NOLFE

Q. I’ve always been confused why the DOT has the ramps for Routes 10, 6, and Providence Place Mall off Route 95 north and south marked the way they are. Driving 95 south for example, the exit is marked, I believe, from left to right Exit 22 C, B, A. So as you are exiting you would think that the exits are C to the left, B in the middle and A to the right, but when you are on the exit ramp, you realize that they are actually lined up the other way and you would have to make a fast turn into the other lane to exit correctly. I know what to expect, but surely any out of state driver could make a startled move to exit the correct exit here.

A. As mentioned, Exit 22 on Route 95 in Providence is given an A-B-C designation. In keeping with national freeway signing standards and practice, these additional letters are meant to be interpreted by motorists as being sequential exits along the ramp area of Exit 22. Thus, when traveling on Route 95 northbound Exit 22A, Exit 22B and Exit 22C are indicated on the sign as A-B-C because Exit 22 A would be the first or closest exit encountered in the sequence.

When this exit is approached by motorists traveling in the southern direction on Route 95, Exit 22 is shown as Exits 22 C–B–A, in which case Exit 22C would be the first or closest exit encountered in the sequence, followed in order by Exit 22B and Exit 22A.

Since this is not a typical A-B exit, the Federal Highway Administration agreed with the Department’s request during the design stage of this exit ramp to include an additional sign, prior to the exit, which shows these C, B, A exits in a diagrammatic sign.

The intention of this was to depict Exit C as the first exit encountered, followed sequentially, not from left to right, by B and then A.

That question sign

Q. I don’t understand the meaning of the road sign that looks like a question mark (?). They are on Route 1 and on Route 78 in Westerly. Could you please tell me what they stand for?

A. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) this blue and white operational information sign is used to indicate “Tourist Information.” RIDOT generally installs this type of sign when there is a tourist information facility in the area. Signs such as these help to direct motorists who are unfamiliar with the area to the information facility.

The signs you are referring to can be found on the approaches to the intersection of Route 1 and Airport Road / Route 78. They direct motorists to the tourist information office located on Washington Court off of Route 1. This facility can be found south of the intersection with Airport Road / Route 78.

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.