Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings

Traffic signs and pavement markings are essential for safe and efficient traffic movement. The Works Department currently maintains an inventory of over 17,000 traffic signs, 2,000 kilometres of pavement markings, and 60 kilometres of guide rails.

The Works Department is responsible for:

• All signs on Regional roads
• All pavement markings on Regional roads. We also maintain the pavement markings for many of the local municipalities in the Region of Durham.
• Concerns and complaints related to signs and pavement markings
• Designing, manufacturing and installing traffic signs on all Regional roads

The Works Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure a safe and efficient road network. If you notice a problem with a sign or pavement marking, please report this trouble by calling:

Signs

The Region of Durham Works Department designs, manufactures and installs all of the regulatory, warning and guide signs found on the Region's roads. The signs are manufactured using the highest quality reflective products to ensure maximum visibility. Most of today's signs use symbols rather than words for ease of recognition and consistency. Signs are used for many purposes, including providing guidance, identifying unsafe conditions, and informing of illegal manoeuvres. The Works Department adheres to the standards identified in the Ontario Traffic Manual.

Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs are signs which inform the driver, or road user, of things they must do or not do. They indicate traffic regulations which apply all the time, or at specific times, on a street or highway, disregard of which may constitute a violation. Examples are stop signs, speed limit signs, one way traffic signs, turn prohibitions and parking regulation signs. These signs typically have a white background with a black message, except the "stop" and "yield" signs, which have red and white colours and the unique octagon and triangle shapes.

Warning Signs

Warning signs indicate to the driver in advance potentially hazardous conditions. Examples include curve and intersection warnings, stop or signals ahead signs, and playground and school area warning signs. These signs typically have a yellow diamond or rectangular shape with a black message.

Directional Guide Signs

Directional guide signs give the motorist information about street names, route numbers, highway exits and directions to nearby communities or services. They are generally rectangular in shape with a white message on a green background.

Tourism Directional Signs

Tourism directional signs are signs that inform the public of services, recreational facilities, tourist attractions, scenic points of interest, and other such services/facilities that may be essential or of interest.

• See more information on the Region of Durham's Tourism Signing Program

Temporary Conditions Signs

Temporary conditions signs , and devices such as cones and barrels, indicate construction, maintenance or utility activities on the roadway. Many of the messages and symbols are the same as warning signs, but an orange background colour is used to indicate these unusual situations.

Municipal Address Signs in Rural Areas

Signage that identifies your municipal address is essential for emergency service response and other core services provided by the Region of Durham and your local municipality. In order to provide optimum response, your municipal address sign must be posted in a clearly visible location. Assignment of property addresses is the responsibility of your local municipality. Sign specifications and requirements differ based on the local municipality. Please contact your local municipality for further information.

Please visit our links page to access your local municipal government website.