MINNESOTA GATE OPERATIONS SYSTEM REDUCES DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS IN SEVERE WEATHER

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) tested the use of automated gates to close sections of Interstates when they were not safe to drive on. The test took place at the I-90 and U.S. 71 interchange at Jackson, Minnesota. Before the gates were installed Mn/DOT used various barriers, including barricades, cones and piled up snow. But they were difficult to keep and place, especially during severe storms. The gates are tied into the traffic management system with heavy reliance on wireless communications and control of the gates via a limited-access Web site. A backup system allows for manual operation in the event of power loss. The site is also monitored to track violations of the closure and operation of the gates. The final report details the specifications of the system, which is built on open architecture and uses existing FHWA-approved gate arms and communications protocols. The report is located at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/guidestar/projects/gatesproj.html.

Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
Supplemental Notes:
- Page range: pp 26, 28-29
Corporate Authors:
Public Works Journal Corporation

200 South Broad Street
Ridgewood, NJ United States 07451
Authors:
- AMIRI, F
Publication Date: 2003-4

Language

English

Media Info

Features: Figures; Photos; References;
Pagination: 3 p.
Serial:
- Public Works
- Volume: 134
- Issue Number: 4
- Publisher: Hanley Wood
- ISSN: 0033-3840
- Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Detection and identification technologies; Gates; Highway safety; Highway traffic control
Geographic Terms: Minnesota
Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 00941536
Record Type: Publication
Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
Files: BTRIS, TRIS
Created Date: May 1 2003 12:00AM