La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § III-145

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

Section III-145 - Directional Signs

A.Directional signs are those containing directional information about public places owned or operated by federal, state or local governments or their agencies; publicly or privately owned natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational and religious sites; and areas of natural scenic beauty or areas naturally suited for outdoor recreation.

B. Standards for Directional Signs

1. The following criteria apply only to directional signs.

a. General. The following signs are prohibited:

i. signs advertising activities which are illegal under federal or state laws or regulations in effect at the location of those signs or at the location of those advertised activities;

ii. signs located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic;

iii. signs which are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features;

iv. obsolete signs;

v. signs which are structurally unsafe or in disrepair;

vi. signs which move or have any animated or moving parts;

vii. signs located in rest areas, on park land or in scenic areas.

b. Size. No sign shall exceed the following limits:

i. maximum area-150 square feet;

ii. maximum height-20 feet;

iii. maximum length-20 feet;

iv. All dimensions include border and trim, but exclude supports.

c. Lighting. Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following provisions:

i. signs which contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited;

ii. signs which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled way of an Interstate or primary highway or which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited;

iii. no sign may be so illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of or obscure an official traffic sign, device, or signal.

d. Spacing

i. Each location of a directional sign must be approved by the department.

ii. No directional sign may be located within 2000 feet of an interchange or intersection at grade along the Interstate system or other freeways (measured along the Interstate or freeway from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main traveled way.)

iii. No directional sign may be located within 2000 feet of a safety rest area, parkland or scenic area.

iv. No two directional signs facing the same direction of travel shall be spaced less than one mile apart.

v. Not more than three directional signs pertaining to the same activity and facing in the same direction of travel may be erected along a single route approaching the activity.

vi. Signs located adjacent to the Interstate system shall be within 75 air miles of the activity.

vii. Signs located adjacent to the primary system shall be within 50 air miles of the activity.

e. Message Content

i. The message on the directional signs shall be limited to the identification of the attraction or activity and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the attraction, such as mileage, route numbers or exit numbers.

ii. Descriptive words or phrases and pictorial or photographic representations of the activity or its environs are prohibited.

f. Selection Method and Criteria

i. Privately owned activities or attractions eligible for directional signing are limited to the following:

(a). natural phenomena;

(b). scenic attractions;

(c). historic, educational, cultural, scientific and religious sites; and

(d). outdoor recreational area.

ii. Privately owned attractions or activities must be nationally or regionally known and of outstanding interest to the traveling public, as determined by the department.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § III-145

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Highways, LR 2:192 (June 1976), amended LR 37:919 (March 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 48:461 et seq.