Possible first Clearview font road signs in New Mexico (Albuquerque: design, island)

[Pink Jazz]

With the new improved NM 528/Pat D'Arco Hwy and High Resort intersection in Rio Rancho almost done, I have noticed something interesting about the backlit signs that were installed on the new traffic posts: they are in Clearview font!

So, has Clearview been officially approved in New Mexico? Unfortunately, when I was on my trip to and from Phoenix this past Labor Day weekend, I didn't notice any Clearview signs on the New Mexico portion of I-40 (only the Arizona portion had some).

Also, Rio Rancho has some edgelit signs in Helvetica font that were installed in 2002, which is an unusual font for road signs in the United States, although some of these signs were replaced by backlit signs in Highway Gothic after the LEDs in the edgelit signs failed.

[Santa Fe]

Is New Mexico slow in adopting this font? Is there a reason for this?

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Santa Fe

Is New Mexico slow in adopting this font? Is there a reason for this?

I don't know why, however, I hope that more Clearview signs are installed soon.


According to this site, the following states have not yet adopted the Clearview font:

• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico (might need to be updated now that Clearview signs are installed at the intersection I mentioned in Rio Rancho).
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Washington
• Washington D.C.

Also, I don't think Puerto Rico has adopted Clearview yet, as I didn't see any Clearview signs the last time I was there.

[bradly]

Clearview has been used by the NMDOT for years. Used in Northern New Mexico 3 years ago.

The standard "Highway gothic" FHWA Series fonts are still mostly used.
I guess it just depends on the signs.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by bradly

Clearview has been used by the NMDOT for years. Used in Northern New Mexico 3 years ago.

The standard "Highway gothic" FHWA Series fonts are still mostly used.
I guess it just depends on the signs.

Whereabouts in northern NM is it used? When driving on I-25 north of Albuquerque, I think I still see the standard font for signage??

It's been definitely changed on I-10 once you cross over the Texas line into Anthony and El Paso.

[MattHanson9398]

Los Alamos has some backlit signs in Clearview, and I even noticed one of the signs on US 84/285 for Exit 168 was in both Highway Gothic and Clearview. I'm hoping there'll be Clearview signs installed along the major highways in NM, especially on the interstates and in particular I-25 and I-40 in Albuquerque.

[Zoidberg]

Not sure why anyone likes Clearview. It looks alien to New Mexico.

[MattHanson9398]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

Not sure why anyone likes Clearview. It looks alien to New Mexico.

Highway Gothic E-series is not as legible as Clearview and that's why people like the new font as opposed to the one we've been using for the past half century.

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by MattHanson9398

Highway Gothic E-series is not as legible as Clearview and that's why people like the new font as opposed to the one we've been using for the past half century.

All caps is more legible than either and yet the powers that be outlawed those signs, so legibility is not the primary determinant of signage popularity.

Some people like the new design. Some people like the classic design. There is no "people".

[MattHanson9398]

I hope there will be Clearview font signs at the new I-25/Paseo Del Norte interchange when it's completed.