Multi-disciplinary construction and engineering consultancy the Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has been awarded a contract from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to provide services for its Adaptive Traffic Signal System project on Route 18.
Jacobs will provide NJDOT with construction administration and inspection services for the Route 18 Adaptive Traffic Signal System project that is taking place in East Brunswick and New Brunswick. The agency’s Route 18 project consists of the installation of new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment and upgrades to the existing traffic signal system.
The traffic signal improvement scheme in Middlesex County runs along 6 miles (9.6km) of Route 18 in both directions, starting on Main Street/CR615 in East Brunswick and proceeding north to Memorial Parkway/Carpender Road in New Brunswick. The US$3.69m federally-funded Route 18 Adaptive Traffic Signal System project is being accomplished in stages and is expected to be completed in late autumn 2017.
The ITS deployment project includes the installation of underground electrical conduit, electrical wiring, turf pavers, junction boxes, and image detectors on Route 18. Through the use of adaptive traffic signal control systems, NJDOT is using state-of-the-art technology to connect multiple sets of traffic lights on the corridor to optimize intersection performance based on real-time vehicle flow, in order to help traffic move more efficiently on state highways. Variable message signs (VMS) are being used throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with the traffic signal improvements. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information through its usual multi-media channels before upcoming road closures.
Jacobs’ construction administration and inspection services will include the installation of image and radar detectors, Controlled Traffic Signal System (CTSS) cameras, and fiber optic cable at 23 locations along the Route 18 corridor. Jacobs will also oversee a traffic study to be conducted prior to the start of any work to determine daily volumes at each traffic signal, average corridor travel time, and average intersection delay. The findings will then be compared with the information obtained when the adaptive system is integrated and operational. Once the equipment is installed and integrated into the NJDOT Statewide System, a verification and validation plan will be executed, and testing performed.
“We have worked alongside NJDOT on many projects over the past 60 years,” said Jacobs senior vice president for buildings and infrastructure, Randy Pierce. “This experience, combined with our proven capability in transport engineering services including ITS, positions us well to help NJDOT meet the challenges and opportunities of this rapidly changing technological landscape.”
