Traffic Cone Placement Distances By OSHA, DOT & MUTCD

Do you work in road safety, construction, or traffic management? If yes, then you need to know how far you should place traffic cones for your drivers and equipment’s safety. 

Therefore, this guide provides you with detailed knowledge about the right distances of traffic cones for different roads & situations. Also, our team has explained to you which rules & standards you should follow.

Common Placement Distances For Traffic Cones

The distance between traffic cones highly depends on where you are going to place them. Different sites need different types of positions and distances for people’s safety. The following are the three main types of locations.

Urban Areas

As you know, in urban areas such as cities and towns, you have limited space. So, you need to install the traffic ones with a gap of 6 to 12 feet. If you set them in the correct way, you will notice that vehicle drivers and walkers can spot your work zone clearly. Also, remember that these types of sites need cones that are close to each other.

Rural Areas

In rural areas, roads are wider and traffic can move a bit faster. Here, you should start by installing the cones on the side of the road. Then slowly move them toward the middle, which is called the transition zone. Now you need to set the cones about 12 to 16 meters apart.

Highway

Highways always have fast-moving traffic and are busier than other locations. Hence, you should install cones with more space, generally 40 to 50 feet or even more is the ideal distance. As a result, drivers can notice cones earlier, which helps them to change lanes safely.

Traffic Cone Placement Standards By FHWA

The laws of FHWA about the placement distance of traffic cones are very clear in all countries. You have to follow them at all costs if you want to guide drivers, handle emergency situations and protect yourself legally.

• You should leave 20 feet gaps between each cone. It will help drivers to take action properly.
• These rules also regulate that you need to adjust the distance between cones according to the speed limit of that particular road.
• If the speed limit is 25 mph, you should place cones about 20 – 25 feet away.
• For a 70 mph speed, you can install traffic cones with a gap of 70 feet.
• You need to put cones at a distance of 40 feet if your car’s speed limit is 40 mph.
• Installations of heavier cones (at least 200 feet before the work ) are an ideal option for you if you want extra security at your construction sites.
• If highways have more moving traffic, you need to place maximum cones and spread them. This will assist drivers so that they can spot cones & slow down their vehicles.

OSHA Traffic Cone Regulations on a Construction Site

OSHA designed specific rules that guide you on how to use traffic cones properly to protect both workers and drivers. So, it’s important for you to follow them to avoid penalties and accidents at your construction zones.

1. According to OSHA standards, you have to position cones 36 inches apart, which are easily visible to drivers from at least 500 feet away.
2. For more protection, you should install traffic cones with a gap of 1,000 feet before your work zone begins.
3. Well, the distance of cones at your construction sites also depends on how fast your cars are going. For example, if the speed limit is 60 mph, you have to set cones with a space of 1,500 feet before road/building works.

DOT Traffic Cone Requirements

DOT (Department of Transportation) is a government group that designs rules to keep roads safe for you, drivers, and your workers. You must follow all regulations when you are going to install traffic cones.

• Traffic cones should be taller than 28 inches if you are going to install them on fast roads. This thing will help drivers to see cones easily on time and react quickly.
• The distance between traffic cones must be 20 feet. It is compulsory for you to make sure the correct placement is made and create a clear path for people to follow.
• If you are working in a dangerous zone, then you have to place cones close together. In this way, you can move your vehicles easily and operate securely.
• The cones that have shiny strips (reflective) provide extra protection. So, you should always choose these types of cones and place them where the lights are dim.
• Traffic cones’ placement legal rules also cover that your cones must be made from high-quality and strong materials. Hence, you should carefully pick the cones before their placement.

MUTCD Cone Spacing Chart

Placement for Different Road Situations

Different roads require different traffic cone setups. You should always adjust the cone distance according to these needs. You have to consider factors like how fast the traffic is, road type, and how much space is around the road.

Two-Lane Roads

On small two-lane roads, cars go slower, and you have limited and tight space. Therefore, you need to place cones about 20 feet apart. 

This range is good to keep drivers alert and safely guides them through the work zone. You can use smaller cones if the speed is low, such as in towns and near schools.

Multi-Lane Road

You can drive fast on bigger roads if they have more lanes. As a road safety officer & traffic control supervisor, you need to ensure that these types of roads have 28+ inches of cones.

The distance between the cones should be 20 to 30 feet. It provides enough time to drive if they need to change lanes.

Curved Road

Curved roads require proper cone placement because drivers can’t notice them clearly from a distance. So you need to ensure that traffic cones are placed closer together.

The minimum distance should be 20 feet, and the maximum should be 25 feet. This helps you to minimize confusion, and you can keep everyone safe.

Intersections / Driveways

If you are starting your project near an entrance, then you definitely need to use extra traffic cones to block off the area completely.

Plus, you should set them close with a minimum distance, so that you can stop your cars from turning in by mistake. You also need to assess the size of cones and then decide on the distance standard.

The Correct Colour and Size of a Road Cone

The color and size of traffic cones have a great impact on the distance and their visibility. So, you should carefully choose them, follow the path, and place cones at the right distance. For example, the most common cone color is bright orange, and you can easily spot them from a distance.

The speed limit of the road also matters, so you place them according to requirements. However, we can give you the approximate & general distance for such cones, which is 12 to 24 metres. But the other thing that should be considered is their sizes. The following are distance limits according to the size of the traffic cones.

• If you have cones that are 18 inches tall, then maintain a 10-15-foot distance for slow areas.
• For 28-inch cones, you need to set them at a distance of 20 feet.
• Well, if your traffic cone’s height is 36 inches, they are ideal for highways. So, you have to install these cones 20 feet apart if the speed limit is more than 45 mph.

Conclusion

In the end, you now have a good understanding of how various roads and speeds need different distances between traffic cones. As you can see, if you install traffic cones carefully at the required distance, it will help you to create a safer environment for your workers and drivers. Hence, you should always choose the proper cone size, maintain distance & obey safety rules to protect everyone.