QUESTION: At the intersection of Pinegrove and St. Charles avenues in Hyde Park, "no parking" signs are nonexistent near the corners. Motorists are parking close to the corners to the degree that it affected emergency vehicles responding to a fire at a neighbor's house a few weeks ago. Fire trucks lost time backing up several times to make the turn. What can be done to improve this?

- Michael Lake, Hyde Park

ANSWER: Cincinnati Traffic Engineer Steve Bailey said "no parking" signs will be installed at this intersection as well as a stop sign for the Pinegrove Avenue approach.

Q: Several years ago, I wrote to you about the lack of signs on southbound Interstate 71 at the Norwood Lateral to indicate that motorists may connect to Interstate 75 via the lateral. Although officials of the Ohio Department of Transportation answered that signs would be changed, they have not been. Why?

A: Tammy Campbell, of ODOT's traffic maintenance department, said officials have since decided against additional signage at the lateral since motorists may connect to I-71 and I-75 at various other locations including Interstate 275, Ohio 126, Pfeiffer Road and I-71 at the Ohio River. The Ohio Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices states that exit guide signs should contain the exit number, the intersection routes, the principal destinations served by the interchange and the distance to the interchange, Ms. Campbell said. Guide signs are limited in size and it would not be feasible to give information about all principal destinations or routes accessed from the interchange.

Q: The street sign at the corner of Liberty and Moore streets in front of St. Francis Seraph School in Over-the-Rhine has been broken and hangs precariously from the pole at a height children can jump up and touch it. Will this be repaired?

A: Mr. Bailey said the sign has been repaired. Citizens are encouraged to report defective street signs directly to the city's Public Services Customer Service Hotline, 591-6000, for prompt service.

You Asked For It, which runs on Mondays, 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.