The Worst of Road Signs

[Takumi]

I think I know how that I-97 shield got that way: MD SHA standard practice with state routes is to include the word "Maryland" in the upper part of the shield on stand-alone assemblies, but to omit it on green signs. In this case, it looks like someone thought Interstate shields were the same way.

[vtk]

I imagine I'm in the minority here, but I like the lack of text in the Interstate shield, at least when used on a green sign like that as opposed to a standalone shield. I think it makes it look clean and simple, and it's not as if people are reading the word "Interstate" every time anyway.

This pile is scheduled to go up in Milwaukee in the near future:

(memo to WisDOT: your NOT CalTrans, knock it off)

I notice the "shears" on the d's are backwards, as if they flipped b's...is the existing sign actually like that, or is it just a bad drawing?

Apart from that, I don't really see anything wrong with the sign. Repeating the arrow is a bit strange, though.

They should omit the arrow from the new panel, and the install order should specify some amount of overlap (probably 12") with the new panel over the old panel, to eliminate the existing bottom border. 

Or, put up an auxilliary guide sign somewhere that says "Wisconsin Ave use exit 39".  (If it were Ohio, they'd probably put Wisconsin Ave on a second exit tab to the left of the existing one...)

[route56]

On I-435 at K-10 in Lenexa:


http://www.route56.com/gallery/2012/May12/20120531/43897.jpg.php

[national highway 1]

A few mostrosities from Brisbane, Queensland; this is usually what you'd expect from them:

[DaBigE]

This pile is scheduled to go up in Milwaukee in the near future:

(memo to WisDOT: your NOT CalTrans, knock it off)

I notice the "shears" on the d's are backwards, as if they flipped b's...is the existing sign actually like that, or is it just a bad drawing?

As we established in another thread, it's a backwards 'b'.  All of WisDOT's signs are created in an old CAD format, where each letter/number/character for each font family exists as a individual CAD cell.  It's not unusual for one of their drafters to copy/paste and mirror a pre-existing object and save it as new.  As far as I've seen, this backwards stem clip only exists with the letter 'd' in the E-Modified series font.  No one has apparently bothered to correct the cell library.  Either way, the sign manufacturers have learned to ignore this drafting error.

They should omit the arrow from the new panel, and the install order should specify some amount of overlap (probably 12") with the new panel over the old panel, to eliminate the existing bottom border. 

Or, put up an auxilliary guide sign somewhere that says "Wisconsin Ave use exit 39".  (If it were Ohio, they'd probably put Wisconsin Ave on a second exit tab to the left of the existing one...)

If it were up to me, I'd do one of two things: (1) Just replace the whole bloody sign and do it properly from the start, or (2) de-mount the arrow, remove the existing bottom one or two extrusions, install the 'Wisconsin Ave' text below, and remount the arrow properly vertically centered.  Hell, I'd even live with them leaving the arrow as-is and just swapping out the bottom one or two extrusions.  That way, you don't unnecessarily duplicate the arrows, eliminate the funky borders, and most importantly, not further embarrass the SE Region sign shop.

[DaBigE]

Yet another one of the WisDOT SE Region's other great signing blunders:



In reality, I could post just about all the photos I took at this series of roundabouts and find errors with the vast majority of the signing along that corridor, but I don't have that kind of time.

I like to call this one a very overloaded sign post:



It's supposed to be either the ONE WAY or the TO TRAFFIC FROM LEFT, not both!

[codyg1985]

I imagine I'm in the minority here, but I like the lack of text in the Interstate shield, at least when used on a green sign like that as opposed to a standalone shield. I think it makes it look clean and simple, and it's not as if people are reading the word "Interstate" every time anyway.

I agree with you from an easy-to-read standpoint. Not having the state name allows the numbers to be bigger, which is what's more important anyway.

However, it is kind of cool to see state names in shields, especially in states that usually don't put them in (e.g. Kentucky or Tennessee). Since they are rare it makes it more exciting when you do find one.

[hbelkins]

However, it is kind of cool to see state names in shields, especially in states that usually don't put them in (e.g. Kentucky or Tennessee). Since they are rare it makes it more exciting when you do find one.

It's not that much of a rarity in Kentucky anymore. Except for I-24, I have seen a large number of state-named markers for all the other interstates.

[agentsteel53]

It's not that much of a rarity in Kentucky anymore. Except for I-24, I have seen a large number of state-named markers for all the other interstates.

including I-69?

why is I-24 that rare?  no sign replacement projects in the recent past after they re-adopted the state name?

[hbelkins]

So far, I've only seen one I-69 sign, and it did not have the state name.

It could be a district thing. Some districts may include the state name but the districts that I-24 runs through don't.

District 7 (Lexington) has been replacing a lot of signage along the interstates and the new signs have the state name. Practically every ground-mounted (non-guide sign) along I-64 between I-75 and the Franklin/Woodford county line has been replaced by state forces rather than contractors since the first of the year.

[formulanone]

This one from Nocatee, Florida makes my head hurt:

[NE2]

Nocatee makes my head hurt.

[Central Avenue]

I love how they bothered to install it so the text would be level, instead of just installing the diamond level and leaving the text crooked.

[Takumi]

It almost looks like it's spinning.

[agentsteel53]

stealing a photo from another thread:



this is at LAX.  good grief, where do we begin?

* green sign has a border, blue sign does not
* blue sign has inexplicable gray bottom strip
* blue sign has even more inexplicable blue background on arrows
* arrows on blue sign look to have come out of 1980s "Ten arrows that YOU! can use NOW!" clip-art software.
* what the deuce is that font?  (It's Franklin Gothic, which is a real "what the deuce" font.)
* shield shape on 1 conforms less to Caltrans guidelines than to outline of jello splattered onto vertical surface.
* "rental car return" and "century blvd" are tucked in awkwardly in half-size.  I don't have a really good way of solving this problem, apart from maybe using three signs, or one sign, instead of two?
* underlighting implies this replaced classic porcelain signage.  fuck you Caltrans.

[Special K]

... and what does the "ONLY" plaque refer to?

[formulanone]

stealing a photo from another thread:

...

this is at LAX.  good grief, where do we begin?

Glad to be of service.

... and what does the "ONLY" plaque refer to?

That you're going up a tiny ramp somewhere after the tunnel below the runway, and then split off again to the rental lot, and miss your turn to park in the correct lot, but meander your way like a proverbial lost tourist back to the check-in representative that asks if you purchased gas and reminds you to take all your junk out of the car.

[blawp]

Fuck you Caltrans? I'm fairly sure they aren't responsible for this.

[agentsteel53]

Fuck you Caltrans? I'm fairly sure they aren't responsible for this.

the underlit gantry is very much made to early 1960s Division of Highways specs.  given the fact that there are more than a handful of "C-62" signs still around - either Caltrans resigned the gantry, or gave the right to do so to someone else (the LAX infrastructure authority).  in either case, "fuck you, Caltrans".

[myosh_tino]

Fuck you Caltrans? I'm fairly sure they aren't responsible for this.

the underlit gantry is very much made to early 1960s Division of Highways specs.  given the fact that there are more than a handful of "C-62" signs still around - either Caltrans resigned the gantry, or gave the right to do so to someone else (the LAX infrastructure authority).  in either case, "fuck you, Caltrans".

I can understand agentsteel53's frustration.  Since the signs are on a state highway (Route 1), I would have thought signage would have been the responsibility of Caltrans and therefore conform to their specs.  Signage on the ramp would then transition to the airport authority's.

If this were allowed to happen elsewhere, then SFO (San Francisco) could install airport-style exit signage on US 101 instead of the current Caltrans-spec signs.  As it is now, standard BGSes are used on US 101 and airport-style signage appears on the ramps after leaving the freeway.

BTW, does anyone know what the old signs looked like?

[agentsteel53]

BTW, does anyone know what the old signs looked like?

no idea, but I am sure they looked good.  might have even had a white "1" shield at some point.

it's not just a matter of the sign gantry just absolutely not conforming to CalTrans specs - it is that it quite likely replaced one that did conform.

[abc2VE]

The diagonally striped sign on the center support of the overpass is also incorrect

[national highway 1]

Fuck you Caltrans? I'm fairly sure they aren't responsible for this.

I've long thought that SNA should drop the John Wayne and reap in some Disney dollars switching the name to OC/Disneyland Airport or maybe Orange County/Mickey Mouse Airport. 

Fortunately, the only Mickey Mouse airport in this region is LAX.

There's your answer. 

[OracleUsr]

Considering planes have to take off as if they were on the Space Mountain ride, Disney/OC airport would be very appropos.

[Brandon]

These from the outbound Eisenhower Expressway are just fugly, IMHO.



Clearview (ugly by itself), the yellow left tabs, and the whole presentation is simply fugly.