In Missouri cities like Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City, drivers are used to seeing highway signs that give real-time updates to road conditions. However, drivers see fewer of them on the interstates in rural sections of Missouri.
To address rural areas, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) relies on the Rural Queue and Delay Warning System, which is located in various locations on Interstate 44 and Interstate 70. In addition, there are some along U.S. 60 between Springfield and Sikeston.
Using information similar to your map apps on cell phones, it updates tracks traffic patterns along the rural sections of Missouri’s interstate. It notifies drivers of potential slowdowns on the trip.
It relays information to MoDOT, which investigates the cause and allows them to update it.
“That incident plays out, and our TMCs (Traffic Management Centers) get more details about what is causing it,” said Jon Nelson with MoDOT to KY 3 News. “They can override that system, to say, a crash at mile marker 162. Left Lane Closed. Expect Delays,”
While immediate information is helpful to drivers, such as whether the slowdown is caused by construction, weather or any sudden incident, queue warnings can be provided for work zones without using the extensive smart zone systems.
“If you’re traveling 70 mph down I-70 or U.S. 54; you don’t expect those backups or stopped traffic,” said Nelson. “To be able to give those warnings out, even though the signs are spread far apart, it does give that advance warning that something is coming up ahead of you and that it has caused traffic to slow down. You need to be prepared for that.”
Installing one of the Dynamic Message Signs can cost $100,000 or more, depending on factors such as electrical, internet and communication abilities, but the state plans to continue installing them in rural areas.
Source: KY 3 News, Kbug.com
