MUTCD W3-8: Advance Ramp Control Signal Signs
The W3-8 sign is covered in Section 2C.37 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition. Below are the provisions from that section that describe when the sign is used and how it is placed.
What it means and when it is used
- Option · Permitted (may)A RAMP METER AHEAD (W3-7) sign (see Figure 2C-8 ) may be used to warn road users that a freeway entrance ramp is metered and that they will encounter a ramp control signal (see Chapter 4P).
- Guidance · Recommended (should)When the ramp control signals are operated only during certain periods of the day, a RAMP METERED WHEN FLASHING (W3-8) sign (see Figure 2C-8 ) should be installed in advance of the ramp control signal near the entrance to the ramp, or on the arterial on the approach to the ramp, to alert road users to the presence and operation of ramp meters.
Where to read the rest
- Full text: MUTCD Section 2C.37: Advance Ramp Control Signal Signs
- Minimum sign sizes by roadway type are in the size section for this chapter: Section 2C.03
- Mounting height, lateral offset and retroreflectivity for any sign: MUTCD sign placement guide
Related signs in Section 2C.37
Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition (Federal Highway Administration, December 2023, public domain). Excerpts are shortened and shown out of context; read the full section before specifying a sign. Your state may still be operating under the 2009 edition or a state supplement. Official manual: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov.