Road distance signs

Recently noticed the same thing, but then also saw the “normal” 5km markings going the other way. Seemed to be dependent on which way you are going. Could be an economy thing sharing the same post.

Perhaps it is because SA is lagging behind and when they ordered the numbers the factory had already sold out of the normal ones to other states.

It is good the numbers still fit the distances. I suppose they got it right.

Picture would help but:

I get feeling they aren't road distances more to deal with infrastructure like water mains and telco cables.

I've seen a few painted onto trees or a sign that isn't MRD style in prominent position along roads over in Wait Awhile (WA)

They are in 5's going one way but they just use the same post for going the other way.

They are always on the left.. not on both sides of the road for the direction you are traveling.. have the letter of the town/city ahead, and the distance... just thought someone would know why...

It is the actual distance to the next town.
Originally they used to be mile posts, and they showed the distance from Adelaide as well.
Now they are showing the distance between towns.
It used to be from Post Office to Post Office, now not so sure where they take central town point from.

I noticed this also. weird

Ok, now I know. I did disagree with a few replies, but I was wrong.. for that I apologise to those, I thought were not correct... As said above, it probably is a money saving thing, being able to put the one post in the ground, and do the distance in both directions... thank you to all, for clearing this up for both the wife and I.. It did make for discussion and a few giggles on our trip at the time.. cheers all... Odog

Odog
You might also notice that there are, on most main roads, small vertical black on white numbers set back and facing the road every km.
These are used by the road authority for referencing the location of work needing to be done (potholes, resealing, etc). In addition, culverts are often marked by markers with a blue section.
Cheers
Andrew

The sign that had me stumped for a while was the OD ones. Near our home we have several of them on some roads saying OD 3.
wasn't until I asked a farmer friend about it that he said it stands for Over Dimension. If they have large farming equipment to transport they cannot take on the normal highway and have follow the OD route.

Just on the subject of SA roadside posts/signs.....you may also see on some country roads, aluminium posts in three different colours....

Black indicates where there has been a road fatality
Red indicates a serious injury traffic accident.
Blue (with "WM" printed on), indicates where the water meters are located (for the water meter reader). These are situated along the roadside adjacent to where there is a water main, either above or below the ground.

Roachie

And then in QLD you have a system of blue reflectors on guide posts on the left side , starts with 3 reflectors vertical , then 2 reflectors followed by 1 reflector .....and that is a wide part of the hi way / by way where it is deemed safe to pullover if need be .....

Odog

I managed a national survey company and we did work in every state for many authorities including Main Roads.

It was interesting to learn that there was no nationally agreed standard for the GIS database that contained the feature layers and attributes of the road data set. There was a general consistency but sufficient differences to cause contractors grief when presenting data in a GIS format.

However I can offer a possible reason for the odd road distance sign posts in SA. Many of the surveys we did, for road realignment or widening, required us to place stakes that referenced the original road mileage posts. So your unusual kilometre post of C53 ( 53km to Ceduna) was probably nearby or adjacent to the original mileage peg of 33M (33*1.609=53) Many of the original mileage posts were missing so any intermediary posts were interpolated infill.

Any mileage post is only indicative and is seen by the roads authority as an approximation only.

Trust this makes sense

John

Gooday,
Great to have some of these little curiosities explained.
I really appreciate the odd sign that gives you the distance to the next town, here in Queensland it is totally hit and miss, some Shires seem to go to the effort of having them, not too many.

There are 2 other Gripes I have with road signage and lack of it in this State-:

One is the modern way of having these illuminated signs saying so many MINUTES to a destination, this is only encouraging Road Rage, I prefer to know the distance to my destination and travel at the legal speed, or if when towing our caravan I am not travelling at 100KM per hour and just wish to know the distance.

The other is same in most States, you see a signpost to a lookout, National Park or other feature you may wish to visit, they seldom if ever put the distance to the location on the sign.

The best and most Hypocritical sign I saw last week was one of those grossly & costly wasted large electronic signs that have seem to be breeding here in Ql'd, which they seem to be able to change the message from an air conditioned office far away.

This one located at the Very top of the descent of the Toowoomba Range, it said-:

"Distracted Drivers are Dangerous", a great message from Main Roads, I guess they are purporting to address Road Safety. Cannot think of anything much more distracting.
Cheers,
Boroma604.