Detour
A detour or diversion route is a route around a planned area of prohibited or reduced access, such as a construction site.[1] Standard operating procedure for many road departments is to route any detour over roads within the same jurisdiction as the road with the obstructed area.[2]
On multi-lane highways (e.g. freeways, expressways, city streets, etc.), usually traffic shifts can be utilized in lieu of a detour as turn lanes can often be congested with detours.
Permanently-signed detour routes
Various areas have systems of permanently-signed detour routes as part of incident management.
Canada
Ontario
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom uses yellow signs with a series of symbols for its diversion routes.[3]
United States
Connecticut
Connecticut has two examples of permanent detours.[4] [failed verification]
Michigan
Michigan has a system of special routes called "Emergency" routes which parallel major highways, primarily in Southwestern Michigan. These routes provide relief in the event of emergency closures to a freeway due to accidents, weather, or other civil emergencies. Emergency routes have been gradually put in place as part of a broader plan by the Michigan Department of Transportation to upgrade its ITS network across the state. These detours may or may not follow MDOT-maintained State Highways, however, and some portions of the routes pass through urban or suburban areas.[5] Emergency routes exist on and parallel to Interstate Highways 69[6] and 94[5] and U.S. Route 31.[7]
Ohio
Ohio has established a permanent detour scenario of Interstate 70, due to frequent flooding. [8]
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a system of "color detour signs" in which any detour follows signs with a specific color.[9][10][11] The detours are meant to be used if a limited-access highway has to be closed for an emergency situation such as a flood or car accident, directing motorists along local roads near the limited-access highway to the next exit. They are generally color-coded according to direction, with blue meaning north, red meaning south, green meaning east, and black meaning west. However, other colors, such as orange and brown, are sometimes used when detour routes overlap with one another.[10][12]
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has "alternate route designations" in various areas of the state.[13]
References
- ^ U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Section 6C.09
- ^ Example: Dits, Joseph (2011-04-19). "Capital Ave. to be closed at railroad tracks in Mishawaka for a week" (fee required). South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
The state will erect signs that take car traffic on a detour all the way through downtown South Bend – a longer detour than local residents could figure out – because the state has to use state roads, said InDOT spokesman Jim Pinkerton.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Direction signs," Signs and markings, Highway Code.
- ^ "Weird Tales," Connecticut Roads.
- ^ a b "Southwest Region and Portions of University Region Final Regional ITS Deployment Plan (part 2)" (PDF). Michigan Department of Transportation. 2008-01-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|access=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "I-69 emergency route sign installation starts Jan. 26 (press release)". Michigan Department of Transportation. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ "MDOT installs new emergency signs on US-31 (press release)". Michigan Department of Transportation. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
- ^ I-70 Detour for High Water Event between SR37 and SR79
- ^ Red Detour, Black Detour, Green Detour, Blue Detour: What's It All About? (press release), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 2000-10-10.
- ^ a b Carey, Art (January 11, 2008). "PennDot targets tie-ups with color". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Mystery Of New Color-Coded Detour Signs Answered". WCAU-TV. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "PennDOT Detour Signs (flyer released by [[Chester County, Pennsylvania]] website)" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Alternate route designations," State Traffic Operations Center, Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
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