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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
"Construction" means road works.
The road sign "End Construction" indicates that you have reached the end of the road works.
Instead of using temporary traffic lights to control traffic at road works, in the USA and Canada you'll nearly always find "flagmen" or "flaggers" (many are women). Communication between the flagmen at either end of the controlled area may be via radio or by means of a large rag or similar token carried by the last car through.
Since roads are usually completely rebuilt rather than just resurfaced, controlled areas often have unpaved surfaces and extend for several miles. Delays can often be quite lengthy.
Sometimes convoys of cars are lead through the controlled area by a pilot car.
Very, very occasionally roads may only be open briefly at specific times of the day during road works, with subsequent lengthy delays during which everyone has a picnic and gets to know each other. This is extremely rare, however.
Fines for speeding violations are doubled in most (possibly all) construction areas. Signs are often prominently displayed to this effect and the police generally enforce speed limits aggressively in these areas.
Driving - Road Signs, Signposts And Highway Marker Shields
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Most recently modified 21-Jul-02