Only in this state....

[hbelkins]

Too many posts to try to go back and quote from.

Re: Virginia: I've seen plenty of Txxx signs in rectangles, and there are getting to be a few JCT markers in the eastern part of the state.

Re: Rumble strips: Kentucky is using them more and more often.

[roadman65]

Too many posts to try to go back and quote from.

Re: Virginia: I've seen plenty of Txxx signs in rectangles, and there are getting to be a few JCT markers in the eastern part of the state.

Re: Rumble strips: Kentucky is using them more and more often.

I have seen plenty of states now using shoulder and center line rumble strips.  Some use the road reflectors lined in an even row across the pavement as such, like here in Florida.

Nothing beats CA and NV with their ceramic buttons, as they act like rumple strips when changing lanes.  If either CA used them exclusively or did NV, it would be a mention in this post, but it cannot.

I think though, Pennsylvania has one unique situation as the span wire guardrails have posts that are I shaped steel beams planted in the ground.  Or do they?   I do know NYS uses span wire guard rails in some places, but with rounded  metal posts.

Also, speaking of NYS, I have only seen the box girder guardrails there so far.  PennDOT used to use it on I-70 from Washington, PA to New Stanton decades ago, but last I know they might of changed  it to Jersey Barrier.  That may be a New York thing now.

[EchoCharlieHotel]

Only in California: Arrows that point down and to the left (right) to the start of the entrance ramp on FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign assemblies. At least, CA's the only place I've seen those. Any other places have them?

Add Oregon to the list of states that have these types of assemblies at freeway on-ramps...


Image from the "California-style freeway entrance signage makes its way to Oregon" thread on the Northwest board.

Yep, that's them. They've not made their way to Tucson yet (that I've seen), but, if they're in the MUTCD now, then it's likely a matter of time.

I remember first seeing them on a business trip to the LA area back in 1997. Nothing wrong with them, but those angled-down arrows just don't look quite right to this born-and-raised-east-of-the-Mississippi soul. Yet.

[myosh_tino]

Add Oregon to the list of states that have these types of assemblies at freeway on-ramps...


Image from the "California-style freeway entrance signage makes its way to Oregon" thread on the Northwest board.

Yep, that's them. They've not made their way to Tucson yet (that I've seen), but, if they're in the MUTCD now, then it's likely a matter of time.

I remember first seeing them on a business trip to the LA area back in 1997. Nothing wrong with them, but those angled-down arrows just don't look quite right to this born-and-raised-east-of-the-Mississippi soul. Yet.

The only difference between the Oregon assembly and a typical California assembly is the order of the signs and shields.  California's typically puts the "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" sign on top followed by the route shield then directional banner and finally the diagonal arrow.


From the AARoads Gallery

It's also interesting to note that the California standard "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" sign (sign code G92-CA) is the same size as the MUTCD-standard one (sign code D13-3) but uses 5" legend while the MUTCD-standard uses 6" legend.

[cpzilliacus]

The only difference between the Oregon assembly and a typical California assembly is the order of the signs and shields.  California's typically puts the "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" sign on top followed by the route shield then directional banner and finally the diagonal arrow.


From the AARoads Gallery

It's also interesting to note that the California standard "FREEWAY ENTRANCE" sign (sign code G92-CA) is the same size as the MUTCD-standard one (sign code D13-3) but uses 5" legend while the MUTCD-standard uses 6" legend.

The FREEWAY ENTRANCE assemblies used on nearly every California freeway on-ramp (or similar variant at toll road entrances) that I have driven is perhaps the single-best feature of Caltrans-maintained freeway-class roads.

Curiously, while I have been in Oregon (though only in metropolitan Portland), I don't recall seeing those assemblies there (but then, I did not drive there at all).

Were it my call to make, such assemblies would be mandated by the MUTCD at every freeway entrance in the United States.

[Takumi]

Re: Virginia: I've seen plenty of Txxx signs in rectangles

There were a few on US 460 in Windsor (Isle of Wight County). One of them (SR 1805) also had a shield, which did not have the T.

Regarding my previous post on the US 460 rumble strips, they go from New Bohemia (where the 50 MPH section begins) to where the speed limit drops to 45 in Suffolk, with a small break at a new intersection in Prince George County and through Waverly, Wakefield, and part of Ivor, but Windsor has them most of the way through town.

[NE2]

Were it my call to make, such assemblies would be mandated by the MUTCD at every freeway entrance in the United States.

Define freeway. Are parts of the George Washington Parkway a freeway?

[Revive 755]

* Only in NE Illinois:  Road name included as a separate tab on the junction assembly:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lake+villa,+il&hl=en&ll=42.413429,-88.071138&spn=0.006725,0.016512&sll=42.032432,-88.091192&sspn=0.215482,0.528374&hnear=Lake+Villa,+Lake,+Illinois&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.413344,-88.071051&panoid=90dA-l6YPDozsJ8ui1uJQA&cbp=12,330.2,,0,10.29

* Formerly only in Iowa:  The interstate junction assembly on cross roads had a tab with 'Interchange No. x'
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=iowa+city,+ia&hl=en&ll=41.681434,-91.535522&spn=0.003385,0.008256&sll=41.681278,-91.535382&sspn=0.027212,0.066047&hnear=Iowa+City,+Johnson,+Iowa&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.681278,-91.535394&panoid=fYJHwQFTlRBfIIG5gEaQFQ&cbp=12,5.47,,0,8.42

* Only in Missouri: 2/10 milemarkers on interstates through the whole state, not just the urban areas.

* I think Nebraska is the only state that has the distance signs following an interchange with the first line usually as '[Route shield] [City Name] Exit [distance]

* Only in Nebraska are the rumble strips on the approach to a stop controlled intersection called rumble bars and marked with a little yellow sign.

[DaBigE]

Were it my call to make, such assemblies would be mandated by the MUTCD at every freeway entrance in the United States.

Not to change the topic, but since someone brought it up, I've never really seen the point of these signs, rather, I've just seen them as being extra clutter. Wisconsin doesn't even have it in their library of signs, however, I did see one rogue one at an on-ramp near downtown Milwaukee the other week. What do these signs tell the driver that they shouldn't already know based on other signs, pavement markings, and geometries? How does this sign change any of their behavior? Count me as one who hopes it never becomes mandated by the MUTCD.

[Scott5114]

Presumably the sign 1) marks the point of no return, beyond which you cannot escape joining the route marked and/or the freeway, and 2) marks the beginning of any laws which may apply to freeways (minimum speed, maximum heights, no self-propelled vehicles, etc.), much like the chopsticks sign on British motorways.

[NE2]

2) marks the beginning of any laws which may apply to freeways (minimum speed, maximum heights, no self-propelled vehicles, etc.), much like the chopsticks sign on British motorways.

Problem is there are no such laws in many states, including California. That's what the white sign behind the 'freeway entrance' is for, if such restrictions exist.

[national highway 1]

Only in Louisiana (maybe not totally): Are 3di's squished into 2di shields. I know other states do this, but we seem to have it across the board. I-220 and US 171 come to mind

The opposite happens in Texas, with 2di interstate routes placed within a 3di shield.

[cpzilliacus]

Were it my call to make, such assemblies would be mandated by the MUTCD at every freeway entrance in the United States.

Not to change the topic, but since someone brought it up, I've never really seen the point of these signs, rather, I've just seen them as being extra clutter. Wisconsin doesn't even have it in their library of signs, however, I did see one rogue one at an on-ramp near downtown Milwaukee the other week. What do these signs tell the driver that they shouldn't already know based on other signs, pavement markings, and geometries? How does this sign change any of their behavior? Count me as one who hopes it never becomes mandated by the MUTCD.

I have never seen even one in the states I drive in the most (Md., Va., D.C., W.Va., Del., Penna., N.J., N.Y., N.C. and S.C.).

The reason I am in favor of such assemblies is I think they prevent at least some wrong-way incursions onto freeways - and - in areas where a driver is in unfamiliar territory, it makes it much easier to find the entrance to the freeway, in particular at night and in snowy, foggy or heavy rain conditions.

[vtk]

Only in Ohio:


They can't just say "trucks"?  These are posted on freeway mainlines, with traffic going by at full speed.

And yes, these still exist on non-Interstate freeways and expressways.

[roadman65]

Only in Illinois, you have interstate entrance ramps from County, State, and US routes signed with the next sequential cities and the ramps from interstate to interstate signed with next major US city as control points.

[cpzilliacus]

Presumably the sign 1) marks the point of no return, beyond which you cannot escape joining the route marked and/or the freeway, and 2) marks the beginning of any laws which may apply to freeways (minimum speed, maximum heights, no self-propelled vehicles, etc.), much like the chopsticks sign on British motorways.

Those are both good reasons to pose such signs, though I assert that safety and "user friendliness" are even better reasons to install them. 

The word "chopsticks" threw me for a loop for a minute (I would call them "enter motorway" or "begin motorway" signs).   They are generally installed for the reasons you mention above.  Here is an entrance to the E4/E20 motorway (Essingeleden) in Stockholm, Sweden.

[The gantry in the image is a collection station for the Stockholm congestion tax cordon.]

[Scott5114]

The word "chopsticks" threw me for a loop for a minute (I would call them "enter motorway" or "begin motorway" signs).   

I believe "chopsticks" is the British roadgeek term for them.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Only in Ohio:


They can't just say "trucks"?  These are posted on freeway mainlines, with traffic going by at full speed.

And yes, these still exist on non-Interstate freeways and expressways.

Actually...



This is on the Indiana Toll Road, with similar signage used between the Portage and Eastpoint toll barriers. This is the only major Indiana highway that uses this type of signage. Photo courtesy of www.aaroads.com

Ironically, the Ohio Turnpike (also I-80/90) does NOT use that type of signage in the state known for using it (they did at one time, but they chucked those signs).

[DaBigE]

Were it my call to make, such assemblies would be mandated by the MUTCD at every freeway entrance in the United States.

Not to change the topic, but since someone brought it up, I've never really seen the point of these signs, rather, I've just seen them as being extra clutter. Wisconsin doesn't even have it in their library of signs, however, I did see one rogue one at an on-ramp near downtown Milwaukee the other week. What do these signs tell the driver that they shouldn't already know based on other signs, pavement markings, and geometries? How does this sign change any of their behavior? Count me as one who hopes it never becomes mandated by the MUTCD.

I have never seen even one in the states I drive in the most (Md., Va., D.C., W.Va., Del., Penna., N.J., N.Y., N.C. and S.C.).

The reason I am in favor of such assemblies is I think they prevent at least some wrong-way incursions onto freeways - and - in areas where a driver is in unfamiliar territory, it makes it much easier to find the entrance to the freeway, in particular at night and in snowy, foggy or heavy rain conditions.

Isn't that what proper [upstream] route marker signage is for? The average driver doesn't care if they're entering a freeway, expressway, parkway, etc., they care about the route number and direction/destination.

I can see the benefit of such a sign at parclo location, such as what is shown in Figure 2D-14, but not as a mandate at all instances of an on-ramp. What would be the point at a diamond interchange ramp or SPUI?

[allniter89]

Only in Ohio:


They can't just say "trucks"?  These are posted on freeway mainlines, with traffic going by at full speed.

And yes, these still exist on non-Interstate freeways and expressways.

Finally on July 1, 2009 the speed limit was raised to 65 for trucks. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/ohio_truck_speed_limit_goes_to.html
Knowing how much Ohio hates 18 wheelers I imagine the state police give tickets at 66mph as they did at 56mph when the limit was 55. Yes I have seen a 56mph ticket written to a truck driver with my own eye, it may have been the drivers attitude that caused the ticket but none the less, it was written.

[Road Hog]

Texas is the only state where I've seen U-turns under underpasses leading from one frontage road to the other. They are actually quite handy.

[NE2]

Texas is the only state where I've seen U-turns under underpasses leading from one frontage road to the other. They are actually quite handy.

These are used elsewhere, such as US 19 in Pinellas County, FL.

[PurdueBill]

Only in Ohio:

.........

Ironically, the Ohio Turnpike (also I-80/90) does NOT use that type of signage in the state known for using it (they did at one time, but they chucked those signs).

The Turnpike also used the more vertical version seen on ODOT roads as well (pic courtesy Steve's site); this example had been not only whited-out on the bottom for the truck part but then also altered at the top--it was likely a 60/55 before being changed.

The Turnpike similarly whited out their vertical signs to cover the Truck 55 part, but those signs went away when they changed to 70 last year.  The Turnpike now just has standard signs for the 70 limit.

ODOT also uses assemblies of two separate signs, especially on expressway-type roads like US 30.  This view of one is very oblique but shows the idea--it was the first one I could come up with.  How sad that I knew exactly where to find it.  Type in "Delphos OH", zoom to street view at almost perfectly the spot...sigh.  Guess driving by there many times a year I've gotten used to that route. 

The whited-out ones based on the example illustrated in vtk's post now look very strange; they either have the bottom third whited out or removed just below the dividing line, depending on ODOT region it seems.  The result is a very nonstandard sign for a single speed limit; I know they were trying to save money but I wonder if it is totally compliant.


bottom removed at seam; seen sometimes


bottom whited out; seen more often it seems

[roadman65]

Speaking of speed limits, does not Vermont have only a 50 mph maximum on non freeways?  I know that the Super 2 part of US 7 does allow 55 mph, but that is a freeway. 

The only other state that has a 50 mph maximum, is Delaware, but US 13, US 40, and US 113 because these are divided highways  that only allow for 55 mph under Delaware law and 65 to freeways.

New Jersey, at one time, did not allow 2 lane roads to be posted at 55 mph, and had the same rule as Delaware.  I believe that the Garden State, though, only let two 2 lane highways to have the 55 mph: NJ 54 and NJ 72.

[florida]

Only in Florida:

(most obvious)
-A1A

(going out on a limb)
-Having at least one suffixed state road (SR 30A for example), yet having multiple suffixed county roads with the same number.
-At least one state route that is only a state route while concurrent with another state route.
-Very thick [height-wise] pavement markings and stop bar lines. I call it "80s pavement". http://goo.gl/maps/JwM4v