The Worst of Road Signs

[PurdueBill]

Here's a STOP sign I saw today in a shopping center just off MD-198 in Laurel, Maryland that must have been manufactured on Opposite Day.  Does that make it a GO sign?

To me, it looks like an old faded sign that someone came along and filled in the letters with red/brown primer.

Looks like the red faded except for behind the letters, then the letters kicked the bucket--although the border didn't suffer the same fate.  Indeed, did someone color in the letters as a last-ditch effort to be able to say "we have a stop sign here"?

[kkt]

Taken last night approaching FedEx Field for the U2 concert. "Worst of" due to the ugly typeface but more due to what a massive middle finger it is from the Redskins' management to anyone heading to the stadium (and the subway isn't a viable option–the concert ended at 11:00, the nearest subway stop is a mile away, and the last train leaves at 11:27). For $60 they should give you air-conditioned flush toilets instead of rows of Don's Johns!!!!

The only positive about this fee is that the guy didn't even bat an eye when I handed him a $100 bill and asked for change. Should have given him $110 and asked for a $50 back.

I freaking hate FedEx. It sucks because I love my Redskins.

Hey, get your images out of Photobucket while there's still time.

[freebrickproductions]

Hartselle, AL has some pretty bad signage, but I'd say this one takes the cake:
Bad Do Not Enter Sign by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Bad Do Not Enter Sign by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

[thenetwork]

It's a FAIL when they get the shield wrong...

...It's a SUPER DELUXE GARGANTUAN ULTIMATE FAIL when they use it in a brochure!!!

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20264577_10212308280475556_7979200061085138745_n.jpg?oh=ad54491745ce1a36b1c1e3040c5b3f5a&oe=59ED22BE

[kurumi]

It's a FAIL when they get the shield wrong...

...It's an SUPER DELUXE GARGANTUAN ULTIMATE FAIL when they use it in a brochure!!!

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20264577_10212308280475556_7979200061085138745_n.jpg?oh=ad54491745ce1a36b1c1e3040c5b3f5a&oe=59ED22BE

That's the "this is not US 89" road. (It's not US 143 either.)

[cjk374]

It's a FAIL when they get the shield wrong...

...It's an SUPER DELUXE GARGANTUAN ULTIMATE FAIL when they use it in a brochure!!!

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20264577_10212308280475556_7979200061085138745_n.jpg?oh=ad54491745ce1a36b1c1e3040c5b3f5a&oe=59ED22BE

That's the "this is not US 89" road. (It's not US 143 either.)

Ok...so what is the sign under the US 143 shield? Also, is the Patchwork Parkway actually UT 143? Does Utah actually have trees like that in the fall? I always pictured Utah being mostly desert. I have never been there so I don't know.

[chays]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

[hubcity]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

[plain]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

Definitely supposed to be brown. And I can see why he says wrong font as I don't think I've ever seen that font used on an interstate (I've seen it on plenty of parkways though). And wow at that Exit Tab..

[cjk374]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

Definitely supposed to be brown. And I can see why he says wrong font as I don't think I've ever seen that font used on an interstate (I've seen it on plenty of parkways though). And wow at that Exit Tab..

I really love that font for national historic site signs. But that is definitely the wrong color.

[tckma]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

Definitely supposed to be brown. And I can see why he says wrong font as I don't think I've ever seen that font used on an interstate (I've seen it on plenty of parkways though). And wow at that Exit Tab..

GMSV suggests it's at least the wrong color.  I've never seen that font on signage that is not maintained by NPS (such as on the Baltimore/Washington Parkway), though.  I don't know if the "brown signs" on Interstates are maintained / purchased by the state DOTs or by NPS.  My guess is NPS ordered this, but maybe they weren't the people who were supposed to order it.

[renegade]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

Definitely supposed to be brown. And I can see why he says wrong font as I don't think I've ever seen that font used on an interstate (I've seen it on plenty of parkways though). And wow at that Exit Tab..

I really love that font for national historic site signs. But that is definitely the wrong color.

Yet somehow, I am intrigued by it ...

[jakeroot]

Am I the only one here who despises the NPS signs? Brown is one thing. But serif fonts...ugh.

[PurdueBill]

Make it all brown and it will be good enough.  I prefer the Clarendon to the new NPS serif type.  There are plenty of NPS signs with Clearview and the new serif font (Rawlinson?) now, and who knows what comes next--FHWA and Rawlinson?  All Rawlinson?  Back to Clarendon?  Hmm.

But keep the sign layout above and just make it brown, and it will go from Worst Of to Unique, Odd, Or Interesting.

[roadman]

Make it all brown and it will be good enough.  I prefer the Clarendon to the new NPS serif type.  There are plenty of NPS signs with Clearview and the new serif font (Rawlinson?) now, and who knows what comes next--FHWA and Rawlinson?  All Rawlinson?  Back to Clarendon?  Hmm.

But keep the sign layout above and just make it brown, and it will go from Worst Of to Unique, Odd, Or Interesting.

MassDOT standard for NPS signs on Interstates and freeways is to use FHWA Series 'D' font.

[jakeroot]

Make it all brown and it will be good enough.  I prefer the Clarendon to the new NPS serif type.  There are plenty of NPS signs with Clearview and the new serif font (Rawlinson?) now, and who knows what comes next--FHWA and Rawlinson?  All Rawlinson?  Back to Clarendon?  Hmm.

But keep the sign layout above and just make it brown, and it will go from Worst Of to Unique, Odd, Or Interesting.

MassDOT standard for NPS signs on Interstates and freeways is to use FHWA Series 'D' font.

Is it normal for NPS signage to be maintained by the surrounding agency? I always thought the signs and markings were maintained by the park service, i.e. the government.

[paulthemapguy]

Is it normal for NPS signage to be maintained by the surrounding agency? I always thought the signs and markings were maintained by the park service, i.e. the government.

If it's on a state highway (Interstate or otherwise), it's maintained by the state.  Even if it's a guide sign referencing NPS points of interest.  Though there may be limited exceptions?

[jakeroot]

Is it normal for NPS signage to be maintained by the surrounding agency? I always thought the signs and markings were maintained by the park service, i.e. the government.

If it's on a state highway (Interstate or otherwise), it's maintained by the state.  Even if it's a guide sign referencing NPS points of interest.  Though there may be limited exceptions?

Makes sense. But begs the question: who maintains NPS roads that aren't state highways? I'd imagine the answer varies from state to state.

[thenetwork]

Is it normal for NPS signage to be maintained by the surrounding agency? I always thought the signs and markings were maintained by the park service, i.e. the government.

If it's on a state highway (Interstate or otherwise), it's maintained by the state.  Even if it's a guide sign referencing NPS points of interest.  Though there may be limited exceptions?

Makes sense. But begs the question: who maintains NPS roads that aren't state highways? I'd imagine the answer varies from state to state.

In the case of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, between Cleveland and Akron, all roads within the NPS boundaries are maintained by the local and/or county governmental entities that are within the park.  In this case, the township, city, state and county roads were there long before the Recreation Area-Turned-National Park was established in the 80s and there is no fee to traverse this National Park. 

There may be some extra road maintenance money kicked in by the federal government to help pay for some of the wear and tear, but I will reckon to guess that in no-fee areas, all the major thoroughfares are not covered by the US Gov.  So for something like a National Forest, only the numbered Forest Roads get federal maintenance.

[freebrickproductions]

Seems that ALDOT is learning the ways of Oklahoma...
Yuck by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

[jbnv]

Seems that ALDOT is learning the ways of Oklahoma...

... or they just made the classic uppercase-lowercase size mistake.

[Scott5114]

Which, surprisingly, is one of the rarer errors in Oklahoma.

You know they've learned the ways of OkDOT when they start using Series B stretched to D width or diagonally compressing arrows, both of which are their current favorite practices.

[Billy F 1988]

Passed this on I-26 in South Carolina.  Couldn't get a photo of it myself, so GSV

Wrong color, wrong font.
https://goo.gl/maps/N8dnrHfww8U2

I'll call for an assist on this...is it possible "It depends, it could just be the wrong color" is the right answer?

Definitely supposed to be brown. And I can see why he says wrong font as I don't think I've ever seen that font used on an interstate (I've seen it on plenty of parkways though). And wow at that Exit Tab..

I really love that font for national historic site signs. But that is definitely the wrong color.

Yet somehow, I am intrigued by it ...

I like the idea, but not how it was executed. Not the worst per se, but they could have scored big making it brown. Seeing Clarendon on green is kinda off to me.

[paulthemapguy]

Seems that ALDOT is learning the ways of Oklahoma...

... or they just made the classic uppercase-lowercase size mistake.

I just saw a bunch of goofy-looking signs on the southwestern section of Utah's I-215 that also make this mistake.

[Takumi]

The new signs for the I-95/VA 144 interchange reconstruction project are in Clearview.