Nevada Observations...

[Kniwt]

Here it is:

[myosh_tino]

Here it is:

Thanks for posting a photo Kniwt!

Well, I got kind of close.  Here's an updated drawing that's a pretty close match to the photo...


As for that "580" font, I used 18" Series B digits in the drawing above.  While it's a pretty close match, I'm not a real fan of the font choice because I find the digits way too narrow.  I'd rather they used 15" Series D digits (would have looked like the 580 shield in my previous drawing on this topic).

The only other comment I have about the photo is NDOT's decision to put the light fixtures above the sign.  IIRC, the only other places where I've seen this type of sign lighting is in Utah and Arizona.

[roadfro]

Narrow 580 digits were used on all the interchange sequence signs leading up to the interchange. I agree that smaller series D digits probably would have looked better.


NDOT only installed the overhead lights (LED fixtures, btw) on these arrow-per-lane signs and a couple others. I'm guessing for the arrow-per-lane signs, it's because the signs are too tall to be fully and adequately lit by headlights. For a few other signs, I'm thinking lighting was used due to the signs being on curved sections of road. The vast majority of new signs on I-80 are not lit.

This isn't the first use of the Utah/Arizona style overhead sign lighting in Nevada. A number of signs on I-215 in Las Vegas near the I-15 interchange use a similar overhead style--although these were likely designed by Clark County during initial beltway construction and not an NDOT thing, like these I-80 lights would be.

[JasonOfORoads]

As for that "580" font, I used 18" Series B digits in the drawing above.  While it's a pretty close match, I'm not a real fan of the font choice because I find the digits way too narrow.  I'd rather they used 15" Series D digits (would have looked like the 580 shield in my previous drawing on this topic).

The signs on mainline I-580 are Series D, making it easy to tell who put up which sign.

[agentsteel53]

The only other comment I have about the photo is NDOT's decision to put the light fixtures above the sign.  IIRC, the only other places where I've seen this type of sign lighting is in Utah and Arizona.

there are some examples of overlighting still around in California.  CA-110 has a bunch.

http://goo.gl/maps/0kb1t

[Interstate Trav]

Wow they really did sign I-580.  Interesting.

[roadfro]

^ I believe NDOT always intended to sign it, or at least they have for the last decade or so. They have been waiting to make it meaningful to sign, which opening of the freeway extension made possible.

[nexus73]

I would have Salt Lake City listed along with Elko as a control city. 

Rick

[Interstate Trav]

^ I believe NDOT always intended to sign it, or at least they have for the last decade or so. They have been waiting to make it meaningful to sign, which opening of the freeway extension made possible.

Good point and now that it connects to another Major City Carson City all the more reason. 

[Interstate Trav]

I would have Salt Lake City listed along with Elko as a control city. 

Rick

Salt Lake City used to be listed, but they took it down to replace it with Elko.

[myosh_tino]

In my original post, I made some Nevada observations from my trip to the Reno area.  In a subsequent post, I said I would be in Las Vegas in late October so here are my observations from the southern part of the state.

Arrow-per-Lane Signage Vegas-style...
Installation of arrow-per-lane signs were limited to the C/D roads that parallel I-15 between Blue Diamond and Tropicana.  What I found interesting was the fact that these signs were approximately 120-inches tall, the same height as the maximum specified by Caltrans.  Was was equally as interesting was that in some cases like the southbound exit for Russell Road, an arrow-per-lane sign was used for an exit that does not have a lane drop!  Here's what I believe that sign looked like...


I-15 C/D Roads...
I was impressed by the extensive use of braided ramps between Blue Diamond and Tropicana and how decorative the overpass designs and landscaping was.  However, one beef I have is the ridiculously low 45 MPH speed limit on the C/D roads.  Mainline I-15 has a 65 MPH speed limit so while I understand there is a lot more merging going on, to reduce the speed limit by 20 MPH is a bit excessive.  I think 55 MPH is more appropriate.  Another issue I have is the exit to Tropicana.  Exit signs for Tropicana are posted at Blue Diamond directing those wanting to exit at Tropicana onto the C/D road.  The problem is, Tropicana is a good 2+ miles away AND there's a second exit from mainline I-15 at Russell Road.  Seeing this was my first time experiencing this new configuration, I used the C/D road not knowing of the second Tropicana exit and had to endure a 2+ mile drive on the C/D road at 45 MPH. 

Gas Prices...
In the past I always made a stop a Primm Valley to gas up figuring that gas should be cheaper than in California.  On this past trip, I was sorely mistaken.  Apparently, Primm to "too close" to California because gas prices in Primm were about the same as back home in San Jose.  About 30+ miles down the road in Las Vegas, gas was anywhere from 40-60 cents cheaper!  IIRC, Primm was $4.29 while Las Vegas was $3.69... lesson learned!  FWIW, gas in Barstow was still in the $4.70 range! 

I will be back in Las Vegas in March for another bowling tournament.  This time, I plan on bringing my digital camera so I can snap some photos of the arrow-per-lane signs.  Besides I will have a lot more free time on my hands so I need something extra to do to keep from spending all of my time in the casinos.

[Interstate Trav]

In my original post, I made some Nevada observations from my trip to the Reno area.  In a subsequent post, I said I would be in Las Vegas in late October so here are my observations from the southern part of the state.

Arrow-per-Lane Signage Vegas-style...
Installation of arrow-per-lane signs were limited to the C/D roads that parallel I-15 between Blue Diamond and Tropicana.  What I found interesting was the fact that these signs were approximately 120-inches tall, the same height as the maximum specified by Caltrans.  Was was equally as interesting was that in some cases like the southbound exit for Russell Road, an arrow-per-lane sign was used for an exit that does not have a lane drop!  Here's what I believe that sign looked like...


I-15 C/D Roads...
I was impressed by the extensive use of braided ramps between Blue Diamond and Tropicana and how decorative the overpass designs and landscaping was.  However, one beef I have is the ridiculously low 45 MPH speed limit on the C/D roads.  Mainline I-15 has a 65 MPH speed limit so while I understand there is a lot more merging going on, to reduce the speed limit by 20 MPH is a bit excessive.  I think 55 MPH is more appropriate.  Another issue I have is the exit to Tropicana.  Exit signs for Tropicana are posted at Blue Diamond directing those wanting to exit at Tropicana onto the C/D road.  The problem is, Tropicana is a good 2+ miles away AND there's a second exit from mainline I-15 at Russell Road.  Seeing this was my first time experiencing this new configuration, I used the C/D road not knowing of the second Tropicana exit and had to endure a 2+ mile drive on the C/D road at 45 MPH. 

Gas Prices...
In the past I always made a stop a Primm Valley to gas up figuring that gas should be cheaper than in California.  On this past trip, I was sorely mistaken.  Apparently, Primm to "too close" to California because gas prices in Primm were about the same as back home in San Jose.  About 30+ miles down the road in Las Vegas, gas was anywhere from 40-60 cents cheaper!  IIRC, Primm was $4.29 while Las Vegas was $3.69... lesson learned!  FWIW, gas in Barstow was still in the $4.70 range! 

I will be back in Las Vegas in March for another bowling tournament.  This time, I plan on bringing my digital camera so I can snap some photos of the arrow-per-lane signs.  Besides I will have a lot more free time on my hands so I need something extra to do to keep from spending all of my time in the casinos.

Interesting how Southern Nevada is similiar to Southern California with signage.

Having made that trip numerous times, a heads up is in California, Barstow is the cheapest place for gas, or Mojave Ca on Ca 58.  Baker is the most expensive, and Primm or Jean Nevada are expensive as well.

[myosh_tino]

Interesting how Southern Nevada is similiar to Southern California with signage.

Could you elaborate on your first statement?  While California and Nevada have some similarities, they are still quite different.

Having made that trip numerous times, a heads up is in California, Barstow is the cheapest place for gas, or Mojave Ca on Ca 58.  Baker is the most expensive, and Primm or Jean Nevada are expensive as well.

I guess everything's relative.  I don't consider Barstow cheap at all but if you compare it to Baker, then of course Barstow is cheap.  When I make this drive, I gas up in Bakersfield and I am just about able to make it in to Vegas.  I used to gas up at Primm because I'd use the Primm Valley casino to use the restroom, grab a quick snack and drop a $20 into a slot machine.

[Interstate Trav]

Interesting how Southern Nevada is similiar to Southern California with signage.

Could you elaborate on your first statement?  While California and Nevada have some similarities, they are still quite different.

Having made that trip numerous times, a heads up is in California, Barstow is the cheapest place for gas, or Mojave Ca on Ca 58.  Baker is the most expensive, and Primm or Jean Nevada are expensive as well.

I guess everything's relative.  I don't consider Barstow cheap at all but if you compare it to Baker, then of course Barstow is cheap.  When I make this drive, I gas up in Bakersfield and I am just about able to make it in to Vegas.  I used to gas up at Primm because I'd use the Primm Valley casino to use the restroom, grab a quick snack and drop a $20 into a slot machine.

The signing styled, with the type of overhead signs are similiar.  They keep the speed limit 70, instead of raising to to 75 which anywhere else in Rural Nevada it is.  I know the fonts are different, but the Freeway Entrance signs, things like that.  They seem to be very similiar to California signing.

Yeah I agree Barstow isn't the cheapest gas station in the state just once on I-15 between there and Las Vegas it seems to be the cheapest. 

[roadfro]

Arrow-per-Lane Signage Vegas-style...
Installation of arrow-per-lane signs were limited to the C/D roads that parallel I-15 between Blue Diamond and Tropicana.  What I found interesting was the fact that these signs were approximately 120-inches tall, the same height as the maximum specified by Caltrans.  Was was equally as interesting was that in some cases like the southbound exit for Russell Road, an arrow-per-lane sign was used for an exit that does not have a lane drop!  Here's what I believe that sign looked like...

These are the first use of arrow-per-lane signs in Nevada, as the I-15 south design build project (I-15 from Blue Diamond to Tropicana, including C/D roads) was one of the first major NDOT projects completely designed after the 2009 MUTCD was adopted. The only other use of APLs in Nevada I am currently aware of are the massive signs on I-80 mainline approaching I-580/US 395 in Reno/Sparks.

Actually, there is a lane drop there and the sign shows a three arrow setup: One thru, one option, one drop (possibly without "exit only" panels, can't recall). The left side has shields for I-15, I-215 and CC-215, and the right side has Russell Road (possibly rendered on one line).  The interesting part is that only the upstream sign looks like this, the downstream end at the gore uses a typical exit direction sign with one white on green arrow and one black on yellow arrow within an exit only panel.

I-15 C/D Roads...
I was impressed by the extensive use of braided ramps between Blue Diamond and Tropicana and how decorative the overpass designs and landscaping was.  However, one beef I have is the ridiculously low 45 MPH speed limit on the C/D roads.  Mainline I-15 has a 65 MPH speed limit so while I understand there is a lot more merging going on, to reduce the speed limit by 20 MPH is a bit excessive.  I think 55 MPH is more appropriate.  Another issue I have is the exit to Tropicana.  Exit signs for Tropicana are posted at Blue Diamond directing those wanting to exit at Tropicana onto the C/D road.  The problem is, Tropicana is a good 2+ miles away AND there's a second exit from mainline I-15 at Russell Road.  Seeing this was my first time experiencing this new configuration, I used the C/D road not knowing of the second Tropicana exit and had to endure a 2+ mile drive on the C/D road at 45 MPH. 

I don't understand the 45mph speed limit on the C/D roads either. It's not like there are usually platoons of traffic merging on from side streets, as all the ramps are metered. Nobody goes that slow, and 55 would be more appropriate.

I am not sure why the northbound mainline signs include Tropicana at the exit for Russell, and agree with your assessment. It makes sense to sign that from the I-215 westbound on ramp (which it is), as that cuts down on weaving maneuvers.

NDOT has been putting a lot into interchange beautification in the last several major projects they've bid. Typically, they budget about 3% of project cost for aesthetics--so on a major project like this, they've put in a lot. Each interchange/overpass actually has different themes of plants and animals. They've done similar landscape treatments on US 95 in the northwest Las Vegas area, and on the recent I-80 project in Reno/Sparks.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

Arrow-per-Lane Signage Vegas-style...
Installation of arrow-per-lane signs were limited to the C/D roads that parallel I-15 between Blue Diamond and Tropicana.  What I found interesting was the fact that these signs were approximately 120-inches tall, the same height as the maximum specified by Caltrans.  Was was equally as interesting was that in some cases like the southbound exit for Russell Road, an arrow-per-lane sign was used for an exit that does not have a lane drop!  Here's what I believe that sign looked like...

The actual signs:

[CL]

I would have Salt Lake City listed along with Elko as a control city. 

Rick

Salt Lake City used to be listed, but they took it down to replace it with Elko.

Yeah. I noticed this when I drove through Reno in 2010. I think it's a tad asinine that Salt Lake gives Reno full control city status on its signs and Reno returns the favor by posting Elko. I mean, really.

[roadfro]

The old pull through signs in Reno used to say "Salt Lake" (instead of "Salt Lake City").

Apparently, the official AASHTO/FHWA/whatever control city listing puts Elko in between. NDOT has simply followed this on new signs.

[myosh_tino]

Thanks for getting pictures CentralCAroadgeek.  Looks like I was mistaken about the Russell Rd arrow-per-lane exit sign.  I must of gotten it mixed up with the CC-215/I-215 exit sign pictured below...

If I read the MUTCD right, isn't the above sign an improper use of the arrow-per-lane guide signs?

[roadfro]

If I read the MUTCD right, isn't the above sign an improper use of the arrow-per-lane guide signs?

Technically yes, as APL signs are supposed to be used at multi-lane exits or splits. The sign follows the spirit of that section, though.


Interestingly, both of the pictured APL signs are in violation of the MUTCD because they use the APL sign in advance, but at the actual split are pull-through and/or exit direction signs. The two types of signs are not supposed to be mixed.