Yes, we make mistakes sometimes
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The Tampa/St. Petersburg Area
Sign Goof Gallery Yes, we make mistakes sometimes |
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12/25/07 |
             
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Since I started the sign goof gallery not too long ago it has grown from just one to so many. So, I have decided to make a little directory of all the sign goofs to date so that you can jump directly to the sign goof you are interested in: Tarpon Springs: US Alternate 19 and Dodecanese Blvd. North of Crystal River: The park under the US 19 bridge at the Cross Florida Barge Canal Interstate 75 northbound between Exit 250 (Gibsonton Drive) and Exit 254 (US 301) Eastbound FL 64 at Interstate 75 (Exit 220) The City of St. Petersburg's Municipal Services Center Parking Garage, Levels 6A and 6B Park Road Northbound at Sam Allen Road, Plant City Intersection of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Fowler Avenue (FL 582), Tampa Interstate 95 at Exit 93, MD 222 north of Havre De Grace, Maryland Interstate 97 at its southern terminus with US 50 and US 301 near Annapolis, Maryland Eastbound Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway Express Lanes near Brandon 22nd Street northbound in Ybor City just south of Interstate 4 in Tampa Tampa International Airport Access Road (George Bean Parkway) Interstate 75 northbound before Interstate 595 (Exit 19), Ft. Lauderdale US 441 at the northern terminus of FL Toll 429, Orlando Interstate 75 southbound at Exit 260 (FL 574) in Tampa US 41 north of Interstate 4 in Tampa Interstate 275 northbound at Exit 17, FL 682/Pinellas Bayway and 54 Av S
You know, we pay taxes to build more and refurbish our highways from time to time. However, whenever a road or highway is built or refurbished (such as an asphalt repaving project) signs are either installed and/or replaced as part of a road or highway project. Or, new signs are installed as the need arises. Our fearless Florida DOT and the Engineering and Traffic Operations departments of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties as well as our three principal municipalities of the Tampa Bay area - St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater - work every day for your tax dollars and at the same time strive for the highest percentage of road sign accuracy as planned for. All the road sign stuff is accurate 99 44/100% of the time, but there is the less than one percent which somehow slips through the cracks and makes it on a street corner or highway near you. So, I have decided to add another feature here at EdwardRingwald.com dedicated to the less than one percent which somehow slips through the cracks - sign goofs. This will be a feature of its own which I will attempt to keep updated from time to time, so check back here frequently and often for any new sign goofs I may have added. Tarpon Springs: US Alternate 19 and Dodecanese Blvd. I came across this sign goof which is looking westbound on Dodecanese Blvd. at the intersection with US Alternate 19. After all, west of US Alternate 19 on Dodecanese Blvd. is Tarpon Springs' famous Sponge Docks along with all the Greek themed shops and restaurants that line Dodecanese Blvd. A good day excursion! Look very closely at the US Alternate 19 sign in the center. Notice the type of highway shield used is incorrect - this is an interstate shield which should be an US highway shield instead. If you are wondering where the real Interstate 19 is, it's a short interstate highway (slightly longer than Interstate 275) in Arizona that runs between Interstate 10 in Tucson and the Mexican border town of Nogales for a distance of 63 miles according to Andy Field's Interstate 19 Arizona page. Here's another sign goof I came across westbound on FL 54 just before US 41 in the community of Land O Lakes, located north of Tampa at the junction of US 41 and FL 54. Look very closely at the two trailblazer shields for FL Toll 589, which we call the Suncoast Parkway. The FL Toll 589 sign in the foreground directs travelers to go straight on FL 54 westbound to reach the Suncoast Parkway while the other FL Toll 589 sign mounted on top of the US 41 signs tell travelers that they need to turn left onto US 41 to access the Suncoast Parkway. Sound confusing? The sign pointing motorists towards US 41 to access FL Toll 589 was erected back in 1994 when the original section of FL Toll 589 opened as the Veterans Expressway. When FL Toll 589 was extended northward in 2000 as the Suncoast Parkway it provided for interchanges at major highways such as FL 54. Shortly after the Suncoast Parkway opened the segment of the Veterans Expressway from its junction with the southern terminus of the Suncoast Parkway to Dale Mabry Highway was re-designated as FL Toll 568. So, the FL Toll 589 shield directing motorists to stay on FL 54 is correct. However, the other FL Toll 589 shield directing motorists to US 41 south is incorrect and it should be FL Toll 568. The northern terminus of Dale Mabry Highway is located on US 41 just south of FL 54 and the short segment southbound on US 41 plus southbound on Dale Mabry Highway provides access to FL Toll 568. North of Crystal River: The park under the US 19 bridge at the Cross Florida Barge Canal On a day trip I took via the reliable Suncoast Parkway and US 19/US 98 through Citrus County north of the town of Crystal River I happened to stop at a park located under the US 19 bridge that goes over the Cross Florida Barge Canal (or what was to be). There's a boat ramp for those who want to take their boat for a leisurely excursion on the barge canal as well as access to a paved hiking trail. Look closely at not one but two - yes, two - pedestrian crossing signs for the hiking trail that intersects with the roadway leading to the boat ramp. Why have two when you need just one? The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices - the bible of which traffic engineers follow for proper placement and use of traffic signs - has just one pedestrian crossing warning sign. The pedestrian crossing warning sign (W11-2) is used to warn drivers of an upcoming pedestrian crossing. So, why the duplicative signage? I imagine it is there for greater emphasis, but I am not sure. Interstate 75 northbound between Exit 250 (Gibsonton Drive) and Exit 254 (US 301) While I was taking another day trip on Interstate 75 north on the bypass route around Tampa, I came across this grammatical sign goof north of the Alafia River crossing on Interstate 75 northbound. Look very closely at how the sign is worded. This sign is erected at every exit ramp in Florida to inform motorists that it does not pay to litter (Florida Statutes Section 403.413) and that there is at least a $50 fine if you do so. The sign should read Florida Litter Law $50 Min. Fine For Littering. Instead, the sign reads Florida Litter Law Fine For $50 Min. Littering (emphasis added). I presume who fabricated this sign didn't know about this error that somehow made it onto Interstate 75. Apparently the signage on this section of Interstate 75 was replaced in conjunction with a recent repaving and center guardrail installation project. Typically when a state highway in Florida is repaved the signage is replaced as needed. Personally I chuckled when I drove by and noticed the grammatical boo-boo with the don't litter reminder sign on Interstate 75. Eastbound FL 64 at Interstate 75 (Exit 220) My trusty digital camera and I took a day trip across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Exit 220 on Interstate 75, which is the interchange for FL 64. While at Exit 220 I came across yet another sign goof (or, a sign placement goof I would say). A Do Not Enter sign according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices is placed to face traffic going in the wrong direction. Look closely at the picture and see where the sign is placed. As we are in the eastbound lanes of FL 64 just before we go under Interstate 75 there is a traffic signal for traffic coming off of Interstate 75 southbound. The way the sign is placed is facing traffic going in the eastbound lanes; actually, the sign should be placed in the westbound lanes to face traffic going the wrong direction which would be eastbound in the westbound lanes in this case. Although not pictured, there is a No Left Turn sign before the traffic signal which prohibits traffic from making a left turn at this intersection as it is an off ramp. Does the sign placement sound confusing? The City of St. Petersburg's Municipal Services Center Parking Garage, Levels 6A and 6B Although our next sign goof I came across takes place in a parking garage rather than a street or highway, the parking garage attached to the Municipal Services Center located on One 4th Street North in downtown St. Petersburg is a public parking garage owned by the City of St. Petersburg. As the garage is owned by a local government, it qualifies like if it were a public street for inclusion consideration here at the Tampa/St. Petersburg Area Sign Goof Gallery. At EdwardRingwald.com, of course! Take a good look at the signs pointing which way you want to go in the garage, up one level or down one level. Look very carefully at the sign for the ramp going up from Level 6A to Level 6B. The sign reads "down" when in reality the sign should say "up". On the other hand, the ramp going down from Level 6A to Level 5B is appropriately signed. Park Road Northbound at Sam Allen Road, Plant City My trusty Saturn and my digital camera paid a visit to the intersection of Sam Allen Road and Park Road in Plant City. For those of you who don't know where Plant City is, it's a city with a small town feel to it located halfway between Tampa and Lakeland on Interstate 4. That's right, the city which is the home of the annual Strawberry Festival held every year. As FL 39 (a north-south state highway) passes through Plant City and the streets of downtown Plant City are narrow, there is signage informing truckers of the bypass route. Park Road and the section of Sam Allen Road from Park Road to FL 39 is part of the truck bypass route. In the picture take a good look at the route shield. This is taken northbound on Park Road as we approach Sam Allen Road. Those of us that live in Florida know what the state route shield is, an outline of the state of Florida which I think is the best of all state route shields in the United States. The shield that is pictured is completely wrong - the road number is right (39), but the shield used is the shield for the United States route marker, which is wrong. The US routes we have in the Tampa Bay area are US 19, US 92, US 41 and US 301. But we do not have a US 39 in the Tampa Bay area so to speak. But will the real US 39 please stand up? Actually, there is no US 39 anywhere to be found in the good old US of A. A glance at Robert Droz's US Highways website shows that US 39 is unassigned. But if US 39 is ever assigned, that's up to the states involved after a submittal to and a recommendation from AASHTO's Special Committee on US Route Numbering. After all, a state can't just put up a US route marker on any ordinary road - it's got to go through the procedures. Intersection of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Fowler Avenue (FL 582), Tampa The 4th of July extended weekend in 2006 (it's celebrated on a Tuesday in 2006). Family cookouts. Patriotic pride. Fireworks. And Star-Spangled sign goofs! While cruising the north Tampa area around the University of South Florida main campus as I was turning left from Fowler Avenue (FL 582) onto northbound Bruce B. Downs Blvd. I came across this sign goof mounted on a street sign. Look closely at the picture that I took at the northeast corner of Bruce B. Downs and Fowler; the sign reads "Bruce B. Down" when in all actuality it should read "Bruce B. Downs". More than likely the sign was installed by Hillsborough County's Department of Public Works Traffic Division as Bruce B. Downs Blvd. is Hillsborough County maintained north of Fowler Avenue; ironically, it's the same agency that installed the erroneous US 39 sign in Plant City mentioned above. Here is another view of the erroneous Bruce B. Downs signage looking west on Fowler Avenue, same northeast corner. But will the correct spelling of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. please stand up? The correct spelling is reflected on the street sign on the northwest corner. A part of Hillsborough County Road 581, Bruce B. Downs Blvd. begins its northward journey at Fowler Avenue and turns in a northeastward direction at Bearss Avenue. Past Bearss Avenue Bruce B. Downs Blvd. runs through the New Tampa community, which is a community within itself boasting a movie theater and plenty of various shopping strip malls, not to mention the numerous residences that are a part of New Tampa. North of New Tampa Bruce B. Downs Blvd. crosses the Hillsborough-Pasco County line and the highway becomes Pasco County Road 581 until the intersection of FL 56, where it changes once more to FL 581 for the remainder of the way to its terminus at FL 54 in Wesley Chapel just east of Interstate 75. Interstate 95 at Exit 93, MD 222 north of Havre De Grace, Maryland While I was exploring Interstate 95 northbound through Maryland during Labor Day weekend 2006, I came across this overhead sign goof located just after you pay the steep $5.00 toll for the privilege of crossing the Susquehanna River on northbound Interstate 95 in Maryland, which is part of the John F. Kennedy Highway on Maryland's section of Interstate 95 from Baltimore to the Delaware state line. This sign is Exit 93, MD 222 leading to the towns of Perryville and Port Deposit. Look carefully at the bottom of the sign and the words "NEXT RIGHT". The reason there is a goof in the sign is that the background color for the Next Right panel is wrong and it should have an Exit Only legend on a yellow background with an arrow pointing to the lane that is about to be dropped due to the upcoming exit, which you can see in the picture that it is the right lane. Here is a picture of how an advisory panel with the correct background color is perfectly done. This was taken on the Polk Parkway (FL Toll 570) at Exit 14 (FL 540/Winter Lake Road) eastbound, back in good old Florida that is. According to MUTCD guidelines a white background is supposed to convey regulatory information such as a speed limit, while a yellow background is supposed to convey a warning message. The dotted dash after the solid white line clearly indicates that the lane in question is an exit only lane and, as such, an exit only panel should be used using the yellow background color. Interstate 97 at its southern terminus with US 50 and US 301 near Annapolis, Maryland While in Maryland my trusty digital camera caught this image of an overhead for US 301. That's right, the one and same US 301 that goes to Florida and bisects Tampa and terminates in Sarasota. The same US 301 that goes through the infamous Florida Uniform Traffic Citation happy towns (which I won't mention here) where even one or two mph over the limit can get you a ticket (just to keep the town coffers healthy, of course). Look closely at the overhead sign. According to MUTCD guidelines cardinal directions are supposed to be in capital letters with the first letter slightly larger. In this sign the cardinal directions of North and South are in lower case letters which is against the MUTCD guidelines. Nationally, US 301 begins somewhere near Newark, Delaware and begins its southward trek through Maryland and joining up with US 50 for the trip across Chesapeake Bay to west of Interstate 97. US 301 turns south and crosses into Virginia to link up with Interstate 95 and to Richmond. US 301 snakes its way through Virginia as well as the Carolinas and Georgia, entering Florida along with US 1 and US 23 near Jacksonville. After passing Interstate 10 west of Jacksonville US 301 begins its southwest trek through the infamous speed trap towns and on to Ocala, linking up with US 441 and US 27 on the way. South of Ocala US 301 splits from US 441/US 27 and goes through smaller towns such as Dade City and Zephyrhills before reaching Interstate 4 east of Tampa. South of Tampa US 301 parallels Interstate 75 and begins a westward trek towards Palmetto, linking up with US 41 for the trip through Bradenton. South of Bradenton US 301 splits from US 41 for the final stretch to Sarasota and the end of US 301 south of downtown Sarasota at US 41. The segment of US 301 from north of Richmond, VA to Newark, DE including the Bay Bridge is a good alternative for motorists headed north on Interstate 95 to Philadelphia or New York City and desiring an alternative to the congestion in the Baltimore/Washington area. Eastbound Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway Express Lanes near Brandon We Tampa Bay area residents read and watch every day with the turmoil going on at the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority, especially the fallout from the collapse of one of the piers of the newly opened reversible express lanes during construction. Of course it had to be fixed but there was plenty of finger pointing going on for some time. My trusty digital camera and I took a side trip on the newly opened reversible express lanes of the Crosstown Expressway and I came across this sign goof, which reminded me of the sign goof I encountered in Maryland not too long ago on Interstate 95 north at Exit 93. Look closely at the picture, especially the "Signal Ahead" legend on the bottom. The problem here is that the legend is on a green background when in fact it should be on a yellow background warning motorists headed in the direction of Brandon on the express lanes that the Crosstown Expressway is about to come to an end at the intersection of Brandon Town Center Drive. There is a sign before this with the correct background as it should be. Don't forget, this sign has yellow flashers but that's still not enough to warn motorists. After all, green signs are for motorist guidance while yellow signs are to convey a warning to the motorist sayeth the book of the MUTCD. 22nd Street northbound in Ybor City just south of Interstate 4 in Tampa Ybor City as we Tampa Bay area residents know it is Tampa's historical Latin quarter. While Interstate 4 is undergoing its big makeover overpass treatments are being constructed so that the overpasses at Interstate 4's first exit east of Interstate 275 have a blended in look with the historical character of Ybor City. One afternoon my trusty digital camera caught this sign goof on northbound 22nd Street (which is FL 585). Look very closely at the "TO" and the "WEST" signage just above the shields for Interstate 275 and Interstate 4 respectively. According to MUTCD standards the background color for signage like this is supposed to be blue as it is part of an interstate trailblazer assembly. Instead, the background color is white! Tampa International Airport Access Road (George Bean Parkway) As we Tampa Bay area residents know the interchange of FL 60, FL 616 and the access road leading to Tampa International Airport is undergoing a major makeover and it won't be finished until 2010 at the least. Yes, we have to navigate the construction mess when we go into or out of the airport. Well, I have two sign goofs for the price of one for those coming out of the world's finest airport as temporary roads and associated signage have to be installed in order for the big makeover to proceed. TIA Sign Goof #1: Exiting the Airport Post Office This is southbound on the TIA access road just as the left lane coming from the Post Office joins in. Look closely at the first sign to your left; the FL 616 shield is supposed to be on a white background rather than a green background. After all, Florida DOT specifications call for any Florida state route shield to be on a white background whether it may be on a sign by itself or as part of a guide sign like the one pictured. TIA Sign Goof #2: On the TIA Access Road Southbound Again this is southbound on the TIA access road but between the Post Office and the interchange for FL 60 and FL 616. Look closely at the sign to your left; next to the FL Toll 589 shield it should actually read "Veterans Exwy" but instead it reads "Exwy Veterans". Did the sign contractor forget some English grammar here? Interstate 75 northbound before Interstate 595 (Exit 19), Ft. Lauderdale A recent Thanksgiving weekend 2006 trip to Ft. Lauderdale gave me time to look around as well as try to update my web sites as I should do, like I mentioned to students during a recent Great American Teach In not too long ago. However, I came across this (I would say) major sign goof on Interstate 75 northbound. Look closely at the sign. It tells you that West Palm Beach and Orlando are reached via Interstate 75. In actuality, Interstate 75 does not go to these two cities as Interstate 75 meanders north via the Alligator Alley to Naples as well as St. Petersburg (via Interstate 275) and Tampa. Instead, the sign should have a FL Toll 869 shield rather than an Interstate 75 shield as it is FL Toll 869 - known to Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County residents as the Sawgrass Expressway - takes travelers to Orlando via a connection to the Florida Turnpike and to West Palm Beach via a connection to Interstate 95 on SW 10th Street in Deerfield Beach. US 441 at the northern terminus of FL Toll 429, Orlando The Christmas season is underway and while in the midst of deciding what I should get for Christmas I did a day excursion to Orlando to explore the newly completed FL Toll 429 (also called the Western Beltway) from Interstate 4 to US 441. FL Toll 429 provides a more convenient access to the Florida Turnpike as well as Apopka (a town northwest of Orlando on US 441). As I approached the end of FL Toll 429 at US 441 I came across this yuletide sign goof. Look closely at the two route marker signs. The shields are wrong as the shield for 441 should be a United States highway shield rather than a Florida state route shield as pictured. After all, FL Toll 429 ends at US 441, not FL 441! 'tis the season for holiday cheer and sign goofs! Interstate 75 southbound at FL 574 (Exit 260), Tampa On a recent reconstruction project on Interstate 75 southbound at Exit 260 (known as FL 574 and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) the ramp is being widened from one lane to two lanes to better accommodate traffic especially during the morning commute. Signage had to be replaced as part of the project. Look closely at the way the Exit 260 sign mounted on the top is positioned. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) governs the placement of exit number signs - called tabs - when mounted on a freeway standard sign primarily as an aid to the motorist as to what to expect when approaching the exit. If the tab is placed to the left it communicates a message that a left hand exit is involved while if the tab is placed to the right it is a right hand exit. Somehow, the exit number tab was placed on the top left side of the sign when in fact it should be placed on the top right side of the sign, as Exit 260 from Interstate 75 south is a right hand exit. US 41 north of Interstate 4 in Tampa As a part of the Interstate 4 reconstruction project at US 41 (which is Exit 3) overpass bridges are replaced and new traffic signs and signals are installed to replace the old. This sign goof was found at the intersection north of Interstate 4 where US 41 takes a turn to the west and 50th Street continues northward as FL 583. US 41 northbound reduces from a divided highway since Naples (being a part of the Tamiami Trail) to a two-lane highway for a brief segment westward to 40th Street. At 40th Street US 41 becomes a divided highway once again until it reaches Hillsborough Avenue for a short multiplex with US 92 to Nebraska Avenue. At Nebraska Avenue US 41 turns north and remains a divided highway until north of Land O' Lakes. The name of this brief two-lane stretch of US 41 from 50th Street to 40th Street in Tampa is called Melburne Blvd. Look closely at the spelling of the street name: Apparently the sign contractor working on the Interstate 4 reconstruction project got the name wrong and spelled it as "Melbourne" when the traffic signal was replaced with a Florida-standard mast arm traffic signal. Interstate 275 northbound at Exit 17, FL 682/Pinellas Bayway and 54 Av S My trusty digital camera and I were out and about on Interstate 275 on Sunday afternoon getting some updated pictures for my sister site, Interstate275Florida.com. (Haven't been to Interstate275Florida.com lately? It has been updated a few months ago and is updated periodically to reflect new reconstruction in the Tampa Bay area! Take a look by clicking on this link!) But at Exit 17 on northbound Interstate 275 where the ramp from FL 682 merges on the left side I came across a lane added warning sign that merits sign goof attention. Look closely at the color of the diamond shaped warning sign. According to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the Bible of all road and highway signage in the United States, the color of the sign is supposed to be a yellow background. Instead, an orange background - used for signage related to construction activity - was used. After all, the ramp to northbound Interstate 275 from FL 682 is permanent, not temporary. Interstate 275 at Exit 17 trivia: This section of Interstate 275 at Exit 17 is an unusual section where the northbound and southbound mainline travel lanes switch sides for a brief moment as you pass through the exit. This gives the illusion that you are traveling on the left side of the highway like you would in the United Kingdom. But this is the US of A and we Americans drive on the right side of the highway in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, you know. More sign goofs to come - keep checking frequently and often! |
This site was last updated 07/29/07