VMS's mentioning out of state construction/closures

[amh424]

I was driving last night on the Tri State Tollway (I-294), NB.  Aside from the typical travel time estimates, the VMS's also displayed a message regarding the I-94 closure in Milwaukee and to expect delays because of it.  I had never seen ISTHA issue out of state construction warnings like that on its VMS's.  It made me wonder, how common is it for one state DOT/agency to issue advisories in other states?

In any event, it was a nice change from the "Click it or Ticket" types of messages.

[1995hoo]

We saw VMS warnings of major road closures in New York City as far south as Delaware on our way north the week of 9-11. I thought that was a very appropriate use of the signs.

[cpzilliacus]

We saw VMS warnings of major road closures in New York City as far south as Delaware on our way north the week of 9-11. I thought that was a very appropriate use of the signs.

I have seen VMS units in Maryland warning of construction ahead in Virginia, and vice-versa.

[oscar]

When major Wilson Bridge-related construction required a weekend closure of most lanes of I-95/495 in one direction a few years ago, I recall there were VMSes hundreds of miles away, warning of major delays on that part of the Capital Beltway, and advising motorists to use I-495 north and west of D.C. as an alternate route for I-95 through traffic.

[Scott5114]

When the Paseo Bridge in Kansas City, MO was being replaced, detour signage in Kansas guided motorists to use I-435 to bypass downtown.

[realjd]

Not quite the same, but I've seen Indiana use VMSs to try to reroute traffic heading to extremely far away destinations. I saw one in Indy once that said "I65 LOUISVILLE SEVERE DELAYS/ATLANTA TRAFFIC USE I74 TO I75".

[tdindy88]

I just saw similar signs a couple of weeks ago warning I-65 traffic about delays in Louisville. I'm not sure if this was for the Derby or construction around the Ohio River bridge, I am assuming it's the latter.

[hbelkins]

Not quite the same, but I've seen Indiana use VMSs to try to reroute traffic heading to extremely far away destinations. I saw one in Indy once that said "I65 LOUISVILLE SEVERE DELAYS/ATLANTA TRAFFIC USE I74 TO I75".

Was that when the I-64 Sherman Minton Bridge was out of service?

[realjd]

Not quite the same, but I've seen Indiana use VMSs to try to reroute traffic heading to extremely far away destinations. I saw one in Indy once that said "I65 LOUISVILLE SEVERE DELAYS/ATLANTA TRAFFIC USE I74 TO I75".

Was that when the I-64 Sherman Minton Bridge was out of service?

It was a year or two ago; I don't recall specifically. Did the I64 bridge work drive traffic to I65? That would make sense.

[jeffandnicole]

NJ-DE-MD are pretty good about announcing big-time incidents several states away.

NJ VMSs will mention PA I-76 (Schuykill Expressway) highway closures (not regular congestion) during the rush hour.

[Revive 755]

I remember seeing a VMS on I-55 in St. Louis mention the Sherman Minton closure - IIRC the message was 'I-64 closed Indiana-Kentucky.'

[roadfro]

NDOT often puts up information on VMSs along I-80 WB in the Reno area for any chain control or closures of I-80 over Donner Summit in California. However, they didn't post construction info for that same stretch when it was being reconstructed a few years ago.

[codyg1985]

Not quite the same, but I've seen Indiana use VMSs to try to reroute traffic heading to extremely far away destinations. I saw one in Indy once that said "I65 LOUISVILLE SEVERE DELAYS/ATLANTA TRAFFIC USE I74 TO I75".

Was that when the I-64 Sherman Minton Bridge was out of service?

It was a year or two ago; I don't recall specifically. Did the I64 bridge work drive traffic to I65? That would make sense.

It forced all traffic to use the I-65 bridge since it is the only other interstate-grade crossing of the Ohio River in Louisville metro.

Alabama and Tennessee don't work too well with signing each other's road closures or delays. There was construction along the Tennessee River bridges along I-65 in Decatur, AL last summer that closed one lane in each direction. ALDOT pulled out all the stops to warn motorists (portable VMS's as far south as the Cullman/Blount County line, temporary traffic signals at off-ramps and at key intersections along alternate routes, highway advisory radio, ads on local radio stations) but TDOT to my knowledge didn't have any such warnings along I-65 coming south from Tennessee. As soon as one crossed into Alabama, there was a portable VMS warning of the construction. I don't know if TDOT warned of the construction with their VMS signs in Nashville or not.

On a similar note, when TN 16 was closed a few weeks ago due to a rock slide south of Winchester, TN. ALDOT didn't post any signs warning of the closure along AL 79 coming north out of Scottsboro, AL. There was a detour in place for cars, but trucks could not use it since it was a windy, narrow, two-lane road.

[6a]

I have seen VMS's in Charlotte warning about accidents on the SC part of I-77.  Something like

ACCIDENT
NEAR EXIT 88
SOUTH CAROLINA

LEFT LANE
CLOSED
USE CAUTION

[sp_redelectric]

Just last weekend during the I-5 closure north of Vancouver, signs on I-5 in Tigard and Portland were alerting motorists to detour to I-205.

The sign in Tigard (just north of I-205) read "I-5 Closed / 13 Miles Ahead / In Washington"

The sign approaching downtown Portland, just south of I-84 read "I-5 Closed / Seattle Traffic / Use I-205" (no mention of using I-84 or SR 14 to I-205).

There is one more sign, just south of the Interstate Bridge, but I didn't go up there to see what it said.  WSDOT was trying to get people to use SR 14 by noon as it was wide open to 205, but I-5 was backing up and SR 500 was getting gridlocked with people trying to make illegal left turns (the few left turn lanes left on the highway were all blocked off to improve traffic flow).

[DSS5]

When a rockslide closed I-40 near Asheville, NC last January you could find several signs giving notice in Tennessee.