Q. We had company recently from California and they complained that when driving at night it is very difficult to read some of our highway signs. I thought they were over complaining until last Sunday night coming from Connecticut on I-395 to Route 6 I wanted to get on I-295 then onto Route 6. I couldn’t read those signs at night. I have never taken notice of our signs because I know my way around Rhode Island except for this one area. I was surprised to see how difficult it can be to read our signs at night. Is there some kind of fluorescent paint that they could use for the printing of the signs? I’m not a complainer but I though this was an important problem.

A. The sign panels on our Interstate highway system have reflective sheeting to increase their visibility at night. This sheeting, as well as the lettering and layout of these highway signs, are designed and manufactured according to nationally accepted standards. Typically, the life expectancy of the reflective sheeting on these sign panels is 7 to 10 years. Although our signs look the same during the day, they can be more difficult to read at night if the reflectivity is past its life expectancy. The signs you are referring to are on Route 295 South at the exit for Route 6 East toward Providence. These signs were originally installed in the early 1990s, and are due to be replaced. The Department hopes to include them in a construction contract in the near future.

Lights on Route 37

Q. I’ve traveled Route 37 and its various ramps for 40 years. I have noticed that its lighting is not working everywhere. Why is that?

A. There are three lighting systems that are maintained by RIDOT over the length of Route 37 from Post Road to Route 2. Repairs are under way on the Pontiac Avenue system. The work should take a few weeks to complete and the lights should be back on after that.

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.