In an effort to alleviate congestion on Interstate 275 in Cincinnati, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has opened a Smart Lane.
The Smart Lane is on I-275 westbound between Loveland-Madeira Road and Reed Hartman Highway, a stretch of approximately five miles. Dynamic message signs alert motorists when the lane is open to traffic, with a green arrow indicating it’s open and a red “X” indicating when it's closed.
ODOT’s Traffic Management Center monitors traffic through newly installed cameras and radar. When traffic speeds drop below 55 mph, operators open the SmartLane.
The Smart Lane likely will be used mostly during morning rush hour, from 6 to 9 a.m. on weekdays. The speed limit in the extra lane is 55 mph and may be further reduced in 10-mph increments, depending on how bad traffic gets.
ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning told Land Line Now that the department would discourage truck drivers from using the SmartLane.
“I think the real benefit to the truck drivers will be the other motorists using [the Smart Lane] and lessening the congestion for everybody on the road,” said Bruning.
During normal, non-rush hours, the left shoulder will remain closed. But the SmartLane may be used during emergency situations, including crash response and construction or maintenance activities.
“It’s not built to handle traffic 24/7, but it can handle traffic for a couple hours a day when we need it,” said Bruning. “It’s essentially a temporary solution for a temporary problem.”
ODOT has plans to include a SmartLane on I-275 eastbound from U.S. 42 to state Route 28. Those plans also include extending the westbound SmartLane to state Route 28.
Source: Land Line Now, Cincinnati.com
