Roadgeeking on Military Bases

[PColumbus73]

I spent a couple years growing up on military bases, Fort Bragg (Liberty) and Schofield Barracks, HI.

Generally, it appeared that the DOD would mirror DOT standards from the state the base was located. Fort Bragg mirrored NCDOT and so on. I don't remember, and I haven't been on a base as an adult so correct me if I'm wrong, but the replacement schedules for signs / signals on the bases are possibly slower than what you would see on civilian roads.

With that said, are there any quirky things you remember if you were stationed or grew up on a base? Do you remember any relics or outdated standards compared to off-base?

A couple things I remember from Fort Bragg,

Along Gruber Road, there were a couple signalized intersections to a couple motor pools where the motor pool had a single double-red signal, whereas Gruber Road had the standard two signals.

On Reilly Road (now Rock Merritt Ave) around the runway at Pope AFB, I remember a signal that was shaped like a HAWK, with red and yellow on top, and green at the bottom... this was also the 90s when I was young, so the memory is faded.

[Max Rockatansky]

I've never seen a Public Works department on any base sign roadways even close to the standards one would see on a DOT maintained road. 

One thing that is common military bases is abandoned road portioned and/or old highways.   My favorite find was Old US 1 on Boca Chica Key along the southern extent of NAS Key West:

https://flic.kr/p/S8SYVo

[PColumbus73]

I've never seen a Public Works department on any base sign roadways even close to the standards one would see on a DOT maintained road. 

One thing that is common military bases is abandoned road portioned and/or old highways.   My favorite find was Old US 1 on Boca Chica Key along the southern extent of NAS Key West:

https://flic.kr/p/S8SYVo

The abandoned section of Bragg Blvd is can still be seen on Streetview. On the aerial, it looks like the DOD left the old signals in place, too.

[WillWeaverRVA]

The Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia is home to some really, really ugly signage. There are some shields supplied by VDOT (although there's at least one that isn't) but most of the signage is in Helvetica and is very, VERY wordy. GSV has imagery available of Russell Road between I-95 and US 1, and Telegraph Road. Telegraph Road is maintained by VDOT as SR 637, but Russell Road is federally maintained and internally designated VA 90500.

[pderocco]

The military sometimes interferes with roadgeeking, such as preventing us from clinching historic US-66 in Nebo Center CA. There are a lot of roads that I'd love to explore, but can't because they're behind a fence. They also prevent useful roads from being built, like CA-178 between Searles Valley and southern Death Valley. Since I'm not in the military, roadgeeking on military bases is about as easy as roadgeeking on the moon.

[Max Rockatansky]

The Nacimiento-Ferguson Road east of Los Padres National Forest passes through the tank training grounds of Fort Hunter Liggett.  I've never been through there when a live exercise was going on but the road does occasionally close to civilian traffic.  There is one hell of an old truss bridge to be found at the San Antonio River.

https://flic.kr/p/VJYsPj

https://flic.kr/p/VJW4k9

[jeffandnicole]

As the South Philly Navy Yard is fully open to the public, there are tremendous opportunities to roadgeek around that area. While some streets and intersections have been improved, others, including Broad Street, still support classic signal installations such as https://maps.app.goo.gl/em2CAHhqNAJgKVYJA .  And clearly they're not forgotten about - the cameras shown definitely aren't original!  And I purposely included the signage in that pic, which is unique to Urban Outfitters as their HQ is located on that corner.

[froggie]

Generally, it appeared that the DOD would mirror DOT standards from the state the base was located.

In my experience, this is correct to a point.  Signals and striping generally (but don't always) correlate with the state (or country, in at least one base I've been to) the base is located in.  But as Max noted, signage is often of a different standard (or lack of standard to begin with).

but the replacement schedules for signs / signals on the bases are possibly slower than what you would see on civilian roads.

I would concur with this.

Do you remember any relics or outdated standards compared to off-base?

There's at least one intersection on the Norfolk Naval Base (Towway Dr and Gilbert St) that at one point had what I can only describe as "low ground-mounted" horizontal traffic signals.  The signal housings were still in place as of 2014 (before I retired) but the intersection had already been converted to stop control when I was first stationed there in late 2001.  Don't recall if I ever got a photo of them.

Most of the traffic signals on Keesler AFB (Biloxi, MS) were what I would call antiquated overhead mounts...definitely NOT what's typically seen in Mississippi, both before and after Katrina.  Not sure if they've been replaced since I left in 2008.

The military sometimes interferes with roadgeeking, such as preventing us from clinching historic US-66 in Nebo Center CA. There are a lot of roads that I'd love to explore, but can't because they're behind a fence. They also prevent useful roads from being built, like CA-178 between Searles Valley and southern Death Valley. Since I'm not in the military, roadgeeking on military bases is about as easy as roadgeeking on the moon.

Or just find/have friends who DO have access.  I have a standing offer to some roadgeeks to help them clinch on-military-base routes such as NJ 68, NC 172, or GA 119 if they can help cover part of my trip cost.  As a retired military member, I have basic access to most bases (obviously not sensitive areas).

[oscar]

The military sometimes interferes with roadgeeking, such as preventing us from clinching historic US-66 in Nebo Center CA.

My sister, in northern San Diego County, did some exploring of historic US 66 as a first post-retirement venture into mega-road trips (she now concedes that she isn't into that nearly as much as I am). She didn't try to cross the Nebo Center supply depot, but she has a still-valid military ID allowing her to enter the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base since she once taught school on the base, which might let her into Nebo Center. I also bypassed the Nebo Center depot when I was out there last month (not necessary to cross it, to clinch US 66 Historic between Victorville and the Arizona state line, per Travel Mapping, and my own dependent military ID expired more than four decades ago), but I might try to talk her into a Nebo Center visit if I felt like trying again.

They also prevent useful roads from being built, like CA-178 between Searles Valley and southern Death Valley.

Death Valley National Park, and the associated wilderness area, also block the connection of the two CA 178 segments. (The eastern segment crosses into the park, but only because the park expanded after it was built. Also, CA 190's eastern segment crosses the park, but I'm pretty sure that was another case where the highway was there first.)

[pderocco]

Death Valley National Park, and the associated wilderness area, also block the connection of the two CA 178 segments. (The eastern segment crosses into the park, but only because the park expanded after it was built. Also, CA 190's eastern segment crosses the park, but I'm pretty sure that was another case where the highway was there first.)

Even if it wasn't called route 178, it would still be useful for people from L.A. going to Death Valley. But if you try it now, you might get bombed.

[Max Rockatansky]

Highways through ranges aren't exactly unheard of.  US 70 occasionally closes for missile testing at White Sands in New Mexico.

https://flic.kr/p/2p7vUh5

https://flic.kr/p/2p7CQpz

[Rothman]

Highways through ranges aren't exactly unheard of.  US 70 occasionally closes for missile testing at White Sands in New Mexico.

https://flic.kr/p/2p7vUh5

https://flic.kr/p/2p7CQpz

Used to have special notes in Rand McNally atlases for it.

[ElishaGOtis]

Some Air Force bases in Florida and Ohio previously used the California-style contrast striping on double yellow centerlines. I don't know if this is still the practice but it's interesting nonetheless.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/G42Rn9ct6DgztSDK7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/upU7aX2ZgujNsBULA

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kfg4dJMVEFKUZzaSA

There's also the 2009 MUTCD supplement if anyone is curious: https://www.sddc.army.mil/sites/TEA/Functions/SpecialAssistant/TrafficEngineeringBranch/Documents/MUTCD_DOD_Supplement_Revision_20150601.pdf