903.14 Memorial Signs
Contents
903.15.1 Memorial Designation Programs
Support. The Missouri General Assembly has statutorily established memorial designation programs to memorialize certain individuals, events, places or organizations on Missouri’s state highway system.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission establish the fees for these memorial designation signs. The fee is for participating in the Memorial Designation Programs, which covers the cost of constructing, installing and maintaining the signs or markers. These memorial signs and markers are the property of MoDOT, except as provided in EPG 903.15.6.
Standard. MoDOT shall provide notice of any proposed designation on the state’s highway system by posting the proposal for the designation on MoDOT’s Highway Naming website in addition to making available to any representative of the news media or public upon request.
903.15.2 Memorial Highway and Bridge Program (M18-1, M18-2) (MUTCD Section 2M.10)
Support. Under certain conditions, and within specific guidelines, Missouri highways and bridges may be named after an individual (deceased 2 years), an event, a place or an organization. Before contacting your general assembly member or completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 751-7643 to confirm availability of the desired section of highway or bridge location.
Standard. No bridge or section of a highway on the state highway system shall be designated after more than one individual, event, place or organization. Each individual, event, place or organization shall only be eligible for one bridge or highway designation.
Two signs shall be erected for each highway or bridge designation on the state’s highway system. In the event a bridge or highway has a recognized name, another bridge or highway shall need to be selected.
Signing shall consist of one shoulder mounted sign at each end of the bridge or section of highway. The signs shall be rectangular in shape and shall be 6 ft. by 3 feet. The signs shall have white legend on a green background. The signs shall use MoDOT standard retroreflective sheeting. Legend on the signs shall use 6 in. tall letters with a maximum of 3 lines of text. The legend displayed on memorial signs shall be limited to the name of the individual, event, place or organization being recognized and a simple message preceding or following the name, such as “MEMORIAL HIGHWAY” or “MEMORIAL BRIDGE”. Additional legend, such as biographical information, shall not be displayed on memorial signs. Decorative or graphical elements, pictographs, logos or symbols shall not be displayed on memorial signs.
MoDOT shall have the right to modify the proposed legend based on design limitations.
When a named section of highway crosses two or more county lines, consideration shall be given to allowing additional signing at the county lines or major intersections.
Where such memorial signs are installed on the mainline, (1) memorial names shall not appear on directional guide signs, (2) memorial signs shall not interfere with the placement of any other necessary signing, and (3) memorial signs shall not compromise the safety or efficiency of traffic flow. The memorial signing shall be limited to one sign at an appropriate location in each route direction, each as an independent sign installation.
Highway names shall not replace official numeral designations. Memorial names shall not appear on supplemental signs or on any other information sign on or along the highway or its intersecting routes.
The use of route signs shall be restricted to signs officially used for guidance of traffic according to this Manual and the “Purpose and Policy” statement of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials that applies to Interstate and U.S. numbered routes.
MoDOT shall erect and maintain signs provided under this policy.
Location of these sign shall be at the approval of MoDOT.
Guidance. Only one name should be used to identify any highway, whether numbered or unnumbered.
Additional legend, such as initials, titles or ranks, should not be displayed on memorial signs.
903.15.2.1 Legislature Process
Support. Legislative bodies will occasionally adopt an act or resolution memorializing or dedicating a highway or bridge.
Standard. A directive for naming shall come through the action of the General Assembly. In the event a bridge or highway has a recognized name, another bridge or highway shall need to be selected.
Guidance. Only one name should be used to identify any highway or bridge.
Only the following should be eligible for memorial signing through the legislature process:
- 1. Fallen law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty
- 2. Members of the armed forces killed in the line of duty
- 3. Emergency personnel killed while performing duties relating to their employment
- 4. State employees killed while serving the state
903.15.2.2 Application Process
Standard. An application shall be submitted to MoDOT.
Two signs shall be erected for each highway or bridge designation.
The participating fee shall be paid by the applicant. MoDOT shall maintain the signs for 20 years, after which a renewal application and participating fee shall be submitted or the signs are removed.
In the event a bridge or highway has a recognized name, another bridge or highway shall need to be selected.
Only one name shall be used to identify any highway or bridge.
Support. The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight reviews and approves proposed designations.
Before completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 526-0117 to confirm availability of the desired interchange.
Additional information and application can be found at MoDOT's Highway Naming website.
903.15.3 Heroes Way Designation Program
Support. This program allows for interstate or state-numbered highway interchanges, bridges or segments of highway on the state highway system to be designated honoring fallen Missouri heroes who have been killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces and who was a resident of Missouri at the time the individual was killed in action.
Additional information and application can be found at MoDOT's Memorial Designation Programs website.
Option. Any individual who is related by marriage, adoption or consanguinity within the second degree to the member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in action may apply for an interchange designation.
Standard. An application shall be submitted to MoDOT.
Interstate or state-numbered highway interchanges, bridges or segments of highway shall only be designated in memory of one fallen solider. All interchanges, bridges and sections of highway shall be identified and tied to the primary route. For example, an interchange at Interstate 70 and US 63 shall be considered an interstate interchange and not a U.S. interchange.
Two signs shall be erected for each interchange, bridge or section of highway designation. Signing shall consist of one shoulder mounted sign at each end of the interchange, bridge or section of highway. The signs shall be rectangular in shape and shall be 6 ft. by 3 ft. (standard) or 8 ft. by 3 ft. for the optional size. (This optional size sign accommodates the fallen hero’s rank and full name, which may not fit on the standard sign size and will have an increase in costs, due to increase of sign size and larger post required.) The signs shall have white legend on a green background. The signs shall use MoDOT standard retroreflective sheeting. The legend displayed on the signs shall be limited to the simple message of “HEROES WAY”, the name of the individual being recognized and the branch of armed forces the individual serviced. Decorative or graphical elements, pictographs, logos, or symbols shall not be displayed on the signs.
MoDOT shall have the right to modify the proposed legend based on design limitations of the sign.
The participating fee shall be paid by the applicant or provided through private donations or organizations. MoDOT shall maintain the signs for 20 years, after which a renewal application and participating fee shall be submitted or the signs are removed.
Support. The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight reviews and approves proposed designations.
Before completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 526-0117 to confirm availability of the desired interchange, bridge or section of highway.
903.15.4 Drunk Driving Victim Program
Support. This program is for any victim killed by an individual who was shown to have been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance at the time of the accident on one of Missouri’s state highways allowing for memorial markers to be placed by MoDOT in honor of the victim who had been killed. Additional information and application can be found at MoDOT's Highway Naming website.
Standard. One marker shall be allowed for one individual. A marker shall not be installed in memory of an individual who themselves were intoxicated while also operating a motor vehicle.
One marker shall be erected as close as possible to the location where the crash occurred. The marker shall consist of one shoulder mounted sign on the right-hand side of the roadway. The marker shall be placed in the direction of travel, parallel to the roadway. The marker shall not be placed perpendicular to the roadway.
The marker shall be rectangular in shape and shall be 30 in. by 18 inches. The marker shall have white legend on a blue background. The marker shall use MoDOT standard retroreflective sheeting. The legend displayed on the marker shall be limited to the simple message of “Drunk Driving Victim”, the initials of the individual being recognized, that month and year the accident and the simple message of “Think About It”. Additional legend, such ranks, or titles, shall not be displayed on the signs. Decorative or graphical elements, pictographs, logos, or symbols shall not be displayed on the signs.
The participating fee shall be paid by the applicant. MoDOT shall maintain the markers for 10 years, after which a renewal application and participating fee shall be submitted or the markers are removed.
Option. Immediate family members of the deceased victim or any individual having received written consent from an immediate family member to submit an application on his or her behalf may request a memorial marker.
Support. Before completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 526-0117 to confirm availability of the desired location.
903.15.5 Adopt-A-Highway Program
Support. Refer to EPG 171.6 for acknowledgment sign program policy.
Refer to EPG 903.9.6 for sign details.
903.15.6 Memorial Roads
Support. Section 229.222, RSMo, allows the governing assembly of any Missouri county, city or village to designate any street, road or highway within that governing assembly's jurisdiction as a memorial road for any law enforcement officer who is killed in the line of duty.
Standard. The city, county, or village shall be allowed to erect and maintain on MoDOT right of way standard naming signs. The city, county or village shall be responsible for the full cost of manufacture, erection and maintenance of these signs.
Location of these sign shall be at the approval of MoDOT. The signs shall comply with EPG 903.15.2. A TR-42 contract shall be executed.
Guidance. Only one name should be used to identify any road, whether numbered or unnumbered.
