The roadway was supposed to be clear.
At least that was what the sign said.
That's what one Bay area driver was wondering as she headed towards an overhead sign that ultimately steered her into big traffic delays.
Eileen Kolynich was driving home late one night last week on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa when she saw an overhead sign approaching the bridge.
"I encountered the lighted sign which said, 'No Incidents Reported'," Kolynich said. "Bridge Clear."
But moments after getting on the bridge, traffic came to a standstill. And for an hour and a half, Kolynich and her fellow drivers on the Gandy inched along.
"Finally, I approached the traffic sign which stated, 'Road Closed,' " Kolynich said.
Apparently there was some type of discrepancy in messages being given out from one side of the bridge to the other.
The large overhead sign on eastbound Gandy is controlled by the state Department of Transportation from the Sunguide Center headquarters in Tampa.
Meanwhile, information for the smaller roadside signs is entered by the actual construction contractor working on the project. That crews also is responsible for bringing the signs out to the site.
FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson said the contractor and the state did not speak prior to the start of the project, which led to several drivers being stuck on the Gandy.
"I would like the information about road closings given to drivers when they can change their routes," Kolynich said, adding that an overall better system may be needed.