FADED Beyond Recognition

[kphoger]

Shouldn't the arrow plaque be yellow on blue?

I didn't think so, but then I looked at the (current edition) MUTCD:

Part 2 — Signs
Ch. 2D — Guide Signs – Conventional Roads
§ 2D.12 — Design of Route Sign Auxiliary Plaques

Standard:
01 — ... All route sign auxiliary plaques shall match the color combination of the route sign that they supplement.

Then again, I don't know how seriously to take that.  The only ones I see designed here are black-on-white and white-on-blue.  And, more importantly, nobody seems to be bothered by Kansas' black-on-yellow route shields having black-on-white auxiliary plaques.

On the other hand, I think Kansas may be the only state that doesn't use color-matching auxiliary plaques for its route shields.

[Scott5114]

The only ones I see designed here are black-on-white and white-on-blue.  And, more importantly, nobody seems to be bothered by Kansas' black-on-yellow route shields having black-on-white auxiliary plaques.

For what it's worth, Clark County 215, the final boss of county roads, uses yellow-on-blue plaques.

I actually like state routes (and non-freeway CRs, I guess) having black-on-white plaques, because it means the only routes that have a different color are Interstates. Which makes it a little easier to pick the most important route out of an assembly with a bunch of shields, like this one.

[freebrickproductions]

In my experience, all of the arrow plaques for county routes here in Alabama (and over in Mississippi and down in Florida) use yellow-on-blue except for the old black & white shields in Cherokee County, AL.

[kphoger]

I was looking to see what Illinois does.  But all the places I know of that use county route shields in Illinois apparently don't use auxiliary plaques for them.

[kphoger]

I actually like state routes (and non-freeway CRs, I guess) having black-on-white plaques, because it means the only routes that have a different color are Interstates. Which makes it a little easier to pick the most important route out of an assembly with a bunch of shields, like this one.

Here's a good example of where the Interstate and county shields (and plaques) all look pretty much the same at first glance:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qUT5CXNooQtPV36w7

Or how about three different classifications of highway, all in blue:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fM8V3iWFVAVQT1eX8

[Big John]

^^ How are those signs faded?

[kphoger]

How are those signs faded?

They aren't.  But the conversation started with this sun-faded shield that's pair-bonded paired with a not-faded arrow plaque:

[hbelkins]

It's 27, but what kind of 27? And what direction are we traveling on Unknown Route 27?



This is northbound US 27 in Campbell County, Ky.

There are a bunch more faded signs, including another North US 27 that looks just as bad, at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1325773132950187&type=3

[hbelkins]

JCT What?



The unknown route goes to Canoe, pronounced "Koo-noo."



Those KY 3237 signs are only about 10 years old, having been installed when the bridge crossing the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River was replaced and intersections on either side of the bridge were reconfigured.

[74/171FAN]

On PA 858 NB approaching Little Meadows

PA 858 NORTH NORTH OF TURNPIKE ST (2) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

On US 301 NB approaching what I thought was Naval Base Dahlgren

US 301 NORTH AT SR 614 (1) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

On US 301 NB approaching Mitchell Rd in La Plata, MD

US 301 NORTH AT MITCHELL RD (1) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

PA 26 NB at PA 913 in Saxton

PA 26 NORTH AT PA 913 EAST (2) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

PA 26 NORTH AT PA 913 EAST (3) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[jay8g]

I spotted this no parking sign the other day... it's so faded that it's hard to tell that it was reinstalled upside-down when the light post was replaced a few years ago!

[kphoger]

These [EXIT ONLY] tabs are just yellow decorations now:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/6BfQa43Etenzywrp8

[74/171FAN]

On NY 16 NB at I-86/NY 17 near Hinsdale

NY 16 NORTH AT I-86 AND NY 17 EAST (3) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

NY 16 NORTH NORTH OF I-86 AND NY 17 (2) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[hbelkins]

On KY 699 in Perry County.

[Declan127]

This Molly Stark sign on VT 9 WB between Crosby and Highlawn, Brattleboro.

[74/171FAN]

On US 20/NY 5 in Geneva, NY

US 20 AND NY 5 WEST CONCURRENCY (4) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

On OH 14 WB in Bedford

OH 14 WEST AT HARRISON ST AND SOUTHWICK DR by Mark Moore, on Flickr

OH 14 WEST AT ROCKSIDE RD by Mark Moore, on Flickr

OH 17 WB at OH 252 in North Olmstead

OH 17 WEST AT OH 252 (2) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[TBKS1]

TN 214 in South Fulton, TN at US 51.

[vtk]

Ken Tenn? Ben's brother?

[Big John]

Ken Tenn? Ben's brother?

I assumed Kentucky-Tennessee

[74/171FAN]

On US 50 WB approaching I-65 in Seymour, IN

US 50 WEST AT COMMERCE DR AND STEVEN'S WAY (1) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[Declan127]

Ken Tenn? Ben's brother?

I assumed Kentucky-Tennessee

Built a new flyover, joke was the first to use it

[pderocco]

Ken Tenn? Ben's brother?

I assumed Kentucky-Tennessee

I assumed Tenn Rd to the village of Ken.

[74/171FAN]

At the Cookout on US 231 in Lebanon, TN

COOKOUT (2) by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[The_Ginger]

At the Cookout on US 231 in Lebanon, TN

That's great and all, but I think this deserves it's own post in Unique & Interesting.

[Scott5114]

Cooper Black has no place on a road sign...