Horizontal Arrangement -

In a horizontal arrangement, all units are side-by-side. The horizontal arrangement is the best arrangement from a driver information standpoint, as the units are arranged in a manner that relates to the directions that a driver must turn (that is, a unit requiring a left turn is on the left side). Figure 3-17 provides examples of horizontal guide sign unit arrangements.

Vertical Arrangement -

In a vertical arrangement, all units are top-to-bottom. Vertical arrangements may be used when the available width for an assembly is restricted. When units are arranged vertically, additional space should be provided between units to help the driver distinguish between directions (see Layout Dimensions for Assemblies, page 3-27). For route signs of the same color, directional arrows and cardinal direction plaques are omitted when redundant. For example, if a left turn heads in the same cardinal direction for 2 highways, only 1 cardinal direction and 1 directional arrow are needed for the 2 route signs. Figure 3-18 provides examples of vertical guide sign unit arrangements.

Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Arrangements -

When there are three or more units, the assembly may be arranged in a manner that includes both side-by-side and top-to-bottom arrangements. To the extent possible, units should be arranged horizontally by direction. Units that share a common direction should be arranged vertically. In some cases, it may be necessary to include multiple directions in a single vertical stack. Figure 3-19 illustrates different possibilities for combination arrangements involving 3 or 4 units.