Section 8: Destination Signing for Border Cities in Mexico
Anchor: #i1009332Introduction
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides destination and mileage signing for Mexican border cities and border crossings in a manner similar to that provided for Texas cities where sign size and spacing allow. Mexican border cities should be shown along with the corresponding Texas cities when appropriate.
Anchor: #i1009342Types of Border Crossings
There are two types of border crossings: “international” and “port of entry.”
International crossings are major crossings open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Port of Entry crossings are minor crossings open fewer than 24 hours a day.
Anchor: #i1009362Sign Content
The destination signing should identify the city name or the type of crossing or both. If a city name is used without specifying the type of crossing, it implies that the crossing is an international crossing.
Destination signing for Mexican border cities should indicate the city names, but not the country name “Mexico,” except when necessary to prevent confusion.
Smaller cities with crossings should have destination and any necessary mileage signs at the nearest intersecting highway for the crossing roadway.
Where a Texas city is adjacent to a Mexican city, it may be desirable to sign both cities. For example, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras might appear on the same sign because both cities are of similar importance.
Anchor: #i1009389Sign Placement
On US and state highways, destination signing for major border crossing cities should be placed at major intersecting highways in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD). On freeways and expressways, either advance guide and exit direction signs or supplemental signs may be used to sign major intersecting highway routes leading to border cities.
Where multiple routes to a destination exist in the same area, the best route for each direction of travel should be signed. Because routes to major border cities in Mexico may involve a combination of routes, additional destination signing may be appropriate. See Destination and Distance Signing in Section 7 of this chapter.
Normally, signing for border cities in Mexico should not extend more than about 50 miles from the Texas-Mexico border.