TxDOT Work Zone Equipment Requirements
A plain-English reference for contractors, municipalities, and project managers who need to understand TMUTCD specifications for cones, barricades, and delineators on Texas work zones.
What Texas Contractors Need to Know About Work Zone Compliance
All traffic control devices used on Texas work zones — including cones, barricades, delineators, and vertical panels — must comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD). TxDOT maintains a Compliant Work Zone Traffic Control Device (CWZTCD) list that identifies devices that have been evaluated to meet those standards.
This guide summarizes the key specifications from TMUTCD Part 6 so you can quickly confirm what's required for your project type — whether you're setting up a TxDOT lane closure, a pipeline right-of-way in West Texas, or a short-term municipal work zone.
Quick Reference — Key Minimums at a Glance
Cone Requirements for Texas Work Zones
TMUTCD Part 6, Section 6F.64 and Table 6F-1
Traffic cones used on Texas highway work zones must meet minimum height, weight, and retroreflective striping requirements defined in TMUTCD Part 6. The correct cone for your project depends on the speed limit, duration of the work zone, and whether cones will be left unattended overnight.
| Cone Size | Min. Weight | Retroreflective Striping | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 in. | — | Not required for daytime | Parking lots, low-speed private property |
| 28 in. | 3 lb. (one-piece) / 9.5 lb. (two-piece) | 6" white band + 4" white band near top | Work zones ≤ 45 mph, events, parking |
| 36 in. | 5 lb. | 6" white band + 4" white band near top | Higher-speed work zones |
| 42 in. | 10 lb. (attended) / 30 lb. base (unattended overnight) | Alternating orange & white stripes (4–6" wide, 2 of each, top stripe orange) | TxDOT highway lane closures, high-speed work zones |
For nighttime use on Texas highways, all cones must have the appropriate retroreflective banding. Gaps between reflective stripes may not exceed 3 inches in width. The top stripe on cones over 36 inches must be orange.
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Cones meeting TxDOT work zone requirements — 28" through 42" with compliant reflective banding
Barricade Requirements for TxDOT Projects
TMUTCD Part 6 & TxDOT Barricade and Construction Standard Sheets
Texas work zone barricades must comply with both TMUTCD specifications and TxDOT's Barricade and Construction Standard Sheets. The barricade type required depends on the nature of the closure — Type 1 for short-term low-traffic situations, Type 3 for lane diversions and road closures on TxDOT facilities.
| Type | Rails | Use Case | TxDOT Highway Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 1 rail | Short-term, low-speed, low-volume roads | Limited |
| Type 2 | 2 rails | Intermediate closures, moderate traffic | Project-specific |
| Type 3 | 3 rails | Road closures, major lane diversions on TxDOT facilities | Required |
All barricade rails must have alternating retroreflective orange and white striping sloped downward at 45° in the direction traffic should pass. Rail width must be 8–12 inches. For Type 3 barricades on TxDOT roads, MASH crash test compliance is required.
Shop Type 1 & Type 3 barricades
From manufacturers meeting TxDOT work zone requirements, including Cortina Safety Products
Delineator Requirements for Texas Highways
TMUTCD Part 6, Section 6F.64
Delineators and vertical panels are used to channel traffic through lane shifts, mark temporary roadway edges, and protect work zones on Texas highways. TMUTCD specifies minimum height, retroreflectivity, and crashworthiness requirements for all channelizing devices used on public roads.
| Specification | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum height | 36 inches | Measured from road surface |
| Retroreflective area | ≥ 3 sq. in. per side | Both sides for two-way roads |
| Color | Orange (channelizing) | White for permanent edge delineation |
| Base/support | Crashworthy | Must yield or break away on impact |
| Placement spacing | Per TMUTCD Table 6F-1 | Varies by speed limit and work zone type |
Rigid vertical panels (Type 2 object markers used as vertical panels) used as channelizing devices must meet the same height and retroreflectivity standards. For TxDOT projects, confirm the delineator manufacturer appears on the current CWZTCD list.
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Rigid vertical panels and channelizing delineators for Texas highway work zones
What Is MASH and Why Does TxDOT Require It?
Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware — AASHTO/FHWA Standard
MASH (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) is the crash test standard used to evaluate how work zone devices perform when struck by a vehicle. TxDOT requires that channelizing devices on the CWZTCD list meet MASH standards — specifically that they were manufactured after December 31, 2019 and tested under MASH criteria (not the older NCHRP-350 standard).
For barricades and vertical channelizing devices used on TxDOT projects, MASH Test Level 3 (TL-3) is the minimum required for longitudinal channelizing barriers. Smaller devices like cones and delineators must meet MASH TL-2 or TL-3 depending on application.
TCFL carries products from manufacturers whose barricades, vertical panels, and channelizing devices have been evaluated under MASH criteria and appear on TxDOT's CWZTCD list. If you need MASH certification documentation for a specific product, contact our team and we can pull the manufacturer's test reports.
Need MASH documentation for a product?
Our team can connect you with manufacturer certification details for any product we carry.
Ready to Outfit Your Texas Work Zone?
We stock TMUTCD-compliant cones, barricades, and delineators from manufacturers on TxDOT's CWZTCD list — available in volume, shipped fast to all 254 Texas counties.