VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1SECTION INCLUDES
A.Variable Message Sign (VMS)
1.Includes installation of State furnished equipment.
B.Integration and testing of VMS to provide a complete and operational
VMS.
1.2RELATED SECTIONS
A.Section 13595: ITS Integration, Inspection, Testing, and Acceptance
B.Section 16530: Electrical Power
1.3REFERENCES Not Used
1.4DEFINITIONS
A.Freeway Type I VMS – A full size Walk-in VMS with 18 inch characters
mounted on either an Overhead VMS Structure or Cantilever VMS Structure.
B.Roadside or Surface Street Type II VMS – A smaller VMS with 12 inch
characters mounted on either a Cantilever VMS Structure or Butterfly VMS Structure.
C.Roadside or Surface Street VMS – A variable message sign typically with
18 inch characters mounted on static sign supports.
1.5SUBMITTALS Not Used
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1STATE FURNISHED EQUIPMENT
A.VMS
Variable Message Sign
B.VMS Controller
2.2DATA SURGE SUPPRESSORS
A.Use PolyPhaser NX4-60-1G or equivalent products from DITEK or CITEL
with the following minimum specifications:
1.Protects Pairs 1-8
2.Protects all Pins (8)
3.Maximum Surge of 100 mA
4.Turn on at 10 mA
5.Typical Capacitance of 55 pF
6.Series Resistance less than 0.02 Ω
7.0 to 100 percent Humidity
8.Operates in -40 degrees F to 185 degrees F temperatures
2.3VMS CONTROLLER CABLE
A.Use Multimode fiber optic cable produced by one of the following: Corning
006T8F-31180-29, AFL KR006L531801, Commscope D-006-LN-5L- F06NS, or an approved equivalent.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1PREPARATION
A.Contact the Engineer at least 14 calendar days in advance to schedule
pick up of State furnished equipment.
3.2INSTALLATION
A.Prepare VMS for installation. Remove shipping supports, connect and
arrange all wiring and cables, and verify all parts are properly seated and functional.
B.Mount the VMS to the support structure. Follow manufacturer’s
recommendations for bolt torque requirements and tightening.
C.Install 1½ inch liquid tight flexible metal conduit, type LFMC and fittings
between the sign and sign support inserts. Use silicone seal to provide a watertight seal around all fittings.
Variable Message Sign
D.Make final adjustments to sign horizontal and vertical angles and aim VMS
in the direction of on-coming vehicles.
1.Freeway Type I VMS
a.Orient the sign perpendicular to the viewing angle of
motorists.
b.Provide clear message legibility 800 ft before the sign.
2.Roadside or Surface Street Type II VMS
a.Orient the sign and structure according to the plans.
b.Adjust the sign angles to meet the motorist’s eyes.
c.Provide clear message legibility 500 ft before the sign.
3.Roadside or Surface Street VMS
a.Orient the sign and structure according to the plans.
b.Adjust the sign angles to meet the motorist’s eyes.
c.Provide clear message legibility 800 ft before the sign or
according to the plans.
E.Install all wiring as shown.
1.Protect existing conductors while installing cables and conductors.
2.Provide and install data surge suppressors at the VMS Controller
and ITS Cabinet when connected by conductive communications cable.
F.VMS - Install power cabling and terminate in VMS cabinet as shown and
according to VMS manufacturer instructions.
1.Freeway Type 1 VMS
a.Daktronics VF-2020 walk in VMS
b.Power requirements 240 VAC @ 30 AMP (No smaller than 8
AWG)
2.Roadside or Surface Street Type II VMS
a.Daktronics VF-2024 VMS
b.Power requirements 240 VAC @ 10 AMP (No smaller than
10 AWG)
3.Roadside or Surface Street VMS
a.Install according to the plans and the manufacturer’s
requirements.
G.Furnish and install all incidental items such as Cat 5e cable, wire
connectors, grommets, and electrical terminations necessary to make the VMS complete.
Variable Message Sign
H.Install State furnished VMS Controller and Contractor furnished controller
cable between VMS and VMS controller as shown and according to the following requirements:
1.Freeway Type I and Roadside or Surface Street Type II VMS
a.Install State furnished VMS Controller and Contractor
furnished 50/125µm MM OM3 six-strand fiber cable with a minimum pulling strength of 300 lb. for Daktronics signs. Install these items according to manufacturer’s recommendations. 1) Install LC connectors on both ends of cable for Daktronics signs. 2) Install four fibers to the back of each VMS controller. Plug blue fiber 1 and orange fiber 2, into Port A. Plug green fiber 3 and brown fiber 4 into Port B. 3) Secure all fibers. 4) Use protective caps on all unused fibers inside the sign to keep them clean. 5) Use the fiber standard code for the fiber patch panel in the cabinet. (1 blue, 2 orange, 3 green, 4 brown, 5 slate, 6 white)
2.Roadside or Surface Street VMS
a.Install manufacturer’s controller if required and provide
communications cable that meets or exceeds the manufacturer’s recommendations.
I.Clear equipment exterior of all loose rust and mill scale, dirt, oil, grease,
and other foreign substances.
3.3VMS GROUNDING
A.Bond concrete encased grounding electrode to VMS structure where it
exists. Refer to Section 16530.
3.4ITS INTEGRATION, INSPECTION, TESTING, AND ACCEPTANCE
A.Test all cable fibers with a power meter at a frequency of 1300nm with a
loss of no more than 2.0 dB based on the distance 300 ft.
B.Follow the integration, inspection, testing, and acceptance process
according to Section 13595.
END OF SECTION
Variable Message Sign
Utah revises spec sections through supplementals and new editions. We check this one every week and email you the day it changes. Free, no account.
Source: Utah Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 1248–1251 of 1,331.
View official source ↗