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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: thefraze_1020 on April 09, 2018, 06:09:50 PM

Title: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: thefraze_1020 on April 09, 2018, 06:09:50 PM
A couple years back, I started a thread on runaway truck ramps. Looking back through that thread made me think of another topic, what are some examples of really interesting or unusual signage having to do with hills (long steep grades, that is)? I'm talking about more than just a simple "hill" sign with a grade percentage placard underneath.

One such example that comes to mind is I-70 eastbound descending into Denver. What are some other unusual examples of signage?
Title: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: 1995hoo on April 09, 2018, 07:24:25 PM
Do "Truck Information"  signs count? Here's an example in Pennsylvania:

https://goo.gl/maps/xJnjsuw5ooF2

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180409/8ac4b2a255eb694c344e9056d5a13f40.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: thefraze_1020 on April 09, 2018, 08:24:25 PM
Any signs related to hill climbs and hill descents count.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: SectorZ on April 09, 2018, 08:44:31 PM
In Massachusetts, a few somewhat-interesting but not too special.

In Tolland on MA 57, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0885478,-73.0479524,3a,37.6y,279.64h,91.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNkePfqpJdxlC6Vw8fkZsDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In North Adams on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6966596,-73.064183,3a,30.4y,276.74h,94.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syvmo9TRojXd0SBO_cPO_AQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In Florida on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.65189,-72.9975074,3a,75y,166.46h,101t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL70-TGDtZAFEV9_O4s88Xw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They're all more or less the same, but sadly as interesting as my state gets in this category. The large gantry over 57 is super out of place looks-wise.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: oscar on April 09, 2018, 09:37:54 PM
Here's one in Canada's Nunavut territory, within the territorial park west of the capital Iqaluit, warning of a hill crest with limited view of what's on the other side. The sign is purely symbolic, so no need to translate Inuktitut text into English and French.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2Fhill-crest-warning_DSC3848.jpg&hash=c011ffc2084fff8a02c705758cadc4184b1d4faa)

On Quebec's highway 381, a sign warning of a downgrade that starts steep then gets steeper (there's one with a maximum but short 18% grade):

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FQC381-variable-grade-sign-DSC_1126.jpg&hash=f5444f2e0aa16441b20d261a2c641ec2626934f7)

Finally, a pair of warning signs at the top of the Waipio Valley access road on Hawaii's Big Island, at the west end of HI 240. The one in the background states the 25% grade. The foreground sign says that you need 4x4 (all-wheel drive doesn't cut it), since if you don't descend in first gear low range, the 0.75-mile long 25% grade can destroy your brakes, and people have died when their brakes failed and they went off the side of the cliff. Also, you need first gear low range to climb back out of the valley. Uphill traffic must maintain momentum to make it out of the valley, and the road is only one-lane with pullouts, so downhill traffic must wait at a pullout to yield to uphill traffic.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiihighways.com%2Fwaipio-warning-signs-2009-101_4342.jpg&hash=057db7b0bf94e5b0b83f88ab6b6d29cde4caa87e)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Rothman on April 09, 2018, 10:34:57 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 09, 2018, 08:44:31 PM
In Massachusetts, a few somewhat-interesting but not too special.

In Tolland on MA 57, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0885478,-73.0479524,3a,37.6y,279.64h,91.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNkePfqpJdxlC6Vw8fkZsDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In North Adams on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6966596,-73.064183,3a,30.4y,276.74h,94.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syvmo9TRojXd0SBO_cPO_AQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In Florida on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.65189,-72.9975074,3a,75y,166.46h,101t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL70-TGDtZAFEV9_O4s88Xw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They're all more or less the same, but sadly as interesting as my state gets in this category. The large gantry over 57 is super out of place looks-wise.
Those are on MA 2, not 2A.  The curves on the signs also used to be more unique.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: paulthemapguy on April 11, 2018, 07:32:03 PM
I just recently discovered the existence of the "HILL BLOCKS VIEW" sign, as it appears in the MUTCD.
I'm thinking of using that sign in a couple spots on the roadways where I work.  This link shows that sign and many other signs pertaining to hills and grades, as depicted in the MUTCD.

https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/fig2c_04_longdesc.htm
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: oscar on April 11, 2018, 07:46:17 PM
Quote from: paulthemapguy on April 11, 2018, 07:32:03 PM
I just recently discovered the existence of the "HILL BLOCKS VIEW" sign, as it appears in the MUTCD.
I'm thinking of using that sign in a couple spots on the roadways where I work.  This link shows that sign and many other signs pertaining to hills and grades, as depicted in the MUTCD.

https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/fig2c_04_longdesc.htm

I've seen "Limited Sight Distance" in various places, and "No Sight Distance" on one local road in Maui (photo in my film photo archives, which are about 1000 miles away at the moment). The latter is almost certainly not in the MUTCD, in addition to exaggerating the situation (there's always some sight distance, unless the road takes you off the side of a cliff, which is not even close to true for that Maui road).
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: SectorZ on April 11, 2018, 09:03:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on April 09, 2018, 10:34:57 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 09, 2018, 08:44:31 PM
In Massachusetts, a few somewhat-interesting but not too special.

In Tolland on MA 57, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0885478,-73.0479524,3a,37.6y,279.64h,91.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNkePfqpJdxlC6Vw8fkZsDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In North Adams on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6966596,-73.064183,3a,30.4y,276.74h,94.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syvmo9TRojXd0SBO_cPO_AQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In Florida on MA 2A, https://www.google.com/maps/@42.65189,-72.9975074,3a,75y,166.46h,101t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL70-TGDtZAFEV9_O4s88Xw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They're all more or less the same, but sadly as interesting as my state gets in this category. The large gantry over 57 is super out of place looks-wise.
Those are on MA 2, not 2A.  The curves on the signs also used to be more unique.

Must have been COMPLETELY asleep at the wheel on that. I seriously meant to put 2, not 2A. Oopsie.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: formulanone on April 11, 2018, 09:06:12 PM
MA 57 has one near MA 8:

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2658/32217106844_a1ee8f8808_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/R5V6ro)\
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: thefraze_1020 on April 13, 2018, 01:12:50 PM
A couple Washington State examples that come to mind....

SR 272 westbound at the top of the hill down into Colfax and junction US 195: (source WSDOT SRWeb)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsrimages.wsdot.wa.gov%2FStateRoute%2FPictureLog%2F2017%2FEA%2F272%2FM%2FM%2FD%2F00%2FM%2F00104M.JPG&hash=d8d3d160506193790758010b8eea015b185982f7)

US 2 westbound at the summit of Stevens Pass: (source WSDOT SRWeb)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsrimages.wsdot.wa.gov%2FStateRoute%2FPictureLog%2F2016%2FNC%2F002%2FM%2FM%2FD%2F06%2FM%2F06476M.JPG&hash=c43ca06ee6032bdf272fc6fae6b275152e3eb9a0)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: US 89 on April 13, 2018, 07:27:08 PM
From Tripadvisor, on the Moki Dugway:

(https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0e/df/ac/c8/moki-dugway.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: paulthemapguy on June 02, 2018, 02:38:41 PM
Here's an example of the sign I was talking about earlier.  This is on Lemont Road near 83rd St in Woodridge, IL.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/28540467498_3336715eaa_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Ku2mDQ)
20180526_153354 (https://flic.kr/p/Ku2mDQ) by Paul Drives (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138603251@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: steviep24 on June 09, 2018, 07:39:43 AM
This sign is located on US 20A near Warsaw, NY

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Warning_diagram_on_US_20A_NY.jpg)
Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: MCRoads on June 16, 2018, 06:30:27 PM
So is everybody required to take that pull off? It looks like it is addressing everyone....
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Mapmikey on June 16, 2018, 07:12:47 PM
Quote from: MCRoads on June 16, 2018, 06:30:27 PM
So is everybody required to take that pull off? It looks like it is addressing everyone....

Only Trucks over 9 tons - https://goo.gl/maps/tcvzibGoMst
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Jim on June 16, 2018, 07:16:54 PM
Lousy picture, but here's what the sign at the top of the hill on Massachusetts 2 West before descending into North Adams looked like back on January 29, 2001.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20010129%2Fsteep.jpg&hash=e337ae3d0db8ccb239e483109d7320369c313f83)

And here's Massachusetts 2 East before heading down from Florida.  September 21, 2002.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20020921%2Fsteep.jpg&hash=7c2c8a454c376d8301c17499a25a6fe3d2e23d8e)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: steviep24 on June 18, 2018, 03:48:08 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on June 16, 2018, 07:12:47 PM
Quote from: MCRoads on June 16, 2018, 06:30:27 PM
So is everybody required to take that pull off? It looks like it is addressing everyone....

Only Trucks over 9 tons - https://goo.gl/maps/tcvzibGoMst
Here is the last chance pull off just before the steep grades start with a red sign saying:
TRUCKS, BUSES AND
CARS WITH TRAILERS

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7464269,-78.1206713,3a,37.5y,285.12h,91.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srnjPiTfJAKXPE9J6_Nxq9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The white sign I posted is located at this pull off.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7465418,-78.123161,3a,15y,300.19h,90.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOr9d9wFJ9lhkZDxSGAk6GA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: ErmineNotyours on June 19, 2018, 10:16:07 AM
For oscar:

Quote from: ErmineNotyours on May 24, 2018, 10:29:59 PM
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/954/27465019787_5494808b87_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HQZpvV)Warning sign on Makena Rd, Maui (https://flic.kr/p/HQZpvV) by Arthur Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116988743@N07/), on Flickr

Google Street View (https://goo.gl/maps/Ry3iiebpYzA2)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: ErmineNotyours on June 19, 2018, 10:53:00 AM
This used to be part of WA 126, and the state highway maps marked it as "Narrow, winding, gravel.  Not recommended for passenger autos."  The state designation is gone, but this warning sign remains: Google Street View. (https://goo.gl/maps/f4vk3DhGxqT2)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: seicer on June 19, 2018, 02:03:26 PM
I appreciate West Virginia's signage, which is more clear than something like "TRUCK SPEED 45" and a bunch of weight restrictions that are illegible: https://goo.gl/maps/XVLLzMxPycs (I-64 at Sandstone Mountain)

And their winding road and grade sign is very large: https://goo.gl/maps/Wbs9inWp6Dz

For New York, this is excessive: https://goo.gl/maps/HnYYoK5BAYP2 (Signs have been replaced with larger variants). I get that there are standards, but the signs read "BEGIN" "TRUCK WEIGHT LIMIT 9 TONS" which is immediately followed with "END" "TRUCK WEIGHT LIMIT 9 TONS" because of the pull-off for trucks to check their brakes. It's just too many signs.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: thefraze_1020 on June 19, 2018, 02:15:23 PM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on June 19, 2018, 10:53:00 AM
This used to be part of WA 126, and the state highway maps marked it as "Narrow, winding, gravel.  Not recommended for passenger autos."  The state designation is gone, but this warning sign remains: Google Street View. (https://goo.gl/maps/f4vk3DhGxqT2)

I was there on May 21st, and this sign has since been replaced by a smaller, county-made sign. Looking the background of this picture:(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/28686044098_429710b1a5_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KGTtvd)IMG_8098 (https://flic.kr/p/KGTtvd) by Cameron Frazer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/146732988@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: bzakharin on June 19, 2018, 02:25:39 PM
No distance makes no sense. The distance can be zero, but it's still a distance.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: hotdogPi on June 19, 2018, 02:29:00 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 19, 2018, 02:25:39 PM
No distance makes no sense. The distance can be zero, but it's still a distance.

The distance can't be zero unless it's touching your car.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: bzakharin on June 19, 2018, 03:27:10 PM
Quote from: 1 on June 19, 2018, 02:29:00 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 19, 2018, 02:25:39 PM
No distance makes no sense. The distance can be zero, but it's still a distance.

The distance can't be zero unless it's touching your car.
I meant in general, but in this case yes
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Kniwt on July 07, 2018, 10:00:04 PM
US 95 near Lewiston, Idaho. I'm guessing some trucker at some point wrecked because they were afraid of getting fined.

(https://i.imgur.com/XqbZyhG.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: CovalenceSTU on August 29, 2020, 04:38:45 PM
Here's a sign for a 10% grade just off I-84 in Corbett, OR:

(https://i.imgur.com/KcbtRWF.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: D-Dey65 on September 03, 2021, 01:28:30 PM
For Bicycles only; on Citrus CR 486 west of Hernando, Florida:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Citrus_CR_486_Bikeway;_Six_Percent_Downgrade.JPG



Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Bruce on September 04, 2021, 02:46:33 AM
Reposting from another thread

Quote from: Bruce on August 25, 2021, 05:44:20 PM
A map posted on WA 221 right before a major downhill section showing the nearest runaway truck ramp:

(https://i.imgur.com/xfxjOFy.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: wanderer2575 on September 05, 2021, 10:15:23 AM
It's been a dozen years since I took this photo, but I think it's westbound AZ-68 in Bullhead City.

(https://i.imgur.com/luqELz0.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 05, 2021, 11:38:32 AM
CA 4 approaching Ebbetts Pass 24%:

https://flic.kr/p/2jD2Ua7

CA 108 approaching Sonora Pass 26%:

https://flic.kr/p/2jD6nJP

Conzelman Road 18%:

https://flic.kr/p/ZocT9Y

Mineral King Road specific gears:

https://flic.kr/p/2jdLvbt

https://flic.kr/p/2jdHZq7
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: snowc on September 05, 2021, 03:45:07 PM
(https://storage13.openstreetcam.org/files/photo/2021/7/28/proc/3747117_713b7fd4c6a814a9b5157c61e9dbdf05.jpg)
I81 near Webb RD in Lafayette NY
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: paulthemapguy on September 07, 2021, 12:47:20 PM
Here's a Quebec downhill sign to add to the mix. This was somewhere near A-85 in southeastern Quebec.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48811746841_d4658fd38c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hnjXL6)
IMG_3755 (https://flic.kr/p/2hnjXL6) by Paul Drives (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138603251@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: KCRoadFan on September 08, 2021, 07:38:00 AM
Surprised to see that no one has mentioned the "Truckers: You Are Not Down Yet"  signs in Colorado, coming into Denver from the west on I-70.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: 1995hoo on September 08, 2021, 08:41:13 AM
Similar to the one I posted back at the beginning of this thread, here's a Google Street View link to another "map-style" sign in Pennsylvania with a truck pull-out and stop sign where they are to check the brakes. This is on northbound US-219 approaching Ridgway. If you've never been there, or if you've never seen pictures, this might be an interesting one to click through the Street View. There is a separate one-way truck route just to the north with a "NO CARS" sign. The issue is that there is a very steep descent into Ridgway and the road turns to the left right at the bottom of the long descent after passing several houses. Too much risk of a severe truck accident causing major property damage.

https://goo.gl/maps/iA96pDhvK57kvqxDA

This is also an example of BBSs–white-on-black signs just north of the location the link shows.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on September 08, 2021, 11:15:03 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on September 08, 2021, 07:38:00 AM
Surprised to see that no one has mentioned the "Truckers: You Are Not Down Yet"  signs in Colorado, coming into Denver from the west on I-70.
there's also a 'don't be fooled' sign at a point where the grade flattens for a mile or two

that road is such an awesome roller-coaster..

.. unless you're barely hanging onto it, then it gets real.
Title: Re: Interesting Hill Signage
Post by: MCRoads on September 08, 2021, 10:57:34 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 08, 2021, 08:41:13 AM
Similar to the one I posted back at the beginning of this thread, here's a Google Street View link to another "map-style" sign in Pennsylvania with a truck pull-out and stop sign where they are to check the brakes. This is on northbound US-219 approaching Ridgway. If you've never been there, or if you've never seen pictures, this might be an interesting one to click through the Street View. There is a separate one-way truck route just to the north with a "NO CARS" sign. The issue is that there is a very steep descent into Ridgway and the road turns to the left right at the bottom of the long descent after passing several houses. Too much risk of a severe truck accident causing major property damage.

https://goo.gl/maps/iA96pDhvK57kvqxDA

This is also an example of BBSs–white-on-black signs just north of the location the link shows.

It says no cars, but from what I remember from going on this road (in a car), most traffic on that road are cars. Not much they can really do, either.