White arrow boards

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Jay's Cafe sign

​​Overview

White arrow boards provide motorists with directional information for qualifying tourist-related businesses, services or activities and are intended to direct tourists to the entrance of the facility or onto a local road where the facility is located. White arrow boards are only permitted on state highways nearest the facility. Only the name of the facility is allowed on the sign.

Location

  • In the right of way for state conventional highways and expressways
  • In rural areas approaching at-grade intersections

Size and Material

  • 72"x9" rectangular sign with black block lettering inside a white arrow on a black background. Sheeting is non-reflective.
  • Base material is aluminum, with rounded corners.​
  • Updated design: In March 2021, the traditional cut-out white arrow board design on plywood was replaced with the rectangular sign design described above. All signs manufactured after March 2021 should utilize the new design.

Categories

  • Limited categories of eligibility (see below for examples)

Fabrication

  • Requesting facility​ is responsible for ensuring signs are manufactured to state standards and for covering costs

Installation and Maintenance

  • County Highway Department

Installation Costs

  • Requesting facility is responsible for the respective installation costs.
  • Facilities with existing white arrow boards are also responsible for repair and replacement costs.

Relevant law, code, manual


​Criteria

To quality for white arrow boards:

  • The facility must be open to the public.
  • Lodging facilities must have three or more units that are available for less than 30-day rental period.
  • The facility must have the appropriate operating licenses to receive, maintain, or renew a permit.

Qualifying facilities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Animal shelters
  • Athletic fields, facilities
  • Country clubs
  • Cruises, boats
  • Golf courses
  • Exhibition, exposition center
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel, motel, bed and breakfast
  • Libraries
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Places of Religious Worship
  • Theaters
  • Schools
  • Zoos
  • Restaurants

Facilities that DO NOT qualify include:

  • Animal hospitals or game farms
  • Ranches
  • Barber, beauty shops
  • Cemeteries
  • Clinics, health clubs, hospitals
  • Post offices
  • Private clubs
  • Sales, retail, wholesale

To Obtain white arrow boards

  1. ​Complete and submit Form DT 1903 to the WisDOT Region Traffic Signing contact for your area.
  2. Facilities that qualify for white arrow boards will receive a list of qualified sign manufacturers. Contact as many manufacturers as you wish to get the best price.
  3. Bring or ship the signs to the county highway department and provide a check for $250/sign payable to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (installation fee).
  4. The county highway department will install the signs.

Total Costs​

The White Arrow Board program is self-funded. No state or federal funds support the program. All manufacturing and installation costs ​are paid by applicants.

Total costs include sign fabrication (costs will vary depending on chosen manufacturer) and installation costs ($250/sign with new 4x6 wood posts). Installation fees are payable to Wisconsin Department of Transportation and are due when the signs are dropped off or shipped to the installing county.

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions