The Ohio Department of Transportation is in the process of testing several different technologies designed to improve work zone safety at highway construction sites where I-70, I-71, and State Route 315 meet in downtown Columbus.
The agency said these safety systems should help reduce the risk of congestion-related work zone crashes. While keeping traffic flowing smoothly through highway work zones is always the goal, it can be challenging in a heavily traveled work zone.
The AASHTO Journal reports that to address potential backups, Ohio DOT added queue detection systems along SR 315 south and I-70 east to warn drivers of slow traffic ahead.
That system includes sensors along the road to detect the speed of traffic and relay that information to digital message boards. The message boards then alert drivers to real-time speeds, allowing them to safely slow down and avoid rear-end crashes.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to make our work zones safer,” noted Ohio DOT District 6 deputy director Anthony Turowski in a statement. “With a project of this scale, it’s important to think outside of the box. These innovative tools allow us to effectively and quickly communicate real-time information to help drivers make better decisions while traveling through this area.”
Read the article for more.
Source: AASHTO Journal
