Miles SmithThe Federal Congestion Relief Grant will help the Utah Department of Transportation make its state one of the first in the United States to use coordinated adaptive ramp meters (CARM) along southbound I-15 from South Salt Lake to Bluffdale.
CARM differs from traditional ramp meters by utilizing numerous vehicle detection sensors to assess conditions across the entire corridor and make real-time changes to ramp meter wait times. Ramp wait times will be balanced throughout the system and monitored to not affect local streets.
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According to UDOT, I-15 was identified for this project as it experiences high traffic in Salt Lake County, which sees its capacity during peak hours drop from 1,900 vehicles per hour per lane to 1,250 vehicles per hour per lane.
This technology would help proactively address recurring periods of congestion, minimize bottlenecks and related traffic incidents and optimize the capacity of the interstate without having to add additional lanes.
“I-15 is a vital corridor, especially in Salt Lake County,” UDOT Freeway Operations Manager Grant Farnsworth said. “Unfortunately, this valuable asset performs the worst when we need it the most. But CARM’s integrated sensor network will enhance travel times and reliability, making it easier—and safer—for Utahns to get to their jobs, families and other needs.”
The project will also involve adding five freeway-to-freeway ramp meters connecting southbound I-15 to other highways.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The ramp meters will be installed on southbound I-15 from SR-201 in South Salt Lake to the Point of the Mountain in Bluffdale.
Photo courtesy Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
