Curious about something and don't know who to ask? Send questions to NRNews@newsobserver.com or visit the "What's up with that?" forum on share.triangle.com where you can see the questions we're working on -- and help us answer them.

Q.Very often I drive north on Capital Boulevard on the way to my daughter and son-in-law's home just off of Perry Creek Road. Right before Capital goes under the Interstate 540 bridge there is a sign over the right- hand lane that says "Lane Ends 1/2 Mile."

Then, after Capital Boulevard goes under I-540, there are two signs. The one on the right hand lane now says, "Lane Ends 1000 Feet."

This is correct, the lane ends. But a new sign on the lane to the left of the right-hand lane says, "Lane Ends 1/2 Mile." But that lane does not end in a half mile. It continues on for 1 1/2 miles to Perry Creek Road, where it ends.

I am sure you can find out if this is a mistake when the sign was made. Or is there some other reason that I am not aware of?

Thanks,

-- Betty A. McGuire,

P.S. I could not find the "What's up with that" forum on the Web site. What did I do wrong?

A.Good eye! Apparently, you can't believe everything you read -- even on road signs.

According to Steve Johnson, division traffic engineer at the state Department of Transportation, the two signs on either side of I-540 that say the lane will be ending in a half mile do appear to be mislabeled.

Johnson agrees the correct distance from I-540 to Perry Creek is more like 1 1/2 miles. He is not sure how the mistake occurred.

Johnson explains there are three ways to handle this situation:

* Modify the distance on the current sign;

* Remove the sign altogether; or

* Remove the sign and replace it with another one.

The easiest option is to modify the distance on the current sign if room permits, he says.

Johnson says he may also consider adding some signs on Capital closer to Perry Creek Road to indicate that the far right lane eventually becomes a right-turn- only lane at that intersection.

"There are a lot of variables when it comes to signs," Johnson said.

As for your P.S., the Web site share.triangle.com does look a little different with the overhaul of triangle.com, but the "What's up with that forum" is still there -- go to the "Forums" section, then click on "categories" then scroll down until you find "North Raleigh." Click on that and you'll find the WUWT forum.

Thanks for asking and allowing us to clear that up for our readers.