Why does the signage on Houston freeways suck so badly?
Example: If you are eastbound on 290 approaching 610, there are NO signs telling you which lanes to be in until less than one mile from the junction. This causes mad merging efforts that stall traffic to a standstill. Yes, I know there is construction there, but why can't they put signs on the gantries at least 3 miles away telling you what lane to be in? It is NOT intuitive to know to be in the right lane to go north on 610. I noticed the same thing on North 45 at 610. Counter-example would be northbound 59 approaching the downtown spur (529??). You get plenty of notice.
rte66man
I feel the city builds the highways as if only locals will ever travel on them. Nobody understands the logic of giving a mile at highway speeds to merge three lanes over. The one saving grace is during rush hour. You got 30 mins to get that mile over to make that lane.
We went from 290 east to 10 east to 45 south. While already on 45 I had no idea where the hell we were going, and I'm good with maps!!! all the lanes seemed to exit one way or another.
I45 goes down to two lanes of through traffic inside the loop. Too bad those lanes switch off as you keep driving. Left and right turn exit only 500 feet apart is so smart.
This topic is kinda funny to me because I have always thought we signed them pretty well (especially compared to other cities especially, say, Dallas.)
Even my mother who is famously bad with directions and finding her way around (especially a large city) has no trouble. Granted, some routes are better about it than others. IH 10 and 45 are the best. The only real problem I encounter personally is badly painted lane markers. On some routes when it rains or is dark or is a construction zone you cannot tell which lane is which.
The lack of advance "next 3 exits" signs in Houston really sucks.
Personally, I've never had a problem with the signage in Houston or any trouble changing lanes in time. Also, Houston is big on pavement markers that tell you where you need to be ahead of time. On that note there are some states, Mississippi comes to mind, where there are no 2 mile advance signs for any exit or interchange. I don't even think I've ever seen a 3 mile one.
Driven in Houston twice. Never had an issue.
Quote from: UptownRoadGeek on April 14, 2012, 01:47:01 PM
Personally, I've never had a problem with the signage in Houston or any trouble changing lanes in time. Also, Houston is big on pavement markers that tell you where you need to be ahead of time. On that note there are some states, Mississippi comes to mind, where there are no 2 mile advance signs for any exit or interchange. I don't even think I've ever seen a 3 mile one.
I was looking ahead trying to figure out where to go. There is one point on 45 south near downtown where 2 lanes exit left, 2 lanes exit right, and they don't give you any idea where mainline traffic goes. It was busy (saturday around noon) but luckily people let me in!
You are supposed to look at paint signs on the ground. You were by the odd I-10 and I-45 interchange. There are a total of 5 lanes in the area. The farther left lane is a left turn only, the second to left is a left exit/stay on mainline. The middle is pure I45, the second to right is right exit, stay on mainline/the far right is a right turn only exit. Then 1000 feet a head, the left 2 lanes are left exit only. Don't you just love that kind of Sim City building?