empty cell
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) arrows logo
Knowledge bar

2009 Edition Part 6 Figure 6H-45. Temporary Reversible Lane Using Movable Barriers (TA-45)

Full-size image of Figure 6H-45

Figure 6H-45. Temporary Reversible Lane Using Movable Barriers (TA-45)

This figure illustrates two examples of a temporary reversible lane using movable barriers. A legend under the figure states that this is Typical Application 45. A note states "See Tables 6H-2 and 6H-3 for the meaning of the symbols and/or letter codes used in this figure. Although leader lines point to signs on the right side of the roadway, most signs should be installed on both sides of roadway."

The two examples are the same except for a few details. Both examples show a vertical six-lane divided highway with three lanes in each direction separated by a median. Downward-pointing black arrows in the three lanes on the left and upward-pointing black arrows in the three lanes on the right denote the direction of travel. Lanes going in the same direction are separated by a broken white line. A shoulder is shown to the right of each right lane and to the left of each left lane. The right shoulders are shown separated from the right lanes by a solid white line. The left shoulders are shown separated from the left lanes by a solid yellow line.

The first example is labeled Phase A. At the bottom of the figure and to the outside of both the left and right shoulders of the northbound lanes, two black inverted "Ts" are shown denoting signs. The signs are shown as diamond-shaped orange signs with black borders and the words "ROAD WORK AHEAD" in black. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance C, another set of signs is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulders. These signs are shown as diamond-shaped orange signs with black borders and the words "LEFT LANE CLOSED AHEAD" in black. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance B, another set of signs is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulder. These signs are shown as diamond-shaped orange signs with black borders. They show a thick, vertical straight line on the right; a thick, vertical line on the left that angles toward the right half way up; and a thin, short vertical dotted line between them that is the length of the vertical section of the line on the left, denoting a lane ends. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance A, a horizontal rectangular black arrow panel with a yellow directional arrow pointing to the right is shown in the left shoulder.

At this point, a series of orange squares denoting channelizing devices is shown tapering from the solid yellow line separating the shoulder and left lane to the broken white lines separating the left and middle northbound lanes at a dimensioned distance L. The channelizing devices are shown continuing along the broken white line. A horizontal rectangular black arrow panel with a yellow dot in each corner is shown in the left shoulder. Beyond this sign, another sign is shown to the outside of the right shoulder. The sign is shown as a diamond-shaped orange sign with a black border and two upward-pointing arrows that slant diagonally up and to the left and then straighten to a vertical direction, denoting a double reverse curve.

This sign is shown at a dimensioned distance A in advance of the middle and right lanes shown tapering to the left. The original roadway is shown continuing straight ahead. At the point where the crossover is shown clearing the northbound left shoulder, a sign is shown in the middle of the original roadway. The sign is shown as a horizontal rectangular white sign with a black border and the words "ROAD CLOSED" in black above a horizontal rectangular orange sign with a black border and a large horizontal black arrow pointing to the left. This sign assembly is shown directly in front of a horizontal rectangle with diagonal orange and white stripes, denoting a Type III barricade shown placed across the entire left shoulder, roadway, and right shoulder. Beyond the barricade, a vertical rectangle with black and white stripes, denoting a work space, is shown spanning the entire width of the roadway. Beyond the work space, two Type III barricades are shown, one extending from the left shoulder and most of the travel lane and another across most of the travel lane extending to the right shoulder.

As the middle and right lanes are shown tapering to the left, they are shown crossing the left shoulder, median, and shoulder of the southbound left lane for a dimensioned distance 1/2 L. Along the taper, a solid white line is shown on the outside edge of the middle lane with a series of channelizing devices on it, and a solid white line is shown on the outside edge of the right lane. A solid white line is shown separating the two lanes. The lanes are shown joining the southbound middle and left lanes and continuing for a short distance. A sign is shown on the median to the right of the crossover. The sign is shown as a double lane shift sign with arrows that curve to the right and then straighten. This sign is shown at a dimensioned distance A in advance of the crossover shown tapering back to the right beyond the work space. The solid white edge line outside the right lane is shown continuing until it is shown joining the solid white line separating the original right lane from the right shoulder. A series of channelizing devices is shown on the solid white line of this taper. A series of connected white bars with yellow dots on them denoting movable barriers with warning lights is shown on the outside of the middle lane as it is shown tapering to the solid yellow line separating the original left lane from the left shoulder. Beyond the crossover, a sign is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulders. The sign is shown as a horizontal rectangular orange sign with a black border and the words "END ROAD WORK" in black.

Near the top of the figure and to the outside of both the left and right shoulders of the southbound lanes, two Road Work Ahead signs are shown. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance C, another set of signs is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulders. These signs are shown as "2 LEFT LANES CLOSED AHEAD" signs. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance B, another set of signs is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulder. These signs are shown as lanes ends symbol signs with the left lane tapering to the right. Beyond these signs at a dimensioned distance A, a horizontal rectangular black arrow panel with the arrow pointing to the right is shown in the left shoulder.

At this point, a series of orange squares denoting channelizing devices is shown tapering from the solid yellow line separating the shoulder and left southbound lane to the broken white lines separating the left and middle southbound lanes at a dimensioned distance L. The channelizing devices are shown continuing straight along the broken white line for an undimensioned distance shown as a buffer space labeled optional. A horizontal rectangular black arrow panel with the arrow pointing left is shown in the southbound left lane at a dimensioned distance 2L from the end of the taper. Midway along this distance, a lane ends symbol sign is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulders with the left lane tapering to the right. At the point where the arrow panel is shown in the left lane, the channelizing devices are shown tapering from the broken white line between the left and middle lanes to the broken white line between the middle and right lanes for a dimensioned distance L. In the median, a note states that this is the "parking location for transfer vehicle during Phase B." A note states that a movable attenuator is at the northern end of the movable barrier. Also just beyond the arrow panel, a series of connected white bars with yellow dots on them denoting movable barriers with warning lights is shown beginning in the median and tapering to the broken white line separating the middle and right lanes and paralleling the series of channelizing devices.

The movable barriers are shown continuing along the broken white line, forming one edge of the crossover lanes in the northbound lanes. The barriers are shown continuing beyond the crossover and ending next to a vertical rectangle with a blue border and a blue diagonal line across it. A note states that this is the "parking location for transfer vehicle during Phase A." Beyond the parking location, an End Road Work sign is shown to the outside of both the left and right shoulders.

The second example, labeled Transition from A to B, is the same as the first example with the following changes:

  • Near the bottom of the figure in the northbound lanes, instead of the horizontal rectangular black panel with four yellow dots in the median shown in the first example, a horizontal rectangular black arrow panel with the arrow pointing left is shown in the left lane. This panel is shown at a dimensioned distance 2L from the end of the channelizing device taper to the broken line separating the left and middle lanes. Midway along this distance, a left lane ends symbol sign is shown in the middle of the left lane and to the outside of the right shoulder. The first example does not show this sign.
  • At this point, the channelizing devices are shown tapering to the right to the broken white line between the middle and right lanes for a dimensioned distance L. The devices are shown continuing straight along the broken white line for a dimensioned distance ½ L minimum. The first example does not show this second taper to the right.
  • Midway along this dimensioned distance, a sign is shown in the middle of the middle lane and to the outside of the right shoulder. The sign is shown as a diamond-shaped orange sign with a black border and an upward-pointing arrow that slants diagonally up and to the left and then straightens to a vertical direction, denoting a reverse curve. This sign replaces the double reverse curve sign shown in the first example.
  • The channelizing devices are shown continuing between the middle and right lanes for the length of the crossover instead of to the outside of the middle lane as shown in the first example.
  • In the southbound lanes, the blue symbol for the transfer vehicle is shown on the median between the two series of movable barriers on the northern side of the crossover lanes instead of farther south as shown in the first example. A note states that this is the "parking location for transfer vehicle during Phase B." A note states that a movable attenuator is at the northern end of the movable barrier.

A blue symbol for a transfer vehicle with a vertical black arrow on it is shown in the outside crossover lane opposite the work space. From this point, the series of white bars denoting movable barriers that are south of the transfer vehicle are shown between the southbound left and middle lanes instead of the middle and right lanes shown in the first example.

Back to Chapter 6H