Louisiana's disappearing sign legacy

[mcdonaat]

Interstates give us MUTCD-spec shields, but in the back roads of Louisiana, we have old parish route shields. Out of the 64 parishes, 63 are inclined to have some shield left in the field (Orleans being left out), and some parishes actually hold that to be true. Winn Parish only has one marker remaining, and East Baton Rouge has two left. West Baton Rouge has one, and Grant has about seven. The opposite can be said about Union and Webster, which have over 100 shields.

So the question is... what would be the best way to preserve the shields? I'd hate to see them rot and rust in the vines and humidity of Louisiana, but they're unique and disappearing quickly. Any suggestions?

[NE2]

A wrench and the statute of limitations.

Incidentally, what do the old ones look like?

[Alps]

I've never seen photos that look anything other than pentagons - please show us some!

[roadman65]

Its the same with Florida's old colored US Highway shields.  There are still many left around as many are gone and turned traditional. 

Once in a while you will see the old county route shields that are FL State Route shields with either an "S" prefix or a "C" prefix for either secondary or county left somewhere in the field.

[mcdonaat]

It's not that they deviate from MUTCD spec, but it's the 1960's and 70's spec that is posted. The LaDOTD is the only one that posts parish routes, and only at interstate exits. The only true parish directional setup is located at http://goo.gl/maps/q8aw2.

Only two parishes post rectangular blue parish route markers - Webster and Lincoln. Lincoln Parish posts them along US 80 between Ruston and the Ouachita Parish line.



West Feliciana PR 3 is signed between Mississippi Old US 61 on Rosemound Loop, the number taken from the pre-1955 Louisiana State Route 3.

I've tried a wrench and only obtain a state shield and a US shield because of that. Parish routes are usually too high to reach though.

[NE2]

It's not that they deviate from MUTCD spec, but it's the 1960's and 70's spec that is posted.

Meaning they're mostly just pentagons? Not worth it, man.

[mcdonaat]

It's not that they deviate from MUTCD spec, but it's the 1960's and 70's spec that is posted.

Meaning they're mostly just pentagons? Not worth it, man.

Ya sure? No parishes have actually posted shields since, from what the police juries have told me, 1971. It's a good 40+ years since the most recent one.

[NE2]

Just because it's old doesn't mean it's interesting.

[Alex]

There is at least one pentagon for a Parish Road posted in 2001:



Are you saying that Parish Road shields are no longer maintained or posted?

[US71]

Along I-49 in 2005

I can't find my photo, but there's a new sign for Caddo Parish 16 along US 71 near Mira

[mcdonaat]

They are posted by the DOTD, yes, but not by the actual parish road crews. The road signs are no longer maintained if on a parish right of way, but if on a DOTD right of way, they must legally be signed. An example would be Natchitoches PR 620, cosigned with LA 478's exit on I-49. Signed with arrows on the new interchange with I-49, it is not signed on the actual parish route.

Caddo PR 16 is signed only because the DOTD owns the land between US 71 and I-20. A parish road by designation, but an access road between US 71 and I-20.

[mcdonaat]

Just because it's old doesn't mean it's interesting.

In that case, I find button copy signs to be verryyyy boring.