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Road Closed to Thru Traffic sign

Through traffic is not permitted, but the road is open for local traffic up to the point of closure.

What to do

Use the road only to reach a destination before the closure; otherwise take another route.

Go past this sign only if your destination is before the closure; otherwise follow the detour.

Where it's used

Section 2B.63 says ROAD CLOSED—LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY (R11-3) or ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC (R11-4) should be used where through traffic is barred, or the closure is some way beyond the sign, but the road stays open to local traffic up to the closure point. It is a 60 x 30 inch horizontal black-on-white rectangle and must be preceded by the advance road-closed warning sign and, if used, a detour warning sign. Section 6G.05 says R11-4 suits urban areas, and BRIDGE OUT, BRIDGE CLOSED or STREET CLOSED may replace the words ROAD CLOSED.

Don't confuse it with

  • Road Closed: ROAD CLOSED bars all traffic except authorized vehicles, while this sign still lets local traffic in as far as the closure.
  • Detour: The DETOUR sign marks the route through traffic should follow instead.
Road Closed to Thru Traffic sign
Type
Regulatory signs
Shape
Horizontal rectangle
Colors
white, black
MUTCD code
R11-4
MUTCD section
2B.63

On state permit tests

Our questions for 1 state ask about this sign, including Idaho.

Test yourself

What does a 'Road Closed to Thru Traffic' sign mean? (Idaho practice test)

  • The work zone is open only to local traffic with a reason to stop within it
  • Trucks only
  • The road is open to everyone
  • No one may enter
Show answer

The work zone is open only to local traffic with a reason to stop within it. Only local residential or commercial traffic with a reason to stop in the work zone may enter; continuous trips through are prohibited.

More regulatory signs

Road signs testAll road signs

From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th edition, section 2B.63. Sign image: public domain, source.