Emergency Vehicle Turnaround Sign on Interstates

[ethanhopkin14]

I noticed this sign last week while driving in the desert southwest.  It is a blue, black, blue sign denoting where emergency vehicles can cross the median on an interstate.  I have never seen them before, so I wondered how new they are and what states use them.  I saw them in New Mexico, Utah, the I-15 segment of Arizona, Nevada and in California.  I don't know what they are called so I couldn't do a search to see if this topic had been covered on this forum or not.

EDIT:  One thing I failed to mention in the original post is in every instance I saw these signs, there is one upstream warning you there is an emergence crossover ahead.

[epzik8]

In Maryland and probably most of the east coast, they're strictly for police or emergency vehicle use.

[Dirt Roads]

Here's how they are marked in NCDOT District 2:  1 mile to go; 1/2 mile to go; plus standard crossover signage.  They are marked like this along I-795 and the US-70 Bypass around Goldsboro (Future I-42).  Looks like they are now also installed along I-587.

[jeffandnicole]

In Maryland and probably most of the east coast, they're strictly for police or emergency vehicle use.

He was pointing out the markings used. U-Turns in the median on interstate highways are not legal in any state.

[Big John]

In Maryland and probably most of the east coast, they're strictly for police or emergency vehicle use.

and road maintenance vehicles.

[wriddle082]

Kentucky simply puts up a gigantic No U Turn symbol sign.

Tennessee and South Carolina both use the same sign that North Carolina uses, but without the advance mileage reference markers.

ISTR a state that uses the wording OFFICIAL VEHICLES ONLY on their signs but can't remember which state it was.  Does anybody know where they do this?

[index]

On I-26 passing over Sams Gap, there are warning signs telling you when a vehicle is using or is about to use the turnaround at the crest of the hill. None of the advance mileage signs though I believe. I've seen maintenance vehicles using it twice; construction equipment and snow plows/salt trucks, but never an actual emergency vehicle.

[ethanhopkin14]

Texas uses this or a sign with slightly altered verbiage, but nothing warning anyone the crossover is coming up.

[Revive 755]

ISTR a state that uses the wording OFFICIAL VEHICLES ONLY on their signs but can't remember which state it was.  Does anybody know where they do this?

I seem to recall a similar sign somewhere, but it may have said 'Official Use Only'.

Nebraska appears to use a variant of the assembly at the start of this thread for at least one median crossover on I-80:  Streetview.

[Hobart]

Illinois uses a no u-turn sign with a placard underneath that says "Authorized Vehicles Only". Pretty standard, just different wording. No advanced notice either.

Here's a very standard example on I-57 near Peotone!

Also this is the first time I actually used a link embed! Wow!

[TheHighwayMan3561]

MnDOT just uses a no-U-turn sign with no other posted disclaimers about emergency vehicles. I haven't noticed any advance notice signs for them.

[wanderer2575]

Michigan posts an "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign at the crossover, with no advance signage.

[Big John]

Wisconsin uses an unisign with the No U Turn symbol and the text "Except maintenance and police authorized vehicles"  https://goo.gl/maps/Sp3k4HZ4BbHxqQRcA

[Dirt Roads]

Here's how they are marked in NCDOT District 2:  1 mile to go; 1/2 mile to go; plus standard crossover signage.  They are marked like this along I-795 and the US-70 Bypass around Goldsboro (Future I-42).  Looks like they are now also installed along I-587.

Surprise!  I saw another pair of these on I-40 east of Hickory last night.  That would be NCDOT District 12.

[hbelkins]

The NJ Turnpike has some unusual signs with a representation of the U-turn move, sometimes a "Z" with "1000" beneath it to indicate the crossover is 1000 feet ahead.

[roadfro]

I noticed this sign last week while driving in the desert southwest.  It is a blue, black, blue sign denoting where emergency vehicles can cross the median on an interstate.  I have never seen them before, so I wondered how new they are and what states use them.  I saw them in New Mexico, Utah, the I-15 segment of Arizona, Nevada and in California.  I don't know what they are called so I couldn't do a search to see if this topic had been covered on this forum or not.

EDIT:  One thing I failed to mention in the original post is in every instance I saw these signs, there is one upstream warning you there is an emergence crossover ahead.

This is pretty standard throughout Nevada. Although NDOT's sign setup at the crossover is to have an "Authorized Vehicles Only" placard under the "No U-Turn" sign, which is more ambiguous than "Except Authorized Vehicles".

[tylert120]

ISTR a state that uses the wording OFFICIAL VEHICLES ONLY on their signs but can't remember which state it was.  Does anybody know where they do this?

PA uses "EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY"

[ethanhopkin14]

I noticed this sign last week while driving in the desert southwest.  It is a blue, black, blue sign denoting where emergency vehicles can cross the median on an interstate.  I have never seen them before, so I wondered how new they are and what states use them.  I saw them in New Mexico, Utah, the I-15 segment of Arizona, Nevada and in California.  I don't know what they are called so I couldn't do a search to see if this topic had been covered on this forum or not.

EDIT:  One thing I failed to mention in the original post is in every instance I saw these signs, there is one upstream warning you there is an emergence crossover ahead.

This is pretty standard throughout Nevada. Although NDOT's sign setup at the crossover is to have an "Authorized Vehicles Only" placard under the "No U-Turn" sign, which is more ambiguous than "Except Authorized Vehicles".

I love it.  Sounds like only authorized vehicles are the only vehicles that can't u-turn there.

[vdeane]

I noticed this sign last week while driving in the desert southwest.  It is a blue, black, blue sign denoting where emergency vehicles can cross the median on an interstate.  I have never seen them before, so I wondered how new they are and what states use them.  I saw them in New Mexico, Utah, the I-15 segment of Arizona, Nevada and in California.  I don't know what they are called so I couldn't do a search to see if this topic had been covered on this forum or not.

EDIT:  One thing I failed to mention in the original post is in every instance I saw these signs, there is one upstream warning you there is an emergence crossover ahead.

This is pretty standard throughout Nevada. Although NDOT's sign setup at the crossover is to have an "Authorized Vehicles Only" placard under the "No U-Turn" sign, which is more ambiguous than "Except Authorized Vehicles".

I love it.  Sounds like only authorized vehicles are the only vehicles that can't u-turn there.

Clearly taking a page from the AlanDOT MUTCD...

[andrepoiy]

Ontario is "Except Authorized Vehicles"

[D-Dey65]

The NJ Turnpike has some unusual signs with a representation of the U-turn move, sometimes a "Z" with "1000" beneath it to indicate the crossover is 1000 feet ahead.

So, that's what those signs are for. I've been wondering about those most of my life.

[JKRhodes]

Arizona uses the standard R3-4 sign, but only in areas where unauthorized crossovers have been deemed a problem for whatever reason. For the most part, they are completely unmarked.

[Bitmapped]

WV uses pairs No U-turn signs with "Authorized Vehicles Only" signs mounted on their back sides. As a part of signage replacement projects, fixed object marker signs are installed at the far end of the crossover (see https://goo.gl/maps/LVbcySbWPVBUYtWR6) but these generally aren't replaced if something takes them out.

Standard practice in Ohio is a pair of oversized No U-turn signs with smaller "Emergency and Authorized Vehicles Only" signs mounted on their backs.

[formulanone]

Colorado also uses the black-and-blue paddle signs in the medians for this purpose:

[ethanhopkin14]

Colorado also uses the black-and-blue paddle signs in the medians for this purpose:

Yes, back to the subject at hand.  Does anyone know what they are called and why is there so much inconstancy across the US about how the emergency vehicle crossover is signed?  The blue and black paddle seems to be a four corners/desert southwest thing only.