Peeling reflection on newer light green signs in Socal

[STLmapboy]

I've seen lots of peeling reflection on newer (2010-) signs installed in Socal. I hope they are temporary. Check out this atrocity on 15 NB south of 60 in Jurupa Valley.
https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0103662,-117.5500833,3a,67.2y,356.39h,82.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBKMCC9QLEjmBSFelPXauew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Second example at 15/10 (not quite as bad).
https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0524278,-117.5480431,3a,15y,12.74h,99.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ4LVwzVAzem749ukzPLoww!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[STLmapboy]

Another (slightly less crappy) example of a peeling decal slapped onto a dark green older sign in Ontario:
https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0438545,-117.549984,3a,75y,31.44h,109.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTx8JWX7nmyDtZMcARXwNGQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

The Riverside County/south SBD county section of I-15 seems to have quite a few signs that date from the days of Eisenhower or Johnson. https://www.google.pl/maps/@33.7735864,-117.4851661,3a,39.8y,7.08h,90.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHtyVR4maNdu5F45tB7WTHw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Most will probably be replaced in the I-15 express lanes project.

[Max Rockatansky]

The CA 41 guide signs on CA 198 East do the same thing.  The overhead button-copy sign assembly is by far what is holding up the best. 

[Concrete Bob]

Up in Sacramento, we've had similar issues with the overhead signs that were installed on US 50, I-5 and I-80 back around 2017 or so.  It appears there is a thin layer of clear-coated material on the signs that begins to bubble at first, and then eventually peels and rips.  What is even more amazing are the  yellow "EXIT ONLY" tabs that shrink and peel up on some of the overhead signs.  There's a good example on US 50 eastbound before the Zinfandel Drive exit in Rancho Cordova. 

I wonder if there is a warranty on the signs that was part of the contract between Caltrans and the builder.   

[SeriesE]

It looks like the protective plastic film on new products. I wonder if it's that?

[roadfro]

There's been various issues with reflective signs over the years.

When I-80 through the Sierra Nevada was reconstructed in the mid-late 2000s, they replaced all the BGS (I think also implemented exit numbering at the same time). Many of the signs replaced in that project very quickly developed issues with the green sheeting peeling or coming off in patches. Here's one example from 2009. Most of these have been fixed or replaced for a while now. But I hadn't seen sign sheeting issues like this before.

[bing101]

https://goo.gl/maps/DFTUBzGTbi6iWJfR8


In NorCal I-80 @ I-505 had some peeling effects too especially this sign for I-80 East to Sacramento it had a peeling plastic on the BGS signs though.

[jeffe]

It looks like the protective plastic film on new products. I wonder if it's that?

Yeah, there's an anti-graffiti film added to the signs. That is what is peeling off. I'm not sure if this film can be removed, or if the entire panel will have to be replaced.

On newer sign plans there's a requirement to use "Premium" anti-graffiti film, so hopefully that will hold up better. Also, new sign structures are installed without a walkway, so graffiti should be less of a problem.

[Exit58]

Makes me yearn for the days of porcelain. If you look on Street View, going back, those signs at the 15/60 interchange started showing signs of the 'clear coat' failing as far back as 2011 when the separate segments started peeling on the edges. By 2017 they looked ratty and 2018 they began falling apart. I've seen this issue across multiple districts, on city streets and even here in Arizona. The street I lived on back in SoCal had bad peel on the stop sign. Recent signs here in Arizona have been holding up great though, battling the extreme sun and heat. Hopefully they fixed the issues with the coating and when Caltrans comes around again and replaces them it won't happen again.

These newer BGS' are supposed to have a lifespan of 10 years IIRC, don't quote me on that. If that's the case they're about there.

[Max Rockatansky]

Makes me yearn for the days of porcelain. If you look on Street View, going back, those signs at the 15/60 interchange started showing signs of the 'clear coat' failing as far back as 2011 when the separate segments started peeling on the edges. By 2017 they looked ratty and 2018 they began falling apart. I've seen this issue across multiple districts, on city streets and even here in Arizona. The street I lived on back in SoCal had bad peel on the stop sign. Recent signs here in Arizona have been holding up great though, battling the extreme sun and heat. Hopefully they fixed the issues with the coating and when Caltrans comes around again and replaces them it won't happen again.

These newer BGS' are supposed to have a lifespan of 10 years IIRC, don't quote me on that. If that's the case they're about there.

We're not too far removed from that era and in many places signs with reflective paint still remain.  While unquestionably painted signed don't have the same reflectivity they certainly had durability that can't be matched by vinyl.  Some painted BGS assemblies have been in place since the 1960s (I know of one from the 1950s) that are still legible today.  If I recall correctly the painted signs were intended to last 30 years?

[pdx-wanderer]

The signs on NB I-5 at the less than a year old Empire/San Fernando exit are already are another one. Meanwhile on the 134 and 405 in the San Fernando Valley there's still almost exclusively pristine looking button copy signs, clear both day and night.

Not just LA either; there's quite a few on I-5 in Kern County that are so badly degraded they are nearly illegible at night. I thought that was the whole point of the new reflective signs... I-5 in Fresno County still has pristine looking button copy distance signs, perfectly visible by night.

[SeriesE]

The signs on NB I-5 at the less than a year old Empire/San Fernando exit are already are another one. Meanwhile on the 134 and 405 in the San Fernando Valley there's still almost exclusively pristine looking button copy signs, clear both day and night.

Not just LA either; there's quite a few on I-5 in Kern County that are so badly degraded they are nearly illegible at night. I thought that was the whole point of the new reflective signs... I-5 in Fresno County still has pristine looking button copy distance signs, perfectly visible by night.

Eh counter examples: the button copy signs on US-101 and I-5 in central Los Angeles area and south are barely visible at night. So are the button copy signs on I-405 in Orange County.

[Max Rockatansky]

The signs on NB I-5 at the less than a year old Empire/San Fernando exit are already are another one. Meanwhile on the 134 and 405 in the San Fernando Valley there's still almost exclusively pristine looking button copy signs, clear both day and night.

Not just LA either; there's quite a few on I-5 in Kern County that are so badly degraded they are nearly illegible at night. I thought that was the whole point of the new reflective signs... I-5 in Fresno County still has pristine looking button copy distance signs, perfectly visible by night.

Eh counter examples: the button copy signs on US-101 and I-5 in central Los Angeles area and south are barely visible at night. So are the button copy signs on I-405 in Orange County.

The button copy signs in Fresno County were some of the last ever put up.  Some that are on CA 41 and CA 168 are from the 1990s.