Chapter 5A. General
Section 5A.01 Function
Support:
At some locations on low-volume roads, the use of traffic control
devices might be needed to provide the road user limited, but essential,
information regarding regulation, guidance, and warning.
Other Parts of this Manual contain criteria applicable to all low-volume roads; however, Part 5 specifically supplements and references the criteria for traffic control devices commonly used on low-volume roads.
Standard:
A low-volume road shall be defined for this Part of the Manual as
follows:
- A low-volume road shall be a facility lying outside of built-up areas of Cities, towns, and communities, and it shall have a traffic volume of less than 400 AADT.
- A low-volume road shall not be a freeway, expressway, interchange ramp, freeway service road, or a road on a designated State highway system. In terms of highway classification, it shall be a variation of a conventional road or a special purpose road as defined in Section 2A.01.
- A low-volume road shall be classified as either paved or unpaved.
Support:
Low-volume roads typically include farm-to-market, recreational,
resource management and development, and local roads.
Guidance:
The needs of unfamiliar road users for occasional, recreational,
and commercial transportation purposes should be considered.
Section 5A.02 Application
Support:
It is possible, in many cases, to provide essential information
to road users on low-volume roads with a limited number of traffic
control devices. The focus might be on devices that:
- Warn of conditions not normally encountered;
- Prohibit unsafe movements; or
- Provide minimal destination guidance.
As with other roads, the application of traffic control devices on low-volume roads is based on engineering judgment or studies.
Standard:
The criteria contained in Part 5 shall not prohibit the installation
nor the full application of traffic control devices on a low-volume
road where conditions justify their use.
Guidance:
Additional traffic control devices and criteria contained in other
Parts of the Manual should be considered for use on low-volume roads.
Section 5A.03 Design
Standard:
Traffic control devices for use on low-volume roads shall be designed
in accordance with the criteria contained in Part 5, and where required,
in other applicable Parts of this Manual.
The typical sizes for signs installed on low-volume roads shall be as shown in Table 5A-1. The Minimum sign sizes shall only be used on low-volume roads where the 85th-percentile speed or posted speed limit is less than 60 km/h (35 mph).
All signs shall be retroreflective or illuminated to show the same shape and similar color both day and night, unless specifically stated otherwise in other applicable Parts of this Manual. The requirements for sign illumination shall not be considered to be satisfied by street, highway, or strobe lighting.
All markings shall be visible at night and shall be retroreflective unless ambient illumination provides adequate visibility of the markings.
| Sign | MUTCD Code | Section | Sign
Sizes (Millimeters ) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical | Minimum | Oversized | |||
| Stop | R1-1 | 5B.02 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
— | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Yield | R1-2 | 5B.02 | 750 x 750 x 750 (30 x 30 x 30) |
— | 900 x 900 x 900 (36 x 36 x 36) |
| Speed Limit (English) | R2-1 | 5B.03 | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
900 x 1200 (36 x 48) |
| Speed Limit (Metric) | R2-1 | 5B.03 | 600 x 900 (24 x 36) |
450 x 750 (18 x 30) |
900 x 1350 (36 x 54) |
| Do Not Pass | R4-1 | 5B.04 | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
900 x 1200 (36 x 48) |
| Pass With Care | R4-2 | 5B.04 | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
900 x 1200 (36 x 48) |
| Keep Right | R4-7 | 5B.04 | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
900 x 1200 (36 x 48) |
| Do Not Enter | R5-1 | 5B.04 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
— | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| No Trucks | R5-2 | 5B.04 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| One Way | R6-2 | 5B.04 | 450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
— | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
| No Parking | R8-3 | 5B.05 | 450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
— | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
| No Parking (symbol) | R8-3a | 5B.05 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
450 x 450 (18 x 18) |
750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| No Parking (plaque) | R8-3c,3d | 5B.05 | 600 x 450 (24 x 18) |
450 x 300 (18 x 12) |
750 x 600 (30 x 24) |
| Road Closed | R11-2 | 5B.04 | 1200 x 750 (48 x 30) |
— | — |
| Road Closed, Local Traffic Only | R11-3a | 5B.04 | 1500 x 750 (60 x 30) |
— | — |
| Bridge Out, Local Traffic Only | R11-3b | 5B.04 | 1500 x 750 (60 x 30) |
— | — |
| Weight Limit | R12-1 | 5B.04 | 600 x 750 (24 x 30) |
— | 900 x 1200 (36 x 48) |
| Railroad Crossbuck | R15-1 | 5F.02 | 1200 x 225 (48 x 9) |
— | — |
| Number of Tracks | R15-2 | 5F.02 | 675 x 450 (27 x 18) |
— | — |
| Horizontal Alignment | W1-1,2,3,4,5 | 5C.02 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| One-Direction Large Arrow | W1-6 | 5C.02 | 900 x 450 (36 x 18) |
— | 1200 x 600 (48 x 24) |
| Two-Direction Large Arrow | W1-7 | 5C.02 | 900 x 450 (36 x 18) |
— | 1200 x 600 (48 x 24) |
| Chevron Alignment | W1-8 | 5C.02 | 300 x 450 (12 x 18) |
— | 450 x 600 (18 x 24) |
| Intersection Warning | W2-1,4,5 | 5C.03 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| Stop Ahead | W3-1 | 5C.04 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Yield Ahead | W3-2 | 5C.04 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Be Prepared to Stop | W3-4 | 5G.05 | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
1200 x 1200 (48 x 48) |
| Narrow Bridge | W5-2 | 5C.05 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| One Lane Bridge | W5-3 | 5C.06 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Hill | W7-1, 1a | 5C.07 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| XX % Grade | W7-3 | 5C.07 | 600 x 450 (24 x 18) |
— | 750 x 600 (30 x 24) |
| Next XX km (Miles) | W7-3a | 5C.09 | 600 x 450 (24 x 18) |
— | 750 x 600 (30 x 24) |
| Pavement Ends | W8-3 | 5C.08 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Loose Gravel | W8-7 | 5G.05 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Railroad Advance Warning | W10-1 | 5F.03 | 600 Dia. (24 Dia.) |
450 Dia. (18 Dia.) |
750 Dia. (30 Dia.) |
| Crossing Warning | W10-2,3,4 | 5F.03 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Entering/Crossing | W11 series | 5C.09 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| Advisory Speed (plaque) | W13-1 | 5C.10 | 450 x 450 (18 x 18) |
— | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
| Dead End/No Outlet | W14-1,2 | 5C.11 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Dead End/No Outlet | W14-1a,2a | 5C.11 | 900 x 225 (36 x 9 ) |
600 x 150 (24 x 6) |
— |
| No Passing Zone (pennant) | W14-3 | 5G.05 | 750 x 1000 x 1000 (30 x 40 x 40) |
600 x 900 x 900 (24 x 36 x 36) |
900 x 1200 x
1200 (36 x 48 x 48) |
| Supplemental Distance (plaque) | W16-2 | 5C.09 | 600 x 450 (24 x 18) |
450 x 300 (18 x 12) |
750 x 600 (30 x 24) |
| Ahead (plaque) | W16-9p | 5C.11 | 600 x 300 (24 x 12) |
— | 750 x 450 (30 x 18) |
| No Traffic Signs | W18-1 | 5C.12 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
| Road Work XX m (ft) | W20-1 | 5G.05 | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
1200 x 1200 (48 x 48) |
| Flagger | W20-7a | 5G.05 | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
1200 x 1200 (48 x 48) |
| Workers | W21-1a | 5G.05 | 900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
1200 x 1200 (48 x 48) |
| Fresh Oil | W21-2 | 5G.05 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| Road Machinery Ahead | W21-3 | 5G.05 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| Shoulder Work | W21-5 | 5G.05 | 600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
— | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
| Survey Crew | W21-6 | 5G.05 | 750 x 750 (30 x 30) |
600 x 600 (24 x 24) |
900 x 900 (36 x 36) |
- Larger signs may be used when appropriate
- Dimensions are shown in millimeters followed by inches in parentheses and are shown as width x height
Guidance:
Oversized sign sizes should be used where engineering judgment indicates
a need based on high vehicle operating speeds, driver expectancy,
traffic operations, or roadway conditions.
Section 5A.04 Placement
Standard:
The traffic control devices used on low-volume roads shall be placed
and positioned in accordance with the criteria contained in Part
5 and, where necessary, in accordance with the lateral, longitudinal,
and vertical placement criteria contained in Part
2 and other applicable Sections of this Manual.
Guidance:
The placement of warning signs should conform to the guidance contained
in Section 2C.05 and
other applicable Sections of this Manual.
Option:
A lateral offset of not less than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the roadway
edge to the roadside edge of a sign may be used where roadside features
such as terrain, shrubbery, and/or trees prevent lateral placement
in accordance with Section
2A.19.
Standard:
If located within a clear zone, ground-mounted sign supports shall
be yielding, breakaway, or shielded with a longitudinal barrier
or crash cushion as required in Section 2A.19.
