These page numbers appear in the center of the bottom of the pages. Other Details of Sign Design and Location Letter Height and Arrow Specifications Individual Sign Designs Pavement Marking Edge Marking Exit Ramp Marking Entrance Ramp Marking Location and Application ... 36 36 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 Median Crossover Delineation List of Figures 1 Interchange of two Interstate routes 2 Typical cloverleaf interchange 3 Diamond interchange-rural 4 Diamond interchange-urban 5 Two closely spaced interchanges showing sequence signs 6 Series of closely spaced interchanges showing sequence signs 7 Advance guide sign-major interchange 8 Advance guide sign-major interchange-urban 9 Advance guide sign-intermediate interchange 10 NEXT EXIT sign 11 Exit direction sign-single exit interchange 14 Gore sign-ramp lane 15 Overhead gore sign-right through lane 16 Overhead gore sign-left through lane 17 Supplemental advance guide sign-multiple exit interchange 18 Mileage sign 19 Interchange sequence sign 20 NEXT-EXITS sign 21 Interstate shields-independent use 22 Interstate shields on guide signs 23 Off-Interstate business route marker 24 U.S. shields for joint mounting with Interstate shields 25 U.S. shields on guide signs 26 Rest area advance guide sign 27 NEXT SERVICES sign 28 EMERGENCY PARKING (STOPPING) ONLY sign 29 Advisory EXIT speed sign 30 Design detail of standard arrows 31 Exit ramp marking 32 Entrance ramp marking 33 Typical interchange ramp delineation List of Tables 1 Letter style and height for principal guide signs 2 Delineator spacing on horizontal curves ------------------------------------------------ ------------- MANUAL FOR SIGNING AND PAVEMENT MARKING OF THE SYSTEM OF INTERSTATE AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS NATIONAL Introduction HE National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, referred to as the Interstate System and now under construction along the Nation's principal travel desire lines, was conceived and is being built primarily to provide rapid, convenient and safe travel between and through major traffic generating centers. Essential to the realization of these valuable benefits is a uniform system of highway signing and marking that will be fully adequate in an environment of high volume, high speed motor vehicle traffic on modern controlled access highways. For this reason, a new concept has been developed for signing the Interstate System. Interstate Signing Principles The design for signs of the Interstate System must be approached on the premise that the signing is primarily for the benefit and direction of drivers who are not familiar with the route or the area. Signs must contain messages appropriate to the needs of these drivers. The sign legend must be carefully selected and designed for easy reading and the signs themselves must be prominently and effectively displayed at the proper locations so that drivers will tend to react promptly, naturally and safely to the traffic and design conditions encountered. Sign installations are an integral element of the Interstate highway facility, and, as such, must be planned concurrently with the development of location and geometric design. Plans for signing should be analyzed during the earliest stages of preliminary design. Neglect of the correlation of signing and design can result in physical layouts that are plagued with chronic operating difficulties. The cost of an up-to-date, effective signing system is but a minute fraction of the total facility cost, and realistic provisions for sign installations commensurate with the superior traffic services of the Interstate Highway System ought always to be the primary objective. The difference in cost between mediocre and excellent signs is negligible. The specifications herein are |