Q. Could you look into an issue regarding signs for me? People getting onto Route 37 East from Natick Avenue, in western Cranston, are supposed to yield to those who have just taken a left to get onto the same ramp. I have almost been hit there several times because the drivers fail to obey the yield sign. Could the current sign be replaced with a larger one, or possibly several yield signs, to get the point across to them? I would appreciate you looking into this. Also, are there any plans to put a traffic light at the intersection of Natick Avenue and Phenix Avenue?

A. RIDOT field reviewed this location, and there are currently two existing yield signs facing motorists entering the on-ramp from Natick Avenue northbound. Drivers are supposed to yield to motorists entering the ramp from Natick Avenue southbound.

In addition to the two yield signs, there are also yield lines, which are pavement markings indicating that motorists need to yield. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), “yield lines shall consist of a row of solid white isosceles triangles pointing toward approaching vehicles extending across approach lanes to indicate the point at which the yield is intended or required to be made.”

The yield lines pavement markings are not required by the MUTCD, however, it is the state’s practice to install them at every location with a yield control. With three different yield notifications at this location, RIDOT believes that what you have experienced is more driver inattentiveness than lack of signage.

Currently at the intersection of Natick Avenue and Phenix Avenue there is only a stop sign for motorists wanting to get onto Natick Avenue from Phenix Avenue. To make this intersection more user friendly, the department plans to install a traffic signal. This signal will include a left-turn phase for vehicles on Natick Avenue northbound who want to take a left onto Phenix Avenue. There is already a left-turn lane for these vehicles, and the signal will allow them to make this movement using a left-turn arrow. The installation of this signal is included in a project that will be advertised on Dec. 14 and construction is expected to start this spring.

The timing is right

Q. I use Reservoir Avenue at all times of the day, but I have noticed that the light at the intersection of Aqueduct Road and Reservoir Avenue changes differently during later hours. Often I am stuck at the light on Reservoir for about a minute while the light is green for Aqueduct, which is a relatively smaller, residential thoroughfare. After passing through the light, I have noted that the light for Reservoir changes back to red very quickly. This does not occur during the day. Is there a reason that the side street is given far greater access to the intersection, or is this a malfunction in the system? Thanks for your time.

A. We field reviewed the traffic control signal at Reservoir Avenue and Aqueduct Road in Cranston, and the timing of the signal is set according to its specifications. All of the vehicle detectors are also operating correctly.

Aqueduct Road is only given a green light if there is a vehicle waiting at the approach to the intersection. If there is no traffic on Reservoir Avenue passing through this intersection to extend the green light, and there is a vehicle waiting on Aqueduct Road, the green light on Reservoir Avenue will only stay green for the minimum time. However, if there is a large volume of traffic on Reservoir Avenue, the green light will extend the time up until the maximum time, and will remain green until a vehicle is waiting on Aqueduct Road to pass through the intersection. This should explain why you experience different signal timing at different times of the day.

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.