What is a gantry? What are guidelines for installing gantries and cantilever road signs in Vietnam?

1. What is a "gantry"?

In Article 3 of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT issued together with Circular 54/2019/TT-BGTVT, it is stipulated as follows:

Gantry is a type of structure that spans across the road above the vehicle path.

2. "Gantry" and cantilever road signs in Vietnam

- "Gantry" and cantilever road signs are structures capable of withstanding their own weight, the weight of the signs, and the wind load for the respective region as announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

- The foot of the "gantry" and the foot of the cantilever road signs should be placed on the roadside, sidewalk, median strip, or traffic island at least 0.5 meters from the outer edge of the vehicle path (including areas designated for emergency stopping lanes, acceleration and deceleration lanes).

- When installing signs on the "gantry" or cantilever road signs, the bottom edge of the sign (or the bottom edge of the beam if it is lower than the bottom edge of the sign) must be at least 5.2 meters above the road surface for highways and 5.0 meters for other roads (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. "Gantry"

3. Guidelines for installing directional signs on "Gantry" and cantilever road signs in Vietnam

Note: Directional signs on highways are installed on cantilever road signs, "gantry", on columns or architectural structures, but they must ensure safety and aesthetics.

- Directional signs on "gantry" and cantilever road signs should be positioned so that vehicle operators can easily see the signs from a distance. The "gantry" and cantilever road signs must have sturdy structures capable of withstanding force and wind load for the respective region as announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

- The minimum height from the bottom of the directional sign to the highest point of the road surface should not be less than 5.2 meters. The foot of the "gantry" or cantilever road signs should be at least 0.5 meters from the outer edge of the roadside (Figure 6).

Sincerely!