Detour sign
Marks a temporary detour route; used with arrows to guide traffic around a closure.
What to do
Follow the DETOUR signs until you are back on your original route.
Follow every orange DETOUR marker and route number until you see END DETOUR, rather than guessing your own way back.
The 11th Edition designates the DETOUR plaque M4-8P (Table 6I-1); Section 2D.25 only refers to Chapter 6I.
Where it's used
Section 2D.25 sends readers to Chapter 6I, where Section 6I.02 says the DETOUR (M4-8P) plaque may top a route sign assembly to mark a temporary route that leaves a highway, bypasses a closed section and rejoins it. It is a small horizontal black-on-orange plaque (24 x 12 inches on conventional roads), and every detour must be marked with standard temporary route and destination signs. Related signs are the DETOUR (M4-9) arrow sign for unnumbered roads, the Detour Arrow (M4-10) under a ROAD CLOSED sign, and END DETOUR (M4-8a).
Don't confuse it with
- Detour Ahead: The DETOUR AHEAD diamond warns that a detour is coming, while this plaque marks the detour route itself.
- Road Closed: ROAD CLOSED marks where you may not continue; the DETOUR signs show the way around.
- Type
- Work zone signs
- Shape
- Horizontal rectangle
- Colors
- orange, black
- MUTCD code
- M4-8P
- MUTCD section
- 6I.02
More work zone signs
Road Work Ahead
Detour Ahead
Road Closed Ahead
One Lane Road Ahead
Right (Left) Lane Closed Ahead
Flagger
WorkersFrom the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th edition, section 6I.02. Sign image: public domain, source.