• ♦Manual Notice 2018-1
• ►1. Introduction
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Background Information
    • ♦Purpose of Field Book
    • ♦Organization of the Sign Crew Field Book
    • ♦Relationship to Other TxDOT Documents
    • ♦Relationship of Intersection Illustrations to Actual Intersections
    • ♦History of the Sign Crew Field Book
    • ♦Helpful Information for First Time Users
    • ♦Replacing Signs in the Field
• ►2. Warning Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Warning Sign Advance Placement
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Advance Placement Condition Descriptions
    • ♦Relation Between Minimum Distances and Sign Crew Field Book Distance
    • ♦Advance Placement Distance for Warning Signs
    • ♦Conditions Associated with Specific Warning Signs
• ►3. Types and Uses of Guide Signs
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Guide Sign Components
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Route Signs (Texas MUTCD 2D.10 and 2D.11)
    • ♦Junction Sign (Texas MUTCD 2D.13 and 2D.14)
    • ♦Cardinal Direction Auxiliary Signs (Texas MUTCD 2D.15)
    • ♦Arrow Signs (Texas MUTCD 2D.26 and 2D.28)
    • ♦Double Arrow Sign
    • ♦Special Design for Wide Directional Arrow Auxiliary Sign
    • ♦Lane Designation Auxiliary Signs
    • ♦Other Auxiliary Signs (Texas MUTCD, Section 2D.16 to 2D.24)
  • ►3. Arrangement of Components
    • ♦Introduction (Texas MUTCD, Section 2D.29)
    • ♦Guide Sign Units
    • ♦Arrangement Hierarchy
    • ♦Arrangement Pattern
    • ♦Arrangement by Direction
    • ♦Arrangement by Class of Highway
    • ♦Arrangement by Highway Number
    • ♦Examples of Assembly Arrangements
    • ♦Layout Dimensions for Assemblies
  • ►4. Guide Sign Assemblies
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Junction Assembly (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.30)
    • ♦Advance Route Turn Assembly (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.31)
    • ♦Directional Assembly (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.32)
    • ♦Confirming Assembly (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.34)
    • ♦Trailblazer Assembly (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.35)
    • ♦Texas Reference Marker Assembly
  • ►5. Stand-Alone Signs
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Destination Signs (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.36 through Section 2D.40)
    • ♦Distance Signs (Texas MUTCD Section 2D.36, 2D.41 and 2D.42)
• ►4. Lateral Placement and Height
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Terminology Used in the Field Book
  • ►2. Lateral Placement
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Locating Sign Posts Close to One Another
    • ♦Lateral Placement
  • ►3. Lateral Placement at Intersections
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►4. Sign Height
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Height of Signs and Sign Assemblies
• ▼5. Approach Placement
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ▼2. Basic Placement Considerations
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Convention Used in Illustrations
    • ♦Effect of Speed on Placement Distances
    • ♦Approach Placement Illustrations
  • ►3. 3-Leg T Intersection Illustrations
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►4. 3-Leg Side Intersection Illustrations
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►5. 4-Leg Intersection Illustrations
    • ♦Introduction
• ►6. Departure Placement
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Basic Departure Placement Considerations
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Distance Between Departure Signs
    • ♦Effect of Speed on Placement Distances
    • ♦No Sign Zone
  • ►3. Intersection Departure Illustrations
    • ♦Introduction
• ►7. Special Signing Situations
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Median Width
    • ♦Markings for Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
    • ♦Delineation for Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
    • ♦Divided Highway Intersections
    • ♦Crossovers
  • ►3. Overlapping Routes
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►4. Road Ends
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Road Ends Situation
  • ►5. Interchange Applications
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Interchanges
    • ♦Frontage Roads
  • ►6. Lane Drop Applications
    • ♦Lane Drop at No Control Intersections
  • ►7. Divided Highway Transitions
    • ♦Introduction
• ►8. Markers and Delineation
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Object Markers
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Types of Object Markers (Texas MUTCD, Section 2C.63)
    • ♦Omni-Directional Sign Post Wrap
    • ♦Application of Object Markers (Texas MUTCD, Section 2C.65)
  • ►3. Delineators and Chevrons
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Delineator Design (Texas MUTCD, Section 3F.02)
    • ♦Delineator and Object Marker Application and Spacing (Texas MUTCD, Section 3F.04)
    • ♦Use of Delineators and Chevrons in Curves
    • ♦Delineator Placement
    • ♦Chevron Placement
    • ♦Delineator and Chevron Spacing
    • ♦Delineation for Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
  • ►4. Barrier Reflectors
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Barrier Reflector Design
    • ♦Barrier Reflector Application
    • ♦Barrier Reflector Placement
    • ♦Barrier Reflector Spacing
  • ►5. Applications
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Application Illustrations
• ►9. Mailboxes
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Introduction
  • ►2. Types of Mailboxes and Installations
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Types of Mailboxes
    • ♦Types of Mailbox Installations
  • ►3. Mailbox Placement Considerations
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Placement Adjacent to Paved (All-Weather) Surface
    • ♦Longitudinal Placement
    • ♦Lateral Offset from Access Point
    • ♦Height
  • ►4. Mailbox Hardware
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Types of Supports
    • ♦Types of Foundations
    • ♦Mailbox Bracket
  • ►5. Mailbox Installation
    • ♦Single Mailbox Installation
    • ♦Double Mailbox Installation
    • ♦Multiple Mailbox Support
  • ►6. Mailbox Attachments
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Object Markers on Mailbox Supports
    • ♦Emergency Location Number
    • ♦Newspaper Receptacle
  • ►7. Mailbox Compliance
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Example Letter to Box Owners

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Section 2: Basic Placement Considerations

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Introduction

The figures in this chapter indicate the placement of signs located on the approach to an intersection.

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• Special Note on Approach Placement Distances: A given sign type should remain approximately the same distance from the intersection in all applications. For example, the Junction assembly should always be 1625-1800 ft from the intersection when the speed limit is ≥ 45 mph. A given type of sign should not be moved closer to the intersection when a sign type closer to the intersection is not used. For example, the Junction assembly should not be moved closer to the intersection if the Advance Route Turn assembly is not used.

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Convention Used in Illustrations

The illustrations contained in this chapter utilize several conventions to simplify the information being presented in the figures.

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• Use of Highway Classifications and Numbers in Illustrations - The highway intersections illustrated in this field book are not intended to represent specific intersections in the state. For simplicity, only one highway class is used for all highways in the illustrations, and no more than six different route numbers are used. The six highway numbers used in the illustrations are three-digit U.S. Highway numbers: U.S. 180, U.S. 259, U.S. 290, U.S. 281, U.S. 377, and U.S. 380.
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• Reference Points for Placement Distances - The distance shown in the figures is the distance between the sign installation and the near edge of the intersecting roadway. Figures 5-2 and 5-3 illustrate the application of this convention, and Table 5-1 contains the placement distances for each type of sign that could be used on an approach to an intersection.
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• Cross-References to the Texas MUTCD - Where it is appropriate, notes in the figures refer to material in the Texas MUTCD related to the use of a specific sign. These cross-references are typically provided to help the user determine whether a sign should be used in a particular situation.
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• Figure Symbol Boxes Description - Each of the figures shown in Sections 3, 4, and 5 has a symbol box located in the lower right-hand corner of the figure. The purpose of these boxes is to assist in quickly determining what is illustrated in a particular figure. These symbol boxes represent the intersection geometrics, routing arrangement, and type of traffic control devices used in the intersection. Each of these symbol boxes has two basic sections. The left most section contains the type of traffic control device used at the intersection, such as a Stop sign, a traffic signal, or no control. The right most section contains the sketch of the intersection geometry and routing arrangement for the intersection. The arrows in the right section of the box represent the intersection routing arrangement. They show the direction the assigned routes are going or in some cases ending. For example, the symbol box in Figure 5-1 illustrates the following: the left-hand section of the symbol box tells that a Stop sign with Cross Traffic Does Not Stop plaque is used as the traffic control device. Likewise, in the right-hand section of the symbol box, is shown having a routing arrangement that consists of the approach route going left.

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Figure 5-1. Example of Symbol Box

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Figure 5-2. Convention for Sign Placement Distances on High-Speed Approach

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Figure 5-3. Convention for Sign Placement Distances on Low-Speed Approach

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Effect of Speed on Placement Distances

The posted speed is the primary criteria for the longitudinal placement of signs. Speed is divided into low-speed roadways (speed ≤ 40 mph) and high-speed roadways (speed ≥ 45 mph).

The distances shown in the figures in this chapter are for highways with speeds of 45 mph or greater. For highways with speeds of 40 mph or less, signs may be placed closer to the intersection. Table 5-1 identifies the high-speed and low-speed placement distances for each type of sign that could be used on an approach to an intersection.

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Placement Distance for Speed Condition1 (Distance from near edge of intersecting roadway)		Type of Sign
Low-Speed (≤ 40 mph), ft2	High-Speed (≥45 mph) ft3
6-50	6-50	Directional Assembly or Stop Sign
260-400	325-500	Reserved for Future Use
520-660	650-825	Destination Sign
780-920	975-1150	Advance Traffic Control Sign
1040-1180	1300-1475	Advance Route Turn Assembly
1300-1440	1625-1800	Junction Assembly
1560-1700	1950-2125	Highway Intersection Sign or Intersection Warning Sign
Notes: 1A sign installation should not be moved closer to the intersection if another sign is not used. In other words, the Junction assembly should always be 1625-1800 ft from the intersection, even if the Advance Route Turn assembly is not installed. 2Generally rounded to the nearest 10 ft. 3Generally rounded to the nearest 25 ft.

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Approach Placement Illustrations

The illustrations in this chapter illustrate typical sign placements for various intersection designs. The intersections present the following types of information:

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• Geometry:
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  • 3-leg T (Chapter 5, Section 3)
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  • 3-leg side (Chapter 5, Section 4)
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  • 4-leg (Chapter 5, Section 5).
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• Number of Approach Lanes:
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  • 1 approach lane alone
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  • 1 approach lane with left-turn lane
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  • 2 approach lanes alone
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  • 2 approach lanes with left-turn lane.
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• Type of Control:
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  • No control on approach
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  • Stop or Yield control on approach
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  • Signal control on approach.
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• Highway Routing Arrangement:
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  • Numbered highway ends at intersection
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  • Numbered highway turns right or left at intersection
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  • Highway continues through intersection
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  • Any two or more of the above arrangements.

Table 5-2 is an index that indicates how the approach characteristics shown above are incorporated into the figures in this chapter.

Anchor: #i1056315Table 5-2: Index to Approach Placement Illustrations

Fig. No.	Geometry			Number of Approach Lanes				Type of Control			Routing Arrangement
	3-leg T	3-leg Side	4-leg	1 Ln.	1 Ln. + LT	2 Ln.	2 Ln. + LT	None	Stop	Signal	Ends	Left	Thru	Right	Other
5-4	√			√					√			√
5-5	√			√					√			√
5-6	√			√					√		√
5-7	√			√						√				√
5-8	√			√					√			√		√
5-9	√					√				√				√
5-10		√		√				√					√
5-11		√		√				√				√	√
5-12		√			√			√				√	√
5-13		√				√		√				√	√
5-14		√		√						√			√		√
5-15		√			√					√			√		√
5-16		√					√			√			√		√
5-17			√	√					√				√
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5-20			√	√						√			√
5-21			√	√						√			√	√
5-22			√	√						√		√	√
5-23			√			√		√					√
5-24			√		√					√			√		√
5-25			√	√					√		√
5-26			√	√					√			√
5-27			√	√					√			√		√
5-28			√	√						√				√
5-29			√	√						√		√		√