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

[Pete from Boston]

Lake Ave. and Spruce St., Manchester, New Hampshire:





Despite the "Smile," I saw no evidence of any speed camera.  Could be a false implication of one.

[jbnv]

Lake Ave. and Spruce St., Manchester, New Hampshire:
[SMILE YOU ARE ON RADAR]
[SMILE SPEEDING TICKETS AHEAD]

Silly Manchester, you smile for cameras!

[Zeffy]

Wow, when did Illinois follow the [now-defunct] Clearview regulations so well?
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

[cl94]

Wow, when did Illinois follow the [now-defunct] Clearview regulations so well?
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

That may be the only perfect Clearview sign I have ever seen. NYSTA does/did everything with it, including numerals (sometimes in shields as well).

[hbelkins]

I've said this before, but I prefer the bubble shield if a wide shield has to be used, because it is the natural elongation of the standard 2di shield. My true preference, though, is the standard shield for both 2di and 3di routes.

Out of curiosity, do you also prefer stretched US-route shields?

I prefer square US route markers to stretched markers.

So you'd rather squish hard to read Series B numerals into a shield and not be able to read them very far away? Makes no sense to me.

I never had any trouble reading them, and they seemed to work fine until Kentucky switched away from them (for the most part) in the 1970s.

I think having all the route markers the same size looks better in terms of sign assembly symmetry.

[ekt8750]

Wow, when did Illinois follow the [now-defunct] Clearview regulations so well?
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

That may be the only perfect Clearview sign I have ever seen. NYSTA does/did everything with it, including numerals (sometimes in shields as well).

You must not have ever ventured into PennDOT District 6 (SE PA).Just about all of their Clearview signs are just like that.

[SidS1045]

Lake Ave. and Spruce St., Manchester, New Hampshire:

...Despite the "Smile," I saw no evidence of any speed camera.  Could be a false implication of one.

I used to live on Lake Avenue in Manchester.  It's one way and straight, so drivers tend to speed.  I'd almost bet the signs are just there to slow them down.

[cl94]

Wow, when did Illinois follow the [now-defunct] Clearview regulations so well?
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

That may be the only perfect Clearview sign I have ever seen. NYSTA does/did everything with it, including numerals (sometimes in shields as well).

You must not have ever ventured into PennDOT District 6 (SE PA).Just about all of their Clearview signs are just like that.

I haven't been down that way since PennDOT started using Clearview. I'm more familiar with central and western PA, which are miserable.

[ekt8750]

Wow, when did Illinois follow the [now-defunct] Clearview regulations so well?
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

That may be the only perfect Clearview sign I have ever seen. NYSTA does/did everything with it, including numerals (sometimes in shields as well).

You must not have ever ventured into PennDOT District 6 (SE PA).Just about all of their Clearview signs are just like that.

I haven't been down that way since PennDOT started using Clearview. I'm more familiar with central and western PA, which are miserable.

That's putting it nicely. I think they did that to appease the Penn State people that developed the font in the first place. PTC is an even bigger offender. They have BGS at interchanges with control cities in all caps Clearview and you wanna just drive off the road to unsee it.

[PHLBOS]

PTC is an even bigger offender. They have BGS at interchanges with control cities in all caps Clearview and you wanna just drive off the road to unsee it.

Are you sure you're not thinking about the Interchange names on those PTC BGS'?  Those are the only places I've seen cities/destinations listed in all-caps.  PTC's been using mixed-case lettering for its control cities/destinations for at least 4 decades.

Note: a newly-erected BGS for the Lansdale interchange now features the interchange name in mixed-case lettering (& Clearview).

[jwolfer]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor


It's in Ronnie Van Zant Park near  Green Cove Springs FL.  Named for the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hailing from Jacksonville Florida

[ekt8750]

PTC is an even bigger offender. They have BGS at interchanges with control cities in all caps Clearview and you wanna just drive off the road to unsee it.

Are you sure you're not thinking about the Interchange names on those PTC BGS'?  Those are the only places I've seen cities/destinations listed in all-caps.  PTC's been using mixed-case lettering for its control cities/destinations for at least 4 decades.

Note: a newly-erected BGS for the Lansdale interchange now features the interchange name in mixed-case lettering (& Clearview).

There's a ramp in the Mid County Interchange that has an option sign for 476 to Allentown and Chester and both legends are full caps Clearview. I'll try and snap a pic of it on my way to work tomorrow.

[Brandon]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor


It's in Ronnie Van Zant Park near  Green Cove Springs FL.  Named for the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hailing from Jacksonville Florida

Well, fuck, I guess they really fucking mean it.  They posted the fucker twice.

[cl94]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor
[removed]

It's in Ronnie Van Zant Park near  Green Cove Springs FL.  Named for the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hailing from Jacksonville Florida

Well, fuck, I guess they really fucking mean it.  They posted the fucker twice.

George Carlin wouldn't like that

[Brandon]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor
[removed]

It's in Ronnie Van Zant Park near  Green Cove Springs FL.  Named for the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hailing from Jacksonville Florida

Well, fuck, I guess they really fucking mean it.  They posted the fucker twice.

George Carlin wouldn't like that

Cheese tits.  Betcha can't have just one!

[PHLBOS]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor

Sort of reminds me of these signs at Virginia Beach.

There's a ramp in the Mid County Interchange that has an option sign for 476 to Allentown and Chester and both legends are full caps Clearview. I'll try and snap a pic of it on my way to work tomorrow.

The only BGS' in that vicinity, I'm aware of, which have all-caps for the control city/destination and/or street name are the ones posted just beyond the Norristown toll plaza (after one leaves the Turnpike) where one has to either turn right for I-476 South of straight towards Plymouth Road; which I agree are hideous.

From the PA Turnpike News thread:

I-276 West Ramps to Exit 20/I-476 North



I-276 Exit 333 ALL CAPS exit signs (replaces Mixed-Case Version)

[jwolfer]

This sign makes me want to cuss like a sailor


It's in Ronnie Van Zant Park near  Green Cove Springs FL.  Named for the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hailing from Jacksonville Florida

Well, fuck, I guess they really fucking mean it.  They posted the fucker twice.

Fuck yeah mother fucker

[Alex]

Sort of reminds me of these signs at Virginia Beach.

There's a ramp in the Mid County Interchange that has an option sign for 476 to Allentown and Chester and both legends are full caps Clearview. I'll try and snap a pic of it on my way to work tomorrow.

The only BGS' in that vicinity, I'm aware of, which have all-caps for the control city/destination and/or street name are the ones posted just beyond the Norristown toll plaza (after one leaves the Turnpike) where one has to either turn right for I-476 South of straight towards Plymouth Road; which I agree are hideous.

From the PA Turnpike News thread:

I-276 West Ramps to Exit 20/I-476 North
<snip>

And speaking of Virginia Beach and hideous all caps Clearview:

[Pete from Boston]

Sort of reminds me of these signs at Virginia Beach.

There's a ramp in the Mid County Interchange that has an option sign for 476 to Allentown and Chester and both legends are full caps Clearview. I'll try and snap a pic of it on my way to work tomorrow.

The only BGS' in that vicinity, I'm aware of, which have all-caps for the control city/destination and/or street name are the ones posted just beyond the Norristown toll plaza (after one leaves the Turnpike) where one has to either turn right for I-476 South of straight towards Plymouth Road; which I agree are hideous.

From the PA Turnpike News thread:

I-276 West Ramps to Exit 20/I-476 North
<snip>

And speaking of Virginia Beach and hideous all caps Clearview:

Oh my.  That's unfortunate.


iPhone

[PHLBOS]

And speaking of Virginia Beach and hideous all caps Clearview:

What was the green space next to the US 60 shield intended for?

[Bluenoser]

Kinda crazy looking:
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0872336,-76.0875188,3a,17.3y,300.16h,97.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sb2hRoW-3C1TwzTV5csJkuw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Reminds me of this: https://goo.gl/maps/QNzUo4iZkZ12

I guess it could just depend on where in the country you are, but signs like those (more of Zeffy's type) aren't particularly uncommon in BC...

Nova Scotia does the same thing, here's an example from NS 14 at NS 224 near the 102 at Milford:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.0551601,-63.4399811,3a,75y,308.9h,89.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR5THnqMhegNqmtKpZbPB_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[jbnv]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5968585,-87.7151846,3a,20.9y,45.57h,107.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srN7UwB7DWKRoGbZmtRT07g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Although I cannot lie, at that point it makes more sense to either make it all FHWA or all Clearview. The thicker stroke of the FHWA EM glyphs contrasts with the lighter stroked Clearview 5-W glyphs.

This mixing of the fonts is absurd. It just looks ridiculous. I agree, make it all one font or the other.

[Alex]

And speaking of Virginia Beach and hideous all caps Clearview:

What was the green space next to the US 60 shield intended for?

It was more or less a carbon copy from the previous sign (or half a sign) that it replaced:

[ekt8750]

I-276 Exit 333 ALL CAPS exit signs (replaces Mixed-Case Version)

[/quote]

That is the one. Weird part is it's the only set of signs like that in the entire interchange, yet they replaced (most) of the signs all around the same time.

[PHLBOS]

That is the one. Weird part is it's the only set of signs like that in the entire interchange, yet they replaced (most) of the signs all around the same time.

Actually, and I commented on such on the other thread, that gantry & BGS' are part of a separate signing contract along I-276 (E-W Turnpike); such is located at the Norristown, not the Mid-County toll plaza.  Those BGS' have oversized control cities/destination legends, smallish route shields (featuring Series C fonts for both I-276 & 476 shields, a plus  IMHO) and Clearview on everything except the route shield numerals.

The new BGS' erected along I-476 (Northeast Extension) & the Mid-County interchange are from the widening project contract.  Those (for the most part) display the proper applications (& appropriate size) of the Clearview font.

Nonetheless, the all-caps legends on those 2 BGS' are still an oddity.