What: Public meetings to discuss traffic management tool that will be implemented along the I-12 corridor from Essen to Walker

When & Where:

• Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites Hotel, Baton Rouge

• Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Walker High School

• Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Southside Junior High School, Denham Springs                    
   

Who: DOTD Secretary William D. Ankner, Ph.D., other representatives of DOTD and representatives of ABMB Engineers Inc. will be discuss the upcoming ramp metering along I-12.                           

Details: The purpose of the public meeting is to discuss ramp metering, a new traffic management tool DOTD will implement along the I-12 corridor. Ramp metering is a proactive approach to traffic management designed to space out traffic entering the interstate. This helps to reduce congestion on the interstate and improves safety by lowering the numbers of crashes that occur at the ramps. The technology been used successfully in several other urban areas around the country for years.

The ramp meter is a traffic signal located on the interstate on-ramp that allows vehicles to proceed one at a time onto the interstate, providing the spacing needed to assist the flow of traffic onto the interstate. The ramp meters will operate only during peak traffic hours – the morning commute on the westbound side and the evening commute on the eastbound side.

The technology will ease congestion during the I-12 widening project and help to preserve the capacity of the widening project when construction is complete. Implementation of the ramp meters will begin in early 2010, and they will be turned on in the spring of 2010.

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