Colorado DOT puts Smart Signs on US 36 into full-time service

Colorado DOT’s Smart Sign system will be similar to what the Minnesota DOT uses shown here.Colorado DOT’s Smart Sign system will be similar to what the Minnesota DOT uses shown here.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is placing its Smart Signs on U.S. 36 near Boulder into full-time service after successfully testing them July 18-22.

CDOT tested the signs in an effort to help drivers “anticipate and prepare for congestion and lane closures” caused by traffic incidents. The signs will show real-time incident details and the department will observe driver behavior when the signs are activated.

“Since the test period was successful, we decided to activate the system now instead of a few months down the road,” says CDOT Transportation Systems Management and Operations Director Ryan Rice.  “It’s designed to improve safety on a busy corridor so the sooner we could have the system operating 24/7, the better it is for the traveling public, allowing drivers to be better prepared for any upcoming traffic problems.”

The agency cites Minnesota and Washington as success stories in employing similar traffic management systems. They have seen road capacity increase by roughly 22 percent on average and a 30 percent drop in crashes after implementing their versions.

CDOT says it also plans to use the Smart Signs system on southbound Interstate 25 from 120th Avenue to U.S. 36.