Does anyone miss the old text signs?

[roadman65]

I was raised in the 70's and 80's and remember seeing the old guides signs for both NYSDOT and PennDOT use all text for US and State routes on freeway guide signs.

  Then there was the original CT Turnpike signs that were white on blue that used the original "CONN" abbreviation for state routes along the turnpike and the NY Thruway would use "ROUTE" instead of US while the PTC would use "Route" for State routes.

Then New Jersey. although always using shield display on  interstate guide signs would use text on LGSes though.


I was wondering if anyone misses those days of seeing  US 1 written out as such, or PA 343 on I-78 written out, etc?  I know we must move on, and this is not a political debate here or lets try not to bring in old verses new.  Just typical remembering the good ole days things that we remember and wish to be again as the earlier times had some great memories or for nostalgic reasons.

[vdeane]

While I prefer the asethetic of shields, it is sad that the old ones are becoming quite rare.  I still remember this sign:


Here's the sign that replaced it:


Driving the western park the the LOSP used to be an experience in going back in time.  The time I took that second picture was an experience of a different sore (as you can see!).

[Alex]

Never really liked them growing up. Finding them today is now a treat though.

[GaryV]

When I saw the title, I thought this thread would be about old signs spelling out "School" or "Children Playing" rather than the graphics we have now.  I was just remarking to my wife that it's rather ironic that the symbol we saw on a sign for "playground" was a see-saw, a device that is being removed from parks for safety for the last decade or two.

Back on track, I seem to remember this in Ohio fairly recently, at least on distance signs, but I haven't been down I-75 for several years now.  I don't remember if it was on exit signs or not.

[ixnay]

Never really liked them growing up.

I didn't care one way or the other as long as I could read them.

Finding them today is now a treat though.

Welcome to the club.

I-95 from Route 352 in Chester, PA to the Delaware border used to have exit and pullthrough signs in all caps on all lines (except for the interstate shield) all through the '70s and into the '80s.

ixnay

[shadyjay]

I remember seeing the last bit of original Connecticut Turnpike signage survive up until the '91-93 timeframe and asking myself when would ConnDOT get around to replacing it, since it was quite old, outdated, and unreadable (even during the day).  Now I wish some of that signage was still around.  I remember thinking the "Phase III" reflective button copy was so awesome when it was installed, but now it just annoys me and I can't wait til ConnDOT gets around to replacing it all with the new standard Phase IV with aligned tabs.  Then 20 or 30 years from now, I'll be longing for button copy again.  Funny how that works!

[bzakharin]

Does the spelled out "Garden State PARKWAY" signs on the Turnpike count?

[machias]

I was raised in the 70's and 80's and remember seeing the old guides signs for both NYSDOT and PennDOT use all text for US and State routes on freeway guide signs.

  Then there was the original CT Turnpike signs that were white on blue that used the original "CONN" abbreviation for state routes along the turnpike and the NY Thruway would use "ROUTE" instead of US while the PTC would use "Route" for State routes.

Then New Jersey. although always using shield display on  interstate guide signs would use text on LGSes though.


I was wondering if anyone misses those days of seeing  US 1 written out as such, or PA 343 on I-78 written out, etc?  I know we must move on, and this is not a political debate here or lets try not to bring in old verses new.  Just typical remembering the good ole days things that we remember and wish to be again as the earlier times had some great memories or for nostalgic reasons.

I was a big fan of the old all-text signs. The thing I can't quite figure out is why NYSDOT apparently switched to them, at least in some parts of the state, in the late 60s. I have vague memories of outline state route shields along Interstate 81 in Oswego County prior to the sign rehab project in 1973, when they went to all text.  I think I-81 also had the exit number on the bottom line of the sign prior to 1973 as well, but I have no photographic proof. And of course, if you look at my avatar, you would have found the outline shields as late as 1976.

This is the 2nd generation of signs along Interstate 81 (at least in Oswego Count), installed summer of '73.


I really liked seeking out this old format in the mid 80s:



There are photos of the Interstate 87 (the Northway portion) from when the road was first built and though only the backside of an exit panel is shown, it's obvious that it doesn't have an exit "tab". I'm thinking that either the Northway didn't have exit numbers at first or the exit number was on the bottom line but again, no photographic proof of either.

[Roadrunner75]

How about these?
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=40.12788,-74.964395&spn=0.000006,0.00327&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=40.12783,-74.964829&panoid=mT2Pr-gPmzTtZisfqu8U4A&cbp=12,317.87,,0,-3.6
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=40.128079,-74.969142&spn=0.000003,0.001635&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=40.128079,-74.969398&panoid=JB5xImJNJ-VeuB4kmY0pOA&cbp=12,52.34,,0,-1.58
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=40.597917,-75.564566&spn=0.000001,0.000817&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=40.597917,-75.564694&panoid=Fyn570CIe3tEHnJSHg0ctg&cbp=12,78.64,,0,0.11
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=40.596272,-75.556823&spn=0.000001,0.000817&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=40.596343,-75.556875&panoid=2JpwveNaO1GQ3rXnOcD0UA&cbp=12,348.02,,0,-0.81
Still a few around in PA, at least when these GSV's were taken, although these links might find something different at some point.

[dgolub]

They still have them on NY 25 at the interchange with NY 106/NY 107.  In fact, there was one that needed to be replaced, and they replaced it with a new reflective sign that's text only, which is very unusual.  Photo available at http://www.greaternyroads.info/roads/nystate/ny25/photogal/page3.

[Flyer78]

The thing I can't quite figure out is why NYSDOT apparently switched to them, at least in some parts of the state, in the late 60s.

I wonder if it was cheaper (smaller sign/materials) or it was decided that the text line was easier to read than an outline shield at night. Both just guesses.

[cpzilliacus]

Maryland had a fair amount of all-text signs back in the day (for instance, the JFK Highway section of I-95 had mostly text signs, but nearly all of the signs on the Maryland portion of the Capital Beltway had shields).

I do not think I have ever seen an all-text sign in Virginia.

[Mergingtraffic]

These are still around:





and in NY:


MA:


NJ:

[briantroutman]

While they're surely inferior from both aesthetic and legibility standpoints, I do miss the all text guide sign legends–which were usually in button copy on dark, non-reflective green backgrounds.

In the late '80s and early '90s in Pennsylvania, it seemed like many if not most freeway guide signs were still of the all-text variety. But while legends with "US XX"  and "PA XX"  were common, Interstates were always represented by a shield–I never saw anything like "I-380 - Scranton - NEXT RIGHT" . Did any states use text for Interstate designations on freeway guide signs (excluding post-interchange mileage signs)? Or were there regulations preventing that?

[NE2]

Did any states use text for Interstate designations on freeway guide signs (excluding post-interchange mileage signs)? Or were there regulations preventing that?

I have no idea why.

I think I've come across some uses of ROUTE X for an Interstate in Virginia, where you use the intersecting road to reach the Interstate.

[Pete from Boston]

Did any states use text for Interstate designations on freeway guide signs (excluding post-interchange mileage signs)? Or were there regulations preventing that?

I have no idea why.

I think I've come across some uses of ROUTE X for an Interstate in Virginia, where you use the intersecting road to reach the Interstate.

Off topic, the border on the shields on the left (as opposed to the borderless at right) makes them look like they were created in some program and photoshopped in.

[NE2]

Off topic, the border on the shields on the left (as opposed to the borderless at right) makes them look like they were created in some program and photoshopped in.

That's Iowa standard (at least when that sign was created).

[hbelkins]

Only one left in Kentucky is on the Mountain Parkway at Exit 46 westbound. It was installed in the mid to late 1970s when every other sign that was installed had route markers.

I have a zillion pictures of it but am too lazy to find one to post; go look on www.millenniumhwy.net and find one.

The old text-only signs for the KY 395 exit on I-64 were replaced a couple of years after the road was widened.

There was also one on northbound I-75 for KY 22 at Dry Ridge; I think I have a photo of it too somewhere. It was replaced in a widening project as well.

[Jim]

I drive under these most days on my way home from work on NY 30 North coming off the bridge over the Mohawk River in Amsterdam.



And this is just off the ramp marked above at the merge onto the tail end of the NY 5 East arterial:

[NE2]

I think I've come across some uses of ROUTE X for an Interstate in Virginia, where you use the intersecting road to reach the Interstate.

Yay, found a few. Not all-text, but partly text:

[Mapmikey]

South Carolina checks in:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5186227,-80.4349231,3a,75y,52.72h,86.08t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1spwK_z4YOTJk1LsUxk5pcmw!2e0
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8555148,-79.9891197,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1shtbwN1yWS9mkUxPocrHjOQ!2e0

The original BGSs at both of these locations were also text.

I'm trying to think of a Virginia example without a 'TO' in front of it...drawing a blank so far...

Mapmikey

[cl94]

Even though I'm on the younger side, yes, but only if button copy. While NYSDOT hates old signage, the Albany Area, Hudson Valley, NYC, and the Island used to have a lot more all-text than currently exists (practically none). 2 summers ago, Region 5 got rid of all signs on NY 198, the only all-text left in the region and the majority of button copy not on the Thruway system. Quite a shame, as many of them were still in good condition. One of those all-text signs was reflective and less than 5 years old.

[NE2]

I'm trying to think of a Virginia example without a 'TO' in front of it...drawing a blank so far...

Found one, but it's nowhere near standard.

[Brandon]

Some Illinois ones:

Partially text (IL-255 and I-255 have a "control" of "I-270" or "Interstate 270" - all text, no shields):
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=38.877804,-90.060478&spn=0.007108,0.009645&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.877724,-90.06051&panoid=emYpD9XtVPq9R-B6I6fRAw&cbp=12,194.53,,0,-7.21

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=38.675191,-90.024859&spn=0.007161,0.009645&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.675235,-90.025026&panoid=eUZ4qBu1vhD7QNfriE-Uow&cbp=12,298.41,,1,-11.31
(In Clearview nonetheless)

I-280:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.455991,-90.54208&spn=0.004861,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.455967,-90.542186&panoid=8M52y708pdnegUTFK5pEBg&cbp=12,282.94,,1,-3.1

[NE2]

I can't think of any in Florida. Maybe there's one for A1A, since that's become a street name as well as a route number.