Poor Sign Placement

[myosh_tino]

That's nothing compared to the 509 in Tacoma, which drops from 60 to 25: https://goo.gl/HCCU36

The problem is that you need to give drivers some warning. There's about 25 feet between the end of the theoretical gore and the signal stop line. Any speed limit change would have to occur at least some distance before the stop line.

Maybe an overhead gantry with speed limit signs for each lane? Or is that too much?

Yeah, I noticed that after I hit the "Post" button.  I think your solution to post a 50 MPH speed limit instead of 35 is the best.

[opspe]

BC does a good job of advance speed drops:

https://goo.gl/maps/FnPdez9R9QH2 - From 80 to 60, shortly followed by another drop to 50.
https://goo.gl/maps/Dgh2Tcjjj7m then https://goo.gl/maps/U5FamBwzesw - From 90 to 20 around a really nasty hairpin, though technically an advisory speed, the same principle would apply to a drastic speed drop.

[riiga]

Best solution would probably be to use upcoming speed limit warning sign for 35 mph and then lower it just in time for the traffic lights, or alternatively lower from 60 to 50/45 to 35.

That's nothing compared to the 509 in Tacoma, which drops from 60 to 25: https://goo.gl/HCCU36

Just wow. Aren't there any regulations on how much you can lower the speed without warning? Our DOT requires direct drops of more than 20 km/h at a time to be signed in advance, except for off-ramps.

[opspe]

That's nothing compared to the 509 in Tacoma, which drops from 60 to 25: https://goo.gl/HCCU36

Just wow. Aren't there any regulations on how much you can lower the speed without warning? Our DOT requires direct drops of more than 20 km/h at a time to be signed in advance, except for off-ramps.

That speed zone ahead sign on SR 509 (R2-3a) is depreciated per MUTCD 2009, with a compliance deadline of December 22, 2018.  The replacement look like the one below (W3-5), which is what WSDOT used on SR 518.  The pertinent section says that W3-5 must be used for drops greater than 10 mph, or as engineering dictates.

[Thunderbyrd316]

Washington doesn't permit signals on roads with a limit higher than 50,

   I can think of at least 3 examples right off the top of my head where there are signals on Washington State Routes where the speed limit is higher than 50. S.R. 240 on the Richland bypass section, S.R. 500 at 42nd and 54th and S.R. 503 near Battle Ground. (All posted at 55 m.p.h.)

[jeffandnicole]

That's nothing compared to the 509 in Tacoma, which drops from 60 to 25: https://goo.gl/HCCU36

Just wow. Aren't there any regulations on how much you can lower the speed without warning? Our DOT requires direct drops of more than 20 km/h at a time to be signed in advance, except for off-ramps.

Um, the Speed Zone Ahead 25 mph sign IS the advanced warning sign.

There's also a similar 55 mph to 25 mph drop at the end of the AC Expressway in Atlantic City, NJ.

[jakeroot]

Washington doesn't permit signals on roads with a limit higher than 50,

I can think of at least 3 examples right off the top of my head where there are signals on Washington State Routes where the speed limit is higher than 50. S.R. 240 on the Richland bypass section, S.R. 500 at 42nd and 54th and S.R. 503 near Battle Ground. (All posted at 55 m.p.h.)

Also SR 522 at Paradise Lake Road, just outside Maltby -- 60 mph.

To the best of my knowledge, the 50 mph "rule" is more of a guide. So I apologize for being slightly misleading.

Upon a further search of the web, I can't seem to find the article that mentions the 50 mph "rule".

[jay8g]

This is perhaps less poor sign placement than just bizarre sign placement -- dueling Adopt A Highway signs, one of which is placed so that nobody driving would ever see it...

[Eth]

Maybe this isn't the best way to mount a BGS in a wooded area...

[kphoger]

Looks like it would be fine, if only they'd trim the trees appropriately.

[vtk]

Looks like that's supposed to be mounted on a gantry overhead the roadway, but the gantry has been temporarily removed and the sign instead mounted on the gantry support post.

[Eth]

Looks like that's supposed to be mounted on a gantry overhead the roadway, but the gantry has been temporarily removed and the sign instead mounted on the gantry support post.

Aha, sure enough, that's exactly what it is. Looks like they had to dismantle the gantry for construction.

[Super Mateo]

BGS behind a fence spotted on Hopple Street in Cincinnati, OH

[ethanhopkin14]

I always found this to be a pain.  This doesn't look that bad, and now its not as big of a deal with the ultra-reflective BGS, but that BGS used to be an older non-reflective background BGS until just recently.  At night, your headlights would pick up the Loop 360 shield and cast a shadow on the BGS, making it hard to read.  There are still some shadows on the current sign, but you can at least read the BGS.


https://www.google.com/maps/@30.30986,-97.8262304,3a,15y,180h,85.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTtJGiVhsy4J0ELrdVxSTMQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[noelbotevera]

I-64 in Richmond/Henrico County has a sign that's totally unreadable under foliage. I missed it, but it was before exit 183, if I remember. I can't expose it via GMSV.

[jbnv]

Found this yesterday. GSV predates the sign but it looks like they just put it the same place as the earlier sign, meaning they clearly could have at least cleared the power pole support.

[chays]

From Lake Mary, FL.
What is the worst thing about this setup?
1) The sheer ugliness of that streetlamp product.  I can't believe that anyone thought this was attractive.
2) The terrible installation job (not even considering the placement relative to the sign... Look at how out of plumb it is in second photo... Actually sign is bad too)
3) The thoughtless placement that takes a street named after an American author and turns it into, well, something altogether different.

[lordsutch]

Looks like that's supposed to be mounted on a gantry overhead the roadway, but the gantry has been temporarily removed and the sign instead mounted on the gantry support post.

Aha, sure enough, that's exactly what it is. Looks like they had to dismantle the gantry for construction.

Yep, they're putting the Northwest Express Lanes in the median there, so the sign bridge had to go. I assume the sign's also eventually a goner in favor of a Series E sign when the new sign bridge is installed, given GDOT's push to get rid of Georgia D signs; I guess they're all at the end of their design life since they were all put up when GDOT transitioned to mileage-based exits in the early 2000s.

[epzik8]

"Right lane ends" before the right lane even begins. This is the northbound approach to the Conowingo Dam on U.S. Route 1 in Darlington, Maryland.


North of West Chester, Pennsylvania, a pair of U.S. 322 shields partially covered by vine growth.

[jay8g]

It took me a while to get that the "Except Bikes" nearly at ground level had to do with the "No left turns" at the top of the pole...

[epzik8]

U.S. Route 1 at U.S. Route 30 in west Philadelphia, but at the Montgomery County line:

The I-476 Blue Route just north of the I-76 Schuylkill Expressway interchange in MontCo:

[epzik8]

I consider this one poor. This is Maryland Route 10 south at its northern terminus at I-695 north of Glen Burnie. Notice how the exit sign for MD-710 is partially covered by a tree branch. The sign on the left blends in too much with the trees, making it easy for drivers to ignore.

[epzik8]

And I've got yet another one. Maryland Route 88 shield behind a branch.

[odditude]

these aren't examples of poor sign placement so much as failure to maintain to trim tree branches which have since grown in front of the signs.

[jbnv]

these aren't examples of poor sign placement so much as failure to maintain to trim tree branches which have since grown in front of the signs.

so should we rename this topic to "Poor Sign Placement and Overgrowth" or create a new thread?