I-65 questions

[theline]

I'm just back in Indiana after a road trip to Mobile for the GoDaddy Bowl. We had a fantastic time, and are already contemplating our next trip to Alabama.

I saw two oddities on I-65 that I'm hoping someone can clear up. We noticed that several bridges, particularly between Montgomery and Mobile, were unusually narrow. There is cross-hatching applied to the shoulder approaching the bridges as a warning, like this (from GSV):

If I remember correctly from studying the Rand-McNally in my youth, that section of 65 was among the early interstates completed. I wonder if the narrow bridges may have satisfied earlier interstate requirements, and were never upgraded.

The other oddity is signposts well off the road, with small round reflectors atop them. They are the type of construction you often see marking the edge of the road, but these are so far from the road that they surely cannot serve this purpose. Some were down in deep ditches, below road level. I'm wondering the purpose of these signs.

[SSF]

i believe the signposts you mention are to highlight the ends of drainage structures.

[froggie]

I wonder if the narrow bridges may have satisfied earlier interstate requirements, and were never upgraded.

Likely the case.  Full shoulders were not required to be carried over bridges until 1967.

[theline]

i believe the signposts you mention are to highlight the ends of drainage structures.

That makes sense. Perhaps they provide guidance for mowing crews, whose view of the structures might be obstructed by tall grass. My daughter and I was perplexed because of the resemblance to markers that indicate the pavement's edge for motorists. Thanks.

Thanks also to froggie. I'm sure that part of 65 was completed before 1967.

[realjd]

I'm just back in Indiana after a road trip to Mobile for the GoDaddy Bowl. We had a fantastic time, and are already contemplating our next trip to Alabama.

I saw two oddities on I-65 that I'm hoping someone can clear up. We noticed that several bridges, particularly between Montgomery and Mobile, were unusually narrow. There is cross-hatching applied to the shoulder approaching the bridges as a warning, like this (from GSV):

If I remember correctly from studying the Rand-McNally in my youth, that section of 65 was among the early interstates completed. I wonder if the narrow bridges may have satisfied earlier interstate requirements, and were never upgraded.

The other oddity is signposts well off the road, with small round reflectors atop them. They are the type of construction you often see marking the edge of the road, but these are so far from the road that they surely cannot serve this purpose. Some were down in deep ditches, below road level. I'm wondering the purpose of these signs.

Narrow bridges like that are really cool looking at night. Assuming AL puts an abundance of reflectors along the crosshatching like FL does, they glow from miles off.

[Big John]

^^^ Yes they do, and exit gore areas have almost full reflectors in it.

[Alex]

You get the same narrow bridges with the abundant reflectors preceding the tapering on I-85 as well. Also Interstate 10 over Cowpen Bridge sees the narrow bridges with the tapered/reflectorized shoulders preceding it.

[codyg1985]

^ Same with I-59 through St. Clair and Etowah Counties.