§ 16975 — County road detours

(a) Closure of roads.--Except for an emergency in which the safety of the public would be endangered, a county road may not be closed to vehicular traffic except upon order of the county commissioners and may not be closed for a longer period than is necessary for the purpose for which the order is issued. Except for temporary emergency police measures by which the safety of the public would be endangered if it were not temporarily closed, a county road may not be closed to vehicular traffic if the road has been designated as a detour by the Department of Transportation, unless the written consent of the Department of Transportation has first been obtained or unless the county commissioners having jurisdiction over the road, by resolution, declare the closing necessary for the protection of the public safety.

(b) Designation of detour on road closure.--If a county road is closed to vehicular travel, the county commissioners shall immediately designate or lay out a detour on which the county commissioners shall cause to be erected and maintained while the detour is in use legible signs at each public road intersection throughout the entire length of the detour indicating the direction to the main highway. During the period when the detour is in use, the county commissioners shall maintain the detour in a safe and passable condition. The county commissioners shall also immediately remove all detour signs when the highway originally closed is opened again for traffic.

(c) Repair of road designated as detour.--The county commissioners shall, as soon as possible, repair the road designated as a detour and place the road in a condition at least equal to the road's condition when designated as a detour.

Legislative History

Cross References.Section 16975 is referred to in sections 16976, 16977 of this title.