Courtesy Jeremy Lance.

Other than the shield at top (courtesy David Backlin) and the photo immediately above, the photos on this page are courtesy Matt Kleiman and eastbound.


I don't think Mustang Road would be found in New Jersey. Oklahoma uses the black square background as well, but I call them New Jersey shields because, well, which state do I know better?


As we enter Oklahoma City, things get a little strange, so I'll skip the OKLAHOMA I-44 shield and head on in. In the first daylight photo, the only thing I'm sure is button copy are the arrows on the I-40 reassurance pullthrough, which apparently got slid so far to the left that it's off the edge of the traveled way. Also on that sign is a nice state-name shield. Does anyone else not like the aesthetic of exit tabs having a complete border separate from the main sign? Moving on to the second sign, there is more button copy and more state-name shields, but the Lincoln Blvd. sign is still reflectively lettered. In the third sign, which has no button copy at all, for the first time on the overheads you find out that I-40 East will be sharing space with I-35 North. There's a height warning underneath the center sign that appears to be for the sign gantry itself, a definite first if that's the case. The rightmost sign would look a lot better if the arrow were smaller, black, and inside the EXIT ONLY legend (which would look better if it were on the bottom of the sign with no green space underneath).


I said so much in the last paragraph, I had to separate this sign to deal with it in its own paragraph. First of all, this photo isn't out of order, because I-40 borrows I-35's exit numbers when they multiplex. Secondly, that appears to be a US 62 shield next to the I-44 - the old I-35 shield held up just fine, so why didn't this? Thirdly, those are some pretty messed-up arrows - the aesthetic (second time I used that word on this page!) problems are that the tails either need to be shorter or much longer, and the arrow heads are also too wide for their height. Fourthly, Ft Smith should be Ft. Smith, with the period a common omission from new signs. Fifthly, and no we're not done criticizing yet, Wichita and Tulsa aren't centered, and I can't even tell which one is the problem. Sixthly, and I'm skipping any criticism of the US shield shapes because my fingers are getting tired, the 127 in the rightmost EXIT tab should be the same size as "EXIT." And finally, regardless of its overly round shape, the bigger problem with the US 270 shield is that its right edge should be aligned with the "h" in Ft Smith, just as the left edge of the I-40 shield is aligned with the F.


State name shield enjoys a multiplex. I'm done.

Into Texas on I-40
Into Arkansas on I-40
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