Work zone signs
Road Work Ahead sign
Construction or maintenance work is taking place on the road ahead.
- Diamond
- Orange
- MUTCD W20-1
Shape and background first
Federal designation W20-1 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. This is the written version of the orange diamond warning, spelling ROAD WORK AHEAD out in words. What it tells you about is the work itself, construction or maintenance on the road in front of you, and it says nothing either way about whether anybody is out there working at the moment you drive past.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: W20-1
MUTCD Section 6H.03
Conventional road size: 36 x 36 in
Guidance: When several advance warnings are needed for road work, make ROAD WORK AHEAD the first sign drivers encounter.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 6, Table 6H-1; Section 6H.03; Section 6H.02, verified 2026-09-26.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
Orange is used only for temporary work zones. Speeding fines are typically doubled when workers are present, and a work zone speed limit is a legal limit, not an advisory one.
