State shield differences in each state

[mcdonaat]

Louisiana has, from what I can count, three distinct shield designs. The oldest is a 1955-spec shield with vague outlines for the state, in a simpler design (aka my profile photo). 1992 introduced the same green style, but with a more specific coastal outline, and more specific borders. In 2008, Louisiana changed the green signs to black-and-white, but as the time goes along.

In the Southern part of the state, a few variants of the black-and-white design are used, and it's rare to find a green shield. Move east towards Slidell and Covington, you find green shields, and the same goes for Lafayette. Move north, and you start to see more of the 1955-style shields. It seems weird that the northern section is almost forgotten, with myself noting a few route markers on a road that had been decommissioned as a state highway for the last 15 years... but the signs remained. 1961 was written on the back, so that tells you how much care the state has for the northern section.

Any other states out there with shield variants that major, just by states? I think Mississippi has newer shields along US 61 and US 98/84 for the southern part, but in the north, I saw tons of older shields.

[cu2010]

NY has about 25.

[cpzilliacus]

Virginia has the "shield" design that it uses for primary system highways (route number less than or equal to 599) and the circle (or circle in a square) that it uses for secondary system highways, roads and streets.

Then there are the small rectangular signs that are used at many intersections, which are rectangular regardless of the route.

[Takumi]

Virginia has the "shield" design that it uses for primary system highways (route number less than or equal to 599)

I've seen several different (mostly awful) variations of it, mostly in cities that do their own maintenance. Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach are the most notable offenders in this regard, with Suffolk becoming another. Every NC diamond I've ever seen, on the other hand, has looked the same.

[agentsteel53]

1961 was written on the back, so that tells you how much care the state has for the northern section.

got any photos?  also, are any of them the 16" size?

[1995hoo]

Virginia has the "shield" design that it uses for primary system highways (route number less than or equal to 599)

I've seen several different (mostly awful) variations of it, mostly in cities that do their own maintenance. Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach are the most notable offenders in this regard, with Suffolk becoming another. Every NC diamond I've ever seen, on the other hand, has looked the same.

The weird-looking variant I've seen several times lately is where they use a pure white shield, with no black border nor other background, on a white sign. Why bother with the shield at all in that situation? There's a fairly new one on the Inner Loop near Route 123 warning truckers of a height restriction, for example. The shield is hard to see unless the light hits the sign just right.

[US71]

Besides the standard 2d and 3d styles in Arkansas, there are contractor signs that shave the eastern border. About 20 years ago, there were a lot of smaller versions of the square, but they have long since disappeared.

[kphoger]

Missouri's state-outline shields come in varying degrees of detail, similar to what you describe in Louisiana.

In Minnesota, some counties use black-on-white squares for state-aid highways, and pentagons for true county roads; some counties use pentagons for state-aid highways, and black-on-white squares for true county roads; and some counties just jumble them all together.

The Mexican tertiary route shield in my avatar varies widely across the country–both in prevalence and design.  In most areas, you'll never come across one at all; in some areas, they are numbered; in some areas, they are blank or have the state outline in lieu of a number.

Sorry, none of these examples are in the Southeast.  Maybe this thread would be more at home outside the region-specific boards.

[agentsteel53]

The Mexican tertiary route shield in my avatar varies widely across the country–both in prevalence and design.  In most areas, you'll never come across one at all; in some areas, they are numbered; in some areas, they are blank or have the state outline in lieu of a number.

I would definitely like to see examples of those other styles!

[kphoger]

The Mexican tertiary route shield in my avatar varies widely across the country—both in prevalence and design.  In most areas, you'll never come across one at all; in some areas, they are numbered; in some areas, they are blank or have the state outline in lieu of a number.

I would definitely like to see examples of those other styles!

Commencing Google Maps Street View search now.....

[kphoger]

Here you go!
San Luis Potosí state outline:  http://goo.gl/maps/BYIwk

[agentsteel53]

Here you go!
San Luis Potosí state outline:  http://goo.gl/maps/BYIwk

awesome!

I've never seen a RURAL of any form, though my travels are quite limited to Baja California, Sonora, a tiny bit of Chihuahua, and Cabo San Lucas.  do they all have that rounded triangle shape everywhere?

[kphoger]

do they all have that rounded triangle shape everywhere?

As far as I know.  Back in the dregs of my memory, there's the notion that J N Winkler has some ancient official dimensions for the tertiary route shield from the 1986 manual, but I'm struggling to find a post that matches my memory.

[agentsteel53]

As far as I know.  Back in the dregs of my memory, there's the notion that J N Winkler has some ancient official dimensions for the tertiary route shield from the 1986 manual, but I'm struggling to find a post that matches my memory.

I have that manual and it is indeed that shape.  the smallest size is 31x30cm

[kphoger]

Missouri's state-outline shields come in varying degrees of detail, similar to what you describe in Louisiana.

Sorry to quote myself, but does anyone have some examples to illustrate the difference I was referring to?

[mcdonaat]

1961 was written on the back, so that tells you how much care the state has for the northern section.

got any photos?  also, are any of them the 16" size?

16" is only prevalent along city routes, where a larger shield is not needed due to the speed of traffic.

No photos, but I hope to go back and take plenty!

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma:

[DandyDan]

There used to be a Nebraska State Highway 92 shield on L Street in Omaha which did not have the "Nebraska" on top (and it was accompanied by a US 275 shield which did!), but they tore those down and thus all Nebraska State Highway shields look exactly alike, other than the 3 digit variant, which is stylistically the same.  All link and spur highways are the same, too.

I believe South Dakota has variations in their state outline shields, too.

[bjrush]

Two main types in Arkansas

[Alps]

NJ standard (oval):
Delaware-style (flat top):

Didn't think I could get you with a circle, huh?

[bugo]

Two main types in Arkansas

The first one is usually found off of freeways, while the second style is the standard shield, found all over the state.

[Ian]

Here's what PennDOT district 6 has...


The left is a PennDOT made one, while the right one is contractor made. The differences are subtle, but they exist.

[dave19]

There are some weird and ugly PA route shields in Slippery Rock. I've never seen anything like them. Don't have pix.

[roadman65]

SC just changed there square route shields that were black on white with the "SC" abbreviation above the number to a new shield just recently.  It is now Blue on white with  a blue border and forgot the shape of the shield itself.

Then no one mentioned Vermont changing its circle shield to a pumpkin like emblem with the state name "VERMONT" on top with green borders and lettering/ numbering.

[corco]

Wyoming has shields with two different types of Bucking Horses


is the original University bucking horse, developed by UW


is the wide bucking horse, developed by the state

Both are managed by the same agency now and are used interchangeably.

For a clearer indication
http://wyoming.gov/
http://www.uwyo.edu/