As part of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Project Neon – a nearly $1 billion investment to widen Interstate 15 through downtown Las Vegas, a “first of its kind in Nevada” active traffic management (ATM) system will be installed early on in the project, which will enable the contractor to use the system for maintenance of traffic during construction.  The signs will be far more sophisticated than the existing dynamic signage that shows travel times to freeway exits and can be programmed to inform motorists of lane closures and blockages that occur with traffic crashes or construction.  In addition, the system is designed to provide speed harmonization by posting variable speed limits within the corridor to provide advanced noticed of congestion or backups.

Signs will show the status of every lane as motorists approach the I-15/U.S. 95 “Spaghetti Bowl” interchange that sees 300,000 vehicles daily and 25,000 lane changes per hour. Before major construction begins on the freeway, a dozen steel gantries supporting the video boards will be erected over I-15 and U.S. 95 in all directions approaching the Spaghetti Bowl. When Project Neon is completed in 2019, there will be more than 50 gantries and information signs at locations stretching all the way to Warm Springs Road. 

NDOT conducted peer exchanges with other states to develop a concept of operations and found other states that have invested in ATM systems are realizing significant reduction in primary and secondary crashes, with a minimization of injuries, fatalities, delays, and congestion. The greatest benefit is crash reductions, especially on weekends. This is attributable to ‘non-commuter’ drivers who may not be familiar with the area who benefit greatly from the advanced notification system. This is particularly relevant in Las Vegas where large numbers of tourists drive the I-15 corridor every day.