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Signs and Signals
Head Scratchers
Photos by Adam Paul
Several years ago, the C&C Music Factory made a song entitled "Things that make you go, hmmm..."  While it's certain that they didn't have any interest in local oddities in making the song, the title does seem to fit regarding a small number of signs that are located about the Baltimore area, in that observing them can really make one scratch their head or even laugh.

While the laughs one gets from the signs are not nearly as uproarius as some humor books that show street signs for "Horse Dung Road" or the like, they can still garner a chuckle from those that know better.  Here, then, is a sample of some of the head scratchers seen about Baltimore.


Russell Street Access at M&T Bank Stadium
While this sign that stands right outside M&T Bank Stadium seems like nothing out of the ordinary, it is actually an embarrasing mistake, as most locals should know.  While the I-83 sign is fine, the sign directing to Maryland Route 40 is completely false, as the Route 40 it's directing to is U.S. Route 40!  It should be shown in a US Route shield instead of the Maryland box.  It still remains here years after its installation.
Redwood and Lovegrove/Wine Alley
Though both this etching and the letters on the Baltimore Trust building opposite clearly mark this small thorofare as WINE ALLEY, the city appears to be determined to claim this as the sole stretch constituting SOUTH LOVEGROVE STREET.  This is even more interesting, as much larger streets such as Saint Paul Street, Guilford Avenue, and even Holliday Street, mysteriously change names as they cross Baltimore street, thus denying them of being divided into North and South.
Eastern Avenue and I-95
Among the many finalists in the City's "Most Puzzling Directional Sign Contest" is this completely blank (er, faded rather) sign on Eastern Avenue at the entrance to I-95 South.  One assumes the message is something to do about "NO STOPPING"
Rogers Avenue and 40 Foot Road
If one takes the time to really look at current maps, they'll find a couple of oddities such as 33 Ft Road, and 40 Ft Road among the offerings in the index.  While it would seem that these are copyright detectors laid out by the map companies to see if other companies are copying their maps, there is indeed in fact a 40 Ft Road, a short deadend street splintering off of West Rogers Avenue near Mount Washington.  It does however seem a good bit longer than 40 feet!


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