1. (a) Except as provided herein, Specific Informational Panels shall be located between the previous interchange and sufficiently in advance of the approaching interchange so that the last panel is at least one-quarter ( ) mile in advance of the gore of the approaching interchange with at least 800-foot spacing between all informational panels and between informational panels and guide signs.

   At the discretion of the Department, the location of the panels with respect to their distances from the gore may be increased to avoid conflict with existing guide signs. As viewed in the direction of travel, the placement of successive panels shall be those for “CAMPING,” “LODGING,” “FOOD,” and “FUEL” in that order.

2. (b) The panels shall be located within the right-of-way, near the right-of-way line, but not more than 40 feet from the edge of pavement and shall be readable from the traveled way. The panels shall be located so as to take advantage of the natural terrain, to have the least impact on the scenic environment and to avoid visual conflict with other guide signs.

   The panels shall not be permitted at locations where, in the opinion of the Department, the directional information contained thereon may be misinterpreted, misleading or otherwise confusing to the traveling public.

3. (c) Except as provided in Section 2110, Subdivision (f), of these regulations, separate Specific Informational Panels shall be used for “FUEL”, “FOOD”, “LODGING”, and “CAMPING” motorist services. Where one of the qualifying types of motorist services is not available at an interchange, the Specific Informational Panel for that type of service shall not be installed. Not more than one Specific Informational Panel for each of the four qualifying types of motorist services shall be provided in each direction of travel from an interchange.
4. (d) Specific Informational Panels shall not be installed in advance of an off-ramp at an interchange unless an on-ramp is also located at that interchange, or at another reasonably convenient location to permit a motorist to re-enter the freeway and continue in the same direction of travel without undue indirection, circuity of travel or the use of poor connecting roads.
5. (e) Existing Guide Signs with word messages and/or symbols for “FUEL”, “FOOD”, “LODGING”, “CAMPERS”, or “CAMPING” will be removed when a corresponding Motorist Services Informational Sign for “FUEL”, “FOOD”, “LODGING”, or “CAMPING” is installed at the same interchange. Guide Signs with word messages and/or symbols not contained on the Specific Informational Panels will remain.

6. (f) At Double Exit Interchanges where the same qualifying types of motorist services are to be signed for each off-ramp, the sign assembly shall consist of two single row panels of appropriate size, one for each exit, fastened one above the other, for “FUEL”, “FOOD”, “LODGING”, and “CAMPING.” The top panel shall display appropriate directional information and the individual business signs for businesses most directly accessible from the first exit, and the lower panel shall display appropriate directional information and the individual business signs for businesses most directly accessible from the second exit.

   If one off-ramp is not signed for one or more of the four qualifying groups of motorist services, the Specific Informational Panel used for the other exit for that service group may be the single-exit type.

Note: Authority cited: Section 101.7, Streets and Highways Code. Reference: Section 101.7, Streets and Highways Code.

History

1. New section filed 5-18-93; operative 6-17-93 (Register 93, No. 21).