Here is a fine collection of road signs from Johnston County. This area features a small-town atmosphere that is strongly community-minded with a rich history, yet within easy reach of the big cities and other locations in the state through major highways such as I-40, I-95, and US 70.
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.
Due to the high number of pictures listings, I have subdivided
this page into two listings, one for signs for the Clayton/Cleveland area, one for
the Benson/Four Oaks Area, and one for signs in the Smithfield-Selma
area and vicinity. Please click on a link to view a particular listing.
[Benson/Four Oaks] --
[Clayton/Cleveland] --
[Smithfield/Selma and vicinity]
| Sign | Location | Description |
| Five Minute Parking sign | NW Railroad St. @ Baker St., next to Post Office; Four Oaks [Map] | Life in this small town is so easy that one can get in-and-out of the Post Office fairly quickly. Perhaps that's why these parking spaces on the street only let you stick around for so long. |
| No Cruising sign | Church St. @ Wall St., Benson [Map] | The business district of this former farming town used to be the place to go cruisin' on a Friday night. However, some troublemakers put an end to that decades-old ritual a few years back. |
| Slow down - School sign | Lee St. @ Harnett St., Benson [Map] | This is a rather clever way to let motorists know that there's a school nearby. Simple, yet somewhat effective, since this happens to be in a residential area. |
| Low Bridge Warning sign | I-95 North, between Hockaday Mill Rd. and Keen Rd., Four Oaks [Map] | This particular sign serves as a warning mainly to truckers regarding an intersection up ahead. Since I-95 is a major north-south thoroughfare along the East Coast, a big rig getting stuck underneath one of those low clearance bridges can cause a major traffic headache. So truckers are warned well in advance to avoid these potentially hazardous clearings if their vehicles are taller than the bridge height. Also worth noting, this particular intersection is where US 701 and NC 96 meet US 301 south of Smithfield. |
| School Do Not Enter sign | Hatcher St. @ N. Main St., Four Oaks [Map] | A section of this particular street reverts to a one-way road to accomodate all those school busses, minivans, and other vehicles that drop off and pick up all those kids every school day. |
| Do Not Block Driveway sign | Tucker St. @ Hatcher St., Four Oaks [Map] | The driveway in question meets this intersection at a rather interesting 45-degree angle, although the unique color-scheme for the sign is quite outstanding. |
| McGee's Crossroads sign | NC Hwy. 210 @ Lexington Downs Dr., McGee's Crossroads [Map] | Interesting welcome sign for this quaint hamlet, which is located in fast-growing western Johnston County . Great use of the two highways (50 and 210) that meet together here. |
| Sign | Location | Description |
| Old John Yancey Motor Hotel sign [Just Added] | US 70 Business @ Rubert Ave., Clayton [Map] | This rather old sign provided beachgoers heading down US 70 East with a lodging option once they arrived at the Crystal Coast. Even though the sign isn't quite as visible from the highway as it was long ago, it is still in amazingly good shape. The once-famous vacation destination has been remodeled and renamed The Royal Pavilion. [Internet reference] |
| No Parking in Easement sign [Just Added] | Buffalo Rd. @ Covered Bridge Rd., Archers Lodge community [Map] | Even the presence of shrubbery couldn't hide the message this sign was projecting. The problem was determing the exact spot that the easement would end before you could park your vehicle. This quandary made itself known when I stopped by at the town's general store a while back. |
| Free Flow Right Turn sign | NC Hwy. 42 @ US 70, next to railroad tracks; Clayton [Map] | This design, which is normally found on diamond-shaped signs, was placed on a long rectangular sign in order to reflect the sharp curve one has to manuever in order to get onto US 70. |
| Quikmed sign | NC Hwy. 42 West @ Glen Rd., just off I-40; Cleveland Crossing community [Map] | This singular blue sign would normally be used for hospitals or other major medical facilities. Instead, it leads towards an Urgent Care center set up by Johnston Memorial to serve the needs of residents in this fast-growing section of the county formally known as "40/42". |
| Sharp Bend and Crossroads sign | Mt. Pleasant Rd. @ Old Fairground Rd., just off NC Hwy. 50; between McGee's Crossroads and Cleveland Crossing community [Map] | This particular sign is unique in that is almost resembles something like a bow-and-arrow. That is due in part to the unusual shape and extreme level of difficulty with the intersection it represents. And very much like this particular hand-held instrument, this stretch of road can also prove very dangerous if not handled correctly. |
| One Lane Sharp Turn sign | Starling St. @ Hamby St., just off US 70; Clayton [Map] | The intersection up ahead was severely compromised as a result of 70 being re-routed past the central business district. In an attempt to keep two neighborhood streets together, this rather tight bend was put into place. This sign serves as a reminder to be extra careful when rounding this tricky curve. |
| Railroad Crossing at Crossroads sign | US 70 @ Rose St, adjacent to NC Hwy. 42 East; Clayton [Map] | This has to be the most creative use of mixing two possible occurrences on one sign. Pretty clever design, too. |
| Sign | Location | Description | |
| Adopt-A-Street sign [Just Added] | Old Depot Rd. @ Brogden Rd., just off I-95 Exit 93; Smithfield [Map] | Smithfield's commitment to erradicating trash all over town is quite evident with this sign located next to a rather busy thoroughfare. | |
| Bulldog Athletics sign [Just Added] | Whitley Dr. @ Pearl St., next to PHS; Princeton [Map] | This rather unassuming road leads to the many athletic fields serving the needs of Princeton High athletic teams. No doubt this particular pathway sees plenty of traffic on Friday nights in the fall. | |
| JCS Administrative Annex sign | N. Equity Dr. @ Industrial Park Dr., Smithfield [Map] | This sign dates back to when this part of town had a lot less commercial development than it does today. Still, its purpose remains intact, even though the builing itself is tucked away in the back. | . |
| Thank You for Not Littering sign | Pine St. @ Old Goldsboro Rd., adjacent to Johnston Community College; Smithfield [Map] | The folks in this neighborhood really show their appreciation to those who choose not to be litterbugs. You can even feel the love to a certain extent, thanks to a truly "heart"-felt design. | |
| Yield at Arrow to Pedestrians sign | 3rd St. @ Market St., Smithfield [Map] | These signs were put up to comply with a recently-enacted state law requiring motorists to yield the right-of-way to people crossing the street from the left or right. With the courthouse and other county offices nearby, pedestrian traffic can be pretty high in this part of town on any given weekday. | |
| Amended Crossroads sign | NC Hwy. 42 East @ Flower Hill Rd., Corinth community [Map] | The close proximity of Christmas Light Road's eastern end is reason enough to amend yet another outlet to a typical crossroads sign. | |
| Big Rig Turnaround sign | J-R Rd @ US 70, just past I-95; Selma [Map] | This truck turnaround was established a few years ago to accommodate truckers who stop at the nearby J-R Cigars store to drop off merchandise or to pick something up while taking a break from their lengthy journeys. In a way, the turnaround more or less resembles a giant cul-de-sac. | |
| Speed Breaker sign | Poole St. @ Sellers St., Selma [Map] | This traffic calming device is strategically placed at the entrance to the Union Station parking lot. This rather busy train depot serves as a crossroads for both major rail corridors that run across North Carolina and along the East Coast. | |
| No Hazardous Cargo sign | Truckstop Rd. @ Richardson Ave., Kenly [Map] | This section of road leading up to US 301 is closed off to vehicles carrying potentially dangerous cargo. That is due in part to a railroad crossing that is very difficult for large vehicles to navigate. |
