Signs With Design Errors

[thenetwork]

This sign needs more clarity since it spans over all lanes of traffic.  I perceive this sign as to stay straight in the right lane for the 407 and thru traffic should keep left -- even with the left exit tab. The signs further up are better defined.

[AsphaltPlanet]

These signs are standard in Ontario, so there are dozens if not hundreds of them across the province.  They are signed in conjunction with pre-advanced and turn-off signs that reinforce which direction the exit lanes depart at, and the configuration at each interchange.  Furthermore, when the signs were developed in the 1990s, human factors studies were conducted, which found that the vast majority of drivers understood the basic configuration of the approaching interchange, including which side of the road the lanes departed on, even if they didn't necessarily understand all of the subtle nuances of the specific exit configuration that they were approaching.

It's easy to look at a single photo on the vacuum that is the internet, and not get the full experiences of how the signs operate in the field.

[ekt8750]

This is the second time WSDOT has used a 2DI shield to display a 3DI. The first time was on this BGS (which, interestingly enough, uses Series E for the numerals).

If it was a reassurance shield, I'd shit bricks. But it isn't.

I have no issue with this at all. It looks clean and nothing's been distorted to make everything fit. I do agree, if it were made of cutouts it would be perfect. What's bad are those shields that are actually 2DI shields that have the wide portion of it stretched out in a sign program to fit squished in numerals. I see on I-295 in Jersey a lot.

[cl94]

These signs are standard in Ontario, so there are dozens if not hundreds of them across the province.  They are signed in conjunction with pre-advanced and turn-off signs that reinforce which direction the exit lanes depart at, and the configuration at each interchange.  Furthermore, when the signs were developed in the 1990s, human factors studies were conducted, which found that the vast majority of drivers understood the basic configuration of the approaching interchange, including which side of the road the lanes departed on, even if they didn't necessarily understand all of the subtle nuances of the specific exit configuration that they were approaching.

It's easy to look at a single photo on the vacuum that is the internet, and not get the full experiences of how the signs operate in the field.

I agree completely. I remember seeing them for the first time and they were part of a group of signs. It makes perfect sense in the field and it's not the first sign you encounter. I actually wouldn't mind seeing stuff like this in the states.

[jakeroot]

This is the second time WSDOT has used a 2DI shield to display a 3DI. The first time was on this BGS (which, interestingly enough, uses Series E for the numerals).

If it was a reassurance shield, I'd shit bricks. But it isn't.

http://i.imgur.com/6BINfgd.png

I have no issue with this at all. It looks clean and nothing's been distorted to make everything fit. I do agree, if it were made of cutouts it would be perfect. What's bad are those shields that are actually 2DI shields that have the wide portion of it stretched out in a sign program to fit squished in numerals. I see on I-295 in Jersey a lot.

I absolutely agree. I very much like 2DI shields for 3DI's, I just don't think it's technically correct (hence why I posted it here).

On the flip side, WSDOT has a lot of bubble shields for their 3DI's (like New Jersey evidently?). I'd take 2DI shields for 3DI's over bubble shields any day!

[cl94]

This is the second time WSDOT has used a 2DI shield to display a 3DI. The first time was on this BGS (which, interestingly enough, uses Series E for the numerals).

If it was a reassurance shield, I'd shit bricks. But it isn't.

http://i.imgur.com/6BINfgd.png

I have no issue with this at all. It looks clean and nothing's been distorted to make everything fit. I do agree, if it were made of cutouts it would be perfect. What's bad are those shields that are actually 2DI shields that have the wide portion of it stretched out in a sign program to fit squished in numerals. I see on I-295 in Jersey a lot.

I absolutely agree. I very much like 2DI shields for 3DI's, I just don't think it's technically correct (hence why I posted it here).

On the flip side, WSDOT has a lot of bubble shields for their 3DI's (like New Jersey evidently?). I'd take 2DI shields for 3DI's over bubble shields any day!

New Jersey doesn't have a lot of bubble shields. NYSDOT, on the other hand, installed nothing but for a good 10-15 years before they switched to Series C.

[ekt8750]

Jersey doesn't have a lot of bubble shields. NYSDOT, on the other hand, installed nothing but for a good 10-15 years before they switched to Series C.

As a whole no but the northern half of I-295 has a bunch.

[jeffandnicole]

Jersey doesn't have a lot of bubble shields. NYSDOT, on the other hand, installed nothing but for a good 10-15 years before they switched to Series C.

As a whole no but the northern half of I-295 has a bunch.

Where?

[ekt8750]

Off the top of my head, there's a couple NB between US 30 and NJ 73. Here's one just before NJ 70. Hard to see from this angle but you can tell by just how round it is and the fact that they smushed in Series D numerals: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8772587,-75.0132634,3a,15y,72.36h,84.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIItXMUhyPpBwfqAogT3Oew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[machias]

This is the second time WSDOT has used a 2DI shield to display a 3DI. The first time was on this BGS (which, interestingly enough, uses Series E for the numerals).

If it was a reassurance shield, I'd shit bricks. But it isn't.

http://i.imgur.com/6BINfgd.png

I have no issue with this at all. It looks clean and nothing's been distorted to make everything fit. I do agree, if it were made of cutouts it would be perfect. What's bad are those shields that are actually 2DI shields that have the wide portion of it stretched out in a sign program to fit squished in numerals. I see on I-295 in Jersey a lot.

I absolutely agree. I very much like 2DI shields for 3DI's, I just don't think it's technically correct (hence why I posted it here).

On the flip side, WSDOT has a lot of bubble shields for their 3DI's (like New Jersey evidently?). I'd take 2DI shields for 3DI's over bubble shields any day!

New Jersey doesn't have a lot of bubble shields. NYSDOT, on the other hand, installed nothing but for a good 10-15 years before they switched to Series C.

I'm not sure I agree with that, there was one or two NYSDOT contractors that seemed to be quite fond of the bubble-shield for 3di interstates, but I can think of many installations within 50 miles of my location that didn't use bubble shields.

[mrsman]

I have to think it's a mistake.  I can't see the logic of deliberately changing the signs from blue to green.  Particularly since so many of the entrance signs would be maintained by the 407 ETR themselves, who in my opinion, would be unlikely to update their signage stock without absolutely needing to.  The thing that does surprise me about this sign however, is that it looks like it's come from the MTO sign shop.  Usually signage from the sign shop is pretty good, as I get the impression that the staff who work their understand how Ontario's highways are typically signed.  Contractor signage is typically less reliable.

I think the logic is that the through route isn't tolled (or the local part of an express/local setup, which is the other use case for blue guide signs by MTO), so the proper background should be green rather than blue.

The standard is to sign the 407 with a blue sign on all routes:

Are other toll routes in Ontario also signed with blue signs?

[jeffandnicole]

Off the top of my head, there's a couple NB between US 30 and NJ 73. Here's one just before NJ 70. Hard to see from this angle but you can tell by just how round it is and the fact that they smushed in Series D numerals: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8772587,-75.0132634,3a,15y,72.36h,84.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIItXMUhyPpBwfqAogT3Oew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

OK, that's one.  Maybe a few more ground mounted ones if I paid attention.  Although I wouldn't say that's "a bunch", and when you're at MP 32 of a 68 mile highway, I wouldn't say that's on the northern half either...

[cl94]

I have to think it's a mistake.  I can't see the logic of deliberately changing the signs from blue to green.  Particularly since so many of the entrance signs would be maintained by the 407 ETR themselves, who in my opinion, would be unlikely to update their signage stock without absolutely needing to.  The thing that does surprise me about this sign however, is that it looks like it's come from the MTO sign shop.  Usually signage from the sign shop is pretty good, as I get the impression that the staff who work their understand how Ontario's highways are typically signed.  Contractor signage is typically less reliable.

I think the logic is that the through route isn't tolled (or the local part of an express/local setup, which is the other use case for blue guide signs by MTO), so the proper background should be green rather than blue.

The standard is to sign the 407 with a blue sign on all routes:

Are other toll routes in Ontario also signed with blue signs?

It's the only toll road that isn't a bridge/tunnel.

Now back to the bubble shields. Region 1 has replaced most of the freestanding bubble shields, but this is one was up when I drove through an hour ago. This one is doubly ugly thanks to the font.

[PHLBOS]

Off the top of my head, there's a couple NB between US 30 and NJ 73. Here's one just before NJ 70. Hard to see from this angle but you can tell by just how round it is and the fact that they smushed in Series D numerals: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8772587,-75.0132634,3a,15y,72.36h,84.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIItXMUhyPpBwfqAogT3Oew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Those numerals look like Series C to me.  The ones on the Mile Marker are Series B.

[odditude]

Off the top of my head, there's a couple NB between US 30 and NJ 73. Here's one just before NJ 70. Hard to see from this angle but you can tell by just how round it is and the fact that they smushed in Series D numerals: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8772587,-75.0132634,3a,15y,72.36h,84.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIItXMUhyPpBwfqAogT3Oew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Those numerals look like Series C to me.  The ones on the Mile Marker are Series B.

it is a bubble shield, it is series C, and there are indeed a handful of them between 30 and 73. haven't seen any north of that, though - most are series C in a proper shield.

there ARE some normal shields with series D on NJ 38 WB just past the 295 SB ramp - on the jughandle to Marter Ave and the U-turn to 295 NB.

[PHLBOS]

I will be using I-295 between NJ 70 and I-195 this coming weekend; I can do a quick check while en route.

One highway that's recently sported bubble 3dI shields is I-476 (with Series D numerals); mostly on the NE Extension but there's at least one or two along the Blue Route (northern end) as well.

Off the top of my head, there's a couple NB between US 30 and NJ 73. Here's one just before NJ 70. Hard to see from this angle but you can tell by just how round it is and the fact that they smushed in Series D numerals: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8772587,-75.0132634,3a,15y,72.36h,84.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIItXMUhyPpBwfqAogT3Oew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

OK, that's one.  Maybe a few more ground mounted ones if I paid attention.  Although I wouldn't say that's "a bunch", and when you're at MP 32 of a 68 mile highway, I wouldn't say that's on the northern half either...

Update: During my recent weekend trip to/from Massachusetts, which included using I-295 from I-76 (exit 26) to I-195 (Exit 60); I counted a total of either 8 or 9 bubble I-295 (in Series C numerals) shields between Exits 31 (PATCO Woodcrest Station exit) and 40 (NJ 38).  4 or 5 along I-295 North and 3 along I-295 South.

[theFXexpert]

I just now noticed that the 3 in the exit tab is actually an 8 cut in half.

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.0792306,-81.9785648,3a,15y,270.34h,94.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfaZ0A9vIZc_K9J2p44_yTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[busman_49]

I just now noticed that the 3 in the exit tab is actually an 8 cut in half.

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.0792306,-81.9785648,3a,15y,270.34h,94.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfaZ0A9vIZc_K9J2p44_yTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Now that's just bad.  It would've taken very little effort to cut it properly & make it look halfway decent.

Unless...there's half an upside-down 8 out there serving as ANOTHER number 3...

[PurdueBill]

I just now noticed that the 3 in the exit tab is actually an 8 cut in half.

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.0792306,-81.9785648,3a,15y,270.34h,94.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfaZ0A9vIZc_K9J2p44_yTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Everyone knows that the correct thing to do when out of 3s is to use most of a B.



(from Steve's AZ 101 page)

[JoePCool14]

I think I prefer the one made out an 8 to be honest.

[SignGeek101]

Not the first time I've seen this:

https://goo.gl/maps/pxX1YihzeM92

[thenetwork]

Not the first time I've seen this:

https://goo.gl/maps/pxX1YihzeM92

What is the error here?

[SignGeek101]

Not the first time I've seen this:

https://goo.gl/maps/pxX1YihzeM92

What is the error here?

Looks at the 'S' in SOUTH and Pittsburgh. They've been swapped.

[Max Rockatansky]

Someone is selling a bunch of surplus highway signs from Texas on Ebay.  Looks like they made an error on State Route 99 which looks like a new age US 99 shield:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEXAS-INTERSTATE-99-HIGHWAY-WESTERN-MAN-CAVE-24-x-24-/222017121311?hash=item33b1406c1f:g:7XAAAOSwpzdWrTzg

[PurdueBill]

Not the first time I've seen this:

https://goo.gl/maps/pxX1YihzeM92

What is the error here?

Looks at the 'S' in SOUTH and Pittsburgh. They've been swapped.

My photo from 2012 might save the trip to Google Maps.


Such a switcheroo is odd when using non-button-copy unless it's demountable.  There are more than one sign on I-80 in that area, though, with switcheroos.

A and a switched; O and o switched::


I just drove under this switcheroo on OH 82 today; S and s swapped.


Two more such examples, always involving SOUTH (the only pics in this post not mine but appropriated from Steve's site's OH I-490 and MA 203 pages.


The MA 203 one is interesting because there wasn't another S to switch with; they just reached in the bin for the wrong kind or ran out of small caps letter S.

The real loser is the signage for I-80 on I-79.  This kind of thing is why Clearview had to die.  This didn't happen rampantly until Clearview came along.