Advance Guide Signs

Advance Guide signs (see Figure 3‑1 for example) provide advance notice of an upcoming interchange and the distance to the interchange.
Advance Guide sign. (click in image to see full-size image)
Figure 3-1. Advance Guide sign.
Advance Guide signs are addressed in Section 2E.30 of the Texas MUTCD. For design and layout of Advance Guide signs, see
Chapter 4, Freeway Guide Sign Design
of this manual.
Design and Application.
 Advance Guide signs must include a destination and a distance to the exit. If appropriate, Advance Guide signs must also include a cardinal direction, Route sign, Exit Number panel, and Exit Only panel.
The distance may be omitted when there is an Exit Only panel and the distance to the exit is less than 1 mile.
The word EXIT should be omitted from the distance portion of the sign legend (i.e., Exit 1 Mile) if an Exit Number panel or an Exit Only panel is used.
If the freeway has numbered exits, an Exit Number panel must be used.
The legend in the Advance Guide sign must have the same format as the legend in the downstream Exit Direction sign, and the content should be consistent with the content of the Exit Direction sign.
Distances shown on Advance Guide signs should be shown as fractions and rounded to the nearest ¼ mile.
Number of Signs.
 If there is adequate space, an Advance Guide sign must be used for each interchange. Recommendations are as follows:
  • For minor interchanges, one Advance Guide sign should be used.
  • For intermediate and major interchanges, at least two, and preferably three, Advance Guide signs should be used.
If adequate space is not available, Interchange Sequence signs should be used.
Placement.
 Typical placements for Advance Guide signs are as follows:
  • For minor interchanges, ½ mile to 1 mile.
  • For intermediate and major interchanges, 2 miles, 1 mile, and ½ mile.