WASHINGTON — An incorrect High Occupancy Vehicle-lane sign had drivers on Interstate 66 confused Monday morning.
A sign for the HOV lanes on eastbound I-66 at U.S. 50 said all lanes were open to traffic instead of the usual Monday morning HOV restrictions at about 8 a.m.
One caller reported to WTOP Traffic that police were issuing tickets beyond the sign for HOV violations.
HOV lanes on I-66 are restricted to vehicles with two people and motorcycles.
The sign was incorrect for several hours before it was corrected at about 8:30 a.m.
Virginia State Police say troopers issued just one HOV violation along the eastbound lanes of I-66 this morning that could have been related to the incorrect sign. However the motorist never mentioned the sign to the trooper, says spokeswoman Corinne Geller.
Virginia Department of Transportation officials have not said why the sign was incorrect, but on weekends the lanes are typically open to all drivers.
A representative from a VDOT operation center tells WTOP Traffic that there was a power issue that affected the gates to the HOV lanes in the area, but it’s not clear whether that may have been related to the signage issue.
Through Monday morning, a power problem caused the mechanized gates to remain down and prevent access to I-66 eastbound from Stringfellow Road and Monument Drive.
Other drivers Monday morning experienced sign issues along Interstates 95 and 395.
WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report.
