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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Center Turn Lanes Explained
Many busy streets have a lane down the middle that drivers in both directions use to turn left. Traffic engineers call it a two-way left-turn lane. Here is what the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says about how it is marked and signed.
Both directionsleft-turning vehicles from either direction share the lane
Solid + brokenthe yellow line pair on each side, broken line toward the turn lane
R3-9a / R3-9bthe overhead and post-mounted TWO-WAY LEFT TURN ONLY signs
Not to intersectionswhere the MUTCD says the markings should stop
The short answer
A center turn lane, which the MUTCD calls a two-way left-turn lane, is described as a non-reversible lane reserved for left-turning vehicles in either direction and not used for passing, overtaking or through travel. It is edged on each side by a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line, with the broken line toward the turn lane, and white two-way left-turn arrows should be marked near its start. TWO-WAY LEFT TURN ONLY signs should be used with the markings, and the markings should not extend to intersections.
What a two-way left-turn lane is
How the MUTCD describes it: a Two-Way Left-Turn-Only sign should be used with the required pavement markings where a non-reversible lane is reserved for the exclusive use of left-turning vehicles in either direction and is not used for passing, overtaking or through travel.
Why the lines are yellow: in the MUTCD, yellow longitudinal markings delineate the separation of traffic traveling in opposite directions, the left-hand edge of divided highways, one-way streets and ramps, and the separation of two-way left-turn lanes and reversible lanes from other lanes. White longitudinal lines delineate the separation of traffic flows in the same direction and the right-hand edge of the roadway.
How it changes the center line: on undivided two-way roads with four or more lanes always available to moving traffic, the center line shall be a double solid yellow line, except where a reversible lane or a two-way left-turn lane is present.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.32, 3A.03 and 3B.01, read November 4, 2026.
How it is marked
These are the markings the MUTCD sets for a two-way left-turn lane that is never operated as a reversible lane:
| Marking | What the MUTCD says |
|---|---|
| Yellow lines on each side | Shall be a normal width broken yellow line and a normal width solid yellow line, placed with the broken line toward the two-way left-turn lane and the solid line toward the adjacent traffic lane. |
| What the line patterns mean | A solid line discourages or prohibits crossing, depending on the application, and a broken line indicates a permissive condition. A normal line is 4 to 6 inches wide. |
| White two-way left-turn arrows | Should be used at or just downstream from the beginning of the lane. More may be added along the lane where engineering judgment finds they are needed to emphasize its proper use. |
| Single-direction arrows | A single-direction lane-use arrow shall not be used in a lane bordered on both sides by yellow two-way left-turn lane markings. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 3A.04 and 3B.05, read November 4, 2026.
TWO-WAY LEFT TURN ONLY signs
The MUTCD says signs should be used in conjunction with the two-way left-turn markings:
| Sign | What the MUTCD says |
|---|---|
| Two-Way Left Turn Only, overhead (R3-9a) | Should be used with the required pavement markings where a non-reversible lane is reserved for left turns in either direction. Listed at 30 x 36 inches on single-lane and multi-lane conventional roads. |
| Two-Way Left Turn Only, post-mounted (R3-9b) | May be used as an alternate to or a supplement to the overhead R3-9a sign. Listed at 24 x 36 inches on conventional roads, with an oversized 36 x 48 inch version. |
| BEGIN (R3-9cP) and END (R3-9dP) | The legend BEGIN or END may be used within the border of the sign itself, or on a plaque mounted immediately above it, to show where the condition starts or stops. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.32, 2B.33 and 3B.05 and Table 2B-1, read November 4, 2026. The MUTCD notes that signing is especially helpful where the two-way left-turn-only maneuver is new, where environmental conditions frequently obscure the pavement markings, and on streets leading into an extensive system of routes with these lanes.
Where the lane ends
Before intersections: the MUTCD says two-way left-turn lane markings should not extend to intersections. As they approach an intersection, two-way left-turn lanes may be transitioned to mandatory left-turn lanes or to painted median islands.
At railroad crossings: if the road at a grade crossing includes a two-way left-turn lane, the MUTCD says the lane should be discontinued in the immediate vicinity of the crossing, by installing median islands, by designating the lane for left turns in one direction only, or by installing yellow diagonal markings in the lane.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 3B.05 and 8A.06, read November 4, 2026.
Center turn lanes and reversible lanes
Different markings: a two-way left-turn lane covered by these rules is never operated as a reversible lane. A reversible lane, whose direction of travel changes from time to time, is edged on each side by a normal width broken double yellow line, and signs, lane-use control signals or both shall supplement its markings.
Overhead turn arrows: where lane-use control signals are used, a steady white two-way left-turn arrow over a lane means the lane is open to traffic making a left turn from either direction, but not for through travel. The MUTCD says these signals are most commonly used for reversible lane control.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 3B.04, 3B.05, 4T.01 and 4T.02, read November 4, 2026.
Keep your car ready for city traffic
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 4, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Center turn lane FAQ
What is a center turn lane?
The MUTCD calls it a two-way left-turn lane and describes it as a non-reversible lane reserved for the exclusive use of left-turning vehicles in either direction, and not used for passing, overtaking or through travel.
How do you recognize a two-way left-turn lane?
Look for a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line on each side of the center lane, with the broken line toward the turn lane and the solid line toward the adjacent traffic lane. White two-way left-turn lane-use arrows should be marked at or just after the start of the lane.
Can you pass or drive straight in a center turn lane?
The MUTCD describes the lane signed with a Two-Way Left-Turn-Only sign as one reserved for the exclusive use of left-turning vehicles in either direction and not used for passing, overtaking or through travel. Your state's traffic laws set the specific driving rules.
Which signs mark a center turn lane?
The MUTCD has two TWO-WAY LEFT TURN ONLY signs: the overhead R3-9a and the post-mounted R3-9b. The post-mounted sign may be used instead of, or in addition to, the overhead one, and the word BEGIN or END may appear on the sign or on a plaque above it.
Why does the center turn lane end before the intersection?
The MUTCD says two-way left-turn lane markings should not extend to intersections. Near an intersection the lane may change into a mandatory left-turn lane or a painted median island.
How is a center turn lane different from a reversible lane?
A two-way left-turn lane that is never operated as a reversible lane is edged by a solid and a broken yellow line. A reversible lane changes direction from time to time and is edged by a broken double yellow line, supplemented by signs, lane-use control signals or both.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a brake inspection, tire rotation and pressure check, and battery test, at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Sign descriptions are from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Revision 1 dated December 2025), read November 4, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary of national standards, not legal advice; state law sets the rules of the road where you drive. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Sections 2B.32, 2B.33, Table 2B-1, 3A.03, 3A.04, 3B.01, 3B.04, 3B.05, 4T.01, 4T.02 and 8A.06), Federal Highway Administration, Revision 1 dated December 2025 (PDF updated February 12, 2026), read November 4, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026