Plasticade Tree Work Ahead Sign

A tree work ahead sign does more than a generic warning: it tells drivers there may be falling limbs, brush on the shoulder, and people near the lane. This Plasticade sign is a lightweight plastic option crews can set out and pick up quickly.

A sign that names the hazard

Drivers have learned to tune out generic orange signs. A sign that says tree work gets more attention, because it tells them what is coming: trucks, a chipper, limbs coming down, and people on foot near the lane. That extra bit of attention is what you want while a groundie is feeding brush ten feet from traffic. It also helps the crew: a driver who knows tree work is ahead is less likely to be surprised by a groundie stepping out from behind the chipper.

Set the sign on each approach, far enough out that drivers can slow down before they reach the first truck. Keep it clean and upright, and pull it in when the job wraps up.

Setting up the work zone

Treat the sign as one piece of a layout that also includes cones, a taper if a lane is closed, and trained flaggers when traffic has to stop. Follow the MUTCD and your state rules for spacing, and plan traffic control during the job briefing as ANSI Z133 expects. Plastic signs are light, so a sturdy base or ballast keeps them from tipping over in gusts from passing trucks.

Check the sign before buying if a road authority requires a specific sheeting or size on the roads you work. Browse our traffic control gear for stands and other signs.