12 replies to this topic

[architect77]

First, allow me to start by saying that Atlanta is a truly magical place. It is in a different league from the rest of the South. My seven years in Atlanta began in 1989 just as they were finishing the widening of I-85 to five continuous lanes. Atlanta's huge new interstates exuded pure perfection in every way.

Soon however, the butchering began. Five wide luxurious lanes were sacrificed for six skinnier ones, and the skinny font made its debut. I don't like it personally, nor the trendy new clearview for that matter. Then after the "Jimmy Carter Blvd" overhead fell killing a motorist in the 1990's, GDOT evidently started doubting its cantilevering abilities, as evidenced by the elevated signage beside the road. (It looks cool in California for some reason).

As a NC native, I become more impressed everyday its highway signage, which includes overhead gantries on virtually all roads including city streets. Back when I lived in Atlanta, I never realized the absence of overhead structures even at interstate junctions.

This is not intended to be a "my state is better than your state" contest, however I would love to see Georgia return to the fat font and resume erecting elegant cantilevers.




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Oh, and I hate that these two signs, one with different typeface & the other just ugly, are among first impressions for visitors arriving from Hartsfield...


I should get a life....

Edited by architect77, 08 September 2009 - 11:54 PM.

[Unifour]

No, you have a life and are interested in something besides watchin TV as evidenced by your "architect" description. I couldn't agree more about the signage thing. I thought *I* was the only one who noticed such things! They do need more advanced signage. Ever been to Washington area? Like maybe Northern Virginia on I-66? They have really advanced signage with those electronic signs at almost every exit relaying constant information. They also post time periods and other information to make clear the driving conditions. Atlanta, now being a huge metropolis of nearly 6 million, needs more advanced informative freeways. All in all I say you have a good point.

Edited by Unifour, 26 November 2009 - 03:36 AM.

[ironchapman]

I agree about the interstate signage in GA. We do need to update them. I would like to see the cantilevers return, especially. The fonts don't really bother me, though.

Also, "Atlanta's huge new interstates exuded pure perfection in every way," might be grounds for a fight with some of the members in this forum, LOL (it's not a phrase one would expect to hear in an urban development forum), or maybe I'm just being a little snarky.

Also, long time, no see, Unifour! Welcome back!

[Unifour]

ironchapman, on 28 November 2009 - 02:45 AM, said:

I agree about the interstate signage in GA. We do need to update them. I would like to see the cantilevers return, especially. The fonts don't really bother me, though.

Also, "Atlanta's huge new interstates exuded pure perfection in every way," might be grounds for a fight with some of the members in this forum, LOL (it's not a phrase one would expect to hear in an urban development forum), or maybe I'm just being a little snarky.

Also, long time, no see, Unifour! Welcome back!

Why thank you, you were always so polite! You always know you are in the South when people go out of thier way to say things like that. I had some major changes in my life, including starting a home remodeling/rental business so I've been very busy and not much time for hobbies! Hopefully one day I will be buying and remodeling homes in your fair city of Atlanta! But back to the topic. Some people like to imagine that Atlanta has really advanced freeways, but it doesn't. I mean this in the best possible way because I do love Atlanta. I think it gets a bum rap with some people. But truthfully, it's freeways aren't as advanced as they could be. True, they are veeeerrrry wiiiiiiide, but they aren't veeeerrry deeeeesiiiigned (lol). Now, I was born in Virginia, so I am familiar with the DC area highways. Both Maryland and Virginia utilize LOCAL and EXPRESS lanes to move traffic, and they are seperated by gates and concrete barriers so you can't just weave in and out. If you are taking local exits, you use the local lanes and if you are bypassing Washington you take the express lanes. They also utilize extensive use of HOV lanes with some restricted to 3 people per car and these access and exit the freeway and local routes with thier own ramps in many cases. Virginia also uses contraflow freeways and flex lanes restricted again by gates and/or electronic signs and posted time periods. I also think Georgia should utilize more diagrammatical signs at the entrance to metro Atlanta to demonstrate to out of towners the routes of all the interstates through and around the city. Virginia does this for Richmond and Washington traffic. Lastly, I don't care as much about font either, but Georgia should use the brown and blue colored signs for attractions and such to make them more noticable. Truth be told, Georgia needs to make it's freeways more informative.

Edited by Unifour, 29 November 2009 - 01:28 AM.

[kickazzz2000]

I like the font, the squared off signs, and the State Highway sheild...it really tells me i'm in Georgia.  If that makes any sense.

(Maryland has em squared off at the corners too)

[Spartan]

Just an observation, but it might be difficult to cantilever over 8 lanes of traffic

[Kenneth Disraili-Jean]

Spartan, on 04 December 2009 - 10:35 AM, said:

Just an observation, but it might be difficult to cantilever over 8 lanes of traffic

Part of the Downtown Connector is 11 lanes wide on each side and the GDOT did use the cantilever process for the signs, also of note, new signs have been erected along I-75 South in Henry County and every exit has been cantilevered with the overhead signage. I did notice that I-85 North in Gwinnett County and I-20 in Douglas and Rockdale Counties have the signs on the side of the road as evidenced from the above photos.

My thing I want to tune in on is the fact that in 1997 the GDOT began removing ALL of the lighting on the overhead signage and at night or a rainy and/or foggy day the signs are extremely difficult to read, I mean you almost have to be right under the sign on the freeway to tell what it says and by that time you have missed it. I have no idea why this was done.

[arkteck1]

architect77, on 06 September 2009 - 05:12 PM, said:

First, allow me to start by saying that Atlanta is a truly magical place. It is in a different league from the rest of the South. My seven years in Atlanta began in 1989 just as they were finishing the widening of I-85 to five continuous lanes. Atlanta's huge new interstates exuded pure perfection in every way.

Soon however, the butchering began. Five wide luxurious lanes were sacrificed for six skinnier ones, and the skinny font made its debut. I don't like it personally, nor the trendy new clearview for that matter. Then after the "Jimmy Carter Blvd" overhead fell killing a motorist in the 1990's, GDOT evidently started doubting its cantilevering abilities, as evidenced by the elevated signage beside the road. (It looks cool in California for some reason).

As a NC native, I become more impressed everyday its highway signage, which includes overhead gantries on virtually all roads including city streets. Back when I lived in Atlanta, I never realized the absence of overhead structures even at interstate junctions.

This is not intended to be a "my state is better than your state" contest, however I would love to see Georgia return to the fat font and resume erecting elegant cantilevers.




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-------------------------------------------




-------------------------------------------
Oh, and I hate that these two signs, one with different typeface & the other just ugly, are among first impressions for visitors arriving from Hartsfield...


I should get a life....

[arkteck1]

Interesting to find someone that thinks about this kind of stuff. Along that same line, I have always been amazed that the "worlds busiest airport" has such understated signage leading drivers off of I-85 to the terminals. It seems to me that Hartfield-Jackson should have its own unique and dynamic signage announcing ones arrival to one of the most important airports in the world rather than just the standard old GDOT green signs. For some reason, I can picture people driving in from out of town to go to the airport and completely missing the airport exit just because it dosen't stand out enough.

[Kenneth Disraili-Jean]

arkteck1, on 06 January 2010 - 08:48 AM, said:

Interesting to find someone that thinks about this kind of stuff. Along that same line, I have always been amazed that the "worlds busiest airport" has such understated signage leading drivers off of I-85 to the terminals. It seems to me that Hartfield-Jackson should have its own unique and dynamic signage announcing ones arrival to one of the most important airports in the world rather than just the standard old GDOT green signs. For some reason, I can picture people driving in from out of town to go to the airport and completely missing the airport exit just because it dosen't stand out enough.

And I wonder if the airport signs are even lit up at night lol.

[architect77]

I wanted to replace some of the images from NC, however because I'm no longer to edit my original post, here are a few new ones:

[architect77]

BEHOLD! Georgia has returned to the big fat font (and tabs) on the downtown connector signage. I'll be moving back to Atlanta this summer.

Now if we could replace every traffic light dangling on wires to elegant california-style mast arms.....That would be hot.

[Kenneth Disraili-Jean]

Yes, I agree that would be really super. But the city has worked very hard in it's streetscape improvement program, by buring utility lines, placing traffic lights on the mast arms, new street lamps, wider sidewalks, plants, benches, and trash recepticals among other things.

I think within the next five years, things are really going to look good in the city.