The Best of Road Signs

[agentsteel53]

New Mexico find from last weekend.  ignore that green schmutz in the foreground.



this is at the exit of a Department of Energy research station, so I do not know if it is an NM DOT issue.  if it were, it would be the only example I know of New Mexico using black signs with white legend.  I've seen plenty of white with black legend but never this style.

[brownpelican]

This was one of two signs that hung on the superstructure of the old Chess Richardson Memorial Bridge in my town. The bridge was replaced last decade by a new bridge and the old one was torn down. However, the town was able to get this sign from the state.

that is very cool.  what year was the bridge opened?  I do not know when the state of Louisiana was using black signs with button copy.  There is a black sign for the Superdome still around in New Orleans - I believe it is a city job, however. 

did Louisiana ever generally use button copy?  if they did, it was a long time ago.  I've seen precisely one green button copy sign in LA, and the fact that it was the only one around implies to me it was a hasty contract to replace one that was knocked down, and a button-copy supplier got the bid - likely by getting rid of obsolete old stock in the early 2000s.

Not sure of the year, but I know it was the early 1900s. Many bridges at that time were built with wooden pilings that had to be replaced ever couple of years.

I can't answer your other questions.

[Jim]

On US 1 South approaching Sanford, North Carolina.  March 3, 2012.

[Takumi]

How long did NC use button copy? Those shields look very modern.

[hbelkins]

How long did NC use button copy? Those shields look very modern.

Last time I drove US 19-23 south into Asheville, there was some button copy right at I-240.

[Jim]

Maybe it's because the outline state and US shields are different, but I think CT does a nice job.  Both from April 27, 2012, on US 5 South in Meriden.

[Jim]

How long did NC use button copy? Those shields look very modern.

I don't know the answer to your question, but that was the only button copy I noticed in my travels in the Raleigh area in March.  Not that the travel was all that extensive.

[agentsteel53]

How long did NC use button copy? Those shields look very modern.

those shields are 1970 spec, which North Carolina adopted fairly early.  the sign probably dates to the late 80s.

[HighwayMaster]

Here's my personal favorite in Connecticut: (Steve's pic, from his Website)


I-84 EB, Newtown

The only BGS assembly in CT that still has lights under it. The lights don't work, though

[Mergingtraffic]

Maybe it's because the outline state and US shields are different, but I think CT does a nice job.  Both from April 27, 2012, on US 5 South in Meriden.

Where exactly is this pic from? I tried to find it on google maps.

Here's my personal favorite in Connecticut: (Steve's pic, from his Website)


I-84 EB, Newtown

The only BGS assembly in CT that still has lights under it. The lights don't work, though

This gantry is in the process of being replaced.  Sadly. PS. There is a BGS on poles in Hartford that has lights on it still, it's by the Hartford Courant building.  It's for I-84.

[Jim]

Maybe it's because the outline state and US shields are different, but I think CT does a nice job.  Both from April 27, 2012, on US 5 South in Meriden.

Where exactly is this pic from? I tried to find it on google maps.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Meriden,+CT&hl=en&ll=41.560669,-72.776003&spn=0.001331,0.002119&sll=43.543961,-72.25259&sspn=0.020624,0.033903&t=h&hnear=Meriden,+New+Haven,+Connecticut&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.560669,-72.776003&panoid=npTKWfYVCIcxzdOJA9vZlQ&cbp=12,209.35,,0,-1.57

[wytout]

Here's my personal favorite in Connecticut: (Steve's pic, from his Website)


I-84 EB, Newtown

The only BGS assembly in CT that still has lights under it. The lights don't work, though

This gantry is in the process of being replaced.  Sadly. PS. There is a BGS on poles in Hartford that has lights on it still, it's by the Hartford Courant building.  It's for I-84.

And the one on poles in Hartford is also a true CT Lighted BGS era sign. as the green background is NON-reflective.

[HighwayMaster]

Is it this one?

http://goo.gl/maps/rdWG

Here's one I forgot in Trumbull that is a pure classic, from Doug's Flickr:



I'm not sure if this one is still up or not.

[Duke87]

I'm not sure if this one is still up or not.

When we stopped by there during the New Haven road meet last summer, it had been knocked over by some unknown entity. I haven't been back there since but I can only assume it's gone by now.

[bassoon1986]

DSCN1814 by GeoJosh, on Flickr

I forgot about this oldie when visiting Shreveport. This is downtown on Milam St at Market St (southbound US 71 & LA 1). Old state named shield and definitely old Louisiana shield with the old green and undefined state boundaries. I do wonder if the arrow for "To 20" is a mistake or if it were meant to show it that direction. Obviously turning left will send you there in a few blocks; it's not a situation where you have to cross multiple lanes. But going straight on Milam you can catch 20 by turning south on Common St too.

I'm sure these have survived because they're no on mainlines of the highway, just downtown side streets

[Brandon]

Northbound, Indiana 49 at US-12.  It's has at least 4 other friends in the same style and shape.



I think a contractor put them up, but they do look good.

[tdindy88]

Crap...I was just up there getting some shots of Indiana 49 from Valpo to I-94 for the website, I should have gone a little further. Looks like I may be back in the Dunes sometime this summer.

[mukade]

They were supposed to be removed months ago according to INDOT.

[Brandon]

They were supposed to be removed months ago according to INDOT.

Obviously not, as I took the photo just this past Sunday (5/27/12).

[mcdonaat]

How about THIS for the best of a road sign? A BGS, split up into panels, laying in the grass for months. Sorry about the number of photos, but this seems to be a mix of FWHA font shields, and Clearview lettering.






Auxiliary shields galore!!!

[bassoon1986]

^^^

Is that in Tioga somewhere?

[Quillz]

I'd love to find signs like that in my backyard.

[agentsteel53]

[LA I-20]

I forgot about this oldie when visiting Shreveport. This is downtown on Milam St at Market St (southbound US 71 & LA 1). Old state named shield and definitely old Louisiana shield with the old green and undefined state boundaries. I do wonder if the arrow for "To 20" is a mistake or if it were meant to show it that direction. Obviously turning left will send you there in a few blocks; it's not a situation where you have to cross multiple lanes. But going straight on Milam you can catch 20 by turning south on Common St too.

I'm sure these have survived because they're no on mainlines of the highway, just downtown side streets

this one, in New Orleans, is on a mainline of an important highway (either mainline or business US-90; I forget which).  the reason it survives is because it is on an on-ramp which is next to impossible to stop on.



it was around as of February, 2010.  probably still is there. 

[Mergingtraffic]

For CT Fans:

http://www.google.com/maps?q=meadow+st+waterbury,+ct&hl=en&ll=41.550599,-73.043965&spn=0.000016,0.006899&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=39.780156,56.513672&hnear=Meadow+St,+Waterbury,+Connecticut&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.550651,-73.043858&panoid=X6_sFcJNsvDhUQxgdzCCUw&cbp=12,242.99,,0,12.97

A Couple of original BGSs on I-84 in Waterbury on the Exit 21 EB off ramp. These were forgotten during the last signing project.  Original non-reflective button copy. 

[WillWeaverRVA]

Since I posted one in the "worst of", here's some "best of" from Staunton, VA. (Excuse the watermarks, these got in the wrong processing batch.)







That I-81 shield is pretty weird, though. That could be "worst of", given its shape...