Posted on 01/04/2018 12:57:18 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A new detection system to help prevent wrong-way crashes will be part of an interchange under construction in the south Las Vegas Valley.
There were 279 wrong-way driver crashes on Nevada’s freeway systems from 2005 to 2015, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. They resulted in 41 fatalities and 125 injuries.
After researching ways to address the problem, NDOT determined a system using vehicle detection, cameras and red rectangular rapid-flashing beacons should be employed.
To implement the system, NDOT requested and received permission from the Federal Highway Administration to experiment with the beacons. Permission was needed because red rapid rectangular-flashing beacons are not allowed, per federal standards.
The first-of-its-kind system in the state will be installed at the Interstate 15/Starr Avenue interchange, which broke ground last week. Plans call for two units, costing $100,000-$150,000 each. Plans also call for the wrong-way driver detection system at the Kyle Canyon Road interchange, which breaks ground next year.
“The wrong-way signs are pole-mounted, electrically powered and self-contained,” NDOT spokesman Tony Illia said. “Flashing red lights mounted atop and below the ‘wrong way’ sign activate, flashing a warning. Drivers react to flashing alerts and routinely self-correct.”
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegassun.com ...
“Drivers react to flashing alerts and routinely self-correct”
Only if they are paying more attention to the big screen than to their GPS little screen.
By Don McLoud, Equiment World's Better Roads
A new interchange to Interstate 15 near Las Vegas is being built to relieve traffic and reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
The $33.7 million interchange at Starr Avenue will include six lanes, landscaped medians and bike lanes and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2019. The project completes construction of Starr Avenue between Las Vegas Boulevard and Dean Martin Drive and adds a bridge on I-15 over Starr Avenue. By diverting drivers under I-15, the new interchange will reduce traffic noise for neighbors, the Nevada Department of Transportation says.
“The interchange provides new and improved freeway access for local businesses and residents,” said NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon. “It additionally improves safety and connectivity through reduced freeway and surface street gridlock.”
The project in unincorporated Clark County also includes sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting and traffic signals. Las Vegas Paving won the general contract.
The interchange is part of a $1.3 billion project begun in 2007 to improve the I-15 south corridor.
Are wrong way signs posted now?
How much does this cost verses regular wrong way signs.
Does a sensor save money over a flashing wrong way sign that is always on?
Is there some other road design flaw at work here?
Auto-targeted TOW II would do a better job.
Did they field test their shiny new toy with drunk illegals? That's usually who's driving the wrong way up the freeway.
Which why so many try to "beat the train" at grade crossings.
Wife on phone to elderly husband, “Be careful driving home. A wrong way driver has been reported on the freeway!”
Husband to wife, “A wrong way driver my ass! There’s dozens of them!”
I like the way you think, mister!
CC
Beat me to it. Drunks, anyway.
Yes the drunks and druggies and elderly out of their minds really do a good job at self correcting.
This disrupts the balance of natural selection, the wrong-way drivers will ultimately have a better chance to breed with the high dollar warning system improvement.
The only thing that makes sense is to deploy this in Vegas, I’m sure they have more than their fair share of this, given the possible range and scope of the “entertainment opportunities” there.
Hope they put it in Spanish.
I was thinking along the same lines. Reduce recidivism!
Many of these wrong way drivers are suicides.
Wrong way drivers are why it is best to stay out of the fast lane if you don’t see taillights directly in front of you (drunks think they are in the slow lane, closing speeds are very fast). This info courtesy of Tom Sullivan who is a talk show host now but was a highway patrol officer at one time. He usually gives this advise every holiday season.
The results where best explained as 'Moth To Flame' syndrome
Sh** faced drivers seem to home in on shiny objects and take them out.
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