Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration sanctioned and adopted the 2003 edition of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD) on Nov. 20, 2003. The Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted the 2003 edition of the MUTCD and any revisions on March 17, 2005.

The 2003 MUTCD is now the standard for maintenance, operations and construction of traffic control devices for all highways under the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) jurisdiction, with one exception. That exception is “Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control,” which has been replaced by the “2005 Virginia Work Area Protection Manual” (WAPM). 

Adoption of the 2003 MUTCD does not affect the status of the 1980 edition of the “Virginia Supplement to the MUTCD,” which remains in effect.  If there is a conflict between the 2003 federal manual and the 1980 Virginia supplement, the federal manual has precedence.

VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division has created a document highlighting the most significant changes in the 2003 MUTCD that are associated with the design and operation of the agency’s roads.  Many of the changes have phase-in compliance dates, which are shown in red at the end of each applicable section. That document is here.

This document is not a compilation of all the changes and does not address Part 6, “Temporary Traffic Control,” or Part 10, “Traffic Controls for Highway-Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings.”  

It is recommended that anyone responsible for designing, operating or maintaining traffic control devices refer to the MUTCD to gain a full understanding of the guidelines.

A complete list of compliance dates, with brief explanations, may be found at:  http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-compliance.htm

The Federal Register provides a detailed explanation of the final rules which result in changes to the MUTCD.  It is located at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/res-notices.htm

"The Virginia Supplement to the MUTCD" is not available electronically. Copies may be obtained by contacting Travis Glenn at (804) 786-7611. The “2005 Virginia Work Area Protection Manual” and other Traffic Engineering Division documents and initiatives may be found at http://www­.virginiadot.org/business/trafficeng-default.asp