Gloucester’s Main Street is open for business. But you wouldn’t guess that from the unhelpful sign greeting motorists approaching Gloucester court circle from the west.

A detour takes southbound traffic through some residential neighborhoods, surely an annoyance, but temporary. By the winter, all will be quiet again.

This same detour puts the automobiles back onto Main Street where they can see for themselves that businesses are open and welcoming.

It’s just that sign: Road closed. Local traffic only. What was the responsible party thinking when that went up? Authorities say it pertains to a prohibition of truck traffic in the construction zone, but it seems pretty general and forbidding to us.

Authorities also say all the signs went up with VDOT’s approval … but did anyone ask the merchants for their approval?

Main Street is open for business. We ask the powers that be to design a remedy for this damaging sign language that indicates exactly ...