Sloping Stripes on Barricades and Panels

Channelizing Devices

Channelizing devices warn you of conditions created by work activities in or near the roadway and guide you from one lane to another, onto a bypass or detour, or into a narrower road.

Channelizing devices include cones, tubular markers, vertical panels, drums, barricades, and temporary raised islands.

On Which Side Should You Pass a Barricade or Panel?

Barricades and vertical panels have sloping stripes. These orange stripes in work zones tell you which side you must pass.

Stripes sloping downward to the right mean you must bear to the right, and stripes sloping downward to the left mean bear to the left.

Facing the barricade above, you must pass to the left.

Passing on Both Sides

When you can pass on either side (both left and right), the barricade stripes slope downward in both directions from the center of the barricade – or two barricades placed side by side.

Closed Roads – When You Cannot Pass

Where you aren’t supposed to drive past a barricade, the stripes slope downward toward the center on a single barricade or, more commonly, two barricades placed side by side.

On such barricades, you will likely also see a DETOUR sign or an arrow together with a ROAD CLOSED sign.

Learn More about Work Zones

Work Zone Answers You Must Know for Your DMV Test

DMV Permit Tests for Your State