AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: roadman65 on October 07, 2022, 05:31:01 PM

Title: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: roadman65 on October 07, 2022, 05:31:01 PM
https://goo.gl/maps/eBzKMKtcKf5J5uLd9

This one on US 22 in Harrisburg at I-81 has a strange way of warning the motorists of what lane from where exits the freeway.  The I-81 SB guide uses EXIT HERE and the I-81 NB uses EXIT ONLY.

Of course the I-81 South exits from the right through lane in which NB I-81 don't which explains the inconsistency here.  However, I would think that a plain white arrow for the Carlisle guide would suffice.

Any other oddities like this or similar to this?
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: Ned Weasel on October 08, 2022, 02:33:54 PM
Westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike has a similar way of signing the option lane at the interchange with the Northeast Extension:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JLnA6f7EPDR9RrR19

Except it uses "THIS LANE" instead of "EXIT HERE."  I feel like I've seen the "THIS LANE" panel for an option lane somewhere ELSE in Pennsylvania, but I can't remember where off the top of my head.

At any rate, it isn't MUTCD-compliant, nor is a plain white arrow.  The MUTCD mandates APL for major exits with option lanes, and allows option lanes to be hidden on minor exits (except they would get a black arrow and "EXIT ONLY" message on a yellow panel, at the gore point), as of 2009.
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: jeffandnicole on October 08, 2022, 04:32:58 PM
Quote from: Ned Weasel on October 08, 2022, 02:33:54 PM
Westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike has a similar way of signing the option lane at the interchange with the Northeast Extension:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JLnA6f7EPDR9RrR19

Except it uses "THIS LANE" instead of "EXIT HERE."  I feel like I've seen the "THIS LANE" panel for an option lane somewhere ELSE in Pennsylvania, but I can't remember where off the top of my head.

At any rate, it isn't MUTCD-compliant, nor is a plain white arrow.  The MUTCD mandates APL for major exits with option lanes, and allows option lanes to be hidden on minor exits (except they would get a black arrow and "EXIT ONLY" message on a yellow panel, at the gore point), as of 2009.

The mandate is only for when new signage is installed. There's no requirement signage must be changed to meet the standard earlier than necessary.
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: epzik8 on October 08, 2022, 06:48:24 PM
Some in Maryland have just "ONLY" with an arrow.
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: Ned Weasel on October 09, 2022, 08:59:42 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on October 08, 2022, 04:32:58 PM
The mandate is only for when new signage is installed. There's no requirement signage must be changed to meet the standard earlier than necessary.

Yeah, but I've lost count of how many new signs I've seen since 2009 that still don't follow the requirements for signing option lanes.  And actually, the one I posted earlier was installed after 2013, because if you go back to 2013 on Google Street View, you get this: https://goo.gl/maps/pubwk5qisVA47TPA9
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: ran4sh on October 14, 2022, 05:12:41 PM
Quote from: Ned Weasel on October 09, 2022, 08:59:42 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on October 08, 2022, 04:32:58 PM
The mandate is only for when new signage is installed. There's no requirement signage must be changed to meet the standard earlier than necessary.

Yeah, but I've lost count of how many new signs I've seen since 2009 that still don't follow the requirements for signing option lanes.  And actually, the one I posted earlier was installed after 2013, because if you go back to 2013 on Google Street View, you get this: https://goo.gl/maps/pubwk5qisVA47TPA9

Plus it wasn't compliant with previous MUTCD editions either.
Title: Re: Exit guide warning labels
Post by: Bitmapped on October 16, 2022, 10:56:51 AM
Quote from: Ned Weasel on October 08, 2022, 02:33:54 PM
Westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike has a similar way of signing the option lane at the interchange with the Northeast Extension:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JLnA6f7EPDR9RrR19

Except it uses "THIS LANE" instead of "EXIT HERE."  I feel like I've seen the "THIS LANE" panel for an option lane somewhere ELSE in Pennsylvania, but I can't remember where off the top of my head.

The US 119 bypass of Uniontown, PA has a "This Lane" sign as well: https://goo.gl/maps/wyoWBWmXaaX7zBLa9 The lane serves PA Turnpike 43 northbound and then right after becomes an exit-only lane for PA 51. The next assembly is at the gore for the PA Turnpike 43 exit, where the ramp to 43 is treated as a normal exit (no Exit Only panel) and the PA 51 sign is the standard "Exit Only" message.

I'm not wild about the "This Lane" sign but APLs wouldn't work well here and signing it as "Exit Only" would be confusing since it is, at least initially, an option lane. The black-on-yellow is effective for keeping through traffic out of this lane so they don't end up being forced to exit.