Crossing gate, ramp meter or something else?

[silverback1065]

What is this for? It looks like a railroad crossing gate, but there clearly isn't a railroad here, is it for pedestrian crossing? or is it a kind of ramp meter?

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.5244344,-88.0806588,3a,39.1y,291.08h,95.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDl1rSIOwhggTw5JdRQMabQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.5244344,-88.0806588,3a,33.6y,116.62h,87.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDl1rSIOwhggTw5JdRQMabQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[WarrenWallace]

That is to restrict access to the freeway in case of a roadway closure.  Usually used in bad winter weather.

[silverback1065]

That is to restrict access to the freeway in case of a roadway closure.  Usually used in bad winter weather.

interesting are these common in the far north states?

[briantroutman]

They're particularly common on Interstates in the Great Plains and eastern Rockies where exits may be many miles apart, populations and police presence are spread very thin, and winter storms may dump feet of snow at a time.

[peterj920]

They're showing up on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago so they're becoming increasingly common in urban areas also

[silverback1065]

these seem to be pretty useful, saves time trying to get a cop or temporary barriers out to close the road.

[lordsutch]

We have those on I-16 in Georgia now to help with a potential hurricane contraflow (roughly from Dublin east to I-516 on the eastbound carriageway). Most other states seem to just use stockpiles of temporary barriers instead.

[froggie]

I know we've discussed these in prior threads, though I can't find a specific thread.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Those gates in the examples look pretty discrete considering nothing gives them away.

[cl94]

Agree with the above. NYSTA is systematically installing these as well.

[Mrt90]

There are quite a few of these gates along I94 in Southeastern Wisconsin, but not at every entrance. I don't believe I've seen any in Lake County Illinois.