The Worst of Road Signs

[cl94]

Last posted in this very thread a few years ago, but this piece of crap, courtesy of the City of Tonawanda, NY, is still there. Its identical sister sign is barely visible in the background.

Hey, where have I seen that before?

Depends, which came first? If it was the suggestion thread, I'm guessing that DOT needs to stop looking at this forum for ideas.

Those silly things have been in place for at least 10 years (scroll down for photo, gave this link to show the date). The square state route shields are long gone thanks to NYSDOT, but those things remain.

[Brian556]

from jbnv

I just hate that cheap black film. Screen print, dammit!

That sign does have nice detail of the coast.

I wonder if they will change the design of the sign at regular intervals to keep up with the changing coastline?

[Brian556]

Ok, so this isn't a road sign, but it's hilarious. White text on very light blue? Seriously? Not only that, but it's obstructed by the metal bar.

[cjk374]

from jbnv

I just hate that cheap black film. Screen print, dammit!

That sign does have nice detail of the coast.

I wonder if they will change the design of the sign at regular intervals to keep up with the changing coastline?

I really wish LA would go back to green & white.  They really do look better than black and white.  I'm guessing the ones who hold the purse strings say that green costs more, but if you keep getting results like the pic above, you're spending even more money.

[jbnv]

I really wish LA would go back to green & white.  They really do look better than black and white.

I'm going to disagree with you there.

I'm guessing the ones who hold the purse strings say that green costs more, but if you keep getting results like the pic above, you're spending even more money.

I don't think the crap above has anything to do with green versus black; it's simply a poor choice in materials. And it's not like Louisiana has just started making road signs ever; DOTD should have a good idea by now how to make a sign that looks good and will last in this climate.

[Brandon]

Last posted in this very thread a few years ago, but this piece of crap, courtesy of the City of Tonawanda, NY, is still there. Its identical sister sign is barely visible in the background.

Fuck me, they're real!  Someone once used something exactly like them as an example for a joke in a design thread on MTR, IIRC.

[cl94]

Last posted in this very thread a few years ago, but this piece of crap, courtesy of the City of Tonawanda, NY, is still there. Its identical sister sign is barely visible in the background.

Fuck me, they're real!  Someone once used something exactly like them as an example for a joke in a design thread on MTR, IIRC.

Unfortunately, they're very real. One of them is next to a recently-replaced NY 425 shield installed by NYSDOT.

[KEK Inc.]

Another Seattle-area gem...this one near the Tacoma Dome along I-5 South. The old signs, which were mounted on either side of the southbound carriageway were replaced by shoulder-mounted gantries so that construction in the median could take place. This section of I-5 did not have a median (it's three carriageways) and, in order for the HOV lane construction to commence, they needed the space in the middle. All the lanes have shifted to the right (and have also narrowed significantly).

Needless to say, the job was less than spectacular:

- no control cities
- no suffixed exit number (the first sign is pointing to two exits despite there only being one exit number...wtf)
- double-length 45-degree shaft was a poor choice
- very little green-space, particularly on the first sign.
- also on the first sign, placing the "only" between the two angled arrows would only be correct at the gore point (since the left lane doesn't have to exit at the first exit)

I haven't driven there recently.  Are they finally making I-5 HOV from Fife through JBLM?

I made an APL of the old sign (which can also go in this thread) a while ago. 

[jakeroot]

I haven't driven there recently.  Are they finally making I-5 HOV from Fife through JBLM?

Fife to SR-16. All the way to JBLM isn't even on WSDOT's site (as far as I can tell, at least).

I made an APL of the old sign (which can also go in this thread) a while ago. 

Lol. It isn't that bad...lots of nice graphics.

[kurumi]

I was thinking Sunnyvale based on that bush.

KKT is right: "I-85" is from Sunnyvale.

[cjk374]

I really wish LA would go back to green & white.  They really do look better than black and white.

I'm going to disagree with you there.

I'm guessing the ones who hold the purse strings say that green costs more, but if you keep getting results like the pic above, you're spending even more money.

I don't think the crap above has anything to do with green versus black; it's simply a poor choice in materials. And it's not like Louisiana has just started making road signs ever; DOTD should have a good idea by now how to make a sign that looks good and will last in this climate.

I agree that the crap-quality has nothing to do with green vs. black & white.  I just like green better. 

Where does DOTD make their signs?  I've always wondered.

[codyg1985]

These newly installed signs at the reconfigured I-55/US 98 interchange in McComb, MS leave a lot to be desired:

[Brian556]

quote from codyg1985:

Man, that green guide sign is crap. They couldn't even manage to get New Orleans on the same line as it's arrow. it appears that the sign is laid out with three lines, but of course, it only needs two.

Route markers so low that barrels can obstruct them? Come on.

[Darkchylde]

These newly installed signs at the reconfigured I-55/US 98 interchange in McComb, MS leave a lot to be desired:

(images omitted)

Those things are beyond hideous. They're design atrocities. Whoever designed them needs to be fired, and whoever actually put them up needs to be slapped for not using common sense.

[myosh_tino]

I was thinking Sunnyvale based on that bush.

KKT is right: "I-85" is from Sunnyvale.

Well I'll be darned!  Where is it located (assuming it still exists)?

[cjk374]

quote from codyg1985:

Man, that green guide sign is crap. They couldn't even manage to get New Orleans on the same line as it's arrow. it appears that the sign is laid out with three lines, but of course, it only needs two.

Route markers so low that barrels can obstruct them? Come on.

In MS, they usually use 3 lines on those particular direction signs at interchanges.  I believe McCOMB is missing above New Orleans.

[national highway 1]

These newly installed signs at the reconfigured I-55/US 98 interchange in McComb, MS leave a lot to be desired:

Can't you just incorporate the route shields into the BGS?

[codyg1985]

In MS, they usually use 3 lines on those particular direction signs at interchanges.  I believe McCOMB is missing above New Orleans.

This is in McComb, so it wouldn't be McComb on there. Maybe Hammond? I never saw Hammond as a control city anywhere in MS.

[vtk]

These newly installed signs at the reconfigured I-55/US 98 interchange in McComb, MS leave a lot to be desired:

Can't you jeust incorporate the route shields into the BGS?

Wouldn't that one be an LGS?

Anyway, that type of sign is a Destination & Direction sign.  Those typically don't have route markers on them.  "Why not" is a good question.

[kurumi]

I was thinking Sunnyvale based on that bush.

KKT is right: "I-85" is from Sunnyvale.

Well I'll be darned!  Where is it located (assuming it still exists)?

Street View - Homestead Rd WB approaching "I-85" entrance

[cjk374]

In MS, they usually use 3 lines on those particular direction signs at interchanges.  I believe McCOMB is missing above New Orleans.

This is in McComb, so it wouldn't be McComb on there. Maybe Hammond? I never saw Hammond as a control city anywhere in MS.

I screwed up... I forgot to look at the highway signs...MS 24 WEST goes to Liberty, MS.     

[silverback1065]

Is it really that hard to distinguish between a US highway and a state highway?!

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9983399,-85.7308649,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srratCBjw3j95glAy4fbI6g!2e0

especially when a few feet west the correct signage is present:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9987881,-85.7322677,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sh4RJJMODlWniW3RWf4usLA!2e0

[freebrickproductions]

Is it really that hard to distinguish between a US highway and a state highway?!

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9983399,-85.7308649,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srratCBjw3j95glAy4fbI6g!2e0

especially when a few feet west the correct signage is present:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9987881,-85.7322677,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sh4RJJMODlWniW3RWf4usLA!2e0

I'm pretty sure that's more "erroneous" than "worst of".

[codyg1985]

Is it really that hard to distinguish between a US highway and a state highway?!

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9983399,-85.7308649,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srratCBjw3j95glAy4fbI6g!2e0

especially when a few feet west the correct signage is present:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9987881,-85.7322677,3a,75y,320.32h,75.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sh4RJJMODlWniW3RWf4usLA!2e0

The first set of signs look more like Illinois state route markers than Indian ones.

[Scott5114]

These newly installed signs at the reconfigured I-55/US 98 interchange in McComb, MS leave a lot to be desired:

Can't you just incorporate the route shields into the BGS?

For whatever reason, the first sign with destinations usually doesn't have route markers on it. Depending the state, the signs at the actual ramp might have both the route shield and destination. And sometimes not all of the ramps–Kansas, for instance, has shields on the signage on the "far sides" of the interchange (i.e. the ramps which require crossing over/under the freeway) but not the ones on the "near sides".