Lane closed ahead sign: what it means
The RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD sign warns that a lane of a multi-lane road is closed for work ahead. If you are in that lane, move over in good time.
What does the LANE CLOSED AHEAD sign mean?
MUTCD Section 6H.07 says the Lane Closed sign is used before the point where one or more through lanes are closed, with the legend RIGHT (or LEFT) LANE CLOSED. Where two or more lanes are closed, the sign says how many.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- The right lane ends; merge left.
- A lane is closed ahead; merge in time.
- Road work ahead.
Show answer
B. A lane is closed ahead; merge in time. One or more through lanes are closed ahead (MUTCD Section 6H.07). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control: Sections 6H.07, 6H.08, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
Before work zones on multi-lane roads and freeways.
What should you do?
Check your mirrors, signal and merge into an open lane early. Keep a safe gap and leave room for others to merge.
What do people get wrong?
Racing to the end of the closing lane to get ahead of the line of traffic.
Common questions
What if two lanes are closed?
The sign shows the number, for example 2 RIGHT LANES CLOSED (MUTCD Section 6H.07).
Is there a symbol version?
Yes. Lane Ends symbol signs are also used in work zones (MUTCD Section 6H.08).
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Sections 6H.07 and 6H.08.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control: Sections 6H.07, 6H.08, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.