Left Merge Signs are MUTCD Compliant (MUTCD W4-1L) and identify that a merge is upcoming from the left side. Left Merge Signs are useful devices to help display official regulations and provide mandatory information to drivers entering freeways.
Compliance
Section 2C.40 Merge Signs
Option
A Merge (W4-1) sign may be used to warn road users on the major roadway that merging movements might be encountered in advance of a point where lanes from two separate roadways converge as a single traffic lane and no turning conflict occurs.
A Merge sign may also be installed on the side of the entering roadway to warn road users on the entering roadway of the merge condition.
Guidance
The Merge sign should be installed on the side of the major roadway where merging traffic will be encountered and in such a position as to not obstruct the road user's view of entering traffic.
Where two roadways of approximately equal importance converge, a Merge sign should be placed on each roadway.
The Merge sign should not be used where two roadways converge and merging movements are not required.
The Merge sign should not be used in place of a Lane Ends sign (see Section 2C.42) where lanes of traffic moving on a single roadway must merge because of a reduction in the actual or usable pavement width.
