Regarding the intersection at East Animas Road (County Road 250) and 32nd Street: How long before a stop sign is no longer new? And does it immediately convert to “old” on a certain date? Does the “new” sign make people read the stop sign and make them realize that they should stop? Do you get a lower cost ticket if you run a new stop sign? Sign me, Chevy Chase
Having a “new” sign posted on a new sign might be a troubling sign, in and of itself.
It might indicate that marketing people have taken over the county’s road and bridge department. What other possible reason is there for a big sign that says “new” on a busy road?
But if marketing people were truly in charge, that sign would read “New and improved!” along with some other fantastic benefit, such as “Now with even more asphalt for a smoother ride!”
Which pretty much describes that stretch of road, which used to be a nasty, pothole-pocked boulevard of misery.
La Plata County came to the rescue this past summer and reconstructed the section from 32nd Street to the entrance to Bread.
So now the road is certainly “new and improved,” and the ride is definitely smooth. But that doesn’t explain the “new” sign.
It’s kind of a long story for a short piece of pavement. For enlightenment, we turn to our good friend Doyle Villers, the county’s road maintenance superintendent.
Prior to late last summer, the intersection featured stop signs at only 32nd Street and at Metz Lane. Traffic on East Animas Road could blow through the crossroads, he pointed out.
It was confusing and dangerous. There were sight-distance problems, and engineers noted “left- and right-turn conflicts” as well as “vehicle-pedestrian conflicts in this transitional zone.”
With resurfacing completed, the county changed the intersection to an all-way stop and put up new stop signs.
However, when new signs are installed at an intersection, federal guidelines kick in.
Doyle invoked the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which specifies how traffic signs, road-surface markings and signals are designed, installed and used – including the shapes, colors and fonts used.
The manual strongly suggests putting up an attention-getting device on new signs. That way, the public will notice and become accustomed to the new configuration, Doyle said.
The city of Durango typically puts up two fluorescent, orange plastic flags on new signs. The county, however, wanted something more noticeable and weatherproof. So crews installed the new “new” placards at the new stop signs.
Please indulge Action Line for a linguistic dalliance. Suppose a recently born wildebeest had knowledge of current events regarding the sign that just went up. You could say the following with a straight face:
The new gnu knew new ‘new’ news.
Meanwhile, back at 32nd Street, how new must a “new” sign be before it’s not new anymore?
The federal sign manual has a six-month threshold for new “new” signs, Doyle said.
“In late February or March, we’ll take down the ‘new’ placard,” he said.
“Oh, and we won’t be putting up a sign that says ‘old,’ ” he added with chuckle. “Although we might consider a ‘used’ sign,” he added with an even bigger laugh.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if can explain why it takes six months for a new sign to be considered old, but if you’ve lived here for six years, you’re still considered a new resident.
