Flashing Work Zone Arrows...

[thenetwork]

What form of the flashing yellow arrow does your state use on the portable work-zone signs?

a)  The Triple Chevron:  "> to  >> to  >>>" or "< to << to <<<"

b)  The Flashing Long "static" Arrow:   " ------>"  or "<------"

c)  The Sliding/Growing Long Arrow:  "--> to ----> to ------>" or  "<-- to <---- to <------"


Colorado tends to use the 3 chevron arrows, while Ohio mostly uses the long, static arrow.

[signalman]

New Jersey uses the long, static arrows.

[Takumi]

I've seen all three in Virginia, but the chevron is less common than the arrows.

[Brian556]

Texas mostly uses the single-flash arrow ----->. The Texas Mutch prohibits using the chevron mode at night; research found that to some drivers it appears as a "big blur" at night.

I personally dislike the --    --  > three phase arrow because it takes three times as long to give motorists the message. When I worked for TxDOT, our arrow boards had that function, but I did not use it for that reason.

I noticed that all the arrow boards in Alabama used the chevron method.

[Revive 755]

I don't see an option for a center lane closure - at least for flashing static, I've seen <---> or <--- followed by --->

Otherwise:

* Illinois - Flashing long static; think the standard specs specifically forbid the chevron

* Iowa - Chevron

* Nebraska - Chevron

Less sure about the following - going from recent travels

* Utah - Chevron

* Nevada - Chevron

* California - Chevron

[agentsteel53]

Mexico uses the flashing static arrow.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Here, it varies from zone to zone.

The majority of work zones use the static flashing arrow, however one arrow board near my apartment had the sliding arrow format during pipe repair work.

I personally have not seen any zone in my state that used the chevron format.

[Alps]

Let's throw one on here - what does your state use for caution?

a) The Flashing Bar: "-------"

b) The Double Diamond: "<>  <>"

c) The Flashing Diamond (rare): "<>     " to "   <>   " to "     <>"

NJ uses a.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Let's throw one on here - what does your state use for caution?

a) The Flashing Bar: "-------"

b) The Double Diamond: "<>  <>"

c) The Flashing Diamond (rare): "<>     " to "   <>   " to "     <>"

NJ uses a.

Here in Indiana, choice a as well (I know Illinois uses that format often too).

[DaBigE]

What form of the flashing yellow arrow does your state use on the portable work-zone signs?

a)  The Triple Chevron:  "> to  >> to  >>>" or "< to << to <<<"

b)  The Flashing Long "static" Arrow:   " ------>"  or "<------"

c)  The Sliding/Growing Long Arrow:  "--> to ----> to ------>" or  "<-- to <---- to <------"

Wisconsin requires the Flashing Long Arrow on all highways state trunk and above. Locals can use whatever they wish, although I have yet to see any of them use the Triple Chevron.

Let's throw one on here - what does your state use for caution?

a) The Flashing Bar: "-------"

b) The Double Diamond: "<>  <>"

c) The Flashing Diamond (rare): "<>     " to "   <>   " to "     <>"

Wisconsin uses the flashing bar.

There also is a fourth option I've seen: Flashing Four Corners, either all at once or side to side (wig-wag).

[kphoger]

I really have no idea.  What I do is...notice the big ol' trailer with a sign on it surrounded by orange cones and heavy equipment, then make the decision to get in the other lane before even looking at the arrow.      

[thenetwork]

I want to say I have even seen one state (WV???) that has a yellow long arrow painted on the board itself, should the lights stop working.  They have moveable flaps on each side of the board to determine which end gets the arrow or just the straight line.

[roadfro]

The MUTCD governs minimum requirements for these portable work zone warning signs, referred to as "arrow boards", in section 6F.61 (see figure 6F-6). Each board must be able to provide the following modes:


1. Multi-lane roadway merge left/right (at least one of these)

a) Flashing Arrow: "----->"

b) Sequential Arrow: "-->   "  "--->  "  "----->"

c) Sequential Chevron: ">   "  ">>  "  ">>>"


2. Multi-lane roadway, merge left or right

Flashing Double Arrow: "<--->"


3. Caution (at least one of these)

a) Flashing Caution: ":   :"

b) Flashing Caution: " ---- "

c) Alternating Diamond Mode: "<>  "  "   <>"


Modes 1 & 2 are only supposed to be used for lane closures in one direction of a multi-lane roadway. Mode 3 is only supposed to be used for shoulder closures, work near the shoulder, or temporary closures on two-lane roads.

These are minimum MUTCD requirements. There are other variants. For example, I have seen a Sequential Double Arrow used in a couple projects in Reno.



Nevada tends to use Sequential Chevrons for lane closures 99% of the time.

For shoulder closures, Nevada tends to use the Flashing Caution dots; however, they use the Alternating Diamond arrangement at times as well. Nearly any time I have seen mobile maintenance operations (such as a paint truck or street sweeper) on the shoulder, Alternating Diamonds have been used on truck-mounted arrow boards of the maintenance vehicle (and the cushion truck that follows it, where applicable).

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma arrow boards don't even have the option to do chevrons or sliding arrows. Just blinking arrows. And I've never seen just a caution bar either–work on the shoulder still uses an arrow pointing towards the road, as if the shoulder were a lane that was closing.

[Dr Frankenstein]

Québec and Ontario use flashing static arrows, and a flashing bar for caution.

[colinstu]

I didn't even know that the "flashing bar" meant anything. lol. Where is this meaning actually written?

I thought it was more along the lines of "Well we have this sign here, but there's no need to merge traffic over so let's just... turn off the arrow part and keep the line."
I've seen the lights in the four corners too... again thought it was just some random temporary signal.

[kphoger]

Same here, although I would assume more caution with a flashing bar.  Four dots in the corners:  I thought that meant 'no need for caution yet, but we'll light up the sign soon when the need arises'.

[deathtopumpkins]

At a recent work zone safety seminar I attended, I learned that apparently MassDOT policy prohibits using a line for caution, apparently due to motorist confusion - people think it's a broken arrow. Thus MassDOT uses either X's in the corners for caution (rare) or just uses text.

[WNYroadgeek]

New York also uses the flashing long static arrow.

[roadman]

At a recent work zone safety seminar I attended, I learned that apparently MassDOT policy prohibits using a line for caution, apparently due to motorist confusion - people think it's a broken arrow. Thus MassDOT uses either X's in the corners for caution (rare) or just uses text.

That is correct.  As written into the Massachusetts 2009 MUTCD amendments that were recently issued, MassDOT no longer permits the "flashing solid bar" display to indicate caution on a flashing arrow panel.  My understanding is that the jury is out regarding the use of "double diamond" caution displays, so "four corners" is is for now.

I've heard from my sources that MassDOT will eventually be phasing out the flashing arrow in favor of sequential chevrons as well.  Apparently the issue is that both MassDOT and several of their contractors still have a large number of older arrow panels that can't display sequential chevrons.

One other work zone note for Massachusetts.  Per the 2009 MUTCD requirements, they will begin posting a combined "ROAD WORK ENDS/END DOUBLE FINES" signs for all new work zones on projects that are bid but haven't been awarded to a contractor yet, as well as all projects still under design.

[codyg1985]

I noticed that all the arrow boards in Alabama used the chevron method.

With very few exceptions that is the case in Alabama. I have seen some instances where the three-phase arrow is used, but it is very rare.

Let's throw one on here - what does your state use for caution?

a) The Flashing Bar: "-------"

b) The Double Diamond: "<>  <>"

c) The Flashing Diamond (rare): "<>     " to "   <>   " to "     <>"

NJ uses a.

I have seen a variation on C around Huntsville, AL where it alternates between "<>    " and "    <>" I think I may have seen C used in Alabama too. I don't think I have ever seen the other two in Alabama.

[Compulov]

The various "safety patrol" vehicles I've seen in NJ and PA with the VMSes mounted have been using either an animated arrow or the words "SLOW DOWN MOVE OVER" (or some combination of the two in sequence).

[Roadsguy]

PennDOT typically uses --> and <-- for arrows, and :  : for caution.