Skip to main content

'Green' traffic signs

A new solar-powered, wireless automated rotary drum sign system, manufactured by Skyline Products Traffic Division and currently being deployed in Texas, is being hailed as one of the greenest, least expensive, most flexible means of managing traffic flow.
January 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A new solar-powered, wireless automated rotary drum sign system, manufactured by 732 Skyline Products Traffic Division and currently being deployed in Texas, is being hailed as one of the greenest, least expensive, most flexible means of managing traffic flow.

This exclusive technology was designed as part of a breakthrough programme by the 375 Texas Department of Transportation and engineers and consultants 731 Walter P Moore to create more efficient travel through the El Paso, Texas metropolitan area during traffic incidents and closures on the interstate. The new signs require no fibre-optic cable, hard-wired communications or power, making it possible to install them just about anywhere.

The Automated Rotary Drum Sign System is claimed to be the only automated diversion sign of its kind. “Most of the time, they display standard guide sign information. When an incident occurs, information is sent wirelessly and the signs are activated. The drums rotate and provide appropriate detour information,” explains Mark Conway, director of ITS, Walter P Moore.

“Eliminating the need to run power to each site, including trenching, conduit, power, labour and continued maintenance can plausibly save departments of transportation and taxpayers everywhere millions of dollars,” says Adam Lyons, regional sales manager at Skyline Products. “At the same time we are increasing the options for traffic diversion and delivering all the benefits of improved traffic flow, such as reduced driver frustration and reduced CO2 emissions.”

Some 94 sign units, with various message configurations, are currently being installed by long-time Skyline partner, Tri-State Electric, along Interstate Highway 10, US 54 and Loop 375 in El Paso, Texas.

Related Content

  • April 2, 2014
    Texas opts for Skyline LED signs
    Skyline Products is to provide its LED dynamic message signs (DMS) throughout the state of Texas under a state-wide contract with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The DMS will display traffic messages to help keep the flow of traffic flowing and drivers aware of traffic conditions. Skyline has already installed signs throughout Texas in areas such as Dallas- Fort Worth, Houston, and El Paso. “Skyline Products is proud to be one of the state-wide suppliers for LED Dynamic Message Sign
  • July 1, 2014
    Oregon DOT opts for Skyline CMS
    Skyline Products is to supply Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) with its rotary drum changeable message signs (CMS) in a state-wide five-year contract that includes eight variations of the NTCIP compliant signs. The signs will be used on the highways and interstates around Oregon for chain restriction signing, to advise drivers of the need to use snow chains on their vehicle. Skyline rotary drum CMS are a cost effective option for traffic signs as they draw a fraction of the power and are vir
  • January 23, 2012
    Future traffic management needs new thinking, new technology
    One of the biggest problems facing US ITS professionals, says Georgia DOT's Hugh Colton, is the constrained thinking which is sometimes forced upon those making procurement decisions. It is time, he says, to look again at how we do things. In the November/December 2010 edition of this journal, Pete Goldin interviewed Joseph Sussman, chairman of the US's ITS Program Advisory Committee. Amongst other observations that Sussman made was that, technologically, ITS in the US is 10 years behind that in the world-l
  • January 31, 2012
    Solar-powered traffic detection improves communication
    Pete Goldin reports on a new wireless, solar-powered traffic detection system being used by Caltrans District 12. As more and more traffic data is necessary to satisfy the needs of traffic management centres and traveller information systems, and as traffic detection technology becomes more ubiquitous, transportation authorities are pressured to find more economical ways of expanding their detection systems. Caltrans District 12 is leading this push by deploying the latest detection system from Case Global