Freeway Management and Operations Handbook

Description of Figure 6-3: Exit / Lane Drop Markings (Figure 3B-8 / Sheet 1 from MUTCD)

This figure illustrates two examples of channelizing line applications for exit ramp markings, (a) and (b), shown as vertical highways.

Example (a), parallel deceleration lane, shows the two lanes of one direction of a divided highway. Arrows indicate that the direction of travel is from the bottom of the figure to the top. A solid yellow line is to the left of the left most through lane, a solid white line separates the rightmost travel lane from the right shoulder, and the through lanes are separated from each other by a broken white line. Near the bottom of the figure, a deceleration lane is added to the right of the two through lanes, leading to a right exit ramp. The deceleration lane runs parallel to the through lanes and is separated from them by a dotted and then broken white line. Notes show "broken lane markings for one-half length of full-width deceleration lane" and "optional dotted extension of lane line." At the "theoretical gore point," the broken white line becomes wide solid white "channelizing lines" that then becomes a white triangle in front of the gore. A note identifies this as a "neutral area" with white "optional chevron markings" added. The exit ramp curves away to the right.

Example (b), tapered deceleration lane, shows the two lanes of one direction of a divided highway. Arrows indicate that the direction of travel is from the bottom of the figure to the top. A solid yellow line is to the left of the leftmost through lanes, a solid white line separates the rightmost travel lane from the right shoulder , and the through lanes are separated from each other by a broken white line. Near the bottom of the figure, a deceleration lane is added to the right of the two through lanes, leading to a right exit ramp. The tapered deceleration lane immediately angles away from the through lanes and is separated from them by a dotted white line. A note shows this as an "optional dotted extension of right edge line." At the "theoretical gore point," the dotted white line becomes wide solid white "channelizing lines" and another wide solid white line angles off along the left edge of the exit ramp, forming an elongated white triangle in front of the gore. A note identifies this as a "neutral area" with white "optional chevron markings" added. The exit ramp angles off to the right.

A legend shows a black arrow indicating the direction of travel in the lanes.