The Worst of Road Signs

[mrsman]

They took down a gantry to put up... these.



But at least they aren't in Clearview. 

That's the dumbest shit I've seen in a very long time. Why would they do that??

Those look like remarkably half-assed shields on the pavement, too.

You're not kidding! They are hideous.

The shields on the pavement look more like Quebec autoroute symbols.

[jbnv]

They took down a gantry to put up... these.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/616/31069783903_9584bee0d0_c.jpg

But at least they aren't in Clearview. 

I'm 99.999999% sure this isn't a permanent change. I see this happen a lot during construction.

I doubt it's permanent too. But I'm not aware that the 10-110 split is currently up for construction, or what the reason was for removing the gantry.

[vdeane]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

[cl94]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

*cough* I-88 in Binghamton *cough*

[jeffandnicole]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

There's several in NJ that come down when deemed unsafe, and take several years before they're re-installed.

[vdeane]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

*cough* I-88 in Binghamton *cough*

I-590, I-790...

[Kniwt]

So, I was driving on I-10 west toward Lordsburg, N.M., today. I was kind of "in the zone" and was at least somewhat on autopilot. Then, just after I passed milepost 40, I saw something that just didn't look quite right. I know what my brain thought it saw, but I figured I had to be imagining things. And because exits are so far apart out there, it would have been a long slog to double back to see whether I was going mad. Then again, this is New Mexico, boldly exploring new frontiers in bad signage.

I was going to come here and ask whether anyone else had seen what I saw, and then I looked at Street View. Even back in July 2014, it was there!
https://goo.gl/maps/xxaVnXGw2Qo

So, yes, here is what I saw:

[kphoger]

It impresses me, how many people's desks and hands that sign had to pass through before ending up on those posts.

[DaBigE]

So, I was driving on I-10 west toward Lordsburg, N.M., today. I was kind of "in the zone" and was at least somewhat on autopilot. Then, just after I passed milepost 40, I saw something that just didn't look quite right. I know what my brain thought it saw, but I figured I had to be imagining things. And because exits are so far apart out there, it would have been a long slog to double back to see whether I was going mad. Then again, this is New Mexico, boldly exploring new frontiers in bad signage.

I was going to come here and ask whether anyone else had seen what I saw, and then I looked at Street View. Even back in July 2014, it was there!
https://goo.gl/maps/xxaVnXGw2Qo

So, yes, here is what I saw:

Who knew Yoda was in the sign-making business. 

[jbnv]

It impresses me, how many people's desks and hands that sign had to pass through before ending up on those posts.

And how many of them looked at the Sign and said, "Not my job to fix it."

[roadman]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

Another possibility is that the gantry was struck, and providing for the replacement is still in negotiation.  Don't know about other states, but Massachusetts has an accident recovery program whereby the costs of replacing signs/gantries that are damaged are covered by the driver's (if known) insurance company.  The only problems with this program are that (a) the cost is negotiated with the insurance company BEFORE the signs/gantry are replaced, which delays the replacement by months or even years, and (b) the law requires that the sign/gantry be replaced "in-kind", which may not be feasible with older gantries.  And sometimes, the signs and gantry are never replaced - see https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=6336.msg139183#msg139183

[jbnv]

Further west on I-10 I found three other gantries that have been taken down and replaced with non-standard signs like the one in Baton Rouge.

[roadman]

Further west on I-10 I found three other gantries that have been taken down and replaced with non-standard signs like the one in Baton Rouge.

Which supports (no pun intended) vdeane's statement that perhaps the gantries were no longer safe.  States are now required to have inspection programs for sign gantries, similar as they've done for bridges.  If the gantries were all installed in the same time period, recent inspections may have shown signs (again, no pun intended) of similar problems that might result in failure.  Especially if they were aluminum gantries, which are particularly subject to fatigue.

[kkt]

So, I was driving on I-10 west toward Lordsburg, N.M., today. I was kind of "in the zone" and was at least somewhat on autopilot. Then, just after I passed milepost 40, I saw something that just didn't look quite right. I know what my brain thought it saw, but I figured I had to be imagining things. And because exits are so far apart out there, it would have been a long slog to double back to see whether I was going mad. Then again, this is New Mexico, boldly exploring new frontiers in bad signage.

I was going to come here and ask whether anyone else had seen what I saw, and then I looked at Street View. Even back in July 2014, it was there!
https://goo.gl/maps/xxaVnXGw2Qo

So, yes, here is what I saw:

That's hilarious.  Needs a "Yoda Here Was" sign attached.

[jakeroot]

Does Yoda switch individual words, or just parts of a sentence? I would have thought that "Slower traffic keep right" would be, in Yoda English, "Keep right slower traffic".

[chays]

Does Yoda switch individual words, or just parts of a sentence? I would have thought that "Slower traffic keep right" would be, in Yoda English, "Keep right slower traffic".

You are correct, but you fell into the same trap I did.  I looked at that sign a dozen times before I saw the error.

Look at it and read it out loud really slowly.  It is amazing how our brains "fix" errors in sentences/syntax.

[jakeroot]

Does Yoda switch individual words, or just parts of a sentence? I would have thought that "Slower traffic keep right" would be, in Yoda English, "Keep right slower traffic".

You are correct, but you fell into the same trap I did.  I looked at that sign a dozen times before I saw the error.

Look at it and read it out loud really slowly.  It is amazing how our brains "fix" errors in sentences/syntax.

No no, I understand the error ("Slower Traffic Right Keep"). I'm just not certain that is Yoda-speak. I figured that, if someone wanted to turn "Slower Traffic Keep Right" into something that Yoda would have said, they'd change it to "Keep Right Slower Traffic" (not just changing the order of any two words -- my impression was always that Yoda reversed the order of a phrase, not just a couple of words at random).

Yes, I'm over-thinking this.

[kphoger]

Yoda would say, Keep right slower traffic must.

Or else a fender-bender I fear.

[chays]

Does Yoda switch individual words, or just parts of a sentence? I would have thought that "Slower traffic keep right" would be, in Yoda English, "Keep right slower traffic".

You are correct, but you fell into the same trap I did.  I looked at that sign a dozen times before I saw the error.

Look at it and read it out loud really slowly.  It is amazing how our brains "fix" errors in sentences/syntax.

No no, I understand the error ("Slower Traffic Right Keep"). I'm just not certain that is Yoda-speak. I figured that, if someone wanted to turn "Slower Traffic Keep Right" into something that Yoda would have said, they'd change it to "Keep Right Slower Traffic" (not just changing the order of any two words -- my impression was always that Yoda reversed the order of a phrase, not just a couple of words at random).

Yes, I'm over-thinking this.

You are right, though, Yoda re-ordered phrases rather than words, as far as I know.

And I would have been one of those who "approved" that sign because I did miss the mistake many times.

[amroad17]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

*cough* I-88 in Binghamton *cough*

I-590, I-790...

Actually, this doesn't look that bad.  The only thing that is needed is destinations (cities)--which, obviously, will not fit on these posts.

[kkt]

Could be the gantry wasn't safe any more, or was otherwise slated for replacement.  Often times there's a while between when a gantry is removed an when it's replaced.  Sometimes it's years (at least in NY), though it really shouldn't be.

*cough* I-88 in Binghamton *cough*

I-590, I-790...

Actually, this doesn't look that bad.  The only thing that is needed is destinations (cities)--which, obviously, will not fit on these posts.

They look like totem poles.

[Dustin DeWinn]

I don't know if this belongs in this thread or in it's own, but this was outside the Sale Automall in Kinston, NC.

I cropped the photos, but can provide the original full size if interested.

This signage is unforgivably terrible from every design and communication; technical communication, marketing, and otherwise . If you don't read them, you'll miss them.

[Dougtone]

Posted this photo to one of the game threads and felt that it deserved consideration with the Worst of Road Signs. This is in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, a location known for rather interesting road signs.

[jbnv]

I don't know if this belongs in this thread or in it's own, but this was outside the Sale Automall in Kinston, NC.

I cropped the photos, but can provide the original full size if interested.

This signage is unforgivably terrible from every design and communication; technical communication, marketing, and otherwise . If you don't read them, you'll miss them.

We can all appreciate the sentiment, but these aren't actually road signs. They're someone's poor attempt at using road signs for marketing. :-)

[kkt]

This is in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, a location known for rather interesting road signs.

Yep, pure cringe there.