MassHighway to spend $30.7 million on intelligent transportation system
The I-91 and I-291 corridors in western Massachusetts will be among the first highways in the United States to benefit from communication provided by a traffic management tool known as an intelligent transportation system (ITS), according to the provider of the technology.
The Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) has commissioned Omaha, Neb.-based Adesta LLC to design, build and maintain the $30.7 million system, which includes the installment of 33 surveillance cameras, 17 variable-message signs and a fiber-optic-based communications system that connects the cameras and signs with the local district traffic operations center and the state traffic operations center in Boston.
Adesta estimates that the infrastructure deployment phase of the project will be finished by late 2010.
MassHighway expects both the traveling public and the economy to benefit from the system’s ability to monitor traffic congestion and incidents and relay that information to motorists in real time.
“This project uses technology to support highway safety, economic development and improved traffic flow on our largest and most important highway in western Massachusetts,” MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky said.
Adesta will back the intelligent transportation system with a two-year warranty. The company has designed the ITS to accommodate technological upgrades and expansions well into the future.
Adesta President Bob Sommerfeld explained that the ITS will “provide MassHighway the ability to offer modern network infrastructure to underserved areas at a greatly reduced cost, while allowing for cost recovery as the additional excess capacity is marketed to users.”