QUESTION: The intersection of Edmondson Road and Edwards Road is confusing. Northbound Edwards Road becomes three lanes - two for left turns west onto Edmondson, with another lane marked for traffic to continue north on Edwards. Why can't the two lanes going north be marked differently: the outside lane for traffic going north and the inside lane for traffic going north or turning west onto Edmondson? The two outside lanes exist, but if you follow the overhead signs, the two northbound lanes become one lane. - Andrew Matthey, Hyde Park

ANSWER: Cincinnati Traffic Engineer Steve Bailey said the lane arrangement is necessary because of the very heavy volume of left-turning traffic onto Edmondson. Traffic on Edwards receives a green light, followed by a left-turn arrow. Also, permitting through and left-turning traffic from the center lane results in the potential for sudden stops by approaching through traffic. There is sufficient capacity for through traffic in the curb lane.

Q: Why are all of the highway concrete barriers the color of fog? During the night, motorists cannot see the barriers. Couldn't there be a wavy black stripe painted on them to identify a solid object? - C. G Stocker, Pleasant Ridge

A: Walter Bernau of the Ohio Department of Transportation said barrier walls have reflectors spaced at 50 to 100 feet. Headlamps will not reflect black painted stripes.

Q: At Race Road and Harrison Avenue in Green Township, right turns on red are permitted from westbound Harrison onto Race while it is very difficult to see oncoming northbound vehicles there. On the other hand, right turns on red are prohibited from southbound Race onto Harrison although line of sight is much better. Why?

A: Tom Langenbrunner of the Hamilton County Engineer's Office said westbound Harrison motorists can pull up sufficiently far to have adequate sight distance for a safe right turn on red. A right on red is prohibited for southbound motorists because of a dual left-turn movement from the south side of Race.

You Asked For It answers questions about regional history, government, schools and roads. Call 381-2800 and enter 2002. Fax 755-4150. E-mail wschaefer@enquirer.com. Mail: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Include name, neighborhood and phone.