Services concessionaires' signs in the right of way

[briantroutman]

Some older Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas still have a sign cabinet–the type you might find planted in front of a business in a suburban or rural area–located 1/2 mile from the exit ramp. Originally, these signs announced the presence of a Howard Johnson's restaurant at the next service plaza.



With HJ long gone, most of the remaining signs have been given a temporary vinyl covering with an ad for a relatively new offering at the service plaza (like this), but I seem to recall seeing at least a few of these having been given a more permanent refacing with the logo of a fast food brand that replaced Howard Johnson's at that particular plaza. I'm pretty sure one was a Roy Rogers with an oddly out-of-date looking brown and yellow sunset image (like this one) and I think another was a Hardee's with their early '80s sunset (or was it a sunrise?) logo.

Does anyone remember–were these signs at one time the primary (or only) means of alerting motorists to upcoming service plazas? When were the blue specific services-style signs added, and did they replace earlier text-only signs?

The Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas still have Sunoco sign assemblies just before the plaza exit ramps (which I assume replaced the Gulf and Exxon signs that would have preceded them), but does anyone have other examples of concessionaires' signs (not blue service signs, but actual sign cabinets) being installed within the right of way–particularly in advance of their facilities?

On a semi-related note, though not in the right of way, I recall seeing in a few instances where a business located at an interchange of a toll-free Interstate installed a backlit sign in an empty field (like this) a few miles ahead of their exit. I can only imagine that this practice would have been inspired by the signage practices on toll roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

[roadman]

Mass Pike has always had blue signs approaching service plazas, beginning with the original opening of the road in 1954.  Initally, they were generic signs indicating 'Food Fuel NEXT RIGHT".  Sometine in the 1970s, they were changed to panels that included single LOGO panels with the FOOD (Howard Johnsons) and FUEL (Mobil) legends.  Also, "NEXT RIGHT" was changed to 1/2 mile, and similar signs were placed at the 1 mile advance point.

The 1970s era signs were replaced with the current large LOGO signs that include the plaza name as part of the sign replacement projects done between 1995 and 1997.  Since that time, the Turnpike Authority had added additional advance signs (usually 5 miles out) for most of the service plazas.  All of the current advance LOGO service plaza signs are proposed to be retained under the current round of Pike sign replacements.

Note that most of the 1/2 mile advance service plaza signs on the Mass Pike include "NEXT SERVICE PLAZA XX MILES" tabs.

[PurdueBill]

Mass Pike has always had blue signs approaching service plazas, beginning with the original opening of the road in 1954.  Initally, they were generic signs indicating 'Food Fuel NEXT RIGHT".  Sometine in the 1970s, they were changed to panels that included single LOGO panels with the FOOD (Howard Johnsons) and FUEL (Mobil) legends.  Also, "NEXT RIGHT" was changed to 1/2 mile, and similar signs were placed at the 1 mile advance point.

The 1970s era signs were replaced with the current large LOGO signs that include the plaza name as part of the sign replacement projects done between 1995 and 1997.  Since that time, the Turnpike Authority had added additional advance signs (usually 5 miles out) for most of the service plazas.  All of the current advance LOGO service plaza signs are proposed to be retained under the current round of Pike sign replacements.

Note that most of the 1/2 mile advance service plaza signs on the Mass Pike include "NEXT SERVICE PLAZA XX MILES" tabs.

Wonder if the blue signage within the rest areas will remain.  The one-off button-copy sign in Hopkinton/Westborough has a chance of sticking around if blue rest area signage were treated as a blanket thing to leave in place. 

[roadman]

Mass Pike has always had blue signs approaching service plazas, beginning with the original opening of the road in 1954.  Initally, they were generic signs indicating 'Food Fuel NEXT RIGHT".  Sometine in the 1970s, they were changed to panels that included single LOGO panels with the FOOD (Howard Johnsons) and FUEL (Mobil) legends.  Also, "NEXT RIGHT" was changed to 1/2 mile, and similar signs were placed at the 1 mile advance point.

The 1970s era signs were replaced with the current large LOGO signs that include the plaza name as part of the sign replacement projects done between 1995 and 1997.  Since that time, the Turnpike Authority had added additional advance signs (usually 5 miles out) for most of the service plazas.  All of the current advance LOGO service plaza signs are proposed to be retained under the current round of Pike sign replacements.

Note that most of the 1/2 mile advance service plaza signs on the Mass Pike include "NEXT SERVICE PLAZA XX MILES" tabs.

Wonder if the blue signage within the rest areas will remain.  The one-off button-copy sign in Hopkinton/Westborough has a chance of sticking around if blue rest area signage were treated as a blanket thing to leave in place. 

Per the project plans for both West Stockbridge to Auburn and Auburn to Boston, only the gore signs at the service plaza entrances will be replaced.  All other blue signs within the plazas are planned to be retained.

[PurdueBill]

Mass Pike has always had blue signs approaching service plazas, beginning with the original opening of the road in 1954.  Initally, they were generic signs indicating 'Food Fuel NEXT RIGHT".  Sometine in the 1970s, they were changed to panels that included single LOGO panels with the FOOD (Howard Johnsons) and FUEL (Mobil) legends.  Also, "NEXT RIGHT" was changed to 1/2 mile, and similar signs were placed at the 1 mile advance point.

The 1970s era signs were replaced with the current large LOGO signs that include the plaza name as part of the sign replacement projects done between 1995 and 1997.  Since that time, the Turnpike Authority had added additional advance signs (usually 5 miles out) for most of the service plazas.  All of the current advance LOGO service plaza signs are proposed to be retained under the current round of Pike sign replacements.

Note that most of the 1/2 mile advance service plaza signs on the Mass Pike include "NEXT SERVICE PLAZA XX MILES" tabs.

Wonder if the blue signage within the rest areas will remain.  The one-off button-copy sign in Hopkinton/Westborough has a chance of sticking around if blue rest area signage were treated as a blanket thing to leave in place. 

Per the project plans for both West Stockbridge to Auburn and Auburn to Boston, only the gore signs at the service plaza entrances will be replaced.  All other blue signs within the plazas are planned to be retained.

Interesting! So the WESTBOROUGH PLAZA sign will be replaced (although it is reflective and newer) but the button copy CARS/TRUCKS sign may stay?  Sweet!

[RobbieL2415]

https://goo.gl/maps/8qL1VNStA1C2
NYSTA uses these backlit advance sign 1/4mi (or so) out from the service areas on the mainline  As a kid, I always thought the were cool.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6666916,-75.6859298,3a,37.5y,226.07h,94.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWdPnbJj3m69K8rAyv0kf9w!2e0!7i3328!8i1664
In contrast, I never liked the ones for the I-95 service area in DE, now long gone.  Stick to four-sided polygons, please.