The Worst of Road Signs

[1995hoo]

I wouldn't normally put a malfunctioning VMS in this thread, but the sign on the left here is an exception because it's NEW: The VMS panel was hoisted into place late last summer and the sign itself has only been in regular service since this ramp opened on November 17, but the panel is already malfunctioning. (May be easier to see if you click to enlarge. The problem is with the panel that reads "OPEN.") It's too damn soon for a sign that new to be broken already.

Hey, if it's still in the warranty period, they can at least get their money back on it. 

That's pretty funny.

[agentsteel53]

I wouldn't normally put a malfunctioning VMS in this thread, but the sign on the left here is an exception because it's NEW: The VMS panel was hoisted into place late last summer and the sign itself has only been in regular service since this ramp opened on November 17, but the panel is already malfunctioning. (May be easier to see if you click to enlarge. The problem is with the panel that reads "OPEN.") It's too damn soon for a sign that new to be broken already.

honestly, as long as it doesn't say "OPEN" when it is in reality CLOSED, I can forgive a few dead pixels.

[okroads]

No comment...


DSC07071 by okroads, on Flickr

[okroads]

Another "gem" from the same area as the last picture...


DSC01694 by okroads, on Flickr

[StogieGuy7]

Another "gem" from the same area as the last picture...


DSC01694 by okroads, on Flickr

Those BGS' look as if they were inspired by a 1970's ransom note!   

[Takumi]

I don't know what font this is, but it's rather bizarre. This is on I-664 southbound in Newport News.

[Ian]

^ The "6" looks like a stretched/compressed series E(M).

[Brandon]

^ The "6" looks like a stretched/compressed series E(M).

That, or some F variation of E(M).  It's not bad, and certainly isn't worthy of "worst" road signs IMHO.

[vtk]

No, it's a stretched out version of series D.  In series E and wider, the top stroke of the 6 goes completely horizontal before terminating.

[Takumi]

It appears at least one more time on 664 southbound, but I think I was just frustrated at the traffic because I was running late, and I saw an odd-looking sign, so naturally my initial reaction was Worst Of.

[formulanone]

No comment...

...Is this one located in craiG countY?

[1995hoo]

Corner of South Capitol Street and Virginia Avenue SE in (obviously, given that building in the distance) DC. The funny thing is, I actually don't find this shield as ugly as I used to since DC has started using the "bubble-shaped" shields on more and more of their new signage. The typeface and the omission of "Interstate" are a bit weird, though.

[Takumi]

Looks sort of like Arialvetverstesk™.

[Kacie Jane]

Because it is.  I'm leaning towards Helvetica.

[formulanone]

Georgia 300, stretched too wide:

[Kacie Jane]

If it were merely stretched too wide, then personally I wouldn't call it a Worst Of.  But the fact that it's stretched to wide and the last digit still manages to nearly touch the background...

[cjk374]

Georgia 300, stretched too wide:

It almost looks like a pregnant Missouri.   

[Michael]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

[Eth]

If it were merely stretched too wide, then personally I wouldn't call it a Worst Of.  But the fact that it's stretched to wide and the last digit still manages to nearly touch the background...

Despite being in Series B, even. There's extra space lower down in the shield; use that.

[Big John]

If it were merely stretched too wide, then personally I wouldn't call it a Worst Of.  But the fact that it's stretched to wide and the last digit still manages to nearly touch the background...

Despite being in Series B, even. There's extra space lower down in the shield; use that.

The stretched Georgia shield was designed to fit 3 digits on the bottom using Series C font, but more commonly used is the unstretched shield with 3 series B digits.

[Takumi]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

There's a stop sign like that coming out of an apartment complex near my house. I've taken a picture of it, but have no idea where I stored it.

[Central Avenue]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

I'm confused...the numbers on the I-405 shield just look like normal FHWA to me?

[myosh_tino]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

I'm confused...the numbers on the I-405 shield just look like normal FHWA to me?

Same here.  Yes, they used a 2-digit shield for a 3-digit route number but the numerals appear to be standard Series D for the I-5 shield and Series C for the I-405 shield.  If you look closely, the I-5 shield even has the state name in it.

[luokou]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

I'm confused...the numbers on the I-405 shield just look like normal FHWA to me?

It's FHWA-C on the 405 shield, to be exact.  Very uncommon to see Series C numerals on any California route shields.

[myosh_tino]

While I was looking around the Irvine Spectrum Center in Street View a while ago, I noticed that the stop signs looked ugly.  After doing some more looking around, I found this Street View image with one of the ugly stop signs, and an ugly directional sign.  The directional sign has an Interstate shield with ugly numbers (Clearview?) too.  The sad part is that there's a proper, state-named Interstate shield on the directional sign, right next to the ugly one.

I'm confused...the numbers on the I-405 shield just look like normal FHWA to me?

It's FHWA-C on the 405 shield, to be exact.  Very uncommon to see Series C numerals on any California route shields.

Upon further inspection, you're right.  At first I thought it was a compressed Series D but Series C appears to be a closer match.