Road work next miles sign: what it means
The ROAD WORK NEXT XX MILES sign shows how long the work zone ahead is, to the nearest mile.
What does the ROAD WORK NEXT XX MILES sign mean?
MUTCD Section 6H.35 says the sign should be installed before work zones that are more than 2 miles long, and the distance shown must be to the nearest whole mile.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- The work zone ends here.
- Shows how long the work zone ahead is.
- The road is closed at the distance shown.
Show answer
B. Shows how long the work zone ahead is. It shows the length of the work zone ahead (MUTCD Section 6H.35). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control: Section 6H.35, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
Before long work zones on highways.
What should you do?
Expect lower speeds, lane shifts and workers for the whole distance.
What do people get wrong?
Speeding up between active work areas inside the zone.
Common questions
Where does the work zone end?
Usually at an END ROAD WORK sign.
Are fines higher?
Where they are, a BEGIN HIGHER FINES ZONE sign should mark the start (Section 6G.08). Check your state handbook.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Section 6H.35.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control: Section 6H.35, 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.