W20-3 Road Closed Ahead
Warns that the road ahead is closed and that through travel will not be possible, giving drivers time to turn or follow a detour before reaching the closure.
- Sign Name
- Road Closed Ahead
- General Meaning
- Warns that the road ahead is closed and that through travel will not be possible, giving drivers time to turn or follow a detour before reaching the closure.
- MUTCD Code
- W20-3
- Official designation
- Road Closed (with distance) — FHWA SHS 2024, App. B5-24
- Typical Use
- Advance warning area, ahead of the work.
- Sign Category
- Warning Signs
Specifications
- Standard Shape
- Diamond
- Background Color
- Orange
- Legend / Symbol
- Black legend
- Border
- Black
- Reflectivity
- High Intensity (for nighttime visibility)
- Compliance
- MUTCD / CA MUTCD
Standard Sizes (inches)
- 30 in Diamond30" × 30"
- 36 in Diamond36" × 36"
- 48 in Diamond48" × 48"
- 60 in Diamond60" × 60"
Material / Application Notes
Advance warning ahead of a full roadway closure. 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, W20-3 Road Closed Ahead is typically positioned at the advance warning area, ahead of the work. Common deployments include advance warning ahead of a full roadway closure; used with R11-2 / R11-3a and detour markers; common on utility cuts, paving, and emergency closures. 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 Road Closed Ahead sign requirementsWhen & Where It's Used
- Advance warning ahead of a full roadway closure
- Used with R11-2 / R11-3a and detour markers
- Common on utility cuts, paving, and emergency closures
Placement on a Traffic Control Plan
- Where it sits
- Advance warning area, ahead of the work.
- CA MUTCD reference
- CA MUTCD Part 6 (Temporary Traffic Control), Chapter 6F; warning-sign design in Part 2C
- Typical minimum size
- 48" × 48" on conventional roads; 60" × 60" on expressways and freeways
California / Field Use Notes
Placed in advance of a closure in a California TTC zone, working together with regulatory ROAD CLOSED (R11-2) signing and detour route markers at the closure point.
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 warning is paired with regulatory closure signing and a viable detour or local-access plan. Public Ready reviews closure and detour coordination.
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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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