The temporary digital sign warns drivers: “New traffic pattern.” Looking ahead of the wheeled screen, you’d almost think this was an April Fools’ prank. It actually isn’t. Residents in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania, woke up a few days ago to their police department setting up a new project. The local authority had received quite a few speed complaints on Grays Lane. In response, it decided to repaint the street’s lane lines all Akimbo.

Zig-zagging lane lines are a low-cost speed deterrent

MTPD announced the wavy initiative on its Facebook page.

“Today, new lines were painted on Grays Lane with signage and the installation of chicanes (delineators) to follow. These traffic calming measures are being installed due to the numerous complaints/concerns we receive from residents about the “speedway” Grays Lane has become. It was discussed at length with our Traffic Engineers, Highway Safety Officers, and Public Works. The Police Department’s trailer is being placed there this afternoon alerting motorists of the new traffic pattern ahead.”

But the neighbors on Grays Lane say they had no idea their street would look like this. “They were literally out here yesterday,” one explained, saying that the neighborhood didn’t have any warning ahead of the police department’s project. People were coming out of their houses wondering what the heck was going on. Once the work was finished, some folks felt confused and frustrated at the road’s new look.

“I think it’s an eyesore,” one resident asserted, “I think it’s ridiculous…speed bumps would have gone a lot further as far as slowing people down on this road in particular.”

CBS Philly went out to take a look after the lane lines went viral on social media.

“I think it’s awkward,” another neighbor explained, “Weird.”

The news channel recorded a couple of drivers following the new squiggly path. However, they have footage of someone else just driving straight across the lines, ignoring the wavy design.

Social media response to the police initiative isn’t even mixed…it’s flat-out critical

Despite the local police department releasing a follow-up statement assuring PA residents that the street design is backed by traffic and engineering experts, people aren’t receiving the new design well.

“If I ever come across this road, I’ll just drive straight like it was originally intended,” someone wrote right under the MTPD’s Facebook post.

“This is going to cause accidents. What happened to speed bumps?” one posited on the CBS reel.

“This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen I actually can’t believe it’s real,” another said, earning more than 1,000 likes.

“Officer the road is drunk,” another claimed.

Time will tell whether the locals will get used to the squiggles…or if Montgomery Township Police Department tries a different solution to the speed complaints.