given the number of brackets on the gantry (4), would be that the new sign would feature a horizontal 66 EAST message with two downward arrows below it.  Either that or Middlefield could be used en lieu of Middletown for a control city

[The Ghostbuster]

Has any date been announced as to when CT 72 will have its exits renumbered to mileage-based? I heard it was going to happen this year.