Today, Governor Andy Beshear announced a design build team has been selected for a $9.5 million project to monitor and bolster safety on Kentucky Interstate-75 corridors prone to wrong-way crashes.
Stansell Electric, the prime contractor, and Parsons Engineering is collaborating with state transportation officials to create a pilot project this summer to test new technologies along select ramps in Fayette County before deploying to other locations starting this fall.
“Wrong-way driving is a major safety issue that can lead to devastating consequences,” said Gov. Beshear in a statement. “This work will help us keep more Kentucky families safe on our roadways.”
Kentucky’s Wrong-Way Driving and Integrated Safety Technology System will use computing and detection to implement a pilot program aimed at detecting and deterring wrongway incidents by alerting the wrong-way driver, other drivers and emergency responders.
Additionally, the system will improve existing intelligent transportation systems to monitor and detect other safety concerns related to pedestrians, debris and halted vehicles on the roadway.
Currently, vendors and the specific technology solutions to be tested are being evaluated and will be finalized before the pilot begins.
Plans for the Wrong-Way Driving and Integrated Safety Technology system consist of four elements:
- Detection System – Identifies wrong-way incidents and other safety concerns in real time
- Deterrent System – Activates warnings designed to discourage the wrong-way drivers
- Alert System – Notifies drivers traveling in the correct direction that a wrong-way driver is
detected; notifies first responder dispatchers of location of detected wrong-way driver
- Mainline Monitoring System – Identifies mainline safety concerns (pedestrians, debris,
disabled vehicles, etc.)
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) awarded the contract for the project, which is estimated to cost up to $9.5 million when complete. The project is funded by a $5.14 million federal grant to improve highway safety on interstates to prevent wrong-way crashes, along with a state match.
“Improving highway safety is a core focus of this administration, and we’re pleased to pilot the latest in technological advancements to help prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” said Jim Gray, KYTC secretary, in a statement. “While innovative solutions can be part of the answer to curbing these incidents, it can never replace the need for drivers to make safe driving decisions, like never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Ultimately, six corridors in Fayette and Jefferson counties along I-75 will feature the vetted technology.
-----------------------------------------------------
Source: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
