1. (1) Hospital and tourist information signs may be installed on State-maintained freeways and expressways at interchanges located outside the urbanized area boundaries of cities having a population of 100,000 or more under the following conditions:

   1. (a) The facility meets the eligibility criteria established in Rule 1680-03-02-.19.
   2. (b) The tourist information facility is located on or is readily identifiable from the crossroad intersecting the freeway or expressway. RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS
   3. (c) The hospital facility is the closest qualifying medical facility in point of time of travel under average daytime traffic conditions and may be reached without circuitous travel.
   4. (d) Not more than one sign shall be installed for each facility in each direction of travel on the freeway or expressway.
   5. (e) Motorists can readily return to the freeway or expressway and continue in their original direction of travel.

2. (2) Hospital and tourist information signs may be installed on State-maintained freeways and expressways at interchanges located within the urbanized area boundaries of cities having a population of 100,000 or more based on the 2000 US Census and which have multiple interstates under the following conditions:

   1. (a) The facility meets the eligibility criteria established in Rule 1680-3-2-.19.
   2. (b) For tourist information signs, the facility is located on or is readily identifiable from the crossroad intersecting the freeway or expressway.
   3. (c) Not more than one sign shall be installed for the facility in each direction of travel on the freeway or expressway.
   4. (d) For tourist information signs, motorists can readily return to the freeway or expressway and continue in their original direction of travel.
   5. (e) For hospitals inside of urbanized areas and which have multiple interstates, the city and/or county government may submit a comprehensive sign plan to the Commissioner of Transportation for consideration and possible approval. The plan may cover the entire county. All associated cost of any plan must be covered with non- State funds.

3. (3) Hospital and tourist information signs may be installed on a conventional State highway under the following conditions:

   1. (a) The facility meets the eligibility criteria established in Rule 1680-3-2-.19.
   2. (b) The tourist information center is located within one mile of the intersection where signing is proposed to be installed and the facility may be reached without circuitous travel. Not more than one tourist information center may be signed at an interchange.
   3. (c) The hospital facility is located within three miles of the intersection where signing is proposed to be installed and the facility may be reached without circuitous travel. Only the closest qualifying medical facility in point of time of travel under average daytime traffic conditions may be signed.
   4. (d) A facility may be signed only at the nearest State route intersection for each direction of travel from the facility. Where the facility abuts a State highway, this means the nearest intersection with another State highway for each direction of travel along the State highway. Where the facility is not located adjacent to a State highway, this means the nearest intersection with a State highway for each direction of travel on the local road. Signs may be installed at additional locations where engineering judgment indicates such additional signing is essential for proper motorist guidance. RULES FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON FREEWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS AND CONVENTIONAL HIGHWAYS

Authority: T.C.A. § 54-5-108(b). Administrative History: Original rule filed January 10, 1992; effective February 24, 1992. Repeal and new rule renumbered from 1680-03-02-.18 filed April 12, 2002; effective August 28, 2002. Repeal and new rule filed June 20, 2012; effective November 28, 2012.