The Iowa Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, is testing new automated detection and messaging systems to inform drivers of slow-moving vehicles using the Iowa 5-U.S. 65 bypass on the east and south sides of the Des Moines metro area.
[Above photo by the Iowa DOT]
The agency said in a statement the goal of the project is to provide better information to drivers whenever slow-moving vehicles are on the high-speed Iowa 5-U.S. 65 bypass; a four-lane freeway with maximum speeds of 65 mph that connects I-80 northeast of the metro area to I-35 on the southwest.
Iowa DOT said slow-moving vehicles such as farm equipment are allowed on portions of the roadway, especially as it is the only viable crossing of the Des Moines River for certain agricultural needs – with some larger farm vehicles on the bypass travelling as slow as 14 mph.
The agency said the project uses a variety of real-time detection feeds including roadside sensors to identify slow-moving vehicles on the roadway – information that then feeds into flashing beacons and dynamic message signs that are temporarily installed alongside the roadway in selected locations.
That informs all drivers that a slow-moving vehicle is ahead, allowing drivers to carefully reduce speed and change lanes to avoid conflicts, it said.
The Iowa DOT added that it is also working with equipment manufacturers on a pilot effort to use telematic feeds directly from agency-owned vehicles such as roadway mowers to help trigger the notifications.
