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

[mrcmc888]

I retraced part of the roadmeet on Sunday to get this:

Inverted colors, interesting.

The overall design is more like an exit sign shield.

It is indeed. Maybe it's because I am a Louisianian, but this goes in my definition of "worst of". I have never liked these exit ramp shields.

But it gets worse than this nowadays. Just wait til I get shots of what has been put up lately by DOTD.

I agree with you...I have never liked JCT shields on exit ramps.  They're more than a little redundant.

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/40926526931/in/dateposted-public/

What is interesting about this one is the fact that FL 437 is only one city block long concurrent with FL 438.  The only reason its here is because just ahead FL 437 becomes County Road 437 and where this sign is located is state maintained for this very short overlap.

Actually I found something else interesting about these shields.  The arrows beneath them, although common in some areas, this one has FL 438 turn beyond it as well as FL 437 end ahead.  So really this could be erroneous in another way.

[cjk374]

I retraced part of the roadmeet on Sunday to get this:

Inverted colors, interesting.

The overall design is more like an exit sign shield.

It is indeed. Maybe it's because I am a Louisianian, but this goes in my definition of "worst of". I have never liked these exit ramp shields.

But it gets worse than this nowadays. Just wait til I get shots of what has been put up lately by DOTD.

I agree with you...I have never liked JCT shields on exit ramps.  They're more than a little redundant.

This sign is on LA 1. We don't have JCT banners on our exit ramps. I have no idea why DOTD put these signs at this intersection (both directions).

Who puts JCT bannered signs on exit ramps?

[US71]

This sign is on LA 1. We don't have JCT banners on our exit ramps. I have no idea why DOTD put these signs at this intersection (both directions).

My guess is it was an independent contractor when the road was 4-Laned. Contractor signs are often "different" &/or ugly

[Eth]

Who puts JCT bannered signs on exit ramps?

I wouldn't say it's common, necessarily, but I have seen Georgia do it.

[mrpablue]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Max Rockatansky]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

[US71]

Something worse than the 169 sign   

[cjk374]

Something worse than the 169 sign   

You noticed how that ugly thing was gone when you were here last week right?

[US71]

Something worse than the 169 sign   

You noticed how that ugly thing was gone when you were here last week right?

Been gone about 8 years, I think.

[jakeroot]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

They were also missing a straight-edge when they applied the numerals.

[Max Rockatansky]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

They were also missing a straight-edge when they applied the numerals.

It makes me think its a fairly old shield and might be reflective paint with vinyl numbers.  That's a common error with a lot of the earlier green California spades. 

[myosh_tino]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

That's the most logical explanation however, the "END" placard should have been white-on-blue and all lowercase.

[Max Rockatansky]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

That's the most logical explanation however, the "END" placard should have been white-on-blue and all lowercase.

The one up Pacheco Pass to the west is correct:

https://flic.kr/p/Ybgp64

The real question I've always had is what made Caltrans and legislature think CA 152 over Pacheco Pass deserved to be designated as a scenic route?   It's kind of neat seeing the reservoir but 152 sure can't hold a candle to 198 or 130 in the Diablo Range for scenery. 

[myosh_tino]

What's up with this END SR152 sign at I-5?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.0566381,-120.9722302,3a,75y,110.19h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFiajF2xjERREnS_Y7tqnBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Missing it's scenic route placard.

That's the most logical explanation however, the "END" placard should have been white-on-blue and all lowercase.

The one up Pacheco Pass to the west is correct:

https://flic.kr/p/Ybgp64

The real question I've always had is what made Caltrans and legislature think CA 152 over Pacheco Pass deserved to be designated as a scenic route?   It's kind of neat seeing the reservoir but 152 sure can't hold a candle to 198 or 130 in the Diablo Range for scenery.

I presume the scenic route designation is because of the San Luis Reservoir but I'm surprised that it was not extended west to the Gilroy city limits as I find that stretch of 152 just as scenic.

[TBKS1]

Car-Hop Crossing by TheInstrumentalist, on Flickr

While I was in Hot Springs earlier today, I decided to stop at a Sonic drive-in. Afterwards, I saw this sign, so I decided to take a picture of it.

I'll also include this one as well.


Road work on US-70 by TheInstrumentalist, on Flickr

I-30 Northbound in southern Saline County.

[D-Dey65]

Something I noticed on my Wikipedia photography crusade in November 2017 when I was taking pictures of the Country Life Press LIRR station;
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:05-Country_Life_Press_LIRR;_2017-11-15.jpg
That tunnel is in the development between the Hempstead Branch and the former section of the West Hempstead Branch, and you can see a bit of the One Way sign pointing south at the intersection of Franklin Court and 6th Place. Now, if you know that area, you know that Franklin Court is a one-way street around the former and existing railroad ROWs, and 6th Place is one-way westbound from there;
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7200641,-73.6284888,3a,75y,60.52h,96.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjZSeIucEtABpKtERA1AHwg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

But if you didn't already know better, you'd think they were ordering you to turn into whoever lives in that driveway.

Maybe an aerial shot would make more sense;
https://www.google.com/maps/place/40°43'16.4%22N+73°37'45.9%22W/@40.7206326,-73.6297341,450m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d40.721234!4d-73.629405?hl=en

Something worse than the 169 sign   

I take it they had plans for other signs beneath it.

[SectorZ]

Car-Hop Crossing by TheInstrumentalist, on Flickr

While I was in Hot Springs earlier today, I decided to stop at a Sonic drive-in. Afterwards, I saw this sign, so I decided to take a picture of it.

I like that one. Kind of a unique thing but gets the point across.

[cjk374]

quote author=US71 link=topic=11045.msg2313437#msg2313437 date=1521856901]
Something worse than the 169 sign   

I take it they had plans for other signs beneath it.

[/quote]

I don't think so. I believe it was an extra bracket from when these signs were put up a few blocks away:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5147247,-93.746499,0a,75y,321.88h,88.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stFcnpwSC31Ti4q47x8ZEIw!2e0

I also believe the LA 1 shields put up at this intersection were the very first black & white shields ever seen in the state. I think these were put up in the early 90s.

[busman_49]

Seen in a construction zone on I-65 in Indiana.  Pretty sure this is a first for me...
Road noise by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

[cjk374]

Oh no...it came back from the dead:

Ugly LA 532 shields at exit 52. by Jess Kilgore, on Flickr

Back in the 80, there was a very similar design of state shields posted on most of the exits on LA 3132 & I-220. It looks as though Mississippi took over all of the Louisiana delta land up to Monroe, and the Florida parishes decided to take back the Florida panhandle. This new one doesn't look as bad as those in the 80s, but still not that great either. Sticker on the back is dated 2/15.

So...can it get worse? Let's see:


Ugly, 4-digit-peeling LA state shield. North of Ruston. by Jess Kilgore, on Flickr

Yes it can. I don't know why LaDOTD is starting to use 30x24 shields. Most non-Louisianians would say a 4-digit route needs a 30x24. We don't. How old is this sign you ask? The date is 12/6/17. Do the math...that sign has only been there 4 months!

What does a 3-digit sign look like on 30x24?

3-digit shield on 30x24. LA 146 @ I-20, Ruston. by Jess Kilgore, on Flickr

Can you see where (I believe) the ugly comes from? Using the 24x24 LA 146 to the left, you can see that the sign shop used the same font on both sizes of shields. This creates lots of extra bare real estate.

Did DOTD actually put a 2-digit route on 30x24???

LA 15 using 30x24 shield. Lillie, LA. by Jess Kilgore, on Flickr

Yep. Sure did. This seems like such a waste of money & material. The money used for these 30x24 shields could have been spent on more durable GREEN & WHITE 24x24 shields.

Just my opinion. 

[JoePCool14]

I honestly feel like they should just give up and make the shield a giant "L". It would be much easier and reflect the sorry state of their ability.

[MNHighwayMan]

The thing I really don't understand is how Louisiana seems to have such abundant problems with peeling digits compared to all the other states. Is the climate of Louisiana really that terrible? Or do they just really suck that much at making shields?

[Max Rockatansky]

The High Speed Rail Project around Fresno has bared strange fruit with these weird CA 99 shields:

99CAa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

[TBKS1]

Hot Springs Custom Speed Limit Sign by TheInstrumentalist, on Flickr

Dark blue speed limit sign in Hot Springs. (City Speed Limit)