2 Del. Admin. Code § 2C.16 - Hill Signs (W7-1, W7-1a)

Guidance:

01 The Hill (W7-1) sign (see Figure 2C-4) should be used in advance of a downgrade where the length, percent of grade, horizontal curvature, and/or other physical features require special precautions on the part of road users.

02 The Hill sign and supplemental grade (W7-3P) plaque (see Section 2C.57) used in combination, or the W7-1a sign used alone, should be installed in advance of downgrades for the following conditions:

A. 5% grade that is more than 3,000 feet in length,

B. 6% grade that is more than 2,000 feet in length,

C. 7% grade that is more than 1,000 feet in length,

D. 8% grade that is more than 750 feet in length, or

E. 9% grade that is more than 500 feet in length.

03 These signs should also be installed for steeper grades or where crash experience and field observations indicate a need.

04 Supplemental plaques (see Section 2C.57) and larger signs should be used for emphasis or where special hill characteristics exist. On longer grades, the use of the Hill sign with a distance (W7-3aP) plaque or the combination distance/grade (W7-3bP) plaque at periodic intervals of approximately 1-mile spacing should be considered.

Standard:

05 If the percent grade is displayed on a supplemental plaque, the plaque shall be placed below the Hill (W7-1) sign.

Option:

06 A USE LOW GEAR (W7-2P) or TRUCKS USE LOWER GEAR (W7-2bP) supplemental plaque (see Figure 2C-4) may be used to indicate a situation where downshifting as well as braking might be advisable.

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Notes

2 Del. Admin. Code § 2C.16