Positive reaction to signage used by NCDOT to help drivers get around Cape Fear bridge delays

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — While many people are complaining about the major traffic delays, the NCDOT is getting some positive feedback about one thing — signage.

In the days leading up to the start of lane closures for Cape Fear Memorial Bridge repair work, the NCDOT put up signs along the major routes heading into, out of, and through Wilmington.

Along with detour signs, there are electronic message boards that give drivers travel times and other information about the commute.

The NCDOT’s assistant division maintenance engineer, Jessi Leonard, said the electronic signs have been very well-received by drivers so far, and more could be added.

“We’ve received mostly positive feedback,” Leonard said. “I’m not aware of any negative feedback at this time.”

“Like I said, we’ve gotten some requests to consider some other locations to add the travel time information on the digital signs so we may add some of those,” Leonard said. “At this time, we don’t have any plans to change the detour signage like the static signs because those seem to be working well. We haven’t heard any negative feedback about those.”

Leonard said some changes have already been made after the first couple of days of the closure and more could happen.

“In the morning, the 6:30am to 7am timeframe seems to be when its really picking up on all routes and that’s when the congestion is the heaviest. But we did make some modifications yesterday and today and the congestion was much better managed today. It was still there but dissipated quicker.”