Chapter 3 Regulatory, Warning & Guide Signs Overview * 07/16/96 Chapter 3 Regulatory, Warning & Guide Signs Overview Sign Plan Design for At-Grade Intersections June 2017 *

Application of Regulatory Signs 2B.1 Application of Regulatory Signs Regulatory Signs shall: be used to inform road users of selected traffic laws or regulations and indicate the applicability of the legal requirements be installed at or near where the regulations apply clearly indicate the requirements imposed by the regulations be designed and installed to provide adequate visibility and legibility in order to obtain compliance

Size of Regulatory Sign 2B.1 Size of Regulatory Sign Regulatory Sign Size Shown in Table 2B-1 the MN MUTCD Also refer to the Standard Signs Summary as a guide for signs that are beyond the requirements listed in the MN MUTCD

Size of Regulatory Sign Example Sign Size

Size of Sign Example So What? 24” x 30” 48” x 96”

Stop Control From the MN MUTCD 2B.7 Stop Control From the MN MUTCD When it is determined that a full stop is always required on an approach to an intersection, a STOP (R1-1) sign shall be used At intersections where a full stop is not necessary at all times, consideration should first be given to using less restrictive measures such as YIELD signs. Multi-way stop control can be useful as a safety measure at intersections if certain traffic conditions exist.

Stop Control

Yield Control From the MN MUTCD 2B.8 through 2B.9 Yield Control From the MN MUTCD Shall be a downward-pointing equilateral triangle with a wide red border and the legend YIELD in red on a white background Installed when a full stop is not required Second x-road of a divided highway, Median>30’ Channelized turn lane Engineering judgement Facing an entrance ramp onto a roadway

Speed Limit Sign Location 6-5.13 Speed Limit Sign Location Shall be installed at the terminal points of each speed zone Shall follow the appropriate roadway size as shown in the MnDOT Standard Sign Summary The first Speed Limit sign in a lower speed zone shall be one size larger than the size designated for that type of roadway Signs should be posted near junctions that are major traffic generators

Do Not Pass Sign MnDOT policy is to use the NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3) pennant sign (48” x 64” x 64”) This does not preclude use of the DO NOT PASS sign where it is deemed necessary based on engineering judgment

2B.40 ONE WAY Signs The ONE WAY sign shall be used to indicate streets or roadways upon which vehicular traffic is allowed to travel in one direction only ONE WAY signs shall be placed parallel to the one-way street at all alleys and roadways that intersect one-way roadways

2B.40 ONE WAY Signs At unsignalized intersections, ONE WAY signs shall be placed on the near right and the far left corners of the intersection facing traffic entering or crossing the one-way street At signalized intersections, ONE WAY signs shall be placed either near the appropriate signal faces, on the poles holding the traffic signals, on the mast arm or span wire holding the signals, or at the locations specified for unsignalized intersections

2B.40 ONE WAY Signs Where divided highways are separated by median widths of 30 feet or more, ONE WAY signs, or a combination of ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER, and Divided Highway Crossing signs shall be placed so that at least one sign is plainly visible to each crossroad approach on the near right and far left corners of each intersection with the directional roadways

ONE WAY Signs ONE WAY Signs may be omitted Where the design of interchanges indicates the direction of traffic on the separate roadways At intersections with divided highways that have medians of less than 30’ From the medians at intersections with divided highways that have median widths of greater than 30’ when an engineering study has demonstrated the signs may confuse motorists

* 07/16/96 2B.37 DO NOT ENTER Sign Use where traffic is prohibited from entering a restricted roadway If used, this sign should be placed directly in view of a road user at the point where a road user could wrongly enter a restricted roadway If the sign would be visible to traffic to which it does not apply, the sign should be turned or shielded from the view of that traffic A second sign on the left side of the roadway may be used, particularly where traffic approaches from an intersecting roadway *

WRONG WAY Sign May be used as a supplement to the DO NOT ENTER sign * 07/16/96 2B.38 WRONG WAY Sign May be used as a supplement to the DO NOT ENTER sign If used, should be placed at a location farther from the crossroad than the DO NOT ENTER sign *

6-5.05 Bypass Lane Installed in accordance with: T-intersection, 30” x 30” BYPASS lane at beginning of Four-Leg, 30” x 30” BYPASS & TURN LANE sign installed at beginning of taper

6-5.05 Bypass Lane

Function of Warning Signs Call attention to unexpected conditions or situations not readily apparent to road users Alert road users to conditions that might call for a reduction in speed or an action in the interest of safe and efficient operation

Size of Warning Signs The minimum size should be the size identified in Table 2C-2 (of the MN MUTCD) If a minimum size is not provided in the Freeway Column, the Expressway size should be used If a minimum size is not provided in the Freeway or the Expressway Column, the Oversized size should be used. Also refer to the Standard Signs Summary as a guide for signs that are beyond the requirements listed in the MN MUTCD

Warning Sign Placement TEM Chart 6.4 Warning Sign Placement

Horizontal Alignment of Warning Signs MN MUTCD 2C.6 In advance of horizontal curves On roadways with more than 1,000 AADT functionally classified as arterials or collectors Shall be used in accordance with Table 2C-5 based on the speed differential between the roadway's posted or statutory speed limit or 85th-percentile speed, whichever is higher, or the prevailing speed on the approach to the curve, and the horizontal curve's advisory speed

Horizontal Alignment of Warning Signs

2C.9 / 6-6.08 Chevron Alignment MUTCD 2C-5: use of Chevrons and/or One Direction Large Arrow (W1-6) signs should be used on curves when the difference between the speed limit and advisory speed is 10 mph, but shall be used when this difference is 15 mph or greater Generally, these signs are used for curves of over six degrees (a curve radius less than 900 feet) The use of Chevrons on curves is preferred over the use of the One Direction Large Arrow

2C.9 / 6-6.08 Chevron Alignment The exception is on conventional roadways when the speed of the turn/curve is 30 mph or less or there is a visual trap Spacing of the Chevron is shown in MN MUTCD Table 2C-6 An example of Advisory Speed Signs for an Exit Ramp can be found in Figure 2C-3 of the MN MUTCD

2C.9 / 6-6.08 Chevron Alignment

TEM 6-6.11 No Passing Zones It is MnDOT’s practice to use the NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3) pennant signs This does not preclude use of the DO NOT PASS sign where it is deemed necessary based on engineering judgment NO PASSING ZONE pennant signs used on conventional highways shall be 64” x 64” x 48”

TEM 6-6.11 Speed Reduction Sign Used if the reduction in speed limits between two zones is 15 mph or greater May be used if the difference between two zones is 10 mph or less, based on engineering judgment In transition zones, engineering judgment should determine if placement of a speed reduction sign is necessary for the second reduction in speed

Application of Guide Signs Guide signs are essential to Direct road users along roads Direct road users to cities, towns, and other destinations Identify rivers, streams, parks, historical sites Generally give information to help users in the most simple, direct manner possible

Route Signs Interstate US Route Minnesota Route County Route 2D.10 Route Signs Interstate US Route Minnesota Route County Route Township Route Park & Forest Roads Memorial Highways Trails

Auxiliary Signs Junction Cardinal Direction Advance Turn Arrow 2D.13 – 2D.26 Auxiliary Signs Junction Cardinal Direction Advance Turn Arrow Directional Arrow Others: ALTERNATE, BYPASS, BUSINESS, TRUCK TO, BEGIN, END, TEMPORARY

2D.28 Junction Assembly A junction assembly shall consist of a junction auxiliary sign and route sign This sign shall be installed in advance of every intersection where a signed numbered route is intersected or joined by another signed numbered route

Junction Assembly Where two or more routes are to be indicated, 2D.28 a single Junction auxiliary sign may be used for the assembly and all route signs grouped in a single mounting Or a Combination Junction Sign may be used