A couple weekends ago, I took a day trip up the Columbia River Gorge, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a major expansion of the Historic US 30 signage for the Historic Highway.
(https://i.imgur.com/bDIXQpc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hZjliRT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9rAd4mm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kmHpP6w.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HvGuhpI.jpg)
A little background: these are a bit inaccurate historically since the old Columbia River Highway (completed from Portland to Hood River by 1916) pre-dates US 30 by a good decade. The Historic Highway Commission went to these signs because they felt the older signs were too hard to read while driving by. While I don't know if I agree with that, I do welcome the new signs as a de facto restoration of an old segment of US 30.
That is very cool- especially the one on the green sign!
That looks so nice and classy on a green sign- why can't all states just use that as the default design?
now I see where you got your avatar from - apparently I'm not the only one out there with the old fonts still lying around!
the one on the green sign is similar to what Arizona does sometimes for 66, except Oregon puts the state name. Though my favorite is the classic shield, which is only the second state to have ever gotten it right. California, on occasion, replicates their US markers correctly, but most often does not.
now if only they could slip in a couple of historic Oregon I-80N shields!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 09, 2010, 10:16:49 PM
now I see where you got your avatar from - apparently I'm not the only one out there with the old fonts still lying around!
They had a couple up last year, and I stole the avatar from one of those. All of the above are pretty recently-installed, like in the last 2 months.
Quotenow if only they could slip in a couple of historic Oregon I-80N shields!
That would truly be epic, but I don't think there are any historic bypassed freeway segments to sign them on!
Quote from: xonhulu on June 09, 2010, 10:25:57 PM
That would truly be epic, but I don't think there are any historic bypassed freeway segments to sign them on!
well, then invent the world's first Oregon I-84 shield for the trailblazers off the historic route!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 09, 2010, 10:29:22 PM
well, then invent the world's first Oregon I-84 shield for the trailblazers off the historic route!
Good idea. I wonder if I can talk ODOT into using them...
Quote from: xonhulu on June 09, 2010, 10:25:57 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 09, 2010, 10:16:49 PM
now I see where you got your avatar from - apparently I'm not the only one out there with the old fonts still lying around!
They had a couple up last year, and I stole the avatar from one of those. All of the above are pretty recently-installed, like in the last 2 months.
Quotenow if only they could slip in a couple of historic Oregon I-80N shields!
That would truly be epic, but I don't think there are any historic bypassed freeway segments to sign them on!
If the Mt Hood Freeway ever got built, the Banfield Freeway from I-5 to I-205 could get the Historic I-80N shields.
Looks like I'll have to make a stop by there this summer and snap a few pics for myself :] definitely digging the one on the green sign, it'd be great if that style was a little more common as corco suggested.
You'll find the green sign at the eastern end of the Sandy River Bridge.
Quote from: xonhulu on June 09, 2010, 10:13:03 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FUS30HISTTroutdale9.jpg%3Ft%3D1276135697&hash=ecd5d82da44ead0d70d89de340a7c2be2f8f2de2)
Is that FHWA Series C? Anyways, that's really cool. I live by the gorge, and I haven't driven in the gorge in many months. :P I should take another drive (though the Washington side is much more fun to drive on).
Quote from: KEK Inc. on July 05, 2010, 10:49:42 PM
Is that FHWA Series C? Anyways, that's really cool. I live by the gorge, and I haven't driven in the gorge in many months. :P I should take another drive (though the Washington side is much more fun to drive on).
It is. ODOT, for some reason or another, has taken to using FHWA Series C a fair bit recently. I first noticed it along US-26 when the stimulus project there was finished last year--the signs for the Rock Creek and McKay Creek crossings were in Series C. I also was going along OR-224 near Carver on StreetView the other day and noticed there was a ton of Series C guide signs there as well.
I have to say I rather like it--it's got a good clean look to it. I'm kind of curious as to why ODOT's taken to it as of late, though.
-Alex (Tarkus)
The 2009 MUTCD seriously restricts the use of all-caps on signage due to FHWA studies that show upper-and-lowercase text is more legible than just upper case. A lot of agencies use Series C in all-caps for signs like this, and Series C looks a lot better in mixed case than Series D, so we're seeing a lot more of it in places that aren't using Clearview.
Scott, thanks for the great explanation! I figured it might have been something along those lines.
I'm almost wondering if this is a sign (no pun intended) that ODOT isn't jumping on the Clearview bandwagon?
-Alex (Tarkus)
Here are some new signs along westbound I-84 I spotted yesterday:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FHistoric%2520Columbia%2520River%2520Highway%2FUS30HCRHWarrendale1.jpg%3Ft%3D1293210444&hash=bcedf3aa66ce6083c8fbc9059248c1fd12558bcd)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FHistoric%2520Columbia%2520River%2520Highway%2FUS30HCRHWarrendale2.jpg%3Ft%3D1293210580&hash=5c5f4bfb9ef2fb81657df01b08962db924c22969)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FHistoric%2520Columbia%2520River%2520Highway%2FUS30HCRHWarrendale5.jpg%3Ft%3D1293210619&hash=f9594b949fd54231554915688fcd495712408d05)
The shield on the green guide sign looks awkward without the usual outer white border.
I can't wait to see other historic signs, will ORDOT put some "Historic US-99/US-99W/US-99E"?
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on December 24, 2010, 06:15:34 PM
I can't wait to see other historic signs, will ORDOT put some "Historic US-99/US-99W/US-99E"?
I'd be surprised, since those routes are still signed as state routes with the same numbers. See my first post to see why this one got that treatment.
I wonder if ODOT will switch to the "Historic" signs on the Cascade Locks, Hood River and The Dalles local road segments still signed as U.S. 30 (plus whatever local roads further east that still are designated U.S. 30).
QuoteI wonder if ODOT will switch to the "Historic" signs on the Cascade Locks, Hood River and The Dalles local road segments still signed as U.S. 30 (plus whatever local roads further east that still are designated U.S. 30).
Doubtful, since those roads are still US-30. If the roads are currently US-30, why would they sign them as Historic US-30?
Quote from: corco on June 08, 2011, 12:20:11 AM
QuoteI wonder if ODOT will switch to the "Historic" signs on the Cascade Locks, Hood River and The Dalles local road segments still signed as U.S. 30 (plus whatever local roads further east that still are designated U.S. 30).
Doubtful, since those roads are still US-30. If the roads are currently US-30, why would they sign them as Historic US-30?
Same reason Virginia DOT is currently signing US 1 as Historic Route 1 - to promote "road tourism"
Aside from the signage, driving Historic US 30 and the actual remaining segments of US 30 between Portland and The Dalles will open up views that one never gets from I-84. I'm a native Oregonian and when I was going east of Portland, it was all Point A to Point B driving until my best friend and I drove on the old sections of US 30 and got the views of a lifetime. It only took me 55 years to do this! I hope those of you who can make the drive do so sooner than that. It is worth it.
Then if a person is staying in the Portland area, cross the Columbia River at The Dalles via US 197 and come back west along Washington State Route 14. There's not as much on 14 itself to see other than a nice string of tunnels but the long view of the Columbia and the background will add more perspective to the part of the countryside that has then been traveled.
Rick
interestingly, I've never done old 30 west of 97. I just did (over Memorial Day) a segment from 97 to OR-7, which was a segment I had not previously done. Lots of coverage to be done - maybe someone can even turn up an 80N shield!
Vermont 7A has been signed Historic 7A for a long time. Not Historic 7, though that's really what it is by a strict definition.
similarly, the Cabrillo Parkway portion of CA-163 is signed as Historic 163, with a white spade (1957-1964 standard) - never mind that it got renumbered to 1963 in 1967, and at the time of the white spade, it was US-395!
Bumping this topic because I saw yesterday that Historic US 30 signage has now been placed on the section of historic highway between Mosier and The Dalles. This is heading west from The Dalles:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FUS%2520Routes%2FUS30HCRHTheDalles2_zpsd1d455b5.jpg&hash=00ad4d527b06f28a1bfbf156c4c2f53586f1bba6)
Heading the other way, there's an "END" sign:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FUS%2520Routes%2FUS30HCRHTheDalles3_zps9dce904b.jpg&hash=044ac27bc56cde8ed636a09870be2d26e7ef4f07)
What's unusual here is that this section is also still the actual US 30, and is still signed as such:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss166%2Fxonhulu%2FUS%2520Routes%2FUS30HCRHTheDalles1_zps89ec0d31.jpg&hash=014c87cf73773cda93891754fcc251ab3ce5fe4c)
Along the length of the road, there are actually more brown Historic signs than standard US 30 shields, but I think that's largely because there weren't that many 30 shields before. However, it's not impossible some standard shields were replaced by the brown signs, but not to the extent that I can believe there is any plan to decommission this as US 30 in favor of the historic 30 status.
ODOT and Oregon State Parks are making a push to reconnect all the remaining historic highway segments into a State Trail by 2016, the centennial of the opening of the original highway, so I think the signing of this segment is part of that effort. I attended the dedication of the newest open segment 2 weeks ago (a 1.6 mile segment a little west of Bonneville Dam that completes the trail between Troutdale and Cascade Locks), and the officials spoke pretty confidently they'll pull it off, even though I'm pretty sure they haven't secured funding for it all yet. One of the remaining projects will be to recreate the Mitchell Point Tunnel, so they're not lacking for ambition, that's for sure!
I love this. To me, it would equally cool to see both ODOT and WSDOT do this to old US-99 (where OR-99(x) or SR-99 doesn't exist). These signs are very familar to the Historic US 101 signs I saw in San Diego County in 2005.
Quote from: TEG24601 on October 10, 2013, 03:05:19 PM
I love this. To me, it would equally cool to see both ODOT and WSDOT do this to old US-99 (where OR-99(x) or SR-99 doesn't exist). These signs are very familar to the Historic US 101 signs I saw in San Diego County in 2005.
This signing does establish a precedent of putting historic route signage on a still-designated route. However, I'd be surprised to see it along old 99 and its branches because it lacks the cachet of the HCRH, and I think there was a desire on the HCRH to have consistent signage along its drivable length.
And its not a coincidence that these signs remind you of California's. As I noted in the OP, I read in the HCRH Advisory Committee minutes that they intentionally copied California's design because they felt it was superior to their old signs, which they thought were harder to read driving past. There's a photo of one of the older signs in that original post. I don't really agree with their reason, but I like the result of the historic US 30 signs, so no complaint here!
This type of signing (Historic US xx Route on a brown rectangular sign) is not unique to California, although it's possible the design might have originated in California. I've seen similar variations in Iowa with Historic U.S. 6, and plenty of Historic U.S. route signs for U.S. 6, U.S. 80, U.S. 99, U.S. 101, and U.S. 395 in California. U.S. 30 in Oregon is the latest entry. Perhaps there are more elsewhere?
Regards,
Andy
If ODOT officially relocated US 30 to the HCRH while using the Historic US 30 signs, I wouldn't complain. I mean, US 30's barely signed on I-84 between Troutdale and Multnomah Falls, and that's the official US 30 corridor!
They should just for the sake of consistency. US 30 is signed on the other 2 drivable segments of the HCRH, after all.
I wonder if they could also be talked into some historic 30 signage on the State Trail segments?
The one thing I don't understand is how could US 99 lack the same significance in history than US 30? US 99's predecessor, the Siskiyou Trail, was one of the reasons why Oregon was able to be settled in the first place. Not only that, but back in 1928, US 99 was the most "improved highway" in the U.S., having almost all of its route paved in concrete or asphalt (minus a section in the imperial valley and a small section in northern California). Also, the Pacific Highway was the first completely paved state highway in the west (that being done in Oregon). Lastly, US 99 has Sam Hill's name written all over it, just like the Columbia River Highway/US 30 does.
Quote from: 707 on December 09, 2013, 08:41:05 PM
The one thing I don't understand is how could US 99 lack the same significance in history than US 30?
The HCRH was a fucking engineering marvel. US 99 was just another important road that was improved using normal construction methods.
Quote from: NE2 on December 09, 2013, 08:44:40 PM
Quote from: 707 on December 09, 2013, 08:41:05 PM
The one thing I don't understand is how could US 99 lack the same significance in history than US 30?
The HCRH was a fucking engineering marvel. US 99 was just another important road that was improved using normal construction methods.
The Ridge Route was also a marvel in its own right, along with the Newhall Tunnel. I'm even tempted to go as far as to say the Alaskan Way Viaduct was as well (although current Seattle residents would beg to differ). Also, how is the first completely paved highway in the west not a marvel?
The Ridge Route should be celebrated to the extent that the HCRH is. But IIRC there's little if any signage for historic US 30 east of the HCRH.
Quote from: NE2 on December 09, 2013, 09:36:12 PM
The Ridge Route should be celebrated to the extent that the HCRH is. But IIRC there's little if any signage for historic US 30 east of the HCRH.
Understandable. I have been talking to a man hoping to make the Ridge Route a National Scenic Byway, but I don't know if he'll succeed. Regardless, I support his movement. Thankfully, he did get it registered on the NRHP. Hopefully someday, people will see the Ridge Route's potential and post up Historic Ridge Route and Historic US 99 signs on it (even though US 99 was never signed on the Ridge Route, it was designated down it until about 1933).
Quote from: NE2 on December 09, 2013, 09:36:12 PM
The Ridge Route should be celebrated to the extent that the HCRH is. But IIRC there's little if any signage for historic US 30 east of the HCRH.
True. There are major still-drivable sections of old US 30 in eastern Oregon, and except the North Powder-to-Baker Hwy that's still signed as US 30, the rest are unmarked. That's a shame, as at least the Old Emigrant Hill Road east of Pendleton is a pretty impressive highway itself, and nearly all of old 30 across the Blue Mountains is separated enough from I-84 to make a pleasant drive.
Quote from: 707 on December 09, 2013, 08:41:05 PM
The one thing I don't understand is how could US 99 lack the same significance in history than US 30?
The major difference is that much of old US 99 is still signed as OR 99. But I agree that I'd like to see historic signs put up on it, as well.
Quote from: xonhulu on December 09, 2013, 10:04:34 PM
Quote from: 707 on December 09, 2013, 08:41:05 PM
The one thing I don't understand is how could US 99 lack the same significance in history than US 30?
The major difference is that much of old US 99 is still signed as OR 99. But I agree that I'd like to see historic signs put up on it, as well.
Funny thing is AZ 89A, even though it's signed its whole route, carries dual signage as Historic US 89A. If Arizona can do it without trouble on AZ 66 and AZ 89A, I don't see why that would be a problem with OR 99, OR 99W and OR 99E.
I just came across this report, which explains that the Historic US 30 signs put up along the Mosier-The Dalles Hwy were part of a larger effort to establish consistent signage across the drivable and non-drivable sections of the Historic Hwy:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/HCRH/Documents/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
I like that they're apparently even going to put small Historic US 30 Markers along the State Trail sections. I didn't see any of those along the newly opened section between Yeon SP and Moffett Creek when I walked it last month, though.
Quote from: andy3175 on October 12, 2013, 06:05:03 PM
This type of signing (Historic US xx Route on a brown rectangular sign) is not unique to California, although it's possible the design might have originated in California. I've seen similar variations in Iowa with Historic U.S. 6, and plenty of Historic U.S. route signs for U.S. 6, U.S. 80, U.S. 99, U.S. 101, and U.S. 395 in California. U.S. 30 in Oregon is the latest entry. Perhaps there are more elsewhere?
Regards,
Andy
(https://astareglobe.org/Photos/Albums/GetThumb.ashx?Collection=5f0a48c6f7044f4bb95a72b6b57ace10&Album=fbcdde2bc1ec44cb91305a5ceeea526f&Photo=4e3e0dad42aa4d84a2615e3b5b10459b&Size=640)
(https://astareglobe.org/Photos/Albums/GetThumb.ashx?Collection=5f0a48c6f7044f4bb95a72b6b57ace10&Album=fbcdde2bc1ec44cb91305a5ceeea526f&Photo=87f5768ed4d24dc5852af58bee46c86c&Size=640)
(https://astareglobe.org/Photos/Albums/GetThumb.ashx?Collection=5f0a48c6f7044f4bb95a72b6b57ace10&Album=7ef098b322f84214ba2035f32f82575d&Photo=fb263e638d574ab3a1204d69c76449e0&Size=800)