Skip to main content

ITS ‘could save Australia US$500 million a year’

According to Australia’s federal infrastructure and transport minister, Anthony Albanese, an Australia-wide electronic freeway management system has the potential to greatly reduce congestion and save Australian families and businesses more than US$500 million a year. Albanese said as much as he announced the US$21 million contract to deliver an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and communications infrastructure to the Westgate freeway managed motorway project in Victoria under the national smart managed m
February 22, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
According to Australia’s federal infrastructure and transport minister, Anthony Albanese, an Australia-wide electronic freeway management system has the potential to greatly reduce congestion and save Australian families and businesses more than US$500 million a year.

Albanese said as much as he announced the US$21 million contract to deliver an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and communications infrastructure to the Westgate freeway managed motorway project in Victoria under the national smart managed motorways program.

Albanese said that, once operational, the technology will give 4728 VicRoads the tools it needs to better manage traffic flows and respond quickly to accidents and breakdowns.
“As well as being good for taxpayers, this technology will deliver faster, safer and less frustrating driving conditions for the 160,000 motorists and truck drivers who use this vital part of Melbourne’s road network every day,” said Albanese.

Victoria’s roads minister Terry Mulder said the installation of the freeway management system is expected to be completed by mid-2014 and maintains Victoria’s reputation as a leader in the use of this technology.

“The project will upgrade the existing smart technology on the freeway and include installation of lane use signs that advise drivers of which lanes to use, and new side-mounted variable speed limit signs allowing for speeds to adjust to suit conditions,” Mulder said. “There will also be closed circuit television cameras and an upgrade of supporting communications networks and central control systems. Once complete, the system will be fully integrated with the M1 east of Williamstown Road and eventually with the M80 ring road, helping to deliver safer and more reliable travel times along these routes.”

Under the contract, 7146 Visionstream, part of 4977 Leighton Contractors, will be undertaking the design, supply, installation and integration of ITS devices including lane use signs, variable message signs, traffic data collection stations and CCTV cameras and supporting ICT infrastructure. (See ITS International e-newsletter of 14 February).

The West Gate Freeway project is being funded by the Federal and Victorian governments to the tune of US$12.5 million each. Work on the project is expected to get underway in the middle of this year.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Australia and Michigan to develop safer roads and vehicle technology
    October 10, 2018
    The Australian government and the US state of Michigan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop vehicle and road systems to help improve road safety. Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development, says the agreement is part of a strategy to position Australia for safer roads through automated and connected vehicles. “This is just one way the government is promoting safer vehicles on safer roads, including for our region
  • Asking drivers what information they need: radical but effective
    March 19, 2014
    When Texas A&M Transportation Institute was asked to devise a temporary traveller information system for work zones, it started by asking drivers what they need. Robert Brydia explains the thinking, implementation and results. US Interstate 35 (I-35) runs roughly north–south originating in Laredo, Texas and ends 1,500 miles away in Duluth, Minnesota having passed through Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Within Texas the I-35 splits into I-35E and I-35W passing through Dallas and Fort Worth respectiv
  • Mobile payment technologies for Australia
    October 11, 2016
    Contactless technology, the ability to tap your bank issued card or enabled mobile device to make a payment, has brought speed and simplicity to the in-store shopping experience. Doug Howe explains how innovations, like Contactless, in the mobile and banking industries have the potential to transform public transportation. Q Why is public transportation ripe for transformation? A Today, more than half the world’s population lives in cities; that’s a figure set to increase to 70% by 2050. International
  • San Francisco plans express lane network across Bay Area
    February 25, 2015
    Colin Sowman looks at plans to convert 240km (150 miles) of HOV/car pool lanes. While some authorities have debated the conversion of high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) into express or managed lanes allowing toll paying single-occupant vehicles to avoid congestion, San Francisco’s Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has acted. It is converting 240km (150 miles) of HOV/car pool lanes to express lanes and last fall the MTC’s Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority selected TransCore to d