Mobile - Guide Sign Grates

[realjd]

I apologize if this has been discussed before; I couldn't find anything when I searched on it. What's up with many of the guide signs in the Mobile area along I-10 being grates? Is it for hurricane/wind purposes? I've never seen that anywhere else.


(Picture linked from AARoads)

[BamaZeus]

I'm not sure why they're there, but these were still standing in Birmingham not too long ago.  I can't remember off the top of my head whether they're been replaced or not, but I can't tell from Google maps.
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/alabama020/i-020_eb_i-059_nb_exit_124a_b_02.jpg
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/alabama020/i-020_eb_i-059_nb_exit_125a_02.jpg

[jdb1234]

I'm not sure why they're there, but these were still standing in Birmingham not too long ago.  I can't remember off the top of my head whether they're been replaced or not, but I can't tell from Google maps.
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/alabama020/i-020_eb_i-059_nb_exit_124a_b_02.jpg
https://www.aaroads.com/southeast/alabama020/i-020_eb_i-059_nb_exit_125a_02.jpg

Those were still there last time I was in that area back in January.

[brownpelican]

I believe they put those up because of visibility issues. They do not give off a glare when headlights or the sun shines on them.

[Alex]

You can also find a couple in the Huntsville area along US 72, two for Interstate 85's southern terminus and two on the Christiana River Bridge of I-495 at Wilmington, DE.

I also remember seeing some in Newark, NJ in 1994--hey go figure, they are still there.

And so you are not relegated to GSV only, Steve has those Newark slotted signs posted on his site!

[realjd]

So the Newark ones are like that to reduce sun glare it seems. You'd think that a standard sign without the reflective sheeting would be cheaper.

I always assumed that it was for wind load issues since the only ones I'd seen were in Mobile.

[US71]

I apologize if this has been discussed before; I couldn't find anything when I searched on it. What's up with many of the guide signs in the Mobile area along I-10 being grates? Is it for hurricane/wind purposes? I've never seen that anywhere else.


(Picture linked from AARoads)

HA! I was going to ask about those myself. I just noticed them on Sunday.  I found at least a half dozen interchanges with these signs (pictures coming soon to my Flickr pages)

[NJRoadfan]

And so you are not relegated to GSV only, Steve has those Newark slotted signs posted on his site!

...and a shot from 2001.



With a caption you wrote: Unlike most overhead signs, these are made out of grates. Located at the end of Washington St. in Newark. Similiar signs can be found in the state of Alabama...

[Alps]

Newark NJ, Wilmington DE and Mobile AL. No one posted the pair on I-495.

[hbelkins]

The northbound Exit 2 signs are normal and not of the slotted variety. I drove I-495 northbound and got a shot of the Exit 3 sign.

[US71]

Mobile seems to be "Mix n Match": one sign have be slotted, the next normal.  The color is a very dark green: when I first saw them, I thought they were black.

[cpzilliacus]

I apologize if this has been discussed before; I couldn't find anything when I searched on it. What's up with many of the guide signs in the Mobile area along I-10 being grates? Is it for hurricane/wind purposes? I've never seen that anywhere else.

There was once such a sign on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway (I-495) approaching present-day Exit 39, Md. 190, River Road, in Montgomery County, Md., but it has been gone for quite a few years now.

[Alex]

Mobile seems to be "Mix n Match": one sign have be slotted, the next normal.  The color is a very dark green: when I first saw them, I thought they were black.

They all date from the early to mid 90s, except for the Bay Bridge Road/US 90 (Exit 2) signs on I-165 south; those are from 2001. All but one of the overhead signs for Exit 1 on Interstate 65 north were originally of the slotted-sign nature, but replaced with conventional panels when the Exit 1B loop ramp was eliminated in 2004.

The use of slotted signs varies with each interchange along Interstate 10 between Exits 15 and 35 and along Interstate 65 northward through to Interstate 165 (Exit 9). Interstate 165  sees slotted signs for Exit 2 and I-65.

There is a dark blue slotted sign for tourist information along Interstate 10 west ahead of Exit 35. The rest appear black.

[codyg1985]

I wonder if DOT's will use the slotted/louvered signs more often if they are forced to use the new diagrammatic signs with the arrows over each lane that the MUTCD requires?