Interesting new California style of freeway junction exit number signing

[myosh_tino]

In the case of a left handed exit. The tab is on the left side of the sign and there is a yellow/black lettering "left exit" block in the main body of the sign? At least this is what I've seen on the few pictures of left exits that I've seen in CA. Here the the entire exit tab is yellow with black lettering now.

Mark

There are a few left-exits that I have personally seen in northern California and from what I recall, none of them have a black-on-yellow LEFT EXIT plaque.  This even applies to few HOV-to-HOV direct connectors in northern California.

[pctech]

I saw a center exit tab here in Louisiana on Sat. It's in New Orleans on I-10 west bound at the Airline Hwy/Tulane exit. The sign splits down the middle with the exit number tab in the center. It's the only one that I've seen here to date.

Mark

[sp_redelectric]

Apparently it would. The concern is wind loading... apparently the exit tabs would break off in the wind.

CalTrans ought to ask Oregon DOT what they did in eastern Oregon in this high-wind environment:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcberna/4654310027/

[AndyMax25]

Going back to TheStranger's original post, yeah, that centered tab within the sign looks weird.  If I were the sign designed, here's what I would have suggested.

The original...


Suggestion #1...


Suggestion #2...

Most states use separate A & B designations on their transition roads.  Anyone else frustrated with Caltrans?  I've seen original and suggestion 1 & 2 used. 

I finally saw the clearest new signs at an interchange.  Its NB I-15 at CA-60.
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d-117.550115!3d34.010398!2m2!1f355.68!2f89.14!4f75!2m4!1e1!2m2!1swYd0YPYvnzvYtqjMHQl3RQ!2e0&fid=5

[TheStranger]

Most states use separate A & B designations on their transition roads. 

Yes and no.  Not sure if it was this thread, but I recall that I asked about that and basically, the Caltrans practice of using only one number/letter if ONE ramp splits off the freeway directly (as opposed to separate ramps, i.e. cloverleafs without C/D roads, which do get separate letters) is not uncommon elsewhere.

[NE2]

My big problem with Caltrans's exit numbers is that they don't skip letters for partial interchanges or swap them when the exits are out of order. So exits for the same road will have different numbers in each direction.

[pctech]

I think the Caltrans rule about all this is.....there are no rules!   

[SignBridge]

Well, (chuckle!) now we see why Caltrans resisted exit numbering for so many years. Because it results in exactly this kind of complexity which can sometimes be almost counter-productive. It was so much simpler the old way, without any exit numbers.

Also re: TheStranger's point above re: using separate exit number suffixes for the split part-way down an exit ramp or transition: The only reference I could find in the MUTCD is Sec. 2F.46.04 which states: Exits from the collector-distributor roadways may be numbered with an appropriate suffix, which in effect means either way is correct, showing it as either one exit number or an A and B exit.

[agentsteel53]

I've heard that in other states, they've tried putting the exit tab outside the main body of the sign.

[Brandon]

I've heard that in other states, they've tried putting the exit tab outside the main body of the sign.

It's a novel concept; several states and toll agencies have experimented with it.

[agentsteel53]

It's a novel concept; several states and toll agencies have experimented with it.

toll agencies too!?  holy shit, next thing you know it will become standard industry practice.

[apjung]

Here in Louisiana we have external exit# tabs and we have hurricanes force wind as well. I guess that LADODT doesn't consider it an issue. I've never seen one blow off, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. That said I don't mind the Caltrans  embedded exit# tab. I would prefer it on the right or left edge of the sign however and I agree that the exit should have up facing arrows.
They just put up new signs alone I-12 after widening it. One of them has a Caltrans look to it at the exit, but not at the interval warning sign.

Mark

I could recall only one instance a BGS on an overhead gantry being bent was back in 2002 on the I-10 overpass over Airline Dr/Tulane Ave/Carrollton Ave. I think it was during Tropical Storm Isidore. It has since been replaced but as you may notice how much higher it goes beyond the gantry that it could one again get bent if the winds make a drect blow.
http://goo.gl/maps/KnZeB

On the ground mounted BGSes, Louisiana uses metal poles with breakaway bolts so that would break off during a major wind event such as the ones on US 90 between Lafayette and Morgan City that were blown down during Hurricane Lili in 2002 but could easily be reinstalled. It's all wooden posts from my observations from roadtrips California in 2012 and 2013. Louisiana only use wooden posts for temporary use and eventually switches them out for permanent metal breakaway poles on a concrete base.
http://goo.gl/maps/3EOOw (temporary wooden poles)
http://goo.gl/maps/57D2q (note the switch to permanent metal poles on a concrete base)