news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Motorists can expect to see “testing” messages flashing overhead for the next month as they cruise interstates in and around the city.

There’s nothing wrong with the eight new electronic signs on interstates 40, 85 and 40/85 — at least, not as long as they keep flashing the appropriate words and numbers.

“We want motorists to understand that we really are testing them,” said Amanda Perry of the N.C. Department of Transportation in Raleigh. “For at least 30 days, the newly installed message boards will be phased in and tested to make sure they work well.”

The overhead boards are part of the state’s Intelligent Transportation System that aims to cut congestion and traffic accidents by keeping drivers informed of approaching road conditions.

About 237 working message boards dot the state, typically located on interstate highways and flashing current road conditions or suggesting detours to avoid a traffic snarl.

But Monday, Greensboro’s newly installed signs repeated the same test wording over and over, “Call 511 for general travel info.”

The number refers to state DOT’s mobile-phone network for travel updates.

The $875,000 project replaced seven existing electronic boards with larger, more technologically advanced signs near such major interchanges as Wendover Avenue, Elm/Eugene Street, Lee Street and Groometown Road. Contractors also installed an eighth message board in a new location — on I-40 West, just after Patterson Street.

The major benefit of the new message boards is a larger surface so DOT officials can convey longer messages that are easier for motorists to understand.

If one or more signs fails during the test period, any flaws will be fixed and a new testing period of 30 days will start for the reworked message board, Perry said.

Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com