AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: bugo on April 07, 2013, 04:24:21 AM

Title: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: bugo on April 07, 2013, 04:24:21 AM
Arkansas used these into the '80s.  I don't remember seeing any in other states.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Brandon on April 07, 2013, 07:18:03 AM
Quote from: bugo on April 07, 2013, 04:24:21 AM
Arkansas used these into the '80s.  I don't remember seeing any in other states.

IIRC, I saw some folding ones in Nebraska on I-80.  The ones in Indiana and Michigan are permanent and do not fold.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on April 07, 2013, 07:29:05 AM
I think Arizona and Utah still use them.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: realjd on April 07, 2013, 08:32:23 AM
FDOT uses fixed signs, at least District 6 does. :)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southeastroads.com%2Fflorida001%2Fus-001_sb_at_seven_mile_br.jpg&hash=db9aa60e10668d88e0a9a17beaa5fe157c2e94da)
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Truvelo on April 07, 2013, 08:55:26 AM
It's stupid driving around in boiling heat during July and seeing ice signs next to palm trees :ded:
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: The High Plains Traveler on April 07, 2013, 10:03:37 AM
Isn't that another version of "BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD"? We saw those in Mississippi and Alabama nearly down to the Gulf.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Big John on April 07, 2013, 10:21:49 AM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on April 07, 2013, 10:03:37 AM
Isn't that another version of "BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD"? We saw those in Mississippi and Alabama nearly down to the Gulf.
2003 MUTCD added sign W8-13 to say "Bridge Ices Before Road" as standard language for this situation.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Mapmikey on April 07, 2013, 10:33:32 AM
North Carolina used to used folded signs for icy bridges

Mapmikey
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Ian on April 07, 2013, 10:41:33 AM
NYSDOT likes to use folding "ICY PAVEMENT ZONE" (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8161580672_b5827fda76_b.jpg) signs on occasion.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: realjd on April 07, 2013, 10:49:32 AM
Quote from: Truvelo on April 07, 2013, 08:55:26 AM
It's stupid driving around in boiling heat during July and seeing ice signs next to palm trees :ded:

That particular sign was put up as a joke and it sadly isn't there anymore. I assure you the Seven Mile Bridge has never iced.  :sombrero:
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: InterstateNG on April 07, 2013, 11:01:38 AM
Texas has them.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: SteveG1988 on April 07, 2013, 12:53:39 PM
I wonder, would there ever be a way to make one that automatically deploys when it gets too cold, like a strip of metal latching it closed that reacts to 32 degrees or less?
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: US81 on April 07, 2013, 01:40:11 PM
Quote from: InterstateNG on April 07, 2013, 11:01:38 AM
Texas has them.

Texas has had them for some time. There are older versions still around that, when open, say "Watch for Ice on Bridges" and, when closed, say "Drive Friendly." 

I appreciate the sentiment, but the grammar geek in me has always cringed a little.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: NE2 on April 07, 2013, 01:49:26 PM
Florida has folding smoke-fog signs on SR 528.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Scott5114 on April 07, 2013, 02:00:31 PM
Oklahoma used them until around 2005-ish.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: hbelkins on April 07, 2013, 03:00:30 PM
All kinds of them along US 52 in southern Ohio.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: _Simon on April 07, 2013, 03:16:39 PM
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission uses them on the Phillipsburg-Easton free bridge in conjunction with slippery-when-wet signs.  NJDOT uses "BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD SURFACE" a lot.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: corco on April 07, 2013, 03:43:28 PM
Kansas uses them too, right? And flipped down they say something about not littering? Or am I mixing it up with another state.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Mapmikey on April 07, 2013, 05:32:01 PM
South Carolina had them until about mid 1980s.  When folded up they were black and white triangle signs that said "drive safely"

Mapmikey
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Mapmikey on April 07, 2013, 05:34:08 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on April 07, 2013, 12:53:39 PM
I wonder, would there ever be a way to make one that automatically deploys when it gets too cold, like a strip of metal latching it closed that reacts to 32 degrees or less?

This already exists...here is one on US 58 in eastern Virginia Beach

http://goo.gl/maps/eGriO (http://goo.gl/maps/eGriO)

Mapmikey
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: Central Avenue on April 07, 2013, 05:45:48 PM
I've definitely seen the folding "WATCH FOR ICE ON BRIDGE" signs on Ohio's roads, though they seem to have adopted fixed "BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD" signs instead over the past few years, and the remaining folding signs seem to be displayed year-round...such as this one Google captured in June. (http://goo.gl/maps/7quHl)
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: vtk on April 07, 2013, 06:06:46 PM
Franklin County Engineer's Office appears to have adopted ODOT's fondness for folding "watch for ice on bridge" signs sometime in the 20th century and most are still around. It seems to me it was always hit-or-miss as to whether a sign would be folded or displayed in the warmer months.

By the way, the ones I'm familiar with are folded off-center, so when closed they look like a diamond (gem) or the Superman emblem.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: WichitaRoads on April 08, 2013, 12:45:31 AM
Quote from: corco on April 07, 2013, 03:43:28 PM
Kansas uses them too, right? And flipped down they say something about not littering? Or am I mixing it up with another state.

That's Kansas for sure.

ICTRds
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: txstateends on April 08, 2013, 03:44:23 AM
Quote from: US81 on April 07, 2013, 01:40:11 PM
Quote from: InterstateNG on April 07, 2013, 11:01:38 AM
Texas has them.

Texas has had them for some time. There are older versions still around that, when open, say "Watch for Ice on Bridges" and, when closed, say "Drive Friendly." 

I appreciate the sentiment, but the grammar geek in me has always cringed a little.

Some of the signs in TX that aren't foldable are (usually) turned sideways when not cold/icy.

Another example in TX: some foldable signs can be found on the same post just below an Adopt-A-Highway sign; they have something to the effect of 'Litter Crew Ahead' (when members of the group that adopts the next 2 miles of highway are alongside the road picking up trash) on them and IIRR, are construction-orange in color.  Not all Adopt-A-Highway signposts have the foldable signs below them.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: roadman on April 08, 2013, 06:59:40 PM
The winter before last, MassDOT started posting "Plows Use Caution" signs on Interstates and freeways immediately prior to the start of bridge decks.  The rationale for the signs is so drivers will lift the plow blades prior to the transition between the approach pavement and the bridge.  As MassDOT still relies heavily on private contractors for most of their snow removal, use of text signs was deemed a better option than smaller MUTCD standard object markers.

The signs are neither foldable nor temporary, they remain in place even during warm-weather months.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: hm insulators on April 09, 2013, 03:29:01 PM
I think Angeles Crest Highway (California 2 through the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles) has them.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: agentsteel53 on April 09, 2013, 03:37:49 PM
there are several folding ICY signs on CA-36 coming down the hill from Susanville.  they fold in half vertically, so when they are not in use one sees a bare aluminum triangle.

also on that road are some curve advisory signs, California-style with the advisory number inside the diamond - and this number can be flipped to something lower in inclement weather.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: lepidopteran on April 09, 2013, 11:50:53 PM
New Jersey used to have signs reading "Bridge May Be Slippery".  Don't think they folded in half, though.  I suspect there may be some signs still up somewhere.
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: US71 on April 11, 2013, 12:11:15 PM
Arkansas was also fond of using Watch For ICE signs before descending a steep hill, such as US 71 at Mt Gaylor or along the Pig Trail (Ar 23).
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: _Simon on June 03, 2013, 03:25:49 AM
I just took a trip to New Orleans (mostly I-81, I-24, I-59, I-10) and have witnessed the following phrases (in the order I encountered them):

"Bridge freezes before road surface"
"Bridge may be icy"
"Bridge ices before road"
"Bridge ices before road in winter" (in TN)
"Bridge ices before road during snow" (in AL)

Also, I found this on google -- never seen it before:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/33098767@N00/3913407136/
Title: Re: Folding "WATCH FOR ICE" signs
Post by: deathtopumpkins on June 03, 2013, 01:49:22 PM
Quote from: _Simon on June 03, 2013, 03:25:49 AM
Also, I found this on google -- never seen it before:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/33098767@N00/3913407136/

Looks like the standard Quebec (Canadian?) one.