Skip to main content

ITS upgrade for George Washington Bridge

The electronic highway signage system and field devices that provide real-time travel information for the 300,000 daily users of New York’s George Washington Bridge are to undergo a major overhaul in a US$65.1 millio0n project. The Port Authority of New York has approved the project to replace the intelligent transportation system (ITS) which includes the upgrade and replacement of 11 existing variable message signs and the installation of seven new ones; the installation of a new overhead sign structure
June 29, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The electronic highway signage system and field devices that provide real-time travel information for the 300,000 daily users of New York’s George Washington Bridge are to undergo a major overhaul in a US$65.1 million project.

The Port Authority of New York has approved the project to replace the intelligent transportation system (ITS) which includes the upgrade and replacement of 11 existing variable message signs and the installation of seven new ones; the installation of a new overhead sign structure; the upgrade and replacement of fixed message signs; the replacement of variable message signs, vehicle detectors, traffic cameras, travel time readers and a weather information station.

The bridge's ITS system feeds traffic data to TRANSCOM, a consortium that operates a regional traffic management system and provides information to all member agencies for radio reports, highway signs, traffic apps and other means of disseminating traffic information.

"Moving people and goods smoothly and safely through the region is our primary mission," said Port Authority chairman John Degnan. "Utilizing the latest technology to better manage traffic congestion at our bridges and tunnels plays an important part in that effort."

"The Port Authority's facilities are critical to moving people and goods throughout the region," said Port Authority vice chairman Scott Rechler. "Today's action to employ this intelligent transportation system will help move the 300,000 commuters that cross the world's busiest bridge everyday and reduce congestion throughout the region."

The project is due to begin in the fourth quarter of 2017 and be completed by the second quarter of 2020.

Related Content

  • IntelliDrive and HOT lanes - the next generation?
    January 30, 2012
    Janet Banner, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Christopher Hill, Mixon Hill, Inc., outline efforts to explore the use of IntelliDrive technologies in HOT lane applications. On 21 October last year more than 100 transportation professionals came together for a workshop, either in person or via a webinar, to discuss the potential role of IntelliDriveSM technologies in enhancing the operations of High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The discussions focused on a White Paper, commissioned by the Metropoli
  • Work to begin on North Virginia highway improvements to ease congestion
    August 2, 2016
    Work will begin this summer on the first major improvements to US Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway, Virginia, in 15 years. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) project is part of a comprehensive initiative to transform the I-66 corridor, giving commuters and other travellers a variety of fast and reliable choices for getting to and from work. Toll revenues will fund multimodal improvements, giving commuters expanded options for travel. To jumpstart the process, the Commonwealth Transp
  • Over-height vehicle solution proves its worth on smart motorway
    November 17, 2014
    Temporary intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions provider, Mobile Visual Information Systems Ltd (MVIS), has supplied the BAM Morgan Sindall joint venture with a temporary over-height detection solution for use on the M62 and M1 junction 39 to 42 smart motorway project. Developed by MVIS and its partner, Intellicone temporary work zone safety system creator, Highway Resource Solutions (HRS), the over-height detection solution is part of the partners’ work-zone safety portfolio, the first temporary
  • PennDOT 511 traveller information system to be privatised
    January 11, 2013
    The Pennsylvania Department of Transport (PennDOT) 511 system, 511PA, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Roadway Information Program (TRIP), are to be privatised, following approval by the Pennsylvania Public Private Transportation Partnership (P3) Board of a project soliciting private sector proposals to manage and operate the systems. In operation since 2009, 511PA provides traffic-delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 670 traffic cameras. The