Lane closed ahead

What it means

This sign warns that a lane of traffic ends ahead within the work zone and its vehicles must move into the adjacent lane. It is placed far enough before the taper for both streams of traffic to sort themselves out gradually, and it is usually backed up by painted tapers and repeated signs. The closure is often dynamic: lanes shift as the work front moves, so the lane that was open on your last trip may be the closed one today, which is exactly why the sign is read fresh every time.

How it gets misread

The two classic errors are both timing errors: darting across at the taper at the last second, or merging a kilometre early and causing a standing queue. Another misread is assuming the closed lane is always the right one.

What to do

Read the sign early, check your mirror and blind spot, signal, and merge into the open lane at a steady gap once you are approaching the taper; do not race to the closure point. If you are in the through lane, adjust speed to let merging vehicles in. Whatever the arrangement, do not accelerate to beat another vehicle to the merge.

Practise this rule

• Work Zones: Driving Past Workers Safely | CO

  You enter a work zone where workers are standing beside the travel lane and the lanes have been narrowed. How should you drive?

More work zone signs

• Detour right →
• Road closed ahead →

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