Detour Signs Help Direct Motorists in case of Turnpike Closure - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Detour Signs to Help Direct Motorists in case of Turnpike Closure

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BECKLEY -

With fall fast-approaching, most motorists in the Mountain State have noticed the new detour signs that have popped up around the turnpike, but many still aren't sure what they mean.

Although the signs just went up early this summer, the planning goes back to December 2009 when a powerful snow storm shut down roadways across the state, stranding hundreds of motorists.

The signs are designed to give guidance to motorists who have to be diverted when an incident like a hazmat spill or snow storm will result in closure of part of the turnpike for 2 hours or more. If that happens, portable signs will be place along the turnpike in the area of the closure, informing motorists which detour to follow.

Once the detour routes are fully implemented, it should make things run more smoothly in the case of another major event.

"When we've had to get off of interstates because of detours, as we all have – it's very troublesome not knowing which way to go," said Director of Maintenance for the WV Parkways Authority. "These signs will help direct those people, and help get those people through that detour and back onto the turnpike."

The next step in implementing the plan involves meetings with local and state authorities to make specific plans for each detour route.