Traffic Signs Design Principles

  1. This section sets out the principles governing the use of road numbers and destinations on directional traffic signs.
  2. The design and application of directional signing shall accord with the requirements of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) and relevant Department for Transport guidance.
  3. Direction signage is structured to provide clear and consistent guidance to motorists through the use of a defined hierarchy of routes and destinations.

Road Hierarchy and Route Classification

  1. The signing system uses colour coding to indicate the classification and relative importance of routes, assisting drivers in following appropriate networks.
  2. The principal colour conventions are as follows:
  3. Motorways – Blue background
  4. Primary Routes – Green background, or green panels on white signs
  5. Non-Primary Routes ('A', 'B', 'C' and unclassified roads) – White background
  6. Direction signs may incorporate coloured panels (“patching”) to indicate the status of connecting routes along which destinations can be reached.

Primary Route Network in County Durham

  1. The following routes form the Primary Route Network within County Durham and are signed using green backgrounds or green panels:
  2. A19 – Entire length
  3. A66 – Entire length
  4. A67 – Within Barnard Castle (between A688 and B6277)
  5. A68 – Entire length
  6. A167 – From Aycliffe Interchange to Northlands Roundabout
  7. A688 – From A181 Running Waters to Barnard Castle
  8. A689 – From County Boundary at Wynyard to Coundon Gate Roundabout
  9. A690 – From County Boundary at Sunderland to Neville’s Cross
  10. A691 – From A690 Millburngate Roundabout to A692 Leadgate
  11. A692 – From Castleside to County Boundary at Burnopfield
  12. A693 – From A1(M) Junction 63 to A692 Leadgate
  13. A1018 – Entire length
  14. A6072 – From Shildon to Bishop Auckland
  15. A6072 – From Shildon to Bishop Auckland