W4-1 Merge
Warns that another stream of traffic merges into the roadway ahead. The symbol shows the side from which the merging traffic enters.
- Sign Name
- Merge
- MUTCD Code
- W4-1
- Sign Category
- Warning Signs
Specifications
- Shape
- Diamond
- Color / legend
- Orange background, black symbol (temporary traffic control use)
Sizes & Dimensions (inches)
These are dimensions shown on the linked layout. Select the required size using the applicable MUTCD and agency requirements; the smallest drawing size is not necessarily the permitted minimum.
Dimensions are side lengths of the diamond, not its corner-to-corner span.
- Layout 130" × 30"
- Layout 236" × 36"
- Layout 348" × 48"
When & Where It's Used
- Contraflow and crossover merge points
- Two-to-one tapers where both lanes carry traffic
- Lane drop approaches in active construction
Placement Context
- Where it sits
- Advance warning area, ahead of the work.
- CA MUTCD reference
- CA MUTCD 2026 Chapter 2C — Warning Signs and Object Markers
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Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements. Local jurisdictions may impose additional requirements, and final selection, placement, and dimensions may require engineering judgment or agency approval. Reference editions: California MUTCD 2026 (effective January 18, 2026) and the Federal MUTCD 11th Edition with Revision 1.
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