Arizona traffic control plan requirements
Arizona adopts the federal MUTCD as amended by the Arizona Supplement. Taper length, channelizing device spacing and advance warning sign placement come from Part 6; individual cities layer their own submittal checklists on top.
What governs in Arizona
Arizona SupplementProvisionalArizona adopts the federal MUTCD as amended by the Arizona Supplement.
Effective January 1, 2026.
- Arizona adopts the National MUTCD as amended by the Arizona Supplement (January 2026).
- The Supplement’s Part 6 has not been read directly, so any Arizona-specific taper or sign spacing change is not yet reflected. Federal values are shown and marked provisional.
We have not read this state’s Part 6 directly, so the figures below are federal MUTCD values. Check them against the governing document before you submit.
Taper length for Arizona work zones
Enter the posted speed and the width of the lateral offset. The base length L comes from MUTCD 11th Edition Table 6B-4, with the taper-type criterion from Table 6B-3.
Posted speed limit, off-peak 85th-percentile speed prior to work starting, or anticipated operating speed.
How far traffic is moved sideways — usually the width of the closed lane.
Merging taper length
245ft
L = W × S² ÷ 60 = 12 × 35² ÷ 60 = 245.0 ft
MUTCD 11th Ed, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4 — at least L
Plan view
8 devices at 35 ftLength is to scale; the lateral offset is exaggerated so the taper is legible.
All taper types at these conditions
MUTCD 11th Ed, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4Merging taper
at least L
245 ft
Shifting taper
at least 0.5 L
125 ft
Shoulder taper
at least 0.33 L
85 ft
One-lane, two-way traffic taper
50 ft min, 100 ft max
50 ft
Downstream taper
50 ft min, 100 ft max
50 ft
Channelizing devices
MUTCD 11th Ed, Section 6K.01Maximum spacing in this taper
1 × 35 mph
35 ft
Devices required
One at each end, evenly spaced between
8