(1) A maximum of four motorist information sign panels may be provided on interchange approaches and in advance of intersections. Where a qualified type of motorist service activity is not present, a panel will not be erected. Where installed, the panels will be erected as follows:

(a) For freeways and interchanges on expressways the panels shall be erected between the previous interchange and at least eight hundred feet in advance of the exit direction sign at the interchange from which the services are available. There shall be at least eight hundred feet spacing between the panels, and there will be one panel each for gas, food, lodging, camping/recreation, TOD, and twenty-four-hour pharmacy except as provided in (c) of this subsection.

(b) For conventional roads the panels shall be erected between the previous intersection and at least three hundred feet in advance of the intersection from which the services are available, signing should not be provided to any service visible at least three hundred feet along the mainline prior to the intersection or driveway approach serving the business. There will be one panel each for gas, food, lodging, camping/recreation, TOD, and twenty-four-hour pharmacy except as provided in (c) of this subsection.

(c) A combined panel may be installed where there is a limited number of qualifying motorist service activities, or insufficient space available to install the array of gas, food, lodging, camping/recreation, TOD's, and twenty-four-hour pharmacy panels as set forth in WAC 468-70-040(2). Not more than three types of motorist service activities may be combined on one mainline back panel. Each type of motorist service activity may be displayed once on a set of back panels along an interchange or intersection approach. The permissible number of business signs that may be displayed per type of motorist service activity shall be as set forth in WAC 468-70-060 (3)(a).

(2) Information for motorist information sign panels on the mainline of expressways/freeways will be repeated on the supplemental directional panels located along the interchange ramp, or at the ramp terminal, where the services are not visible from the ramp. Supplemental directional panels located along interchange ramps to direct motorist to the right or to the left may not display more than three types of motorist service activities. Supplemental directional panels shall only repeat messages installed on the mainline, and shall not contain supplemental messages.

(3) The spacing between motorist information sign panels, and between motorist information sign panels and other official traffic control signs shall be in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Where there is insufficient spacing for both other official traffic control signs and motorist information sign panels, the other official traffic control signs only shall be installed.