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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Detour and Road Closed Signs Explained
When a road is closed for work or an incident, a set of orange (and sometimes pink) signs tells you what is closed and how to get around it. Here is what the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says each detour and road closed sign means and where it goes.
W20-2the orange DETOUR warning sign placed in advance of a detour
R11-2the ROAD CLOSED sign, which should be installed on or above a Type 3 Barricade
Black on orangethe colors of warning and temporary guide signs in work zones
M4-8athe END DETOUR sign that may show the detour has ended
The short answer
A DETOUR sign means the route ahead sends you over a different road to get around a work zone or closure. The orange DETOUR (W20-2) warning sign comes first, in advance of the detour; along the detour, DETOUR plaques, DETOUR signs and Detour Arrow signs mark the route, and the MUTCD says detours should be clearly signed over their entire length so road users can return to the original highway. A ROAD CLOSED (R11-2) sign means the road is closed to all road users except contractors' equipment or officially authorized vehicles.
Detours and work zone sign colors
Detour: a temporary rerouting of road users onto an existing highway in order to avoid a temporary traffic control (TTC) zone. The MUTCD says detours should be clearly signed over their entire length so that road users can easily use existing highways to return to the original highway.
Diversion: a temporary rerouting of road users onto a temporary highway or alignment placed around the work area.
Orange: except where the MUTCD provides otherwise, TTC warning signs shall be diamond-shaped with a black legend and border on an orange background. The Grade Crossing Advance Warning (W10-1) sign is the one exception named in that shape-and-color rule; it stays black on yellow. Additional temporary guide signs used in TTC zones shall also be black on orange, and fluorescent orange may be used wherever orange is required.
Pink: warning, guide and detour signs used for TTC incident management situations may have a black legend and border on a fluorescent pink background.
Yellow: existing yellow warning signs that are still applicable may remain in place, and in emergencies available yellow warning signs may be used if orange or fluorescent pink signs are not at hand.
At night: all signs used at night shall be either retroreflective or illuminated to show the same shape and similar color both day and night.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 6B.09, 6F.01, 6H.01, 6I.01 and 6I.02, read November 4, 2026.
Advance warning signs
These orange warning signs come before the detour or closure. Each may show a distance legend of XX FEET, XX MILES or AHEAD:
| Sign | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| ROAD (STREET) WORK (W20-1) | A general warning of obstructions or restrictions. It should be located in advance of the work space or any detour, on the road where the work is taking place. |
| DETOUR (W20-2) | Should be used in advance of a road user detour over a different roadway or route. |
| ROAD (STREET) CLOSED (W20-3) | Should be used in advance of the point where a highway is closed to all road users, or to all but local road users. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 6H.03 to 6H.05, read November 4, 2026. Where a distance is not part of the message, a supplemental plaque with the distance may be mounted immediately below the sign on the same support (Section 6H.01).
Road Closed and Local Traffic Only signs
These are regulatory signs. The MUTCD says each should be accompanied by appropriate warning and detour signing:
| Sign | What it means and where it goes |
|---|---|
| ROAD CLOSED (R11-2) | Should be used when the roadway is closed to all road users except contractors' equipment or officially authorized vehicles. It should be installed at or near the center of the roadway on or above a Type 3 Barricade that closes the roadway. |
| STREET CLOSED (R11-2a), BRIDGE OUT (R11-2b), PATH CLOSED (R11-2c) | May be used instead of a Road Closed sign where they apply. |
| ROAD CLOSED XX MILES AHEAD, LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY (R11-3) | Used where road users follow a detour to avoid a closure some distance beyond the sign, but local road users can use the roadway up to the closure. This is the legend the MUTCD says should be used in rural areas; STREET CLOSED (R11-3a) or BRIDGE OUT (R11-3b) may be used instead where they apply. |
| ROAD (STREET) CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC (R11-4) | May be used in urban areas, as may the legend ROAD CLOSED, LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY. The words BRIDGE OUT, BRIDGE CLOSED or STREET CLOSED may be substituted for ROAD CLOSED on the R11-4 sign where applicable. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 6G.04 and 6G.05, read November 4, 2026. The MUTCD says Road Closed signs shall not be used where traffic is kept moving through the zone with fewer lanes, or where the actual closure is some distance beyond the sign.
Signs along the detour
The MUTCD says each detour shall be adequately marked with standard temporary route signs and destination signs. These signs and plaques mark the route:
| Sign | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Detour Arrow (M4-10) | May be used where a detour route has been established. It should normally be mounted just below the ROAD CLOSED sign, with a horizontal arrow pointing right or left as required. |
| DETOUR plaque (M4-8P) | May be mounted at the top of a route sign assembly to mark a temporary route that detours from a highway, bypasses a section closed by a TTC zone, and rejoins the highway beyond it. |
| DETOUR sign (M4-9) | Should be used for unnumbered highways, for emergencies, for short periods, or where road users are guided over relatively short distances along the detour and back without route signs. A street name sign should be placed above it, or the street name included on it. |
| END DETOUR (M4-8a) or END plaque (M4-8bP) | May be used to show that the detour has ended. On a numbered highway, the END DETOUR sign should be mounted above a route sign after the downstream end of the detour. |
| Pedestrian and bicycle detour signs (M4-9a, M4-9b, M4-9c) | The Pedestrian/Bicyclist Detour (M4-9a) sign should be used where a pedestrian/bicyclist detour route has been established because a pedestrian/bicycle facility is closed to through traffic; if used, it shall have an arrow pointing in the appropriate direction, on the sign face or on a supplemental plaque. The Pedestrian Detour (M4-9b) or Bicyclist Detour (M4-9c) sign may be used where only a pedestrian or only a bicyclist detour route has been established. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 6I.01 and 6I.02, read November 4, 2026. Permanent directional or street name signs used with detour signing may stay white on green (Section 6I.01).
Sign sizes
Sizes in inches (width x height) from the MUTCD tables:
| Sign | Conventional road | Freeway or expressway | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Work, Detour, Road Closed warning signs (W20-1, W20-2, W20-3) | 36 x 36 | 48 x 48 | 30 x 30 |
| Road Closed (R11-2 series) | 48 x 30 | — | — |
| Road Closed, Local Traffic Only (R11-3 series, R11-4) | 60 x 30 | — | — |
| Detour plaque (M4-8P) | 24 x 12 | 30 x 15 | — |
| Detour sign (M4-9) | 30 x 24 | 48 x 36 | — |
| Detour Arrow (M4-10) | 48 x 18 | — | — |
| End Detour (M4-8a) | 24 x 18 | 24 x 18 | — |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Tables 6G-1, 6H-1 and 6I-1 and Section 6F.01, read November 4, 2026. Minimum sizes are only for low-volume rural roads, local streets or roads with operating speeds of 30 mph or less, and larger signs may be used for legibility or emphasis.
Keep your car ready for the long way around
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.
Detour and road closed sign FAQ
What does a DETOUR sign mean?
The orange DETOUR (W20-2) warning sign tells you that a detour over a different roadway or route is ahead; the MUTCD says it should be used in advance of a road user detour over a different roadway or route. Its distance legend may read XX FEET, XX MILES or AHEAD. Along the detour itself, guide signs such as the DETOUR (M4-8P) plaque, the DETOUR (M4-9) sign and the Detour Arrow (M4-10) sign mark the way.
What is the difference between a detour and a diversion?
In the MUTCD, a detour is a temporary rerouting of road users onto an existing highway in order to avoid a temporary traffic control (TTC) zone. A diversion is a temporary rerouting of road users onto a temporary highway or alignment placed around the work area.
What does a ROAD CLOSED sign mean?
The MUTCD says the ROAD CLOSED (R11-2) sign should be used when the roadway is closed to all road users except contractors' equipment or officially authorized vehicles. It should be installed at or near the center of the roadway on or above a Type 3 Barricade that closes the roadway, and should be accompanied by appropriate warning and detour signing.
What does ROAD CLOSED LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY mean?
Local Traffic Only signs should be used where road users follow detours to avoid a closure some distance beyond the sign, but where local road users can use the roadway to the point of closure. In rural areas the legend should read ROAD CLOSED XX MILES AHEAD, LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY (R11-3); in urban areas a ROAD (STREET) CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC (R11-4) sign or the legend ROAD CLOSED, LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY may be used.
Why are detour and road work signs orange?
Except for a few cases the MUTCD lists, warning signs in temporary traffic control zones shall be diamond-shaped with a black legend and border on an orange background. Additional temporary guide signs in these zones shall have a black legend and border on an orange background. Fluorescent orange may be used wherever orange is required.
What does a pink detour sign mean?
The MUTCD says warning signs, guide signs and detour signs used for TTC incident management situations may have a black legend and border on a fluorescent pink background.
How do I know when a detour ends?
The END DETOUR (M4-8a) sign or the END (M4-8bP) plaque may be used to show that the detour has ended. When the END DETOUR sign is used on a numbered highway, the MUTCD says it should be mounted above a route sign after the downstream end of the detour.
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 6B.09, 6F.01, 6G.02 to 6G.05, 6H.01, 6H.03 to 6H.05, 6I.01 and 6I.02; Tables 6G-1, 6H-1 and 6I-1), 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