R11-3a Street Closed - Local Traffic Only
A regulatory sign stating that the street is closed except to local traffic, with the word legend STREET CLOSED / LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY (a distance line is added on the advance version). Through traffic must use a detour; residents, businesses, and deliveries within the closure may proceed.
- Sign Name
- Street Closed - Local Traffic Only
- General Meaning
- A regulatory sign stating that the street is closed except to local traffic, with the word legend STREET CLOSED / LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY (a distance line is added on the advance version).
- MUTCD Code
- R11-3a
- Typical Use
- At the closure point (activity area), typically on a barricade.
- Sign Category
- Road Closure Signs
Specifications
- Standard Shape
- Rectangle (Horizontal)
- Background Color
- White
- Legend / Symbol
- Black legend
- Border
- Black
- Reflectivity
- High Intensity (for nighttime visibility)
- Compliance
- MUTCD / CA MUTCD
Standard Sizes (inches)
- Conventional Rectangle (Horizontal)24"–48" tall
- Expressway Rectangle (Horizontal)36"–60" tall
- Freeway Rectangle (Horizontal)48"–72" tall
Material / Application Notes
Street closures that preserve local property access. Confirm placement and supplemental plaques against the applicable CA MUTCD standard.
View this sign on the Federal MUTCD (FHWA)California Notes
California-specific application notes and adoptions may differ. Review California requirements where applicable.
What It Means / When This Sign Is Used
In the field, R11-3a Street Closed - Local Traffic Only is typically positioned at the at the closure point (activity area), typically on a barricade. Common deployments include street closures that preserve local property access; advance sign carries a distance line (e.g. X MILES AHEAD); used with detour route markers for through traffic. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Learn more about Street Closed - Local Traffic Only sign requirementsWhen & Where It's Used
- Street closures that preserve local property access
- Advance sign carries a distance line (e.g. X MILES AHEAD)
- Used with detour route markers for through traffic
Placement on a Traffic Control Plan
- Where it sits
- At the closure point (activity area), typically on a barricade.
- CA MUTCD reference
- CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs) and Part 6F
- Typical minimum size
- 48" × 30"
California / Field Use Notes
Used in California where a street is closed to through traffic but local access to properties inside the closure is maintained, typically with a distance legend on the advance sign and detour route markers for through traffic.
In Los Angeles, full closures typically require coordination with LADOT for signal timing, LA County Metro where transit routes are affected, and public-notice requirements under City or county ordinance. On state highways in LA County, Caltrans District 7 reviews the encroachment permit; county roads are permitted by LA County DPW. Confirm closure limits match the approved permit exactly.
Common Plan Review Comments
- Closure limits on the plan do not match the approved permit exactly.
- Closure not backed by advance warning and a signed detour.
- Local-access provisions unclear (especially for ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC).
- Barricade type (e.g., Type III) not specified.
Confirm the local-access provision, the distance legend on the advance sign, and that through traffic is detoured. Public Ready reviews local-access closure signing.
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Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements. Local jurisdictions may impose additional requirements, and final selection, placement, and dimensions may require engineering judgment or agency approval. Written against California MUTCD 2026 (effective January 18, 2026) and the Federal MUTCD 11th Edition. Official sources last verified June 2026.
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