This guide summarizes the MUTCD requirements and practical application guidance for the W4-2R RIGHT LANE ENDS sign. Use this resource to understand when it is required, how to place it correctly, and how to maintain clear visibility for safe operations.
Right-lane reductions and merging tapers in work zones
Advance warning area, ahead of the work.
Mount at the standard height and setback for the roadway with clear sight lines.
High reflectivity and clear sight lines are essential day and night.
Warns that the right travel lane ends ahead and that traffic in the right lane must merge into the adjacent lane where the roadway narrows.
Warns that the right travel lane ends ahead and that traffic in the right lane must merge into the adjacent lane where the roadway narrows. In the field, W4-2R Right Lane Ends is typically positioned at the advance warning area, ahead of the work. Common deployments include right-lane reductions and merging tapers in work zones; supplements W20-5 series lane-closure signs where the right lane closes; used where the right lane is permanently dropped near work. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Advance warning area, ahead of the work.
Typical minimum: 48" × 48" on conventional roads; 60" × 60" on expressways and freeways.
Used in California lane-closure tapers when the right lane is dropped, reinforcing the merge as the right lane ends and supplementing the word-message lane-closure warnings.
Go to California NotesEducational 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. Written against California MUTCD 2026 (effective January 18, 2026) and the Federal MUTCD 11th Edition. Official sources last verified June 2026.
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