Major Guide Signs On Conventional Highways

(1) The purpose of major guide signs is to display basic directional and guidance information regarding the through and crossroad route numbers and the names and distances to cities, towns, or communities located on the routes. Major guide signs on conventional highways include route marker assemblies, destination signs, and distance signs. (a) Route Marker Assemblies. 1. Route marker assemblies identify the route number and indicate the general direction of the highway. 2. In the case of overlapping routes (where two or more numbered routes follow the same section of highway), the route markers for Interstate, U.S. and State routes shall be mounted in that order from the left in horizontal arrangements and from the top in vertical arrangements. Subject to this order of precedence, route markers for lower-numbered routes within each category of highway shall be placed at the left or top. 3. Within groups of route marker assemblies, information for routes intersecting from the left shall be mounted at the left in horizontal arrangements and at the center of vertical arrangements. Similarly, information for routes intersecting from the right shall be at the right or bottom. Information for through routes shall be at the center or top. 4. It is important to maintain continuity of the route marker signing for a numbered route. In some cases, however, groups of route marker assembles that include overlapping routes and multiple turns may be confusing. Where engineering judgment indicates that this possibility exists, omission of route markers for less important routes may be required to provide clear and concise directions to motorists. Therefore, where a U.S. route and a State route overlap for more than a short distance, normally only the U.S. route markers will be displayed. In addition, where two State routes overlap for more than a short distance, it may be appropriate to display the route markers for only the principal State route. (b) Destination Signs. 1. Destination signs provide information concerning cities, towns, and unincorporated communities located on the intersecting roadways. Such signs are generally warranted in the following situations: (i) At the intersection of U.S. or State-numbered routes with Interstate, U.S. or State-numbered routes; and (ii) At points where such signs serve to direct traffic from U.S. or State- numbered routes to the business sections of cities, towns, or unincorporated communities reached by unnumbered routes. MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ─ SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER 1680-03-02 RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS 2. Only one destination sign may be installed on each approach to the interchange or intersection. 3. The number of destinations displayed must be kept to a minimum to provide clear and concise directions and avoid driver confusion. Therefore, not more than four destinations shall be displayed on any destination sign. 4. The most important function of destination signing is to advise motorists of points where they must turn in order to reach destinations located on the crossroad. Therefore, in most cases, the destination lying straight ahead on the through highway will not be signed. 5. Generally, not more than one destination will be displayed for each direction of travel. 6. Two destinations may be displayed in one direction of travel on the crossroad if no eligible destination exists in the other direction. 7. In the case of overlapping numbered routes that separate prior to the first eligible destination on either route, the eligible destination for each of the overlapping routes may be displayed for that direction of travel, provided that the total number of destinations on the destination signing will not exceed four. Otherwise, only the destination in which the greater amount of the traffic is interested will be displayed. 8. In selecting the destinations to be shown on the destination sign, it must be recognized that guide signing is primarily for the benefit and direction of drivers who are not familiar with the route or area and that consistency with the available map information is important. 9. The destination shown for a direction of travel must be that which provides the best orientation for motorists. In most cases, this would be the nearest principal city or town (i.e., having a population greater than 1,000) or county seat. However, factors such as population, geographical location, junctions with State highways serving other areas, and commerce may warrant the selection of a principal city or town which is farther away. 10. Where a principal city/town or county seat is not available, the largest city or town on the route may be shown. 11. Where no incorporated city or town is available, the first unincorporated community on the route may be shown. 12. Population will be determined by reference to the latest edition of the Tennessee Blue Book. 13. Destinations shall be displayed in the following sequence from the top to the bottom of the sign: (i) destinations located straight ahead, (ii) destinations located to the left, and (iii) destinations located to the right. 14. If there is more than one destination shown in any direction, the name of the nearest city or town shall appear above that of the more distant destination. MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ─ SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER 1680-03-02 RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS 15. The destination sign is of lesser importance than route marker assemblies. Therefore, where sign spacing is critical, the destination sign may be eliminated. (c) Distance Signs. 1. Distance signs display the names of cities, towns and unincorporated communities located on the route and the distance (to the nearest mile) to those places. Such signs are generally warranted on important routes leaving incorporated municipalities and just beyond intersections with numbered routes in rural areas. 2. Not more than three destinations may be displayed on a distance sign. 3. The distance sign shall display as its primary destination the name of and distance to the city, town or unincorporated community that would be selected under the criteria and order of priority for destination signing set forth above. The name of and distance to the next control city (population of 50,000 or greater), if any, for the route should be displayed below the primary destination. In the case of overlapping numbered routes that continue concurrently to the primary destination, the control city to be displayed should be that of the control city in which the greater part of the through traffic is interested. If no city, town or unincorporated community meets these criteria, then distance signing shall not be installed. 4. The name of and distance to an additional city, town or unincorporated community on the route may be displayed if, in the absence of the primary destination, it would have been the next city, town or unincorporated community selected under the criteria and order of priority for destination signing set forth above. 5. Where alternate routes lie between the distance sign and the destinations displayed, the mileage shown on the sign should be that along the best route. 6. If there is more than one destination shown on the distance sign, the name of the nearest destination shall appear above that of the more distant destinations.