Excessively Oversized Signs

[deathtopumpkins]

Don't think we have a topic yet covering examples of signs that are way bigger than they need to be.

http://goo.gl/maps/thOQw Found these giant chevrons along I-95 near Sebastian, Florida. I think they're just a tad excessive considering they're at least 15 feet tall and there are a lot of them, but the curve doesn't seem that sharp.

[NE2]

[xcellntbuy]

Don't think we have a topic yet covering examples of signs that are way bigger than they need to be.

http://goo.gl/maps/thOQw Found these giant chevrons along I-95 near Sebastian, Florida. I think they're just a tad excessive considering they're at least 15 feet tall and there are a lot of them, but the curve doesn't seem that sharp.

Could be an area that attracts speeders.  There are only a couple of sections of Interstate 95 with long sections without exits.  But, knowing Florida, anything is possible.

[Michael]

I posted this in the "What is the largest road sign that you have seen?" thread, but I guess it fits here too:

Credit: AARoads

It's on I-690 West just before the I-81 interchange in Syracuse.  Since overhead signs on urban interstates have to be 17 feet above the pavement, I'd say this sign is 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide.  I don't know how I'd redesign it to be smaller.

Also, I'll say it to get it out of the way: Arrow-per-Lane Diagrammatics.

[Eth]

Every exit tab in the state of Maryland.

[Alps]

Actual sign size: 2m x 3.5m? (give or take)
Sign size needed for message and margins: 0m x 0m
% sign bloat: ∞

[hbelkins]

^^^

Is that from one of the overheads at the OH 7 stub?

[Alps]

^^^

Is that from one of the overheads at the OH 7 stub?

Option 1: Right click, view image, check source
Option 2: Hit "quote", check source

[KEK Inc.]

^^^

Is that from one of the overheads at the OH 7 stub?

Option 1: Right click, view image, check source
Option 2: Hit "quote", check source

Neither one of your "options" tell us where exactly it is on Autoroute 15.

[elsmere241]

I posted this in the "What is the largest road sign that you have seen?" thread, but I guess it fits here too:

Credit: AARoads

It's on I-690 West just before the I-81 interchange in Syracuse.  Since overhead signs on urban interstates have to be 17 feet above the pavement, I'd say this sign is 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide.  I don't know how I'd redesign it to be smaller.

Also, I'll say it to get it out of the way: Arrow-per-Lane Diagrammatics.

Delaware could use a sign like that on I-95 north for the mega-interchange with US 202 south, DE 141, I-295 and I-495 (officially Exits 5A-D).  They're going to have to do something anyway with the ramp from DE 1 north to I-95 north splitting to come in on both sides of 95.  (Maybe arrow-per-lane would work better, though.)

[PHLBOS]

Every exit tab in the state of Maryland.

Delaware seems to be heading in that direction as well with their newer signage.

The diagrametric BGS (which was recently replaced w/a similar but newer version) in the below-link needlessly (IMHO) places the NORTH 95 SOUTH 3 messages in a side-by-side fashion when the listings could have been done in a stacked manner (NORTH 95 message placed above the SOUTH 3 message) thereby reducing the overall width of the BGS:

http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/MA-128/

[kj3400]

Every new exit tab in the state of Maryland.

FTFY.

[1995hoo]

These have been replaced, but I always thought they were absurd. I suppose if you feel strongly about the arrow-per-lane and you're not willing to use the smaller signs New York put up on the Northway, then these were the correct size and were not "oversized," but they always seemed utterly excessive, and the fact that there were so many in a row made it worse.

(Pictures from AARoads.com)




For those unfamiliar with the I-87 reference:

[formulanone]

Along US 15/501 in NC (I think; me used bad note-taking on this one)...



Along I-70 east in Kansas, after it stops being a Turnpike.

[amroad17]

What about the one on I-40 in Durham at the I-540 interchange?  That is HUGE!!!

[1995hoo]

Along US 15/501 in NC (I think; me used bad note-taking on this one)...

....

Correct, that's the southbound side at the Hillsborough Road/Durham Freeway/Morreene Road interchange not far from Duke University.

[kurumi]

Enormous MA 213 sign, MA 28, Methuen

[deathtopumpkins]

Enormous MA 213 sign, MA 28, Methuen

Looks like a standard MA shield. Newly erected ones are generally quite large. I'd say at least 30x24 for a 3-digit rectangle. At least. They usually get 2 poles with directions or arrows mounted on one off-center.

I do agree though, the fact that we use shields this large is a bit excessive.

[agentsteel53]

Looks like a standard MA shield. Newly erected ones are generally quite large. I'd say at least 30x24 for a 3-digit rectangle. At least. They usually get 2 poles with directions or arrows mounted on one off-center.

I do agree though, the fact that we use shields this large is a bit excessive.

that shield looks to be 45x36.

30x24 is 1970 standard; that is what most states use for three-digit routes.  the 45x36 should be used only as a freeway reassurance.  since 213 is a freeway, I'll bet they weren't super careful about which shields go where, and used a mainline shield on the approach road by accident.  (because Massachusetts.)

the shield in the background (WEST/213/elbow arrow) appears to be of normal 30x24 size.

[SidS1045]

Enormous MA 213 sign, MA 28, Methuen

Looks like a standard MA shield. Newly erected ones are generally quite large. I'd say at least 30x24 for a 3-digit rectangle. At least. They usually get 2 poles with directions or arrows mounted on one off-center.

I do agree though, the fact that we use shields this large is a bit excessive.

For a very long time Massachusetts took a lot of flak, especially from visitors, for not marking state roads very well.  In some places it was impossible even for natives to stay on certain numbered state routes (MA-16 from Boston west was particularly bad).  I wonder if they're overcompensating by using such large shields.

[PHLBOS]

For a very long time Massachusetts took a lot of flak, especially from visitors, for not marking state roads very well.  In some places it was impossible even for natives to stay on certain numbered state routes (MA-16 from Boston west was particularly bad).  I wonder if they're overcompensating by using such large shields.

IMHO, I think the lower/southern ends of MA 38 and MA 99 would definitely fall in that not very well marked category moreso than MA 16 along the Mystic Valley Parkway. 

MA 129 signage through Downtown Lynn completely falls apart after veering west off MA 1A.

With regards to the oversized MA shields along conventional roads.  Of all places, Marblehead has several oversized MA 114 shields at and approaching the Maple St. intersection; erected when a much-needed traffic signal was installed.  At least w/the two approach assemblies along Maple; effectively use the large shield as a means of combining the five signs (the large 114 shield w/the WEST and EAST cardinals mounted above the shield and the two direction arrows mounted below).  The large shield is the only sign that is connected by both posts and is wide enough fill any outer gaps.

[theline]

Enormous MA 213 sign, MA 28, Methuen

                                                               Way

                                                            too much

                                                               white

                                                               space.

[Alps]

                                                               Way

                                                            too much

                                                               white

                                                               space.

Oh hai

wut

what is this i don't even

waaay too much black space:

[NE2]

Huge street name sign: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.246441,-81.43605&spn=0.00862,0.016512&gl=us&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=28.246626,-81.436052&panoid=4UfxX0bPcFbCT4WQXdlByg&cbp=12,47.17,,1,0.47

[kphoger]

I don't even know what used to be on this sign....

http://goo.gl/maps/pVKoF