In a temporary work zone, detour signs are orange with a black legend so they match the rest of the construction signing and read as an active, short-term change. The Detour Ahead warning is an orange diamond. On a long-term established detour, the same black-on-orange guide format is used to route traffic.
That's the Detour Ahead sign (W20-2) — an orange diamond warning posted before the detour so drivers know a reroute is coming and can prepare to follow the markers. It's the advance warning; the rectangular arrow markers are what actually steer each turn.
Follow the arrows. After the Detour Ahead warning, a Detour arrow marker (M4-9) or directional M4-10 is posted at every turn along the route, so you simply keep following each arrow. The route loops around the closure and returns you to your original road, where an End Detour sign tells you it's over.
On a public road, a detour is part of the temporary traffic control plan under MUTCD Part 6 and is usually permitted by the road authority. It works with Road Closed at the closure and Road Work signs in the zone, using orange detour markers throughout. The contractor or agency running the work is responsible for setting it up and keeping it correct.
For people on foot, use a Pedestrian Detour sign (M4-9b); for shared bike-and-walk routes, a Bicycle/Pedestrian Detour (M4-9a). Pair them with sidewalk-closed signs and continuous barricades so the walking route is clear, safe, and accessible around the work.
Yes. For crews that move, roll-up detour signs on stands deploy fast, cone-top ConeBoss detour signs drop onto a cone, and LotBoss portable kits combine a channelizer and sign. Rigid aluminum covers a longer or permanent detour.
Yes. A custom detour sign lets you add a route name, street, or specific instruction. For a full detour setup — warning, arrow markers, End Detour, and barricades together — call our sales team at 888-343-3771 (Mon – Fri, 8:00am to 7:00pm EST) or email customerservice@smartsign.com for a bulk quote.
We make detour signs that work as a set. We highly recommend purchasing a Detour Ahead warning with arrow markers at every turn, and a End Detour at the finish so nobody gets lost between the closure and the reopening. They're used for construction, events, floods, and any closure, from orange diamond warnings to turn-by-turn arrow markers in aluminum, roll-up, and cone-top formats.
Call our sales team at 888-343-3771 and get your quote in minutes!
Mon - Fri 8:00am to 7:00pm EST
Best price guarantee. Fast, free shipping.
