Word to road crews: Tuscaloosa is over 1,000 miles thataway
Few in Easthampton noticed mistake in signs

By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff | July 26, 2005

The new road signs at the corner of Routes 10 and 141 feature the numbers inside an outline of the great state of Alabama.

Problem is, the intersection is smack dab in downtown Easthampton, Mass.

In a commonwealth known for its confusing road signs and ''can't get there" complaints, this latest gaffe is among the strangest. Even more curiously, no one took much notice when the wayward signs went up about a week ago.

''We thought it was Connecticut turned upside down," said a woman who works for the contractor, A. Pereira Construction Co. of Ludlow.

''Actually, we didn't know what it was," said Roger Remy, the contractor's estimator, who ordered the signs from another company. ''We didn't really question it, because the numbers were correct."

He said his company is not sure where the fault lies for the mistake. In Massachusetts, the sign should be a simple black number on a white square or rectangle.

Mike Superson -- co-owner of Big E's Supermarket on Union Street, which sits next to the signs -- didn't spot the miscue, either.

''I looked at them 100 times since they put them up," he said yesterday. ''This is the first I've heard of this."

Joe Pipczynski, Easthampton's superintendent of public works, was alerted to the glitch by a Massachusetts Highway Department worker.

After talking with both the city and consulting engineers, Pipczynski said he believes the contractor simply opened the federal manual that guides what state highway signs should look like and sent the example of a state road sign to the sign maker. The manual shows a road sign for Route 21 in Alabama, with the state outline.

The error, though rare, is not unheard of, according to road sign aficionados at the Federal Highway Administration, who got a chuckle about Easthampton.

Pipczynski, however, is not amused. The contractor will not be paid until the signs are fixed, he said.

A. Pereira said the correct signs will be put up as soon as possible.

''There was a little bit of confusion," said Remy. ''It's kind of an oddball situation.

''But sometimes stuff happens. Confusion does happen sometimes. . . . I mean, I don't know. Who knows?"

What makes this story funny is that it's true...

I only placed it in the Humor category because I could not think of where it would be best placed, other than maybe 'Off Topic'.

I saw that in the globe this morning, I think it's funny they thought it was Connecticut upsidedown, yeah that makes sense put them up any way.

Obviously... I guess people with high IQs don't typically wind up doing road work...

They just pointed at the wrong picture in the catalog, at least the numbers were right and the colors

It is so important that the numbers be right...

I'll tell ya, with the wrong numbers... CHAOS!

you know it

Bravo sir... well done... I see you picked up on my trick...

nothing up my sleeve.......presto

Hahahaha...this is priceless:

Mike Superson -- co-owner of Big E's Supermarket on Union Street, which sits next to the signs -- didn't spot the miscue, either.

''I looked at them 100 times since they put them up," he said yesterday. ''This is the first I've heard of this."