Identification Info on Signage

[jeffandnicole]

I've seen this on various BGS signage in NJ. Look on the white border of the pic below: NJDOT wrote the size of the sign, along with the date manufactured or installed, within the border.  I've seen it in some new signage in the state, although not on all signage and not as large or noticeable as on this sign. Maybe only signs created in-house, vs thru a contracted project, receive this info!

[odditude]

is this the new Duck Island sign on 29?

[roadman]

I've seen this on various BGS signage in NJ. Look on the white border of the pic below: NJDOT wrote the size of the sign, along with the date manufactured or installed, within the border.  I've seen it in some new signage in the state, although not on all signage and not as large or noticeable as on this sign. Maybe only signs created in-house, vs thru a contracted project, receive this info!

MassDOT places identifying info on their guide signs - both contractor and in-house fabricated panels.  It includes the sign dimensions, date of fabrication, and codes for the fabricator, installer, and sheeting types used.  It's placed on the lower right back of ground-mounted signs, and on the lover left front of overhead mounted signs.

[jeffandnicole]

is this the new Duck Island sign on 29?

Yes.

[bob7374]

MassDOT places identifying info on their guide signs - both contractor and in-house fabricated panels.  It includes the sign dimensions, date of fabrication, and codes for the fabricator, installer, and sheeting types used.  It's placed on the lower right back of ground-mounted signs, and on the lover left front of overhead mounted signs.

Here's an example of the placement of MassDOT ID info on overhead signage:

[jakeroot]

Is there any advantage to placing the information on the front of the sign, versus the back? Most, if not all, of Washington's signs have a year and approval sticker on the rear, sometimes with dimensions, but never on the front.

[JoePCool14]

I don't know, certain examples like the one above here, it doesn't look very appealing IMHO. Especially having one on the exit tab which seems unusual. For BGS, I would say having it on the back would be best. From what I've seen that is what IDOT does. ISTHA doesn't do that at all. (?)

[SD Mapman]

Wyoming just sticks the year on a corner, but nothing else... I think it looks cleaner than the MA example.

(yes, they do it for bigger green signs as well)

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma will print a datestamp at the bottom of the front of a sign in the form of "ODOT 0316", signifying that the sign was manufactured in March (03) of 2016. Contractor and OTA signs are missing this, and I don't think BGS-type signs have a datestamp, just smaller ones like shields and stop signs and such.

If there is anything on the back, it's a handwritten installation date done in grease pen, sometimes with initials (presumably of whoever installed the sign). I think these are less common than they used to be, though.

[hbelkins]

Arkansas uses the MUTCD sign ID number on the face of the sign.

West Virginia also uses some sort of state seal/outline with info.

[noelbotevera]

PennDOT seems to only put their logo or nothing at all. I've searched around the signs in my neighborhood and there's no stickers or small font text.

[peterj920]

Wisconsin puts a colored sticker on the back of its signs.  It was rectangular until 1993, when it switched to a triangle.  In 2000, it was a square, 2007 back to a rectangle, and a triangle in 2014.  I think the color sequence is: white, brown, blue, orange, green, yellow, and purple. 

[Katavia]

North Carolina SOMETIMES puts the MUTCD id on the edges of the sign, but not all of the signs have this - new addition?
Also, on all of the construction signs in my area, on the back it has a "STAY ALERT" logo and a telephone number. Is this a local thing or something bigger?

[tckma]

I've seen something like the MA example on SOME guide signs in NH.

[Ian]

I've seen something like the MA example on SOME guide signs in NH.

I noticed new signs along the Spaulding Turnpike (NH 16/US 4) north of Portsmouth several weeks ago had info on the bottom left of each sign. I believe it included the date of manufacture and the size of the given sign panel.

[roadman]

I've seen something like the MA example on SOME guide signs in NH.

I noticed new signs along the Spaulding Turnpike (NH 16/US 4) north of Portsmouth several weeks ago had info on the bottom left of each sign. I believe it included the date of manufacture and the size of the given sign panel.

That is correct, and has been NHDOT standard practice since the late 1990s.  However, unlike MassDOT signs, the information block on NHDOT signs only gives the date of fabrication and panel dimensions.  Also, until recently, this information was provided only on signs fabricated in the NHDOT sign shop and installed by others.

[hbelkins]

This thread wouldn't be complete without a link to a site like this...

http://bloggingwv.com/the-fronts-of-our-road-signs-are-coded-too/

[cl94]

I don't think we can have a thread on this without mentioning the codes on New York City expressway/parkway signage. Alps's site has a bunch of examples.

[triplemultiplex]

Is there any advantage to placing the information on the front of the sign, versus the back?

State transportation agencies usually collect photolog of all the roadway they maintain.  If something like this is on the front of the sign, it can be easily referenced while they are inventorying their signage.

The imagery I work with is of sufficient resolution to see an id tag like the examples in this thread.

[mariethefoxy]

New Hampshire uses a similar ID thing that Massachusetts does

[Rothman]

State transportation agencies usually collect photolog of all the roadway they maintain. 

Given all the private data easily available out there, it's incredible that photologs are still maintained.  At least at NYSDOT, I suspect the photolog room is just a mancave. (personal opinion expressed).

[WashuOtaku]

North and South Carolina use stickers on the back of all state issued signs.

[tckma]

I don't think we can have a thread on this without mentioning the codes on New York City expressway/parkway signage. Alps's site has a bunch of examples.

You don't mean these, do you?  Because those are statewide.  First figured those for some kind of mile markers as a kid growing up on Long Island, noticing that each one along NY-25A had a top row of "25A" and that the numbers increased or decreased on each sign.  Then learned about them briefly in driver's ed, only inasmuch as you should note them on accident report forms.  Didn't figure out the code until much later when the Internet became a Thing.

[tckma]

State transportation agencies usually collect photolog of all the roadway they maintain. 

Given all the private data easily available out there, it's incredible that photologs are still maintained.  At least at NYSDOT, I suspect the photolog room is just a mancave. (personal opinion expressed).

I remember reading about NYSDOT Photolog on a NYSDOT website back in college and thinking it would be a dream job, to get to drive around all day taking pictures of the roads, were money not important.  GMSV, though, seems to have obviated the need for individual state DOTs to do photologging.

[jemacedo9]

Took this one today on a trip up to Bloomsburg, PA for work.

PennDOT seems to only put their logo or nothing at all. I've searched around the signs in my neighborhood and there's no stickers or small font text.

The above photo (not mine, copied from Highway Photoshoots topic) shows in tiny tiny font some sign info, on both the SOUTH banner and the PA 42 sign.  I believe it has the year and the reflectivity type.  Only PennDOT manufactured signs have that info (and their logo at the bottom of the sign).