L.A. and its rarer BGS styles

[mp_quadrillion]

In a recent extended trip to L.A., I noticed that several of the region's oldest and grossest have been replaced with shiny new signs.

Here and elsewhere in California, I see that Caltrans often makes an exact copy of the old sign.. even if the design is now lopsided after years of renumbering, greenout and all that other junk. On the other hand, sometimes the replacement has acres of room on the sign except for a handful of arrows and a control city in tiny type.

What do you feel will happen to some of the rarer types out there? Several for through traffic on I-5 and CA-91 write "Los Angeles" in a heavier legend than usual, and often the sign is just a narrow strip (by today's standards). Do you think we can expect to see these precisely recreated in retroreflective green, or should we get pictures before they're gone?

[roadfro]

Get pictures before they're gone. I think Caltrans is gradually becoming more standardized with their sign design practices, such that many unique features will disappear as signs are replaced.

[cpzilliacus]

Get pictures before they're gone. I think Caltrans is gradually becoming more standardized with their sign design practices, such that many unique features will disappear as signs are replaced.

Those old, almost drab green colored signs (with the greenout) are so much a part of the freeway "culture" of Los Angeles and environs. 

But for a look at the future of freeway signage in California, I suggest a trip along the Santa Ana Freeway section of I-5 (preferably starting in downtown L.A.) south in the direction of Orange County is instructive.  The change from the old, worn-out I-5 in L.A. County (with mostly old signs) to the modern reconstructed freeway (with state-of-the-art signs and sign supports) in Orange County is almost jarring.