I-95 MD Metric (Maryland) (Road Sign) STICKER Vinyl Kiss-Cut Decal

Design Overview

This decal features a faithful representation of the I-95 MD Metric road sign, a nostalgic piece of American transportation history. The design captures the essence of a brief, but significant, experiment in the United States: the use of metric units on road signage.

Visual Elements and Symbolism

The core of the design is the iconic Interstate 95 shield. It prominently displays a standard Interstate highway symbol: a red banner with the word "INTERSTATE" in white lettering arcs across the top. Below, a blue field contains the large white numerals "95", representing the highway's designation. A thin white border neatly outlines the entire shield, providing a clear and defined form.

The design, while rooted in the familiar Interstate shield, takes on added significance thanks to its "Metric" context. It commemorates a time when the highway system, and by extension, the nation, briefly considered adopting the metric system. The surrounding signs, in reality, would have displayed distances and speed limits in kilometers, creating a unique visual experience. This decal therefore symbolizes a specific period of change and experimentation in how Americans perceived and interacted with their roadways.

The colors themselves hold symbolic weight. The red, white, and blue echo the American flag, reinforcing the national identity of the highway system. The blue represents a feeling of stability and dependability and is often used by government entities, such as the Department of Transportation. The white letters and the white border create a clean and easy-to-read visual that can be understood from a distance. The combination of these visual elements constructs an easily recognizable symbol for both the Interstate highway and a specific historical moment within it.