Route Sign and Cardinal Direction Placement
Route signs should be located either above or beside a word message. When placed above a word message, the Route sign should be centered with the word message on the vertical axis of the sign (Figure 4‑26).
Figure 4-26. Route sign placement.
Cardinal directions and words or abbreviations such as BUSINESS, ALT, JCT, and TO may be placed either above or beside the Route sign. The preferred placement is to the side of the Route sign, unless there are two Route signs on the same panel. When placed to the side of a Route sign, the top of the message should be on the same horizontal line as the top of the Route sign (Figure 4‑27). Cardinal directions or the word BUSINESS should be located to the right of the Route sign.
Figure 4-27. Route sign and cardinal direction placement.
The JCT and TO should be located to the left of the Route sign (Figure 4‑28).
Figure 4-28. Route sign and TO placement.
When a cardinal direction is placed above the Route sign, the message should be centered about the vertical axis of the shield (Figure 4‑29).
Figure 4-29. Cardinal direction placement when located above Route sign.
For two Route signs on a sign, the cardinal direction and other words should be located above and centered on the Route sign (Figure 4‑30). If the width of the cardinal direction line of copy is greater than that of the Route signs, the cardinal direction line of copy should be centered accordingly, and the Route signs should be centered to the respective cardinal directions.
Figure 4-30. Placement of two Route signs and cardinal directions.
If two Route signs with the same cardinal direction are on a sign, a cardinal direction should be associated with each Route sign (Figure 4‑31).
Figure 4-31. Placement of two Route signs with the same cardinal direction.
If the arrow is the only character in the bottom line of copy, the Route sign should be centered on the vertical axis of the sign (Figure 4‑32).
Figure 4-32. Route sign placement above an arrow on the last line of copy.
If the arrow is located on the word message below the Route sign, the word message and arrow should be correctly spaced and centered on the vertical axis of the sign. The Route sign should also be centered on the sign (Figure 4‑33). Arrow placement on Exit Direction signs is discussed later in this section.
Figure 4-33. Route sign placement above a word message and an arrow on the last line of copy.
Route signs should be used for all numbered routes on interchange sequence series signs. Minimum shield heights should be 36 inches for Interstate routes, and 24 inches for U.S. and state routes.
The placement of Route signs on interchange sequence is based on lateral border spacing and has equal edge-spacing left and right for all message lines, regardless of message length. Sequence signs must list street names left most, followed by Route signs, cardinal directions, and distances. The longest destination message and mileage numeral should be correctly spaced laterally and be centered on the sign. The remaining word messages should be left justified with the longest destination message, and the associated mileage numerals should be right justified (Figure 4‑34).
Figure 4-34. Route sign placement on an interchange sequence sign.