Still More Florida Signs.

This time they're for Florida expressways: freeways and turnpikes.

Freeways. 

Turnpikes.

There are other designs I have submitted to RV Droz's Great International Highway Makeover, but I don't like them as much. I think these are best.

More Florida Signs.

Here are some other signs, small versions of which can be seen at R. V. Droz's The Great International Highway Makeover Florida page.

The first three are one-digit, two-digit and three-digit signs that can be used for state highways of primary importance. The tourist-friendly colors used are azure blue and tropical sea green.

The grey fields represent sky, i.e., the signs are cut-out shapes, not rectangles.

Here we have a state secondary classification and I chose coral red, bright red, dull gold and white with a black border.

And at last we have the county roads ("Pasco" is misspelled. Sorry.) I have a two-tone blue, warning sign Spanish orange, and goldfinch yellow for better visibility especially at night, although Spanish orange is okay in full sunlight.

Come to think of it, white letters with black outline would work better on the primary state route markers above, too.

Florida Blue Diamond Revival

Before Florida did its state road reorganization in 1945, it had a different network with different route markers.

Unfortunately, the route markers had the route number in smaller type than the abbreviation "FLA." inside a blue diamond. Of course, that meant the number was not very legible to a motorist passing at 50 miles an hour.

But it's a nice marker and if you shrink the abbreviation and enlarge the number, you can have a uniquely recognisable icon for the state of Florida. Here below are examples for the state and county roads.

Ontario.

An idea for Ontario's 4-lane Highways. Also in smaller scale at R.V. Droz's The Great International Highway Makeover - Ontario page.

Maryland, Series 2.

And I came up with another idea, based on Marylad's state flag.

Maryland State Flag.

First, I had the state name hidden in the red-and-white banner.

Unfortunately, it's too hidden.

So I decided to let it be seen.

Much better!

And this sign shape works for 1, 2 and 3 digit routes.

Maryland, Series 1

Hi, I just want to put up these ideas which I also sent to RV Droz of The Great International Highway Makeover some years ago. They are based on the present Saskatchewan design, but modified with the Maryland state logo.  They can also be viewed in thumbnail size here at the Highway Makeover site.

Michigan

Inspired by R. V. Droz's idea, I present some ideas for Michigan. I am using the existing Michigan Trunk Line (state highway) diamond and a silhouette of the state itself as a watermarque. Both University of Michigan (yellow and blue) and Michigan State (green and white) colors are used so that there is no favoritism.

 

One idea for Michigan Trunk Lines.

 

Another idea for Michigan Trunk Lines.

 

A third idea for Michigan Trunk Lines. I think this one is best.

 



 



Now the Michigan Trunk Line freeways (like M-59 Freeway, M-53 Freeway, M-10 John C. Lodge Freeway, etc.).

One idea for the Michigan Trunk Line freeways.

 

 

Another idea for Michigan Trunk Line freeways (I like the previous idea better).

 

Finally, the County Roads.

 

 



Same Trunk Line diamond and state silhouette watermark, FHWA county roads standard colors except substitution of goldfinch yellow for visibility where it counts.

New Mexico.

Let's get rid of the white circle on the black field and colorize the thing.

This example uses the colors of New Mexico's Centennial series automobile registration plates.

Brazil.

Based on the Brazilian flag combined with the present Brazilian route marker cutout shield.

The existing route marker.

And here is my new design.

Prince Edward Island.

This one is similar to what the province posts now, but with some more colour.

This is the existing route marker. Simple enough. 

This was my first idea. A bit more colour, but no pizzaz. 

Now this is much better! I like it! I like it! I like it!

Plus, it would remind tourists in the summer, winter and spring to return for autumn.

New York, Expressways.

How about these? They are similar to Quebec Autoroutes, but are distinctive, because of the watermark.

New York, Second Series.

These are colorised permutations of the existing black-and-white New York state route marker.

Like the first series, the state routes would adopt the colors of the 1970s NYS license plates and the county route markers would adopt the US FHWA standard county road colors, with two variances: there would be a watermark in a slightly paler blue, and the route number would be in goldfinch yellow, not US FHWA standard Spanish Orange (warning sign Yellow).

Two-digit route marker, square.

Three-digit route marker, short rectangle (Ht. by 5/4ths Ht.).

Three-digit route marker, long rectangle (Ht. by 3/2nds Ht.)

County route marker, square.

New York, First Series.

This is another sign series idea sent to RV Droz's website. It has both state route and county route markers. State route markers are in the color of the NY license plates of the 1970s. County route markers are same as for the FHWA standard pentagon county route marker, but the number is in goldfinch yellow for better nighttime visibility.

State Route Marker.

County Route Marker.

Arizona

Here's an ides for Arizona route signs based on its state flag. It doesn't have the state shape or the state name written across the top, though. I thought I'd keep it simple.

Massachusetts, Number 4

This is an idea for off-Interstates limited access expressways (freeways). It is patterned after the Quebec Autoroute design, and has the colors and two elements (shield and star) of the Massachusetts state flag.

Massachusetts, Number 3

This is the third series, based on the old Mass. Pike corporate logo, which in black text on white space was used as a reassurance route marker on the turnpike itself.  Also on display in much smaller size at RV Droz's website. It's just a state route sign. No provisions to differentiate parkways, town roads, and special tourist routes. Same as the present plain rectangle, the sign for all the numbered state routes, regardless of roadway ownership and maintenance responsibility.

Massachusetts, Number 2

 Here I have a second idea for the posting of Massachusetts state routes. This idea is based on the shape of wayfarer signs that is no longer extant -- the signs are now rectangles where before they used to have cut corners like Philadelphia street signs or Phoenix street signs. Even after they switched to squares they kept the old cut-corner typeface into the 1970s.

ON EDIT: Here are two examples of the cut-corners wayfarer sign type.

Okay, here's my idea. Like the previous set, I sent these to R.V. Droz and they are also at his website.

This first one would be posted for the regular state routes.

This is a special one for the Cranberry Highway which runs along Routes 28, 6 and 6A from the Middleborough Rotary in Middleborough, Mass. to the Orleans Rotary in Orleans, Mass.

This one would be for state parkways (which used to be owned by the Metropolitan District Commission)

And this last would be for town-maintained routes, except when maintenance responsibility goes from state, to town, and back again. Only where the whole stretch, the first part, the last part, or a new extension is maintained by the town. Certainly not like State Road / County Road / State Road / County Road 865 in Fort Myers, Florida!

And now the same ones (well, the first three), but for mounting on the overhead directionals* and other big green signs:

Regular state routes. 

 Cranberry Highway.

State parkways.

* Overhead directionals: big green signs mounted on overhead sign bridges, or gantries.