When I spent my days laying out highways I always thought these signs were too heavy and an abomination to install and dangerous; especially the cantilever type in the pic.
25 years ago I had a conversation with a man that manufactured and installed these signs.?ÿ He hated them too, but they fit the FHWA design criteria.?ÿ My 'better idea' suggestion was some sort of 3d hologram that made the sign only appear to be there with the projecting equipment safely off the clear roadway.?ÿ Although probably a good idea, the R&D price tag would probably exceed the value of the return.
I still think it's a good idea...at least a lot better than all the galvanized and aluminum guillotines we've got installed over our highways.?ÿ?ÿ
Probably realistic is a wireless broadcast that displays the sign information on your dashboard as you pass.
Should we completly transition to heads up displays in cars?
And then came man and bridges.. ?????ÿ
A dozen years ago a County bridge was struck from the side....on dry land, very dry land.
A large cement plant has been located on one side of this County road for well more than 100 years.?ÿ As their operations crew there became a need to open a limestone quarry on the opposite side of the road.?ÿ Today, the far end of the quarry is approaching four miles away.?ÿ An overpass was constructed such that the roadway is at standard road level.?ÿ The roadway below is at the level of the quarry bottom.?ÿ Trucks hauling to and from the quarry pass through 24 hours per day and normally 350 days per year or more.?ÿ Drivers get to the point they think they could run the to/from part in their sleep.?ÿ One tried that and failed.?ÿ The south abutment was struck at perhaps 30 mph by a humongous rock-hauling truck.?ÿ I saw it up close.?ÿ It would take me five minutes and two rest stops to climb up into the cab.?ÿ Further analysis proved there was almost no damage to the integrity of the bridge.
That truck driver must of had a severe headache. ?ÿHopefully he/she survived.
He did survive with a couple of broken bones and some serious bruising.?ÿ Must have been super-relaxed.?ÿ As I recall he had more than 30 years of experience of driving through opening, all day, every day.?ÿ Something similar happened a couple of years ago in the second bridge location, which happens to be a State Highway.?ÿ The highway was closed for six months or so while a proper fix to the pier could be made.
There's a total station set up on the street corner in the lower right corner of the window at the 1:16 mark of the video.
Maybe a geodimeter?
?ÿ
@flga-2-2 Without overhead signs and overhead bridges, how would we ever know which truckers are getting lucky with lot lizards while rolling down the highway.?ÿ I guess only the really distracted ones smack bridges and signs with their beds lifted. ?????ÿ
There's a total station set up on the street corner in the lower right corner of the window at the 1:16 mark of the video.
Maybe a geodimeter?
?ÿ
Love to see a 25-year-old Geodimeter still earning its keep.
"lot lizards"?ÿ LOL
New a gal years ago who spent too much time hanging out at various bars.?ÿ She did not take it kindly when I told her she was turning into a lounge lizard.
At least you knew they wouldn't blow away.
Trimble seems to have adopted and continued their "heavy as boat anchor" principle on the S line of optical instruments.
Good thing GNSS works pretty well in the woods now...
"lot lizards"?ÿ LOL
New a gal years ago who spent too much time hanging out at various bars.?ÿ She did not take it kindly when I told her she was turning into a lounge lizard.
Back in the day we had a little 'grease trap' drive-in called the "Dairy Mart" that was the cultural center of our universe.?ÿ With no indoor dining they served burgers, fries, cold fountain drinks and soft-serve ice cream cones from a sliding screen window.
During the peak lunch-to-dinner hours they employed young girls as car-hops to take and fetch orders from the customers in their cars.?ÿ I'd like to take credit for it, but it was actually my father that started calling them "fender lizards".?ÿ He'd be proud the name stuck and has been passed down through several generations.?ÿ
"lot lizards"?ÿ LOL
New a gal years ago who spent too much time hanging out at various bars.?ÿ She did not take it kindly when I told her she was turning into a lounge lizard.
Back in the day we had a little 'grease trap' drive-in called the "Dairy Mart" that was the cultural center of our universe.?ÿ With no indoor dining they served burgers, fries, cold fountain drinks and soft-serve ice cream cones from a sliding screen window.
During the peak lunch-to-dinner hours they employed young girls as car-hops to take and fetch orders from the customers in their cars.?ÿ I'd like to take credit for it, but it was actually my father that started calling them "fender lizards".?ÿ He'd be proud the name stuck and has been passed down through several generations.?ÿ
I think "Lot Lizards" generally refers to prostitutes that hang out at truck stops and such.?ÿ
That doesn't quite fit in my mental image of a "Dairy Mart", but who knows.