Botched Roadsigns

[Conekicker]

I'm surprised these are still wrong: https://goo.gl/maps/of9aHzW7kmkTGeQn9

1. It's the A1(M) not the A1, and (though it was later extended to the M62) was still motorway when it was built.

2. The straight-ahead direction is the M1 not leading to it, so the brackets aren't needed either.

I don't think it's the first time these have appeared in this thread. The brackets are absurd; I don't personally recall this but I remember it being pointed out that, as originally made, the brackets were around "A1", not "M1". A complaint was evidently made that the brackets around "A1" were incorrect, but instead of just removing them, they were moved to "M1" instead. Daft.

It should be "A1(M)" and "M1", as you point out, but Highways England won't be able to directly intervene here because it's part of a DBFO, and presumably any changes to existing installations, outside that foreseen in the original contract, will be charged back to them at special rates. Northbound at the A64, the forward signs also say "A1", and presumably for the same reason.

Can someone explain what this sign actually means?

It means there's someone working for Manchester City Council's highways department who doesn't know what an advance sign for a bus gate should look like...!

Or in other words, nobody knows and nobody cares. Such a common attitude in certain parts of the industry these days I'm sorry to say.

[Stevie D]

This surely isn't the correct way to signpost the M40 from the M1, is it?
Surely it should be regular font or at the very least in brackets?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.21201 ... 384!8i8192

Oh, where to start...

Yes, "M40" should be in brackets.
M1 should be omitted.
Slightly dubious to signpost Northampton straight on rather than off at this exit, and doubtful about the merit of including (A45).
Insufficient spacing, the whole sign is too cramped and crowded.
Diversion triangle should be patched onto the main sign along with the other symbols rather than attached on a separate sign.

[Euan]

This surely isn't the correct way to signpost the M40 from the M1, is it?
Surely it should be regular font or at the very least in brackets?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.21201 ... 384!8i8192

What's even worse is that there is not enough room on the sign to fix the bracketing problem. If "M40" had been placed slightly further to the right it might have been possible to stick the left hand bracket in at the side, but it seems like a full patch-up would be required instead.

[Bryn666]

This surely isn't the correct way to signpost the M40 from the M1, is it?
Surely it should be regular font or at the very least in brackets?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.21201 ... 384!8i8192

What's even worse is that there is not enough room on the sign to fix the bracketing problem. If "M40" had been placed slightly further to the right it might have been possible to stick the left hand bracket in at the side, but it seems like a full patch-up would be required instead.

There's no excuse for this nonsense. This took all of 10 mins.

[graeme_t]

This surely isn't the correct way to signpost the M40 from the M1, is it?
Surely it should be regular font or at the very least in brackets?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.21201 ... 384!8i8192

What's even worse is that there is not enough room on the sign to fix the bracketing problem. If "M40" had been placed slightly further to the right it might have been possible to stick the left hand bracket in at the side, but it seems like a full patch-up would be required instead.

There's no excuse for this nonsense. This took all of 10 mins.

But the patching ("M40" over "Northampton") and "N'pton (A45)" being added to the straight on direction is to discourage use of the exit as a route into Northampton from the M1, so the A5123 wouldn't be signed from there. The preferred option is down to the A45 (old A508) at J15.

Both the 1/2m and that sign need replacing, the 1m sign is better here.

[Bryn666]

Just realised these are coverplated botch jobs. Quelle surprise, no-one ever gets that right.

OK, taking on board your comments:

[Patrick Harper]

That section is about to be given the ALR upgrade so the sign is probably earmarked for replacement.

[ForestChav]

It looks to me as though the M40 was patched on later to cover Northampton as a destination from the exit, then they had to add the second patch to add this when they routed the traffic off at 15.

[drm567]

Before I report this bollard to Herts Highways can someone reassure me that it is wrong. Should it be plain faced rather than a diag 611? The green aspects of the signals are arrows. [Poor quality looking more or less directly into the sun but hopefully clear enough].Aerodrome Way-Ashfields wrong sign_ 2019_0502_181248.jpg

I wouldn't be too optimistic as they don't fix signs unless they are likely to be hurt financially from signs in situ.

I've had the, slightly patronising, automatic email reply. I won't hold my breath for a follow-up!

So I've had a surprisingly quick response from Herts, I suppose it's reasonable, as long as they actually do correct the sign, though it would have been nice if it had included a thanks for pointing it out. Again, I won't hold my breath.
We have assessed your report and the location is considered safe. We assess the severity of each reported issue and where necessary we will carry out a temporary repair, but not in all cases. This issue will be addressed in works that are currently planned.

[nodnirG kraM]

I Tweeted this gorgeous example of finely crafted road furniture this afternoon.
This sign on the A272 between Cowfold and West Grinstead in West Sussex was erected as part of a "safety improvement" project about ten years ago, that saw all direction and village name signs replaced, and all warning signs replaced with ubiquitous yellow backing board versions. The limit was also dropped to 50 along the route, and this was backed up with 50 roundels being painted on the road surface.
Every information sign had at least one error: the A272 is signed as primary and non-primary all along the route, and also on maps can be shown as either grade, so the green signs aren't necessarily wrong. Every side road it meets here, however, is unclassified; yet every flag sign is green with white non-primary patches. The village name boards have lowercase lettering rather than all-caps. Oh and nine days after the 50 roundels were painted, the road was surface dressed. Now ... surely somebody must have known this resurfacing was scheduled, so ... ugh I'm not even going to bother going there...
Anyway, what I tweeted was:

1) the A272 can’t decide if it’s even primary or not.
2) non-primary patching on a flag sign ... really??
3) the brown patch is a new coverplate, but now directing the wrong way, and with an advance direction arrow.
4) it was already signed on the opposite side of the road anyway
5) Nuthurst and Maplehurst are two separate destinations, but are presented centralised, not left aligned.

Until a couple of years ago, the brown patch showed a different brown destination for a business that has since moved (not sure why it warranted a brown sign in the first place, but hey, money is money) but that was at least in the direction of the sign. It had been grey spray painted out until this addition was installed last week.

And if you don't follow me on Twitter, the bigger boys will make fun of you behind the bikesheds at play time.

[Truvelo]

The stroke width would make the B4171 discontinuous. The sign approaching from the opposite direction also has the same error.

[lefthandedspanner]

This has now been fixed, but in 2016 the left-hand lane layout sign here was white and the right-hand sign (otherwise identical) was green.

[vlad]

I can't help feeling that one of these signs is home-made.

[Conekicker]

Oh dear:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.99162 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.96898 ... 6656?hl=en

[AndyB]

Here's one I saw yesterday.

[vlad]

If only there were a non-verbal way of advising of a crossing ahead, meaning that this sign would never need to be used....

[jervi]

Although this is more poorly designed rather than botched.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.83575 ... 312!8i6656
This sign has since been removed (like most map signs in Brighton) so you just have to follow the person in front and hope you get to where you want to go

[Truvelo]

This must surely be a home made jobbie

https://goo.gl/maps/zu5VK2aK8RsBNpAK8

[Conekicker]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.39214 ... 6656?hl=en

Ignoring the botched temporary sign, note the permanent RCS. Not botched at all, but note the lack of destinations and associated mileages, presumably to avoid depressing drivers as to how far it is to Inverness from here (about 110 miles). With the joys of average speed cameras the whole chuffin' way. Man that's a scenically beautiful but mind-numbingly boring journey.

[Glen]

There used to be a lot like that on the A9 without any mileages.
The southbound one at Tore was the same until a few years ago.
I think the only other one left is Northbound at Daviot.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y5u2nC5DCxXJV8r1A

The A835 also has number only RCS at the two B road junctions on the Black Isle, but there is a full milage list after Maryburgh which is only a short distance away.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v7m5u44d1ca1BHYf6