Shoulder Signs
MUTCD Shoulder signs warn drivers about the condition of the road shoulder — soft, low, dropping off, ending, or absent — and about shoulder work and closures in temporary work zones. Rice Signs carries the full range: permanent yellow warning signs, orange work-zone versions, supplemental plaques, and portable roll-up signs, all built to MUTCD specifications.
Shoulder Condition Signs
Soft Shoulder Sign (W8-4)
Soft Shoulder – Orange (W8-4C)
Low Shoulder Sign (W8-9)
Low Shoulder – Orange (W8-9C)
Shoulder Drop Off Sign (W8-17)
Shoulder Drop Off – Orange (W8-17C)
Shoulder Drop Off Plaque (W8-17P)
Shoulder Drop Off Plaque – Orange (W8-17CP)
No Shoulder Sign (W8-23)
No Shoulder – Orange (W8-23C)
Shoulder Ends Sign (W8-25)
Shoulder Ends – Orange (W8-25C)
Shoulder Work & Shoulder Closed Signs (Work Zone)
Shoulder Work Sign (W21-5)
Shoulder Work Roll-Up (RU21)
Shoulder Work Ahead (W21-5-AHD)
Shoulder Work Ahead Roll-Up (RU22)
Shoulder Closed Sign (W21-5A)
Shoulder Closed Roll-Up (RU20)
Shoulder Closed Ahead (W21-5B)
Shoulder Closed Ahead Roll-Up (RU113)
Left Shoulder Closed (W21-5AL)
Right Shoulder Closed (W21-5AR)
Left Shoulder Closed Ahead (W21-5BL)
Right Shoulder Closed Ahead (W21-5BR)
Shoulder Signs FAQ
What is a shoulder sign?
A shoulder sign is a road sign that warns about the condition of the road shoulder — soft, low, dropping off, ending, or absent — or about shoulder work and shoulder closures in a work zone.
What is the difference between Soft Shoulder, Low Shoulder, Shoulder Drop Off, No Shoulder, and Shoulder Ends?
Soft Shoulder (W8-4) warns of an unpaved or soft edge; Low Shoulder (W8-9) warns the shoulder sits lower than the pavement; Shoulder Drop Off (W8-17) warns of an abrupt vertical drop; No Shoulder (W8-23) warns no usable shoulder is present; Shoulder Ends (W8-25) warns the shoulder narrows or ends ahead.
What is the difference between the yellow and orange versions?
Yellow shoulder signs (W8 series) are for permanent installation, while the orange versions (the C-suffix signs) are for temporary traffic control in and around work zones.
What are Shoulder Work and Shoulder Closed signs?
They are work-zone signs — Shoulder Work (W21-5), Shoulder Work Ahead, Shoulder Closed (W21-5A), and Shoulder Closed Ahead (W21-5B), including left/right directional versions — available as metal signs and portable roll-ups for temporary shoulder operations.
Are shoulder signs MUTCD compliant?
Yes. They meet MUTCD specifications for shape, color, and legend.
Which reflective sheeting should I choose?
High Intensity Prismatic meets federal minimums for most applications; Fluorescent Yellow (or Orange) Prismatic is brighter for maximum visibility. Roll-up versions are available for temporary work zones.
