Guide Signs Near Gunnison: Shields and a 'TO' Panel
You are westbound on US 50 approaching Gunnison, Colorado, at dusk. A sign assembly ahead shows a US 50 shield, a CO 135 shield with a left-pointing arrow, and a separate panel reading 'TO CO 133.' Another panel reads 'COUNTY ROAD 26' with a right arrow. Your destination is a ranch on County Road 26, but your passenger insists that 'TO CO 133' means you are already on CO 133 and should follow it. You also need fuel, and a blue service sign shows gas at the next exit. The left lane becomes a left-turn lane for CO 135; the through lane continues west. A pickup is tailgating. The sky is darkening, a deer warning sign is posted, and you have about a quarter tank of fuel.
1. How should you read the shields and the 'TO CO 133' panel? Does the panel place you on CO 133?
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The US 50 shield identifies a U.S. route; the CO 135 shield identifies a Colorado state highway. The separate panel says 'TO CO 133,' which means the indicated direction leads toward CO 133, not that you are already on CO 133. A 'TO' panel is a directional guide to a route you have not yet reached; it does not convert your current road into that route. Your passenger is therefore wrong on the key point. You are still on US 50, and CO 135 is the route that goes left ahead. The correct reading is to keep the route identities separate: US 50 is your current westbound road, CO 135 is a left branch, and CO 133 is a connection reached by following signs rather than a route you are presently traveling.
2. Which lane should you choose for County Road 26, and what does the right-arrow panel tell you?
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The 'COUNTY ROAD 26' panel with a right arrow tells you that County Road 26 is reached by a right turn ahead, so you should be in the right lane or move right in time for that turn. A county road is a local route, not a state highway, so do not confuse it with the CO 135 left branch. The left lane becomes a left-turn lane for CO 135; staying there would take you away from your destination. The through lane continues west on US 50, so if you miss the County Road 26 turn you can continue and find a legal turnaround rather than cutting across lanes. Because the pickup is tailgating, signal early and change lanes smoothly. The sign sequence is telling you to choose right for the ranch, not to follow the CO 133 'TO' panel as though it were your destination.
3. What should you do about fuel and the tailgating pickup before the turn?
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With about a quarter tank, you should decide deliberately whether to take the next exit for fuel rather than waiting until the gauge is low on a rural stretch at dusk. The blue service sign is a guide sign, not a command, so check whether the exit is before or after your County Road 26 turn and choose a plan that does not require a sudden lane change. For the tailgater, signal early, slow gradually, and avoid brake-checking; a pickup close behind is a reason to be predictable, not a reason to skip the turn or speed up. The deer warning sign matters at dusk: scan the shoulders and reduce speed slightly, especially if you are distracted by navigation. The judgment is to prioritize a safe, legal route and fuel stop over reacting to pressure from behind.