MUTCD Taper length

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youngmotivatedengineer

youngmotivatedengineer

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In chapter 6 of the MUTCD, there are 2 formulas for calculating taper length. One of the formulas mention offset distance.  What exactly is the offset distance?  Going through the manual and online I couldn't find a clear definition if what this distance is.

 
Good question. I did a quick search in the MUTCD and didn't see anything immediately jump out at me.

If I was a betting man, I would go off of Figure 6C-2 and say that it is the distance from left to right (or right to left) that the lane is shifting from the normal pattern.

 
I believe it's the horizontal distance that's taken up by construction activities.

For instance, a lane closure on a 4-lane (12 ft/lane), 2-way highway would be a 12' offset.

 
It's the perpendicular/lateral shift in the lane.  The taper length is the longitudinal distance and the offset is the lateral shift distance.   

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