903.14 Memorial Signs
903.14.1 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 roadway system.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission establish 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.
Standard. MoDOT shall provide notice of any proposed designation on the state’s roadway system by posting the proposal for the designation on MoDOT’s Memorial Designation Programs website in addition to making available to any representative of the news media or public upon request.
Support. MoDOT’s involvement in memorial designations is limited to the administration of the dedication program and the installation and maintenance of memorial designation signs.
Standard. The organization of memorial dedication ceremonies shall be the responsibility of the family and/or their designee. Ceremonies shall not take place on state right of way for the safety of the attendees and the traveling public; ceremonies shall be held at an off-site location of the family’s choosing.
MoDOT will order the signs once the fees are received in full. Signs for memorial dedications established through the legislative process will not be installed until after August 28th, the date the bill becomes law. Signs for memorial dedications established through the application process will be scheduled for installation once the dedication is approved by the Joint Committee of Transportation Oversight.
Option. The family may request a PDF file of the memorial dedication sign, at no charge, provided they complete the terms and condition declaration of the PDF. The PDF will allow the family to utilize local sign/banner companies to fabricate additional commemorative signs for their own personal use.
Support. MoDOT will to its best ability coordinate the sign installations with the dedication ceremonies in a timely manner, however, memorial dedication sign installations shall not preempt critical highway work or any department directives pertaining to prioritization of sign maintenance.
903.14.2 Memorial Highway and Bridge Program (M18-1, M18-2) (MUTCD Section 2M.10)
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Support. Under certain conditions, and within specific guidelines, Missouri highways and bridges may be designated 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 roadway system shall be designated more than once . 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 roadway system. In the event a bridge or highway has a designated 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 standard memorial signs shall be rectangular in shape and shall be 6 ft. by 3 f t. (standard) or 8 ft. by 3 ft. (optional) size. (This optional memorial size sign accommodate fallen law enforcement or military soldier’s rank and full name. There is an additional cost associated with the optional memorial signs due to increase in sign size and larger post required to support the signs. The roadway must be able to accommodate the larger sign; MoDOT determines its final eligibility.) 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 designated and the required 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 designated section of highway crosses two or more county lines, consideration may be given to allow 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. MoDOT determines the exact sign location to ensure safe operation of the state roadway system.
Memorial Designation names shall not replace official numeral or city street designations.
Memorial Designation names shall not appear on supplemental signs or on any other information sign on or along the highway or its intersecting routes.
MoDOT shall erect and maintain signs provided under this policy.
Location of these signs shall be at the approval of MoDOT.
Guidance. Only one name shall be used to identify any roadway, whether numbered or unnumbered.
903.14.2.1 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 designated name, another bridge or highway shall need to be selected.
Guidance. Only one name should be used to identify any highway or bridge designation.
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 U.S. armed forces killed in the line of duty
- 3. Emergency personnel killed while performing duties relating to their employment
- 4. State employees or highway workers killed while serving the state
903.14.2.2 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 designated name, another bridge or highway shall need to be selected.
Only one name shall be used to identify any highway or bridge designation.
Support. The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight reviews and approves proposed designations.
Before completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 751-7643 to confirm roadway availability of the desired highway or bridge designation.
Additional information and application can be found at MoDOT’s Memorial Designation Program website.
903.14.3 Heroes Way Designation Program
Support. This program allows for state-maintained highway interchanges, bridges, or segments of highway to be designated for Missouri residents, who were in the armed forces and were 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 a Heroes Way 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 U.S. 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. (optional) size. (This optional size sign accommodates the fallen military soldier’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 roadway must be able to accommodate the larger sign; MoDOT determines its final eligibility.) The signs shall have white legend on a Worboy 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 designated 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 the proposed designations.
Before completing an application, please contact MoDOT at (573) 751-7643 to confirm roadway availability of the desired interchange, bridge, or section of highway.
903.14.4 Drunk Driving Victim Program
Support. This program allows memorial markers to be placed along state-maintained roadways for any victim killed on a state highway as a result of a vehicular accident caused by an impaired driver. Additional information and application can be found at MoDOT’s Memorial Designation Programs website.
Standard. One marker shall be allowed for one individual. A marker shall not be installed in memory of an individual who themselves were impaired.
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 inches 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 designated, the month and year of 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) 751-7643 to confirm roadway availability of the desired highway designation.
903.14.5 Adopt-A-Highway Program
Support. Refer to EPG 171.6 for acknowledgment sign program policy.
Refer to EPG 903.9.6 for sign details.