Traffic & Safety Manual

The Iowa DOT currently uses the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) except for exceptions noted in 761 IAC 130.1.

Call 515-239-1557 for questions related to the content of this manual.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 1 - Introduction
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
1A General  
 1A-1 About This Manual7/1/25
 1A-2 Purpose of Traffic Control Devices7/1/25
 1A-3 Traffic Control Device Application7/1/25

Chapter 2 - Signing

Chapter 2 - Signing
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
2A General  
 2A-1 Introduction to Signs9/9/25
 2A-2 - Reserved 
 2A-3 - Reserved 
 2A-4 - Reserved 
 2A-5 Sign Design11/05/15
 2A-6 Installation Guidelines11/05/15
 2A-7 Sign Mounting Requirements12/17/01
 2A-8 Sign Placement10/20/25
 2A-9 Miscellaneous Requirements10/02/06
 2A-10 Typicals and Additional Figures11/05/15
2B Regulatory Signs  
 2B-1 Regulatory Signs - General10/20/25
 2B-2 Stop and Yield Signs10/02/06
 2B-3 Speed Limits Signs6/26/20
 2B-4 Alignment and Movement Signs12/12/05
 2B-5 Parking Signs12/12/05
 2B-6 Other Regulatory Signs

7/18/18

4/23/07

2C Warning Signs  
 2C-1 Warning Signs - General10/20/25
 2C-2 Traffic Related Signs10/13/06
 2C-3 Supplemental Plaques12/16/05
2D Guide Signs  
 2D-1 Conventional Roads6/10/20
 2D-2 Community Wayfinding Signs3/18/19
 2D-3 Freeway and Expressway6/10/20
2E Portable Changeable Message Signs  
 2E-1 Guidelines for Portable CMS12/16/05
2F Permanent Changeable Message Signs  
 2F-1 General12/16/05
 2F-2 Guidelines12/16/05
 2F-3 Operating Fundamentals12/16/05
 2F-4 Message Design12/16/05
2G Scenic Byways Signs  
 2G-1 Iowa Byways Signage Policy5/17/11

Chapter 3 - Pavement Markings

Chapter 3 - Pavement Markings
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
3A General  
 3A-1 Purpose of Pavement Markings1/27/04
 3A-2 General Requirements1/27/04
3B Pavement Markings Standards  
 3B-1 Pavement Marking Standards01/04/21
 3B-2 Typical Pavement Marking Layouts4/26/13
3C Manual on Pavement Marking Programs  
 3C-1 Application of Pavement Markings1/27/04
 3C-2 Traffic Control1/27/04

Chapter 4 - Signals

Chapter 4 - Signals
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
4A General  
 4A-1 General12/17/01
4B Installation Justification  
 4B-1 Installation Justification12/17/01
4C Design  
 4C-1 General12/17/01
 4C-2 Standards and Guidelines 
 4C-3 Plan Requirements 
 4C-4 Specifications and Special Provisions 
4D Construction  
 4D-1 Shop Drawings and Catalog Cuts 
 4D-2 Daily Inspections 
 4D-3 Final Inspection 
 4D-4 Turn On6/06/06
4E Operations  
 4E-1 General12/17/01
 4E-2 Timings 
 4E-3 Phasing 
 4E-4 Coordination 
 4E-5 Flashing Operation 
 4E-6 Pre-emption 
4G Removal  
 4G-1 Justification 
 4G-2 Procedure 

Chapter 5 - Speed Limits

Chapter 5 - Speed Limits
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
5A Process for Establishing Speed Limits  
 5A-1 Process for Establishing Speed Limits04/04/06

Chapter 6 - Lighting

Chapter 6 - Lighting
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
6A General  
 6A-2 Funding12/17/01
6B Rural Intersections  
 6B-1 Intersection Lighting Warrants12/17/01
6C Interchanges  
 6C-1 Interchange Lighting Warrants12/17/01
6D Freeways  
 6D-1 Freeway Lighting Warrants12/17/01
6E Freeways  
 6E-1 Bridge Lighting12/01/11

Chapter 7 - Traffic Engineering Studies

Chapter 7 - Traffic Engineering Studies
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
7A No Passing Zones  
 7A-1 General05/07/13
 7A-2 Rope Method02/07/06
 7A-3 Distance Measuring Instrument Method2/07/06
 7A-4 Safety and Equipment2/07/06
7B Curve Speed  
 7B-1 Curve Speed Study10/02/06
7C Curve Speed Study  
 7C-1 County Road 
 7C-2 Rural Primary 
 7C-3 Primary Highway Extension 
7E Traffic Control Warrant Studies  
 7E-1 Traffic Signal Warrants 
 7E-2 Multiway Stop Warrants 
7F-1 School Crossing Study  
 7F-1 School Crossing Study10/02/06
7G Sight Distance Studies  
 7G-1 Access Control2/07/06
 7G-2 Intersection7/18/18 
 7G-3 School Bus Stop10/02/06
7H Delay Studies  
 7H-1 Intersection Delay Studies2/19/07
7I Traffic Volume  
 7I-1 Traffic Volume Studies2/19/07
7J Signing and Pavement Marking Audits  
 7J-1Signing Audits2/07/06
 7J-2 Pavement Marking Audits 

Chapter 8 - Automated Traffic Enforcement

Chapter 8 - Automated Traffic Enforcement
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
8A Automated Traffic Enforcement8A-1 Automated Traffic Enforcement01/04/2021

Chapter 9 - Temporary Traffic Control

Chapter 9 - Temporary Traffic Control
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
9A General  
9B Traffic Control StandardsChapter not available
Standard Road Plans TC		 
9C Offsite Detours  

Chapter 10 - Access

Chapter 10 - Access
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
10A Access - General  
10B Access - Frequently Asked QuestionsChapter not available 

Chapter 11 - Advertising Management

Chapter 11 - Advertising Management
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
11 Sign Program  
 11a: Outdoor Advertising Signs08/22/22
 11b: City Welcome Signs08/22/22
 11c: Roadside Memorials08/22/22
 11d: Overhead Banners08/22/22
 11e: Political Campaign Signs08/22/22

Chapter 15 - Sign Shop

 Chapter 15 - Sign Shop
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
15A GeneralSign Catalog available (internal DOT users only)10/11/2021
15C How to Order Signs  

Chapter 16 - Sample Plans

Chapter 16 - Sample Plans
TitleDescriptionLast Updated
16A General 4/04/06
16B Signals 4/04/06
16C Signing 4/04/06
16D Lighting Plans 4/04/06

Chapter 20 - Instructions

Chapter 20 - Instructions
TitleDescriptionLast updated
20A General  
 20A-01 Import Signs from SignCAD to Microstation7/1/18
 20A-02 Placing Mile Markers and Delineators in Microstation7/1/18
 20A-3 Creating Incident Bypass Signs in Microstation7/1/18