Q. Are there any plans to add signs to the top of the exit ramp to West Davisville on Route 403 East in North Kingstown (Quonset Point)? Right now traffic is moving slowly in that area because it is coming from Davisville Road, but I could see a time after the new highway is in use when drivers traveling 55 mph round the corner under the Davisville Road overpass, stay in the right lane, and accidentally proceed up that exit. A few more large, well-placed signs warning of the abrupt ending to the road may be helpful.

An RIDOT’s engineers’ field reviewed the location that you refer to in North Kingstown. The portion of roadway that currently connects to the relocated Route 403 near the exit for West Davisville Road is better known as relocated Devils Foot Road.

This road is two lanes wide with one lane in each direction. When it connects to the relocated Route 403 it turns into a freeway with two lanes in each direction separated by a median barrier. Shortly after the relocated Devil’s Foot Road turns into Route 403 East, there is an exit for West Davisville Road. Your concern is that once the relocated Route 403 project is complete, motorists may be confused at this exit ramp, and think that it is still part of the highway. There is currently an exit sign at this off-ramp, with the stop signs clearly visible at the top of the ramp.

This area may be confusing to motorists right now since there is an abundance of ongoing construction, however it should be noted that once this relocated Route 403 project is complete, there will not be a two lane road section connecting into a freeway. It will be more like a typical freeway accessible by interchanges, rather than two lane roads. This means that there will be advance overhead- or ground-mounted guide signs for all the exits, including the West Davisville Road exit, as well as a typical deceleration lane on the approach to the exit. Once construction is complete there should be no confusion as to whether the exit to West Davisville is an off-ramp or part of the freeway. Like any other off-ramp on a typical freeway there will be advanced signing, signing at the exit, and pavement markings to indicate the exit.

Confusing markings

Q. I have a concern regarding a section of Route 1 and Post Road North in Warwick near the Greenwood Bridge. Route 1 and Post Road North in this area has conflicting lane markers. One set of lane markers indicates that the lane closest to the curb turns into a right turn only lane just before the intersection. The other set of lane markers indicates that the lane closest to the curb continues to the intersection for traffic intending to go straight through the intersection. Can someone correct the inconsistency? I appreciate your help and I apologize if this is a town/city road for which your department has no responsibility.

A. RIDOT has gone out to the Greenwood Bridge area where Post Road intersects Greenwood Avenue, south of the intersection of Main Avenue (Route 113), Post Road and Jefferson Boulevard. On the northbound approach to this intersection on Post Road we noticed that the two through lanes become three at the intersection. The right travel lane turns into a right turn only lane, and the left travel lane becomes two lanes closer to the intersection with one through lane and one left turn only lane.

This intersection was reconfigured as part of the reconstruction of Greenwood Bridge project in 2001. The northbound approach on Post Road used to be two through lanes all the way up to the intersection. The issue seems to be that the old pavement markings are still visible, and they conflict with the new pavement markings. We agree that this is a concern and we are working on correcting it. This should be done this spring when the striping construction season becomes active again.

A light is coming

Q. The North Kingstown intersection of Ten Rod Road (Route 102) and Autumn Drive to the south and Lang Drive to the north is a concern to those trying to turn into the neighborhoods in the area. I seem to recall that several years ago a state committee that decides traffic light installation approved traffic controls for this intersection. Is an update available?

A. An engineering study was performed at the intersection of Ten Rod Road (Route 102) and Autumn Drive and Lang Drive in North Kingstown to explore the possibility of installing a traffic signal at the request of the town in 2004. This intersection met the criteria for a traffic signal, and therefore was approved for installation by the State Traffic Commission (STC) in June of 2004.

For any traffic signal to be installed in the State it must meet what is known as warrant criteria for a traffic control signal. This criterion is published in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and is followed by all 50 states to aid in the design of all traffic control devices. This publication is followed so that there is consistency in the placement and design of traffic control devices (i.e. signs, pavement markings, and signals) when traveling from state to state. Signals cannot be installed where they may disrupt the progressive flow of traffic.

Many factors are taken into consideration including volume (vehicles and pedestrians), delay (time spent stopped at the signal), and the number and severity of accidents at the intersection. These factors must be analyzed and compared to the warrants set forth in the MUTCD (there are eight) for a traffic control signal to be justified. These warrants are therefore performed to ensure that the installation of a traffic control signal will improve the overall safety and/or operation of the intersection.

With respect to the intersection of Ten Rod Road (Route 102) and Autumn Drive and Lang Drive, a traffic control signal at this intersection is currently included in an STC Signal Design contract and is in the design stages. Traffic control signals take some time to design because there are many things to consider including the placement of the equipment, as well as the timing and phasing of the signal. This intersection is included with six other intersections that are under design. The design of this signal is expected to be completed sometime this year, costing approximately $200,000, and is scheduled to go out for construction in 2009 pending available funds.

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.

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