The Best of Road Signs

[agentsteel53]

I wish there were more erroneous cutout shields out there. Even better if they accidentally were given a black border, too.

two just got put up in Orogrande, NM.  I do not have the pictures uploaded yet, but they are made to NM green sign standard with a black border going all the way out to the edge.  Like this one shown below, except with two mounting holes for a post mount, not several around the perimeter.  One in each direction on opposite ends of town.

[Ian]

Framingham, MA (taken December 2011):

[agentsteel53]

Framingham, MA (taken December 2011):
[9 and 30]

I've always wondered if those 9 and 30 shields were modern replacements for older rectangular shields (maybe 24x18 in size or so)

I know there used to be some 60 rectangular shields, on all-caps button copy guide signs at the infamous "Arlmont" exit on MA-2 as recently as 2007....

but I think they got replaced.

[Ian]

Framingham, MA (taken December 2011):
[9 and 30]

I've always wondered if those 9 and 30 shields were modern replacements for older rectangular shields (maybe 24x18 in size or so)

I think they might be replacements, because when I zoom in on the right sign, I can see the outline of where the old shield used to be.

[vtk]

Ooh, all D-mod!  And skeletal button copy on the arrows too!

[PHLBOS]

Framingham, MA (taken December 2011):
[9 and 30]

I've always wondered if those 9 and 30 shields were modern replacements for older rectangular shields (maybe 24x18 in size or so)

Those definititely are; the square shields look disproportionately large with respect to the rest of the sign lettering (in all CAPS).  One reason why one may not see a 'shadow' of the old rectangular shields is probably due to the newer square shields are larger; side dimensions (new) > rectangular dimension (old).

Along US 20 in Sturbridge, the exit signs for Route 49 all have newer but smaller 49 shields which clearly show the shadow of the old shields.

[wytout]

Framingham, MA (taken December 2011):
[9 and 30]

I've always wondered if those 9 and 30 shields were modern replacements for older rectangular shields (maybe 24x18 in size or so)

I know there used to be some 60 rectangular shields, on all-caps button copy guide signs at the infamous "Arlmont" exit on MA-2 as recently as 2007....

but I think they got replaced.

You mean like this... http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ma+49+at+us+20&hl=en&ll=42.128912,-72.049381&spn=0.006588,0.013937&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.884801,112.587891&hnear=U.S.+20+%26+Massachusetts+49,+Sturbridge,+Worcester,+Massachusetts+01566&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.128043,-72.049374&panoid=aJp1V3H_q94IaVriaLVwJQ&cbp=12,48.98,,0,9.32

Headed EB on US to The 49 is a a shield Taller than it is wide and the numbers are squished together.  The shield is old and yellowed (don't have my own photo)  the sign that faces WB 20 has a replacement Mass square 49 shield.

[agentsteel53]

You mean like this... http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ma+49+at+us+20&hl=en&ll=42.128912,-72.049381&spn=0.006588,0.013937&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.884801,112.587891&hnear=U.S.+20+%26+Massachusetts+49,+Sturbridge,+Worcester,+Massachusetts+01566&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.128043,-72.049374&panoid=aJp1V3H_q94IaVriaLVwJQ&cbp=12,48.98,,0,9.32

Headed EB on US to The 49 is a a shield Taller than it is wide and the numbers are squished together.  The shield is old and yellowed (don't have my own photo)  the sign that faces WB 20 has a replacement Mass square 49 shield.

nope; I meant the opposite orientation.  wider than tall.  that taller-than-wide looks extra goofy and I wouldn't be surprised if a MassDOT employee rotated the blank incorrectly before applying the numbers.

I mean this:

[PHLBOS]

Along US 20 in Sturbridge, the exit signs for Route 49 all have newer but smaller 49 shields which clearly show the shadow of the old shields.

You mean like this... http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ma+49+at+us+20&hl=en&ll=42.128912,-72.049381&spn=0.006588,0.013937&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.884801,112.587891&hnear=U.S.+20+%26+Massachusetts+49,+Sturbridge,+Worcester,+Massachusetts+01566&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.128043,-72.049374&panoid=aJp1V3H_q94IaVriaLVwJQ&cbp=12,48.98,,0,9.32

Headed EB on US to The 49 is a a shield Taller than it is wide and the numbers are squished together.  The shield is old and yellowed (don't have my own photo)  the sign that faces WB 20 has a replacement Mass square 49 shield.

That was one of the signs I was refering to.

nope; I meant the opposite orientation.  wider than tall.  that taller-than-wide looks extra goofy and I wouldn't be surprised if a MassDOT employee rotated the blank incorrectly before applying the numbers.

I mean this:

IIRC, that shield was replaced the original shield in the 1980s.  The signboard and lettering itself is probably from the late 60s.  The original Route 60 shield was more beige and had smaller-sized numerals with a thin black shield border.

[Ian]

Old yellow STOP sign in Rensselaerville, NY:

[Quillz]

Oh, wow, that's real nice. Do you know what era that's from? I'd guess maybe the 1940s or early 1950s.

[ctsignguy]

Nice sign, Ian, and a great find! 

1948-61 would be when this sign was legal as yellow (I would guess it looks too new to have been out that long, so probably new-old stock...or a professional repaint)

[Dougtone]

Dont know...those piccys were from my trip up there back in May of '09.....so it wouldnt surprise me

The US 202 shield in Winchendon has been replaced as of 10/11.

[agentsteel53]

The US 202 shield in Winchendon has been replaced as of 10/11.

crap... that was the only '48-spec oversize white square marker I knew of surviving in Mass. 

does the white 1959 guide sign on mainline 202 survive?

[agentsteel53]

the stop sign is indeed 1948 spec, and holding up preternaturally well.  the oldest it would be is about 1943 when the FHWA fonts were first being experimented with.

the 1954 addendum to the MUTCD specified that all new stop signs be red with white legend, while the formal 1961 revision made it mandatory that yellow ones be actively replaced.

[Rover_0]

A little off-topic, but with a recent drug bust in the St. George, Utah area (on I-15), a picture is shown with the goods alongside a police dog and an Interstate 15 sign. What's of note is that it has the "UTAH" above the number, and, from the angle the sign is placed at and the resulting flash, it could be fairly new. It could just be an older sign in fairly good shape, but I found it interesting and worth noting.

[hbelkins]

A little off-topic, but with a recent drug bust in the St. George, Utah area (on I-15), a picture is shown with the goods alongside a police dog and an Interstate 15 sign. What's of note is that it has the "UTAH" above the number, and, from the angle the sign is placed at and the resulting flash, it could be fairly new. It could just be an older sign in fairly good shape, but I found it interesting and worth noting.

What did he do, steal the sign too? Of course for Jake, that sign is more intoxicating than anything they found in the car.

[Quillz]

Yeah, I was really wondering what the deal was with the Interstate shield in the car. Maybe he was a true roadgeek.

[agentsteel53]

interestingly, I am in St. George as we speak... we haven't seen anything like it in the wild yet.

[thenetwork]

A little off-topic, but with a recent drug bust in the St. George, Utah area (on I-15), a picture is shown with the goods alongside a police dog and an Interstate 15 sign. What's of note is that it has the "UTAH" above the number, and, from the angle the sign is placed at and the resulting flash, it could be fairly new. It could just be an older sign in fairly good shape, but I found it interesting and worth noting.

What did he do, steal the sign too? Of course for Jake, that sign is more intoxicating than anything they found in the car.

I think the Utah Cops are hoarding all the non-neutered Utah signs.  Who would YOU call if you saw a policeman unbolting an interstate sign and wanted to report them?    

[Scott5114]

A little off-topic, but with a recent drug bust in the St. George, Utah area (on I-15), a picture is shown with the goods alongside a police dog and an Interstate 15 sign. What's of note is that it has the "UTAH" above the number, and, from the angle the sign is placed at and the resulting flash, it could be fairly new. It could just be an older sign in fairly good shape, but I found it interesting and worth noting.

What did he do, steal the sign too? Of course for Jake, that sign is more intoxicating than anything they found in the car.

I think the Utah Cops are hoarding all the non-neutered Utah signs.  Who would YOU call if you saw a policeman unbolting an interstate sign and wanted to report them?    

UDOT? Cops can't make money pulling people over if UDOT closes the road until they get their signs back.

[D-Dey65]

Nice sign, Ian, and a great find! 

1948-61 would be when this sign was legal as yellow (I would guess it looks too new to have been out that long, so probably new-old stock...or a professional repaint)

I've seen variations that include both color schemes. The word "STOP" would be red with white lettering, while the top and bottom that say "Thru"(top) and "Traffic"(bottom), or other messages would be yellow with black lettering.

If I had a place for it, I wouldn't mind buying my own, or having one custom made.

[Ian]

Lambertville, NJ

[rickmastfan67]

Old classic PA Turnpike shield:


Unfortunately, it might not survive much longer.

RIP. The sign got eliminated last week when the Construction crews started tearing up the ground to expand the road in it's area.

[Sanctimoniously]

Delta, LA. Crappy Google Maps image from June of 2008. I must go there and see if this sign is still there.

EDIT: Went back there today. Guess what's still there: