2524.01 DESCRIPTION.
This specification covers the fabrication and erection of all traffic signs and delineators, in accordance with the contract documents. All parts used in construction of traffic signs and delineators shall be able to withstand a wind load of 30 pounds per square foot (1.4 kPa) on the sign surface.

2524.02 TRAFFIC SIGNS.
All traffic signs, except milepost markers and 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route markers, are classified into two groups, Types A and B, as indicated in the contract documents.

Except as modified by the contract documents, signs shall be made according to the standards established in the Standard Highway Signs, 2004 edition, as published by the United States Department of Transportation.

A. Type A Signs.
Type A signs shall be aluminum, galvanized steel, or when specifically specified, plywood sheet mounted on wood or steel breakaway posts. The sign face material shall be reflective sheeting. The sign legends shall be accomplished with either the direct or reverse silk screen process, or with black nonreflective sheeting that is direct applied.

The finished signs shall conform with the details specified in the contract documents.

B. Type B Signs.
Type B signs shall be extruded aluminum highway sign panels mounted on either wood or steel breakaway posts as specified in the contract documents. The sign face material shall be reflective sheeting. Sign legends shall be accomplished through use of reflectorized or nonreflectorized letters, numerals, symbols, and borders that are direct applied.

The finished signs shall conform with the details specified in the contract documents.

Prior to fabrication, the Contractor shall submit shop drawings for each Type B sign in accordance with Article 1105.03. Each drawing shall be a scale drawing of the sign face, showing the size, arrangement, and spacing of all letters, numerals, symbols, and borders.

2524.03 DELINEATORS.
Delineators shall consist of a hermetically sealed, acrylic plastic, prismatic, reflex reflector, appropriately housed in accordance with Materials I.M. 486.07.

2524.04 MILEPOST MARKERS.
Milepost markers shall consist of green reflectorized sheeting on flat aluminum or galvanized steel sheets as for Type A signs. The reflectorized, white message shall be applied directly to the face material. The dimensions shall be as specified in the contract documents. Milepost markers shall be mounted on posts of the type specified for delineators.

2524.05 ROUTE MARKERS, 6 INCH BY 6 INCH (150 mm BY 150 mm).
Route markers, 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm), shall consist of reflectorized sheeting on flat aluminum or galvanized steel sheets as for Type A signs. The sign details shall be as specified in the contract documents. 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route markers, where specified, shall be mounted above milepost markers on the same delineator post.

2524.06 MATERIALS.
Materials shall meet requirements of Section 4164 and Section 4186.

2524.07 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

2524.08 ERECTION OF TYPE A or B SIGNS.
All Type A or B signs shall be accurately erected to conform to the dimensions and details shown in the contract documents. Any deviation from the contract documents must be approved by the Engineer before the work is started.

After installation, each 4 inch by 6 inch (100 mm by 150 mm) wood sign post shall be modified by field drilling holes as shown in the contract documents. All labor and equipment necessary for this modification shall be included in the bid price for the post and no separate payment will be made.

Wood posts shall be set in holes which are 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter and of the proper depth.

Posts shall be set to full depth at the required spacing and accurately aligned both vertically and horizontally. Post holes shall be backfilled with Class A crushed stone meeting requirements of Article 4120.04, placed in layers not more than 6 inches (150 mm) in depth. Each layer shall be thoroughly compacted, care being taken to preserve the alignment of the posts.

Where steel breakaway posts are specified in the contract documents, footing holes shall be carefully dug or drilled to the required size at the proper location. All excavated earth shall be spread within the right-of-way to blend uniformly with the existing surface and as approved by the Engineer. Immediately before placing any concrete, the Contractor shall remove all loose and uncompacted material from the bottom of the hole. Some of the holes will be located in the bottoms of drainage ditches. In these cases the Contractor shall conduct construction operations so that water will not enter any excavated holes.

For the breakaway base, tighten all bolts to maximum with 12 inch to 15 inch (305 mm to 308 mm) wrench to bed washers and shims, and to clean bolt threads. Loosen each bolt in turn and retighten in systematic order to the torque specified in the contract documents. For the fuse plate assembly, fuse bolts shall be tightened to obtain the torque specified in the contract documents.

Stub posts and reinforcing shall be prepositioned to the proper depth as shown in the contract documents, properly aligned and secured in conformance with Article 2405.09, and the footing shall be cast to the elevation shown in the contract documents. The concrete shall be rodded in place to fill all the voids. The exposed portion of the footing shall be formed as shown in the contract documents. The provisions of Section 2403 shall apply.

After the concrete has developed the strength required by Article 2403.19, B, the post shall be attached and adjusted for correct alignment and elevation. The cap of the footing shall be shaped so that drainage is away from the base plate of the post. Excess concrete shall not be left around the holes.

Extruded panels shall be erected in accordance with the details in the contract documents. Care shall be taken to prevent damage to sign faces. Any mars, scratches, dents, or other damage to sign faces visible at a distance of 5 feet (1.5 m) shall be repaired by the Contractor at no additional cost to the Contracting Authority. Locknuts on the post clip bolts shall be tightened by means of a torque wrench to 225 inch-pounds (25 Nm) when using dry, clean, unlubricated threads. Nuts on panel bolts shall be drawn tight.

2524.09 ERECTION OF DELINEATORS, MILEPOST MARKERS, AND 6 INCH BY 6 INCH (150 mm BY 150 mm) ROUTE MARKERS.
Posts for delineators, milepost markers and 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route markers, shall be driven.

These shall be erected so that the signs and delineator reflectors will be at elevations called for in the contract documents, shall be true to line and grade, and shall be truly vertical. Where a milepost marker is designated, the marker shall be attached to the post in lieu of a delineator. Where a 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route marker is designated, it shall be attached above the milepost marker on the same post.

When posts are driven, a suitable driving cap shall be provided, and the signs and delineators shall be attached after driving.

Delineator posts for these signs shall be plumb and firm in the ground, spaced as shown in the contract documents, and driven to the required lines and grades. After driving, the top of the post shall have substantially the same cross section dimensions as the body of the post; battered heads will not be permitted. All posts which are bent or otherwise damaged to the extent that they are, in the opinion of the Engineer, unfit in the finished work shall be removed from the site and shall be replaced by the Contractor at no additional cost to the Contracting Authority.

2524.10 SIGN POSITIONING.
The glossy surface on sign faces may produce specular reflection. Signs shall be positioned to eliminate or minimize specular reflection in the following manner:

A. Overhead Signs.

1. Where the road grade approaching the sign is plus 2.0% or greater, the sign face vertical axis shall be parallel to a plumb line, and the horizontal axis shall be at right angles to the road.

2. Where the road grade approaching the sign is less than plus 2.0%, the sign face horizontal axis shall be at right angles with the road, and the sign face vertical axis shall be inclined to face upward at the rate of 1/8 inch per foot (10 mm/m) of vertical sign surface for each 1 % the road grade differs from plus 2.0%.

B. Ground Installations.
Ground installations will be shown in the contract documents.

After installation of signs is complete, the signs will be inspected at night by the Engineer. If specular reflection is apparent on any sign, its positioning shall be adjusted by the Contractor to eliminate or minimize this condition.

2524.11 SIGN IDENTIFICATION.
The signs shall be identified as specified in Section 4186, with the following additions:

Sign No................. (Filled in by Sign Fabricator)
Erection Date........ (Filled in by Sign Contractor)

2524.12 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT AND BASIS OF PAYMENT.
Signing, satisfactorily erected according to the contract documents will be measured and paid for as follows:

A. Type A Signs.
Type A signs will be calculated in square feet (square meters) of sign area completed in place based on the nominal dimensions of the signs.

Payment for Type A signs will be made at the contract unit price per square foot (square meter) of sign area. This payment shall be full compensation for furnishing, fabricating, and erecting the signs complete, including furnishing of the blank, application of reflective sheeting, application of the screened message, and all mounting hardware.

The area of all regular, rectangular, triangular, octagonal, and circular shaped Type A signs will be measured from the nominal given dimensions. Cutouts for rounded corners, etc., will not be deducted. The area of all irregularly shaped Type A signs, such as U.S. and Interstate route markers, will be measured from the dimensions of a circumscribed rectangle around the route marker.

B. Type B Signs.
Payment for Type B signs will be made on the basis of area of the vertical, front face of the signs, as specified in the contract documents, and measurement or payment will not be made for area in excess of this area.

Payment will be made at the contract unit price per square foot (square meter) of sign area. This payment shall be full compensation for furnishing, fabricating, and erecting the complete signs, including furnishing aluminum extrusions or formed steel panel, applying reflective sheeting, furnishing and applying all letters, numerals, symbols, and border to the sign and the sign to the post, furnishing all labor, and furnishing all other details necessary to provide signs complete and erected in place, except for the required footings and posts.

C. Wood Posts for Type A or B Signs.
Each wood post for Type A or B signs will be measured to the nearest foot (0.3 m) of the various post sizes installed. When posts are placed to depths greater than the minimum depth specified, the measured length shall not include any parts placed to depths greater than 1 foot (0.3 m) more than the specified minimum.

Payment for wood posts for Type A or B signs will be made at the contract unit price per linear foot (meter). This payment shall be full compensation for furnishing and erecting the posts, including treatment and other details necessary to provide the sign posts complete and erected in place.

D. Steel Breakaway Posts for Type A or B Signs.
Each steel breakaway post for Type A or B signs will be measured to the nearest 0.1 foot (30 mm) of the various post sizes installed.

Payment for steel breakaway posts for Type A or B signs will be made at the contract unit prices per linear foot (meter) for the various post sizes. This payment shall be full compensation for furnishing, fabricating, and erecting the posts, including galvanizing and other details necessary to provide the sign posts complete and erected in place.

Unless otherwise specified in the contract documents, the measured length of steel breakaway posts shall include no more than 1 foot (0.3 m) over the length necessary to meet specified minimums.

E. Concrete Footings for Steel Breakaway Posts for Type A or B Signs.
Each concrete footing will be counted by the various sizes installed.

Payment for footings will be made at the contract unit price of each for the various sizes of "Concrete Footings". This payment shall be full compensation for excavating the hole, furnishing and placing concrete, stub post, reinforcing bars, etc., finishing, and all other details necessary to provide a complete concrete footing.

F. Delineators, Milepost Markers, and 6 Inch by 6 Inch (150 mm By 150 mm) Route Markers.
Each delineator, milepost marker, or 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route marker will be counted by the various types installed.

Payment for delineators or milepost markers will be made at the contract unit price for each for the various types. This payment shall be full compensation for furnishing, fabricating, and erecting the delineators or milepost markers complete, including posts, reflector units, and frames for delineators, posts and milepost marker signs, all necessary fittings and attachments, and all labor necessary to complete the work.

Payment for 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm by 150 mm) route markers will be made at the contract unit price for each. This payment shall be full payment for furnishing, fabricating, and erecting the route marker to a milepost marker post previously measured for payment, and including all necessary fittings and attachments and all labor necessary to complete the work.

G. Excavation in Unexpected Rock.
Excavation in unexpected rock for wood posts for Type A or B signs, steel posts for Type A or B signs, concrete footings for Type A or B signs, delineators, and milepost marker posts will be paid for as extra work. Unexpected rock will be considered as rock encountered during post erection, but neither visible from the roadway nor indicated in the contract documents.