BAKU, July 19, 2025 — A handwritten road sign reading “Road Closed” has appeared on a major route in the Azerbaijani capital, causing confusion and frustration among local drivers — and raising serious questions about accountability.
The makeshift sign, crudely written and barely visible from a distance, was placed on the stretch between the Çermet bridge and Heydar Aliyev Avenue. No official markings, reflective surfaces, or standard road signage were used, leaving many motorists puzzled and irritated.
“It’s unacceptable,” said one frustrated driver in a message to Qafqazinfo. “The sign isn’t visible from far away, and there are no clear warnings or detour instructions. This kind of negligence is dangerous and shows how unserious some authorities are about road safety.”
Attempts by journalists to trace who installed the sign have so far hit a dead end.
The State Agency of Azerbaijan Highways denied any involvement:
“Our department is not conducting any work in that area and did not place any signs there,” the agency stated.
Meanwhile, the Unified Water Supply Service for Major Cities also denied responsibility:
“We are not carrying out any construction or maintenance work in that district, and the warning sign does not belong to our organization.”
With no one claiming ownership of the warning, the incident has raised broader concerns about transparency and public safety. Social media users were quick to criticize the lack of oversight, with some calling for surveillance footage to be reviewed and for penalties against those responsible.
While the sign has since been removed, the episode has reignited debate over infrastructure management and the need for proper coordination between municipal bodies — especially in a city where unmarked roadblocks can lead to accidents or serious traffic disruption.
City officials have not commented publicly on the matter.
