Skip to main content

PB designing fibre network for MDOT

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) for the design of a new fibre-optic communications network in metropolitan Detroit. The project is a multi-phase effort to build an MDOT-owned fibre-optic network for communications with the Detroit region’s intelligent transportation system deployment, including hundreds of closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message signs and vehicle detection systems along regional freeways.
April 19, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSThe 1688 Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a contract to 4983 Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) for the design of a new fibre-optic communications network in metropolitan Detroit. The project is a multi-phase effort to build an MDOT-owned fibre-optic network for communications with the Detroit region’s intelligent transportation system deployment, including hundreds of closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message signs and vehicle detection systems along regional freeways. The system will link all of the existing network hubs and nodes, eliminating the need for existing leased communications services, and upgrading the existing wireless radio communications to high-bandwidth fibre-optic links for most of the field devices and remote network nodes. The project encompasses the full extent of the Detroit-area freeway system, including over 160kms of instrumented roadway.

As the prime consultant, PB is responsible for the overall design of the communications network. Its services will entail preparation of a design report and network migration plan, with recommendations for how to best phase roll-out of the system; development of conduit installation plans for dozens of miles of regional freeways; and design of fibre-optic plans, including cable routing, network sizing, splice points, and fibre allocation details.  The design will include a minimum of two phases, with the first phase focusing on elimination of an existing leased fibre-optic service, and the second phase focusing on network redundancy and reduction of wireless linkages.

Construction of Phase 1 will commence in July 2013, with completion slated for late 2014.

Related Content

  • May 23, 2017
    Michigan Department of Transportation partners with 3M on connected work zone
    The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is partnering with 3M to utilise connected vehicle technologies along more than three miles of I-75. Using solutions from 3M, the current I-75 work zone in Oakland County will be transformed over the course of four months to improve safety for drivers and to test advanced vehicle to infrastructure technologies on the connected and autonomous vehicles of the future.
  • April 16, 2012
    Pöyry to provide technical assistance for Panama Metro
    Pöyry's Urban & Mobility Business Group has been awarded a US$3 million contract to provide specialised technical assistance to the consortium in charge of project management for the design and construction of Line 1 of the Panama Metro. Pöyry's services are related to the implementation of the whole metro system. The project began in July 2011 and is expected to be completed by June 2014.
  • September 7, 2014
    MDOT recreates its traffic management center at 2014 ITS World Congress
    The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has recreated its Southeast Michigan Traffic Management Center (Booth: 2027) at 2014 ITS World Congress. The center is recognised as one of the most innovative TMCs in the U.S., having to deal with a complex multi-modal transportation network on the border of Canada.
  • October 19, 2015
    WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff to manage Los Angeles Metro express lanes
    WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff has been awarded a contract by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to serve as its ExpressLanes program management support consultant. Under the contract, WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff will assist Metro with project initiation, including planning and preliminary engineering; project and program management oversight; and public education, community relations and market research. The primary focus of the new contract is on studying possible extensio