The Worst of Road Signs

[KEK Inc.]

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=los+angeles,+ca&ll=34.173696,-118.53615&spn=0.015924,0.033023&hnear=Los+Angeles,+California&gl=us&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=34.173699,-118.536057&panoid=MPm6OH3qwAt3tfFzWL4kZw&cbp=12,253.95,,0,-5.7

I think only Los Angeles city signs mark it as East/West.  Caltrans signs are North/South as you can see on the Freeway Entrance signs.  (Also, freeway to freeway signs always put US-101 as N/S throughout all of California.

US-101 is a bit confusing through the Olympic Peninsula, since it loops around the peninsula.  Between WA-104 and Olympia (next to the Hood Canal), US-101 is signed the opposite of its route, but accurate to its cardinal directions.  If you want to go from Olympia to US-101 using the entire current route, you have to go North on US-101, West on US-101 and then South on US-101.  Of course, a sane person would use I-5, or jump across US-101 at Oregon 18, since the Washington coast is rubbish.

[Zeffy]

Saw this eye-soar on our way to the trailhead.

This is a great example of why route shields' numerals should not be almost larger than the shield itself. It just looks plain awful. 

[codyg1985]

IMG_2660 by hbelkins, on Flickr

Looks like they took a page from the Tennessee playbook there.

[NE2]

Saw this eye-soar[sic] on our way to the trailhead. 

lOl

[kkt]

[T]he Washington coast is rubbish.

Hey!  The Washington coast is beautiful, as long as you stay away from the Twilight tourists around Forks.

[KEK Inc.]

Long Beach and Aberdeen aren't that great.  I've never been to Gray's Harbor.

lOl

yawn

[kkt]

Long Beach and Aberdeen aren't that great.  I've never been to Gray's Harbor.

Been to the beaches and the forests?

[KEK Inc.]

Long Beach and Aberdeen aren't that great.  I've never been to Gray's Harbor.

Been to the beaches and the forests?

The beaches are windy as hell, and frankly, Oregon's are just better if you want a PNW themed beach.   I don't see how the forests are different than they are inland in the Olympics. 

[agentsteel53]

Looks like they took a page from the Tennessee playbook there.

I believe that is originally the Alabama playbook.  I've seen many shields of that shape, some of which are quite old, for a variety of three-digit routes in Alabama.

[Billy F 1988]

Saw this eye-soar on our way to the trailhead.

Kill it with fire! 

[kkt]

Long Beach and Aberdeen aren't that great.  I've never been to Gray's Harbor.

Been to the beaches and the forests?

The beaches are windy as hell, and frankly, Oregon's are just better if you want a PNW themed beach.   I don't see how the forests are different than they are inland in the Olympics. 

If warm and sunny is your criteria, you might as well trash anything north of Santa Barbara.

I like seeing the drama of nature, including the wind.  Bundle up.  The beaches not being wall to wall people is a plus too.

[KEK Inc.]

Long Beach and Aberdeen aren't that great.  I've never been to Gray's Harbor.

Been to the beaches and the forests?

The beaches are windy as hell, and frankly, Oregon's are just better if you want a PNW themed beach.   I don't see how the forests are different than they are inland in the Olympics. 

If warm and sunny is your criteria, you might as well trash anything north of Santa Barbara.

I like seeing the drama of nature, including the wind.  Bundle up.  The beaches not being wall to wall people is a plus too.

Well, the beaches in Washington aren't even amazing to look at.  Oregon has the rock structures off the coast, and the mountains tend to be right up against the coast.

[1995hoo]

I just put this in the "white background signs" thread, but I think it belongs here as well. Seen on Old Exit 7 (I think it's now 51) off the Outer Loop of I-495 in Virginia. I'm not sure why somebody thought the standard white-on-green wasn't appropriate. I also can't recall having seen another sign in Virginia that puts the directions in boxes like that without also using a route marker (that is, I've seen "unisigns" with the direction in a box, but never a sign that just contains words).

[codyg1985]

^ I kind of don't mind that since the directional banners don't stick out like a sore thumb like they would if this were a green sign. Then again, making the sign green and not using directional banners would be better.

[1995hoo]

^ I kind of don't mind that since the directional banners don't stick out like a sore thumb like they would if this were a green sign. Then again, making the sign green and not using directional banners would be better.

You just described the old sign perfectly! Check out the thread about white backgrounds–I posted this picture there too and someone linked a Street View of the old sign that was in use until late last year.

[Scott5114]

The 2009 MUTCD has a specific prohibition on using banners in this way.

[hbelkins]

[amroad17]

^ You are heading east on US 22!!!

[vtk]

Actually I kind of like that one.

[Kacie Jane]

Actually I kind of like that one.

I wouldn't say I like it, but it's probably the best looking US shield on this page.

[Billy F 1988]

I wouldn't say the 22 is completely the worst. It's borderline worst, but it does serve its purpose so let's give some credit to this US 22 shield.

[Brandon]

That has got to be the most obese US highway shield and number I've ever seen.  It needs a diet and it needs it now!

[KEVIN_224]

Is it a Pennsylvania creation? I know it's their tag under the shield.

[Ian]

That has got to be the most obese US highway shield and number I've ever seen.  It needs a diet and it needs it now!

It doesn't help that there's a Burger King behind the sign.

[amroad17]

What Burger King?  Oh wait, I do see it behind the sign.