Work zone signs
Detour sign
The road ahead is closed and traffic is being routed another way.
- Wide rectangle
- Orange
- MUTCD M4-8P
How to recognize it
Shape and background first
ShapeWide rectanglea wide rectangle
BackgroundOrangeorange, used only for temporary work zones
FamilyWork zone signsFederal designation M4-8P in the MUTCD.
Federal designation M4-8P in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: M4-8P
MUTCD Section 6I.02
Conventional road size: 24 x 12 in
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 6, Table 6I-1, verified 2026-09-26.
On the test
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
Detour signs are orange because they are temporary. A permanent alternate route would be a green guide sign instead.
Same family
