AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Great Lakes and Ohio Valley => Topic started by: kennyshark on March 31, 2014, 12:48:01 PM

Title: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: kennyshark on March 31, 2014, 12:48:01 PM
Anyone else notice the spray paint graffiti on freeway signs in the Detroit area?  I noticed them mostly on I-75 from about the Wayne State University area to Southfield Road.  This morning, I noticed one on I-696 westbound at the Bermuda-Mohawk exit.

Is this an MDOT thing, or do we have a serial freeway vandal around here?
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Zeffy on March 31, 2014, 01:23:07 PM
Quote from: kennyshark on March 31, 2014, 12:48:01 PM
Anyone else notice the spray paint graffiti on freeway signs in the Detroit area? ...

Isn't this the same Detroit that has thousands of abandoned buildings, had to declare bankruptcy, and can barely fund their own (depleted) police force? It would not shock me in the least if the freeway guide signs were defaced with graffiti. California fixed this problem by installing barbed wire around guide signs on freeways (at least the overheads) to deter vandalism.
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: pianocello on March 31, 2014, 02:57:58 PM
They've been there for a while. I was in Detroit around July and every sign on NB I-75 between I-375 and I-94 was tagged.
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Brandon on March 31, 2014, 02:58:33 PM
Quote from: kennyshark on March 31, 2014, 12:48:01 PM
Anyone else notice the spray paint graffiti on freeway signs in the Detroit area?  I noticed them mostly on I-75 from about the Wayne State University area to Southfield Road.  This morning, I noticed one on I-696 westbound at the Bermuda-Mohawk exit.

Is this an MDOT thing, or do we have a serial freeway vandal around here?

Must be a vandal.  I haven't seen much graffiti on the freeway signage in either Detroit or Chicago to the extent one sees it in Los Angeles or other such places.
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Brandon on March 31, 2014, 03:02:33 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on March 31, 2014, 01:23:07 PM
Quote from: kennyshark on March 31, 2014, 12:48:01 PM
Anyone else notice the spray paint graffiti on freeway signs in the Detroit area? ...

Isn't this the same Detroit that has thousands of abandoned buildings, had to declare bankruptcy, and can barely fund their own (depleted) police force? It would not shock me in the least if the freeway guide signs were defaced with graffiti. California fixed this problem by installing barbed wire around guide signs on freeways (at least the overheads) to deter vandalism.

Most of the MDOT sign bridges around Metro Detroit are inaccessible to the average person.  They usually lack a place to walk and are not lighted at night.

Some examples:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=42.286624,-83.209341&spn=0.001619,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.286938,-83.209215&panoid=mCgDhXMNRviUL80JPjreRA&cbp=12,61.27,,0,-10.32

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=42.341277,-83.117205&spn=0.001629,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.341277,-83.117205&panoid=-XO0HfHiu-rYdmFSjYtmvQ&cbp=12,46.2,,0,-2.74

They would be difficult to climb in stark contrast to the CalTrans sign bridges.  Example:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=34.100249,-118.247947&spn=0.001825,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=34.100345,-118.248009&panoid=_H7vMB_cNiiVrnclDO3Ymg&cbp=12,72.39,,0,-11.88
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Henry on March 31, 2014, 03:40:39 PM
Looks like we've uncovered further proof that the once-mighty Motor City is falling apart.
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Brandon on March 31, 2014, 04:19:19 PM
Quote from: Henry on March 31, 2014, 03:40:39 PM
Looks like we've uncovered further proof that the once-mighty Motor City is falling apart.

Must be the same proof about Chicago.  I've seen a few signs here tagged.  Must be the same proof about LA.  They have graffiti-ed signs all over the place.
Title: Re: Metro Detroit Freeway Sign Graffiti
Post by: Milwaukee, WY on April 01, 2014, 04:12:00 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 31, 2014, 04:19:19 PM
Quote from: Henry on March 31, 2014, 03:40:39 PM
Looks like we've uncovered further proof that the once-mighty Motor City is falling apart.

Must be the same proof about Chicago.  I've seen a few signs here tagged.  Must be the same proof about LA.  They have graffiti-ed signs all over the place.

And for that matter Denver. I-25 near downtown alway has tagged signs.