Guess the speed limit challenge

[Bruce]

55 mph?

[doorknob60]

I'd like to think it's higher, but 50 MPH.

[Roadgeekteen]

no and no

[SkyPesos]

Totally off topic but I have a quick question about the signals. How common are red orbs (and also yellow orbs in this case) used for protected only lefts in CA instead of red arrows? I know it's a 3M PV but I've seen plenty of them with all arrows elsewhere and I didn't think CA used orbs for lefts.

I think they're older signals that haven't been replaced. Red arrows for protected lefts haven't been that widespread before the 2009 MUTCD I think.

Oh no no, quite the opposite. On the West coast at least, red arrows have been very widespread for decades (though not in every state).

That said, the earliest protected lefts in California used 8-8-12 signals: 8-inch red and yellow, 12-inch green arrow, all post-mounted in medians (one near-side, one far-side). There would have been a period where they transitioned to all 12-inch signals and partial overhead mounting, but where not all faces were left arrows. It did not take long before all-arrow signals became the norm. This intersection is fairly unusual and I suspect it may have been one of the earlier overhead conversions.

I didn't know that. I didn't see my first red arrow traffic signal in Missouri and Illinois (back then my two most visited states) until a year or two after 2009, which is why I think they weren't widespread before that.

[Ketchup99]

I drove MA-3 from the Cape to Boston two weeks ago, and it looks vaguely familiar. So I'm going to go with 60mph.

[Roadgeekteen]

I drove MA-3 from the Cape to Boston two weeks ago, and it looks vaguely familiar. So I'm going to go with 60mph.

Yes, and it is MA 3

[interstatefan990]

Interstatefan990 is up next

Whoops! Didn't know you had to be the next poster if you guessed right 

[Roadgeekteen]

Ketchup99 is up next

[Ketchup99]

Sorry for the delay. I will post in a minute, just getting this in as a placeholder.

[Ketchup99]

Okay. Here's mine. Miles per hour.

[sprjus4]

35 mph.

[Roadgeekteen]

45

[Ketchup99]

35 mph.

Yep, it's 35. Honestly, I'm surprised you got it so quick, since traffic usually flows between 50 and 60. Anyway, you're up next.

[Roadgeekteen]

sprjus4 is up next, post a picture soon.

[sprjus4]

[doorknob60]

I can't shake the feeling that the location looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm going to low ball a bit and say 45 MPH.

[Roadgeekteen]

50 mph

[sprjus4]

I can't shake the feeling that the location looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm going to low ball a bit and say 45 MPH.

Yup, it's the VA-164 MLK Freeway in Portsmouth, VA.

It's honestly underposted, it could reasonable handle 55 mph. The freeway increases to 50 mph further north past the Midtown Tunnel split, then to 60 mph once in the West Norfolk area of Portsmouth.

This segment of elevated urban highway is relatively new, just built in the last 5 or so years. It was the last piece to complete the freeway between I-264 and I-664 that started in the 80-90s.

https://goo.gl/maps/8dV3YYMSP9YQdx6Y9

[doorknob60]

I can't shake the feeling that the location looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm going to low ball a bit and say 45 MPH.

Yup, it’s the VA-164 MLK Freeway in Portsmouth, VA.

It’s honestly underposted, it could reasonable handle 55 mph. The freeway increases to 50 mph further north past the Midtown Tunnel split, then to 60 mph once in the West Norfolk area of Portsmouth.

This segment of elevated urban highway is relatively new, just built in the last 5 or so years. It was the last piece to complete the freeway between I-264 and I-664 that started in the 80-90s.

https://goo.gl/maps/8dV3YYMSP9YQdx6Y9

Of course, I literally drove on that freeway in June. I was looking for that exact spot in GSV last night and I guess I was looking in the wrong spot, probably farther north, because I didn't see one that looked right so I gave up looking, but that highway was the first thing that came to mind when I saw your picture. I remember driving on it, going like 55-60 after the tunnel, then later down the road seeing a 45 sign, and thinking, "wait, was the speed limit supposed to be 45?". I'm disappointed I second guessed myself, would have been cool to confidently say 45 and link to the spot

Anyways, here's mine, in MPH.

[Roadgeekteen]

60 mph

[doorknob60]

Not 60

[webny99]

Something tells me it might be lower than you'd expect, especially with the narrow lanes and non-existent shoulders, so I'll guess 30 mph.

[doorknob60]

Something tells me it might be lower than you'd expect, especially with the narrow lanes and non-existent shoulders, so I'll guess 30 mph.

Nice guess! It's Sunset Blvd in San Francisco: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7352131,-122.4938618,3a,75y,340.51h,78.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2eRaC7_oKI0NfFZ1BVEjoA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I'd probably post it somewhere around 40, mostly due to the fairly frequent signals, but in an urban area like SF I'm not surprised it's lower. What I'm not sure, is what speed traffic normally flows at. I imagine it's much higher than 30.

[webny99]

Haha, nice! I had literally guessed 40 and then edited it to 30 a few seconds later. It's not often I get that lucky! 

I'll have the next photo in a little bit.

[jakeroot]

I was thinking it was San Francisco, given the signal design, crosswalk markings, and the lack of left turn lanes. Not to mention the environment. But I couldn't quite pinpoint where it was. I also would have low balled it.