Application Guidelines Guide Signs Signing Plan Design (At-Grade) June 20, 2012

Application of Guide Signs MN MUTCD 2D.2 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 MN MUTCD 2D.11 Interstate US Route Minnesota Route County Route Township Route Park & Forest Roads

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

Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29 Route Sign Assemblies shall consist of a route sign and auxiliary signs that identify the route and indicate the direction Route sign assemblies shall be installed on all approaches to signed numbered routes that intersect with other signed numbered routes

Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29 Arrangement by Class Where two or more routes follow the same section of highway, route signs for Interstate, US, State, and County routes shall be mounted in that order Left to right in horizontal arrangements Top to bottom in vertical arrangements

Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29 Arrangement by Route Number Subject to order of precedence by Class, route signs for lower-numbered routes shall be placed at the left or top

Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29 Arrangement by Directional Arrow Arrow Direction Horizontal Arrangement Vertical Arrangement Left Center Thru Top Right Bottom

Junction Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.29 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 MN MUTCD 2D.30 Where two or more routes are to be indicated, 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

Advance Route Turn Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.31 This assembly shall consist of Route sign Advance turn arrow (or word message) auxiliary Cardinal direction auxiliary, if needed Shall be installed in advance of the intersection, unless there is an intersection between it and the designated turn

Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32 This assembly shall consist of Route sign Directional arrow auxiliary Cardinal direction auxiliary, if needed

Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32 Various Uses Turning movement route sign with card. direction and single-head arrow Beginning of a Route Route sign with card. direction and single-head arrow End of a Route Route sign with an END auxiliary sign Intersected Route Two assemblies: each with a route sign, cardinal direction auxiliary, and single-head arrow One assembly: route sign and double-head arrow or

Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32 Location Should be located in advance of the intersection or on the near right corner of the intersection if the approach must stop. At major intersections and “Y” or offset intersections, additional assemblies should be installed on the far right or left corners When near right corner is not practical, far right corner is preferred alternative, with oversized signs

Confirmation Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.34 This assembly consists of Route sign Cardinal direction auxiliary Placement Should be installed just beyond the intersections of numbered routes (25 ft to 200 ft) Should be installed between intersection in urban districts as needed, and beyond built-up area of any incorporated city or town

Trailblazer Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.35 Purpose Provide directional guidance to a particular road from other highways in the vicinity This assembly consists of Route sign “TO” and single-head dir. arrow auxiliary Cardinal direction, if needed May be installed with other Route Sign assemblies or alone

Destination & Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.36 Purpose Supply road user information concerning destinations that can be reached by way of numbered or unnumbered routes Route signs & cardinal directions may be included

Destination Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37 Content The names of cities, towns, villages, or other traffic generators, and directional arrows Distance to the places named may also be shown on the destination sign

Destination Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37 Uses At intersections of US, State, or numbered routes with Interstate, US, or State numbered routes At points where they serve to direct traffic from numbered routes to the business section of towns, or to other destinations reach by unnumbered routes Location Should be located in advance of intersections, but following any Junction or Advance Route Turn Assemblies May be eliminated if spacing is critical

Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.36 Content The names of no more than three cities, towns, junctions, or traffic generators, and the distance (to the nearest mile) to those destinations

Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37 Location Distance signs should be installed on important routes leaving municipalities and beyond intersections of numbered routes in rural areas If used, should be placed just outside the municipal limits or at the edge of the built-up area If overlapping routes separate a short distance from municipality, the sign at the city limits should be omitted but installed just beyond the intersection of the two routes

Advance Street Name Signs MN MUTCD 2D.44 Purpose Provide users with advance information to identify the name of the next intersecting street (or signal), prepare for crossing traffic, and to facilitate timely deceleration and/or lane changing in preparation for a turn Shall supplement (not replace) street name signs

Advance Street Name Signs MN MUTCD 2D.44 Placement On arterial highways in rural areas, these signs should be used in advance of all signalized intersections and all intersections with exclusive turn lanes In urban areas, these signs should be used in advance of all signalized intersections on major arterial streets, except where closely-spaced signals makes this impractical

Typical Order of Guide Signs Junction Assembly Advance Route Turn Assembly Destination Sign Directional Assembly Confirmation Assembly Distance Sign

6-7.04 Typical Junction Signing Layouts The following typical sign installations should be used as guidelines in establishing sign locations and distances between signs at junctions. The final decision shall be made by the district traffic engineer based on individual intersection geometrics and sound engineering judgement.

4-Leg Intersection

T-Intersection 2-lane, 2-way

T-Intersection w/ Divided Highway

Named County Road On an Expressway

Single Lane Roundabout

6-7.06 Named Road, Street, and 911 Road Name Signs Urban Areas Urban street name signs, such as the small slat versions mounted at int corners, are to be furnished and installed by the city Advance arterial and major street name signs (including mast arm mounted) on conventional highways will be provided by Mn/DOT Sign clearance should be 7’ and laterally offset 2’ from face of curb

6-7.07 Community Recognition Allows communities to express identity Not permitted on expressways in Metro Dist. Any combination of sign panels may be allowed up to a total of 72” in length and 24” in height, not to exceed 12 sq. ft. in area

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs The MN MUTCD, statutes, and MnDOT policy allow supp. guide signs to be installed on trunk highways for a variety of public and private facilities No cost for 3 types of qualified facilities General Motorist Service Hospital Resort & Camping

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Other qualified facilities shall pay for signs Airports Casinos Educational Institutions (post-secondary) Logo Signing Program Major Traffic Generators Minor Traffic Generators National Monuments National Parks Regional Shopping Centers’ Specific Services State Parks Tourist Information Trail Access

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Hospital Signing On conventional highways the Hospital symbol sign (D9-2B) shall be installed on the ground in advance of, or on a traffic signal mast arm at the intersection with the road leading to the hospital.

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Hospital Signing Trailblazing signing on conventional highways shall display either the number of blocks or miles (one mile increments) to the facility Trailblazing signs on local roads directing motorists shall display the appropriate distance and arrow

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Resorts and Camping Signs Signs may be installed in rural areas on conventional highways and expressways Shall only be allowed from the nearest trunk highway intersection One signs from each direction in advance of a private road or entrance is allowed when: The main access from the trunk highway is a private road The resort/campground is located near, but not visible from, the trunk highway The sign located on private property cannot be effectively seen by approaching drivers because of the width of right-of-way or growth of vegetation

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Resorts and Camping Signs Where the access to resorts/campgrounds is via county, township, or other public road, and the road is identified with a road name or destination sign, the sign panel may be combined with the in-place sign Minimum height to lowest panel must be 7’

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Resorts and Camping Signs

6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs Specific Service Signs Sign Placement Signs shall be installed at least 300 feet from any in-place signs on a conventional road Signs shall be installed at least 400 feet from any in-place signs on an expressway In-place signs shall not be removed to accommodate specific service signs The max number of specific service signs per intersection approach shall be the number of structures that can be placed within a half-mile of the intersection

Order of Installation (p. 6-76) Junction Assembly Road name advance sign Directional sign to cities Other guide signs Motorist services signs Specific services signs Road name with arrow sign Route marker directional assembly Turn lane sign