Why are there poles that look like railroad gates at interstate on-ramps?
If you’re curious, it’s no wonder.
The gates were just installed at ramps along interstates 79 and 90 in Erie County this fall. And you probably haven’t seen anything like them anywhere else in the state.
So why are they there?
The single-arm, red-and-white-striped emergency gates can be lowered and locked so that vehicles cannot get onto the highway when the highway is closed due to an accident or bad weather.
Blocking entrance to closed roads was a job that previously went to highway crews or first responders.
An emergency gate is shown at the Edinboro on-ramp to Interstate 79 northbound.
“(The gates) are going to improve safety for the public, for first responders and for PennDOT employees,” Pennsylvania transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said in announcing the local project in August.
Reflectors on the gates make them more visible at night and in bad weather.
Which ramps have a gate?
Along Interstate 79, gates are in place at the Edinboro, McKean and Route 20 on-ramps.
Along Interstate 90, gates recently were installed at the West Springfield, Fairview, Sterrettania, Parade Street, Bayfront Connector and Route 89, North East ramps.
The gates were installed after Labor Day at a cost of $580,652.
Other road work: PennDOT plans to add turn lanes to ease congestion, boost safety along upper Peach Street
Gates at Interstate 90 ramps at Route 215 in East Springfield, Route 18 in Girard and at Depot Road in Harborcreek were installed previously in conjunction with highway construction work. The gates and others installed in the Lehigh Valley were part of a statewide pilot project.
The Depot Road gate is down temporarily. It was hit by a vehicle but will be replaced, a PennDOT spokesman said.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Did you know? New ‘poles’ at interstate on-ramps are emergency gates