1. Application Guidelines Guide Signs
Signing Plan Design (At-Grade)
June 20, 2012

2. Application of Guide Signs MN MUTCD 2D.2
Guide signs are essential to
Direct road users along roads
Direct road users to cities, towns, and other destinations
Identify rivers, streams, parks, historical sites
Generally give information to help users in the most simple, direct manner possible

3. Route Signs MN MUTCD 2D.11 Interstate US Route Minnesota Route
County Route
Township Route
Park & Forest Roads

4. Auxiliary Signs MN MUTCD 2D.13  2D.26
Junction
Cardinal Direction
Advance Turn Arrow
Directional Arrow
Others:
ALTERNATE, BYPASS, BUSINESS, TRUCK
TO, BEGIN, END, TEMPORARY

5. Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29
Route Sign Assemblies shall consist of a route sign and auxiliary signs that identify the route and indicate the direction
Route sign assemblies shall be installed on all approaches to signed numbered routes that intersect with other signed numbered routes

6. Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29
Arrangement by Class
Where two or more routes follow the same section of highway, route signs for Interstate, US, State, and County routes shall be mounted in that order
Left to right in horizontal arrangements
Top to bottom in vertical arrangements

7. Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29
Arrangement by Route Number
Subject to order of precedence by Class, route signs for lower-numbered routes shall be placed at the left or top

8. Route Sign Assemblies MN MUTCD 2D.29
Arrangement by Directional Arrow
Arrow Direction
Horizontal Arrangement
Vertical Arrangement
Left
Center
Thru
Top
Right
Bottom

9. Junction Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.29
A junction assembly shall consist of a junction auxiliary sign and route sign
This sign shall be installed in advance of every intersection where a signed numbered route is intersected or joined by another signed numbered route

10. Junction Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.30
Where two or more routes are to be indicated,
a single Junction auxiliary sign may be used for the assembly and all route signs grouped in a single mounting
Or a Combination Junction Sign may be used

11. Advance Route Turn Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.31
This assembly shall consist of
Route sign
Advance turn arrow (or word message) auxiliary
Cardinal direction auxiliary, if needed
Shall be installed in advance of the intersection, unless there is an intersection between it and the designated turn

12. Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32
This assembly shall consist of
Route sign
Directional arrow auxiliary
Cardinal direction auxiliary, if needed

13. Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32
Various Uses
Turning movement
route sign with card. direction and single-head arrow
Beginning of a Route
Route sign with card. direction and single-head arrow
End of a Route
Route sign with an END auxiliary sign
Intersected Route
Two assemblies: each with a route sign, cardinal direction auxiliary, and single-head arrow
One assembly: route sign and double-head arrow or

14. Directional Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.32
Location
Should be located in advance of the intersection or on the near right corner of the intersection if the approach must stop.
At major intersections and “Y” or offset intersections, additional assemblies should be installed on the far right or left corners
When near right corner is not practical, far right corner is preferred alternative, with oversized signs

15. Confirmation Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.34
This assembly consists of
Route sign
Cardinal direction auxiliary
Placement
Should be installed just beyond the intersections of numbered routes (25 ft to 200 ft)
Should be installed between intersection in urban districts as needed, and beyond built-up area of any incorporated city or town

16. Trailblazer Assembly MN MUTCD 2D.35
Purpose
Provide directional guidance to a particular road from other highways in the vicinity
This assembly consists of
Route sign
“TO” and single-head dir. arrow auxiliary
Cardinal direction, if needed
May be installed with other Route Sign assemblies or alone

17. Destination & Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.36
Purpose
Supply road user information concerning destinations that can be reached by way of numbered or unnumbered routes
Route signs & cardinal directions may be included

18. Destination Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37
Content
The names of cities, towns, villages, or other traffic generators, and directional arrows
Distance to the places named may also be shown on the destination sign

19. Destination Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37
Uses
At intersections of US, State, or numbered routes with Interstate, US, or State numbered routes
At points where they serve to direct traffic from numbered routes to the business section of towns, or to other destinations reach by unnumbered routes
Location
Should be located in advance of intersections, but following any Junction or Advance Route Turn Assemblies
May be eliminated if spacing is critical

20. Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.36
Content
The names of no more than three cities, towns, junctions, or traffic generators, and the distance (to the nearest mile) to those destinations

21. Distance Signs MN MUTCD 2D.37
Location
Distance signs should be installed on important routes leaving municipalities and beyond intersections of numbered routes in rural areas
If used, should be placed just outside the municipal limits or at the edge of the built-up area
If overlapping routes separate a short distance from municipality, the sign at the city limits should be omitted but installed just beyond the intersection of the two routes

22. Advance Street Name Signs MN MUTCD 2D.44
Purpose
Provide users with advance information to identify the name of the next intersecting street (or signal), prepare for crossing traffic, and to facilitate timely deceleration and/or lane changing in preparation for a turn
Shall supplement (not replace) street name signs

23. Advance Street Name Signs MN MUTCD 2D.44
Placement
On arterial highways in rural areas, these signs should be used in advance of all signalized intersections and all intersections with exclusive turn lanes
In urban areas, these signs should be used in advance of all signalized intersections on major arterial streets, except where closely-spaced signals makes this impractical

24. Typical Order of Guide Signs
Junction Assembly
Advance Route Turn Assembly
Destination Sign
Directional Assembly
Confirmation Assembly
Distance Sign

25. 6-7.04 Typical Junction Signing Layouts
The following typical sign installations should be used as guidelines in establishing sign locations and distances between signs at junctions.
The final decision shall be made by the district traffic engineer based on individual intersection geometrics and sound engineering judgement.

26. 4-Leg Intersection

27. T-Intersection
2-lane, 2-way

28. T-Intersection
w/ Divided Highway

29. Named County Road
On an Expressway

30. Single Lane
Roundabout

31. 6-7.06 Named Road, Street, and 911 Road Name Signs
Urban Areas
Urban street name signs, such as the small slat versions mounted at int corners, are to be furnished and installed by the city
Advance arterial and major street name signs (including mast arm mounted) on conventional highways will be provided by Mn/DOT
Sign clearance should be 7’ and laterally offset 2’ from face of curb

32. 6-7.07 Community Recognition
Allows communities to express identity
Not permitted on expressways in Metro Dist.
Any combination of sign panels may be allowed up to a total of 72” in length and 24” in height, not to exceed 12 sq. ft. in area

33. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
The MN MUTCD, statutes, and MnDOT policy allow supp. guide signs to be installed on trunk highways for a variety of public and private facilities
No cost for 3 types of qualified facilities
General Motorist Service
Hospital
Resort & Camping

34. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Other qualified facilities shall pay for signs
Airports
Casinos
Educational Institutions (post-secondary)
Logo Signing Program
Major Traffic Generators
Minor Traffic Generators
National Monuments
National Parks
Regional Shopping Centers’
Specific Services
State Parks
Tourist Information
Trail Access

35. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Hospital Signing
On conventional highways the Hospital symbol sign (D9-2B) shall be installed on the ground in advance of, or on a traffic signal mast arm at the intersection with the road leading to the hospital.

36. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Hospital Signing
Trailblazing signing on conventional highways shall display either the number of blocks or miles (one mile increments) to the facility
Trailblazing signs on local roads directing motorists shall display the appropriate distance and arrow

37. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Resorts and Camping Signs
Signs may be installed in rural areas on conventional highways and expressways
Shall only be allowed from the nearest trunk highway intersection
One signs from each direction in advance of a private road or entrance is allowed when:
The main access from the trunk highway is a private road
The resort/campground is located near, but not visible from, the trunk highway
The sign located on private property cannot be effectively seen by approaching drivers because of the width of right-of-way or growth of vegetation

38. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Resorts and Camping Signs
Where the access to resorts/campgrounds is via county, township, or other public road, and the road is identified with a road name or destination sign, the sign panel may be combined with the in-place sign
Minimum height to lowest panel must be 7’

39. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Resorts and Camping Signs

40. 6-7.09 Supplemental Guide Signs
Specific Service Signs
Sign Placement
Signs shall be installed at least 300 feet from any in-place signs on a conventional road
Signs shall be installed at least 400 feet from any in-place signs on an expressway
In-place signs shall not be removed to accommodate specific service signs
The max number of specific service signs per intersection approach shall be the number of structures that can be placed within a half-mile of the intersection

41. Order of Installation (p. 6-76)
Junction Assembly
Road name advance sign
Directional sign to cities
Other guide signs
Motorist services signs
Specific services signs
Road name with arrow sign
Route marker directional assembly
Turn lane sign