Here are some signs from Chatham County , quite often referred to as the rural paradise of the Triangle. This particular place is home to the natural beauty of Jordan Lake, the wide open spaces of farmland, and the ever-pressing sprawl marking the continued growth of suburbia evident in nearby Triangle communities.
Also of note, I am now including links to maps to each of the sites I have visited and taken pictures. If you're interested in forming a little "sign hunting trip" of your own, these maps will come quite handy. One thing to keep in mind is that the maps represent the approximate locations, so please make sure to be careful if you are driving and wish to partake in this.
| Sign | Location | Description |
| Center Rumble Strip sign [Just Added] | US 421 between Gulf and Siler City [Map] | This particular section of 421 is in the process of being widened to a four-lane divided highway. The rumble strips were placed in a rather unique location to keep motorcyclists and other motorists alert and away from oncoming traffic. This same stretch of road has been notorious for a number of head-on collisions over the years, so an added measure of security definitely couldn't hurt. |
| Reduce Speed/Trucks Entering sign combo [Just Added] | Farrington Point Rd @ Matton Dr., between Governors Village and Jordan Lake [Map] | This is a fine case of putting two ordinary signs together to create an effect. In this event, we have large trucks entering a road from a spot near a major residential development. Either one would be enough to warrant the driver's attention. It's when you acutally see a truck up ahead that makes this combo interesting and noteworthy. |
| Green "Pitch In!" sign | Memorial Dr. @ Cottage Grove Ave., off US 64; Siler City [Map] | The message being conveyed here is an anti-litter slogan that dates back to the 1970s. Apparently, the sign is being used in an effort to curb such activity in this part of town by getting the community involved. Sounds like a good idea to me. |
| American Tobacco Trail sign | New Hope Church Rd. @ Appaloosa Trail, just outside Cary [Map] | These signs designate the county's portion of the American Tobacco Trail, which runs along a stretch of abandoned railway stretching from downtown Durham to Bonsal near the Wake/Chatham county line. These portions tend to be fairly rustic in nature as compared to ones in urban areas. |
| Old Pay Phone sign | Ralph Sipes Rd. @ Old US 421, Goldston [Map] | This sign is definitely a blast from the past. Back when US 421 went through this tiny burg, there was a pay phone that travelers could use when the need to make a call was of utmost importance. Nowadays, it is more of a aging relic thanks to the advent of cellphones, although the pay phone is still in operation. |
| Altered Curve with Outlet sign | O'Kelly Chapel Rd. @ Chatham Glen Dr., south of Durham [Map] | What used to be a curve caution sign was redone in a way to make motorists aware of a side street up ahead. Notice the pointy part of the curve was deleted for design purposes. |
| Parkers Creek / Seaforth sign | US 64 @ Seaforth Rec Area, Jordan Lake [Map] | Both popular recreation areas happen to be located across from each other. Unfortunately, this arrangement has caused a great deal of confusion for park-goers. The state park system came up with this diagram sign to solve a common traffic problem, so motorists can stay in the appropriate lane to get to where they want to go. |
| Community Speed Limit sign | Walser @ Pharr, off Mt. Carmel Church Rd.; Governors' Village [Map] | Here we have yet another interesting take on uniform speed limits. This one is more in line with the community at-large as opposed to a single subdivision. |
| Pedestrian Village sign | Moring @ Whippoorwill Lane, Governors' Village [Map] | If you haven't figured it out by now, this particular development has lots of sidewalks and trails that interconnect each other. One must make certain to heed caution to those who choose to stroll about. |
| Family Peace sign | Cardinal St. @ White Oak Dr., next to Jordan-Matthews High School; Siler City [Map] | This school is one of many other buildings around town that have been designated as "safety zones" for those having to deal with some sort of physical or mental abuse. Also worth noting is an additional sign in Spanish, which will prove helpful to those in the local Latino community. |
| Modified Merge sign | Fayetteville Ave. @ S. Chatham Ave., Siler City [Map] | This is one of those "amended" signs where the merging lane was attached to an existing design. |
| No Dumping on Right Of Way sign | Pine Glades Ave. @ E. 11th St. (US 64), Siler City [Map] | The town erected these signs in an effort to crack down on litter and other refuse being dumped on the side of the road. |
| Barricade sign | Bynum Rd. @ Charlie Fields Rd., Bynum [Map] | The old Bynum Bridge, which crosses the Haw River, was closed off to vehicular traffic in 1999. The one-lane bridge, originally built in the 1920s, proved to be too costly to repair or replace. The structure is still in use, but only for bicyclists and pedestrians. |
| Beltie Crossing sign | Village Way off US 15-501, near entrance to Shops at Fearrington Village [Map] | Rather unusual sign once you enter this quaint country village. A "Beltie" is a shortened term for a Belted Galloway, a breed of cows that are fairly common in that part of the state. |
| Crossroads with Railroad Crossing sign | Old US 1 @ Christian Chapel Church Rd., next to Maxi Mart; Merry Oaks [Map] | This sign was originally a side street with a railroad crossing. An adjustment was made to accomodate traffic getting off the US 1 freeway that was headed to the Triangle Brick plant nearby. |
| Yellow and White Caution sign | Weathersfield @ McDowell, Fearrington Village [Map] | Nice use of a two-tone design for a warning sign that really makes you want to be more careful. |
| We Love Our Children sign | Cornwallis St. @ Sanford Rd., Pittsboro [Map] | This particular street is connected to a newer neighborhood that is, shall we say, even more protective of their children. Still, it serves as a nice addition to the existing "Slow - Children At Play" sign, making it difficult for motorists to ignore completely. |
| Watching For Turning Traffic sign | Hanks Chapel Rd. @ US 64 Business; Pittsboro [Map] | This sign was put up after this particular intersection was adjusted to make it easier for motorists getting on to 64 to better spot traffic coming in either direction. This adjustment left a little stub from the original road's alignment that is attached to a winding country lane. |
| No Lake Access sign | Clyde Farrell Rd. @ NC 751, near Jordan Lake [Map] | If you're looking for a nice little spot to launch your boat, this ain't the place to do it. Besides, the neighbors wouldn't quite take too kindly to your passing through. |
