Arrow Placement
Arrows are used on guide signs to indicate directions toward designated routes and destinations. As discussed earlier in this chapter, the type of arrow used on a particular guide sign is dependent on the type of guide sign. Standard arrow specifications are shown in the Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas.
On Exit Direction signs, both overhead and ground mounted, the “Up” arrow must be upward slanting and be located on the appropriate side of the sign. The arrow placement angle should point upward at 45 degrees from the horizontal representing the alignment of the exit roadway.
For Exit Direction signs with a one-word message destination, the arrow should be placed on the next line of copy and right justified on the above destination message (Figure 4‑35).
Figure 4-35. Preferred arrow placement with one word message.
In some cases, the width of an Exit Direction sign may be restricted due to the location, placement, and proximity of other freeway guide signs. In these cases, the roadway designation or type abbreviations (i.e., Rd, Blvd, St) may be placed on the second line of copy with the arrow and left justified with the above word message (Figure 4‑36). The minimum spacing between the word and the arrow should be at least 1.5 times the uppercase letter height of the word.
Figure 4-36. Arrow placement with roadway designation on the last line of copy.
If the arrow must be placed on the same line of copy as the destination message, the message and arrow should be laterally spaced and centered on the vertical axis of the sign. The arrow should then be centered vertically on the horizontal axis of the message (Figure 4‑37).
Figure 4-37. Arrow placement with word message on the same line of copy.
For Exit Direction signs with a Route sign as the single destination message, the arrow should be placed on the next line of copy and right justified with the Route sign (Figure 4‑38).
Figure 4-38. Arrow placement with Route sign.
For left-exit Exit Direction signs with one destination message, the arrow should be slanted at 45 degrees from the horizontal to the left, located on the last line of copy, and left justified with the destination message (Figure 4‑39).
Figure 4-39. Arrow placement with one word message for a left exit.
If there are restrictions on the width of the sign, and the roadway designation or type (street, road, etc.) must be located on a separate line of copy, the roadway designation should be left justified on the top word message. The arrow should be placed on its own line of copy and left justified with the word messages (Figure 4‑40).
Figure 4-40. Arrow placement with roadway designation on the second line of copy.
For an Exit Direction sign with two lines of copy, the arrow should be placed on the next line of copy and right justified with the longest destination message (Figure 4‑41).
Figure 4-41. Preferred arrow placement with two word messages.
If the arrow is placed to the right of a two word message destination, the longest word message and arrow should be laterally spaced to determine the width of the sign. The arrow should then be centered on the last line of copy or centered on the sign horizontal axis (Figure 4‑42 and Figure 4‑43).
Figure 4-42. Arrow placement with two word messages, longest word message on the last line of copy, and arrow located to the right of the messages.
Figure 4-43. Arrow placement with two word messages, longest word message on the top line of copy, and arrow located to the right of the messages
On overhead signs where it is desired to indicate a lane to be followed, the arrow should point downward toward the center of that lane (Figure 4‑44). Downward arrows should not be used unless an arrow can be pointed to each lane that can be used to reach the destination shown on the sign. It is preferred that the arrow be centered horizontally on the sign (Figure 4‑44); however, the arrow does not have to be centered on the sign as long as it can point to the travel lane (Figure 4‑45)
Figure 4-44. Downward arrow placement when sign is located in the center of the travel lane.
Figure 4-45. Downward arrow placement when sign is not located in the center of the travel lane.
Sign design and arrow placement details associated with Exit Only panel signs are presented in the
Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas
.