Wait, what?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 5:08PM I was dumbfounded when, a couple of days after moving to Manchester, I first saw these street signs:
Have I entered some kind of parallel universe, I wondered. How is it possible for the corner of Bridge Street and Bridge Street to exist? How can Bridge Street to be its own cross street?
This conundrum remained a paradox until I was informed by a colleague that when making a right hand turn off of Bridge Street onto Bridge Street (near exit 8 at I-93), one is actually turning onto Bridge Street Extension. Not that there’s any way for you to know this by reading the sign.
For reasons unbeknownst to me, signs always seem to attract my attention, be they an abundance of dog fouling signs, signs protesting the war or funny traffic calming signs. Or signs of which I can’t make much sense, like this one attached to a fence surrounding Stevens Park, near the corner of Lake Avenue and Tarrytown Road:
Really, how many people attempted to play golf at this playground before the powers that be to found it necessary to erect this sign?
I am also amused by what appears to be a hand-cut, hand painted sign in the shape of a hand pointing up. Located at the intersection of Valley and Massabesic streets, this sign points up to a much more official looking sign informing motorists that right-on-red turns are not allowed during school hours:
I suppose the City could have just painted the official sign a bright florescent color if they really want people to see it, but maybe a fading yellow hand is more eye catching. It certainly worked in my case.
Reader Comments (2)
"Sign, sign everywhere a sign...."
Manchester is infamous for not placing the word or abbreviation "Extension (EXT)" on the proper signs... the west side has many "Extension" streets that are not labeled and unless you have lived here for some time... you won't know and you will probably be late getting to where you need to be... especially when coming to a dead end street that continues a block away.
As for the Golf signs... makes perfect sense to me... I am shocked they don't have any at stark park, where I used to go to drive some balls into the neighboring property (can't help it... I have a good drive).
The city does have a ton of "Dog Fouling" signs out... my guess is they don't want shit (Fouling) all over the city streets and parks... BUT, I am guessing horse shit is ok, the MPD NEVER clean up their shit, I see it all over the sidewalks and just this morning a giant trail in the Pine Street parking lot.