Oldest Motorway Sign

[A42_Sparks]

I don't know if this counts and I've posted it on SABRE before but the little junction number plate below the ADS at j11 of the M2 Ballymena bypass is either original to the motorway opening (1969) or was installed shortly after. It's still there now.

The ADS here is a replacement of the original one which had 'M2' in Motorway font.

[A320Driver]

Is THIS the oldest motorway sign on the Uk network ?

The very wording "Facilities for the Disabled" seems to me to be from a different era.

It's old, but it isn't the oldest - it's position probably makes it difficult to clean/maintain which makes it look slightly tattier than it would otherwise, as well as facing south-ish where presumably it gets weathered by the midday sun.

This is a candidate, which dates from the M40 extension to Birmingham, presumably: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5553562 ... 312!8i6656

These are probably older than that, dating probably from the 80s: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4000252 ... 312!8i6656

The oldest though is probably a start of motorway sign at a works access or similar...!

The M25 J16 M40 sign is now barely legible:

Another from J12, likely the original one although ‘Sunbury’ was patched as ‘Richmond’ about 10yrs ago.

[RichardA626]

Some of the signs on the A627(M) look quite old.

[Osthagen]

The ADS here is a replacement of the original one which had 'M2' in Motorway font.

Its interesting how many older ADS signs unnecessarily featured motorway numbers in motorway font, while many motorway RCS signs erroneously featured motorway numbers in standard Transport font, such as this now-removed sign on the M6 northbound after J42.

[Bryn666]

Some of the signs on the A627(M) look quite old.

1998, all replaced as part of the M60 project. The materials used don't seem to have aged very well as the blue has flaked off on many signs now leaving the grey substrate exposed.

[RichardA626]

Some of the signs on the A627(M) look quite old.

1998, all replaced as part of the M60 project. The materials used don't seem to have aged very well as the blue has flaked off on many signs now leaving the grey substrate exposed.

Right they look older because of this.

[Steven]

I wonder how old these are? Just because they're scruffy doesn't mean they are ancient although it's possible they are the original signs from when it opened.

https://goo.gl/maps/E8rGWt81BrsFzN649

I suspect they're 1975 originals. Most of that section was resigned fairly recently, but that one seems to have survived it.

[traffic-light-man]

Not quite on the motorway, this 'Motorway M6' one is looking like it has some vintage to it.

Similarly, these warning signs look particularly tired, with their black backing boards and stacked advisory plate featuring a huge '30'.

[Bryn666]

Not quite on the motorway, this 'Motorway M6' one is looking like it has some vintage to it.

Similarly, these warning signs look particularly tired, with their black backing boards and stacked advisory plate featuring a huge '30'.

They're both original 1972 signs.

[ManomayLR]

I viewed the 2008 street view of the A38M being approached from Spaghetti Junction and there were signs on the gantries explaining what the lane control signs meant.
That sign has now been removed... but it would have been helpful.

[A42_Sparks]

Its interesting how many older ADS signs unnecessarily featured motorway numbers in motorway font

Yes there was even signs at the A42/A43 junction in the Town Centre directing to 'Motorway M2' with the road number in Motorway.

[traffic-light-man]

They're both original 1972 signs.

Interested to see that they've ditched the illumination of the warning signs without replacing the signs for anything of better retro-reflectivity.

I viewed the 2008 street view of the A38M being approached from Spaghetti Junction and there were signs on the gantries explaining what the lane control signs meant.
That sign has now been removed... but it would have been helpful.

I'm intrigued to know what is patched over by 'lane open'! They were definitely out of date by then, given the tungsten MS1s were showing green arrows at that stage, and had been for quite some time.

[ManomayLR]

They were definitely out of date by then, given the tungsten MS1s were showing green arrows at that stage, and had been for quite some time.

What do you mean by 'tungsten MS1s'?

[traffic-light-man]

What do you mean by 'tungsten MS1s'?

The older lamp-based gantry mounted MS1s, as opposed to the current LED variant.

[ManomayLR]

What do you mean by 'tungsten MS1s'?

The older lamp-based gantry mounted MS1s, as opposed to the current LED variant.

Oh yeah, I remember those from when I was quite young. Unlike the current MS1s, the lamps would never fully go out before they had to flash again.
Take a look at this interesting video introducing the regional control centres on the M25. There's our old friend Low Pressure Sodium street lights, as well as the lane closure without the red X at around 0:50.

[Komi san]

Random old signs on M4 near A470 junction
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8nbyAM2cURS7XMmE8
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WwPV9wEWYsqkyCiq8
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PW2CfmdEPwLMiu7A7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1YzS4Dh3PtQBcnyf9
Oh dear...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5tpmyqdAW7Jqe6ep8
Old chopstick in southernmost terminus at South Mimms
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MiSF1yek7Sg7VRAcA

[Chris5156]

Oh dear...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5tpmyqdAW7Jqe6ep8

Wow, that’s horrible!

[MotorwayGuy]

This backlit "End of motorway" on the M23 was probably original. It's since been replaced but the other one is a copy of the original with the "end of motorway" text and is still there.

This Gantry at the Southern end of the M2 is pretty old, as is this chopsticks sign.

[Steven]

Oh dear...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5tpmyqdAW7Jqe6ep8

Wow, that’s horrible!

I suspect that's a 1975 original. Well, behind the "Telford Standard" of a billion cover plates anyway!

[Komi san]

Some oldies on Northern Ireland's motorways
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7Qi6L88ZQ6cTKt1A6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yLVFJBLLizuMZhz87
These sings are still there even A601(M) is downgraded to A6070?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9e3bzraKsCR2Dgmk9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/z4Acs8t6c5mk8ReE7
Most likely remember times of A1(M) Newcastle Central Motorway East
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5iUZRqaFU3Sd17Rs5
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hx39Zv9WnXzdfEwW8
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eJNV42DkPXLxZFrD7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/B3PaXWWdyALKuuLP8