Q. With the construction of the new merge from I-95 North to I-195 East, due for completion this fall, could the State of Rhode Island add two numbers to the signs directing traffic toward Route 195 and Route 6? Please add Route 44 to the signs. There is more than Cape Cod existing in that direction. We have had many visitors over the years that have ended up in Attleboro because there was no indication when they were entering Providence or that Route 44 leads to East Providence, Seekonk, etc.

A. The existing signs for Interstate 195 East / U.S. Route 6 East off of Interstate 95 North (Exit 20) indicate that I-195 / U.S. Route 6 leads toward Cape Cod and East Providence. Route 6 is included on the overhead signs for this exit because this section of I-195 East is actually Route 6 as well.

At this critical driver decision point, the signs for I-195 / Route 6 East are intended to give the majority of the Interstate travelers a sense of direction, not just the immediate destinations such as Route 44. At this particular major interchange, and other major Interstate exits, the signs are intended to give the driver a sense of where they are heading.

Cape Cod is included on the sign since it is one of the farthest destinations that can be reached from I-195 East. The destinations in between that may be reached along I-195 in Massachusetts, such as Exit 1 to Seekonk, Exit 8 to Fall River, and Exit 12 to Dartmouth are not included because these towns must be driven through to get to Cape Cod.

Another reason that DOTs don’t sign for other towns, such as Seekonk, is that we try to keep the amount of wording on the signs to a minimum. Drivers must be able to comprehend the sign, react to it, and make a decision all in a matter of a few seconds. This must all be done prior to reaching the exit so that they are able to carry out their decision in a safe manner. Too much wording on a sign, especially at a critical point such as a major interchange with I-95 and I-195, could confuse a driver, and cause them to make an unsafe maneuver.

Timed lights in Bristol

Q. On Route 136 (Metacom Avenue) in Bristol, the traffic light at Tupelo Street has become a problem for southbound traffic. On a recent Saturday afternoon (not even a weekday rush hour), the backup was about one half-mile into Warren. Has the DOT recently evaluated the timing of that light? I know that intersection is under consideration for a roundabout in the future, but is there anything that can be done sooner?

A. The traffic signals along Metacom Avenue, including the one at Metacom Avenue and Tupelo Street in Bristol, are a coordinated signal system, which means that every signal in the coordinated system has the same red-yellow-green cycle length. When working properly, timed traffic signals (also called coordinated or synchronized signals) should reduce the time spent getting from point A to point B.

The goal of timed signals is to minimize delay time and the number of required stops, which also reduces gas consumption and pollution caused by vehicles idling at red lights. Ideally, once a motorist gets a green light, in a coordinated signal system, he or she should receive a green light just as they arrive at the subsequent signals.

RIDOT has been talking with Bristol town officials and will be working on the timing of the signals in the coordinated system, including the intersection in question.

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.