Dana Alexander Nolfe, chief public affairs officer for the state Department of Transportation, has agreed to answer questions of general interest posed by Journal readers about state roads and other state transportation matters. The DOT is responsible for the state’s transportation infrastructure, which includes highways, bridges, traffic signals and bikeways.

To ask a question that would also be of interest to other readers, send a letter to Ask RIDOT, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. You can also e-mail your question to projocars@projo.com. Please put “Question for the DOT” in the subject field.

Questions or complaints of a specific nature should be posed to the DOT directly and will not be answered in this column.

Q. Was there ever a time when school buses were prohibited from using the Interstate? Are there any current restrictions regarding the use of the Interstate (i.e. I-95 or I-295) by school buses?

A. The answer to your question is no, school buses are not restricted from the Interstate.

They are a motorized vehicles and therefore are allowed access.

According to the Rhode Island General Laws, the State Traffic Commission may prohibit the use of a road by pedestrians, bicyclists or other non-motorized traffic or by any person operating a motor-driven cycle from any controlled-access road under their jurisdiction.

In 1999 and 2000, the STC prohibited pedestrians, bicycles and non-motorized traffic from the following limited access roads: I-95, I-195, I-295, Routes 4, 6, 10, 24, 37, 78, 99, 114, 146 and Route 138 from U.S. Route 1 to the Newport Bridge.

Off-ramp is confusing

Q. I am hoping the DOT can take a look at what appears to be conflicting signs. When you come off I-95 South by way of exit 10B there are two conflicting signs at the end of the ramp. On the right side is a yield sign with yield triangles painted on the road surface. On the left side is a yellow sign that shows the ramp as if there is no yield (the lane continues). As there are two indicators for yielding on that ramp, this seems confusing. Do cars that are already on Centerville Road have the right-of-way to get in that right hand lane to turn into the AAA complex or onto Commonwealth Avenue? Which is the correct sign?

A. The off-ramp you are referring to is from I-95 South to Centerville Road (Route 117) heading west (Exit 10B).

This area was recently upgraded as part of a project on Route 117.

There is currently a yield sign with the yield pavement markings at the end of the off-ramp to indicate that motorists exiting the highway must yield to oncoming traffic on Centerville Road (Route 117) West.

Traffic from the ramp must yield because they do not have an acceleration lane when they come off the ramp and they must merge with traffic on Centerville Road. Although there is a sign at the end of the ramp that indicates an additional lane that is added after the ramp, no lane is actually added.

We agree with you that this combination of signs can be confusing to motorists at this intersection. It also conflicts with the yield sign because it could lead motorists on the ramp to believe that they have the right-of-way when in actuality the motorists on Centerville Road have the right-of-way.

A work order will be sent to RIDOT’s Maintenance Division to remove this sign.