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Suncoast Pasco News

Overhead signs to alert U.S. 19 drivers

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BY CARL ORTH

SUNCOAST NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR

Published: October 22, 2008

PORT RICHEY - Electronic message boards now are flashing alerts to drivers in the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 19 near Ridge Road.
Florida Department of Transportation paid for the overhead signs.

The signs are operated by the Pasco County traffic operations division from the control room at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey.

"They will post messages as needed for traffic incidents, (such as) crashes, road work, evacuations, parking directions for special events, and alerts, including amber and silver," Kris Carson, spokeswoman for DOT's District 7 office, in Tampa, reported.

The message boards will also be used as part of statewide traffic safety campaigns, such as Click it or Ticket.

The signs might not be in use every single day, Carson said, if there is no event to be posted.

The dynamic message signs, as DOT calls them, are part of the Integrated Traffic System being created along U.S. 19. The fiber-optic system includes coordinated traffic signals, closed-circuit cameras, vehicle detectors and more.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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