South Dakota-based manufacturer of large-format LED video and message displays and dynamic message signs (DMS), Daktronics has been chosen to design and manufacture 229 new displays along I-395 this year for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Daktronics has a longstanding working relationship with VDOT. In 2012, the company installed 83 DMS along I-495, following that up with a further 346 signs on I-395 and I-95 in 2014. With the new order, there will be a grand total of 658 Daktronics message displays deployed across Virginia’s highway network. While helping to reduce commute times, these displays also help motorists safely navigate the state’s busy freeways, alerting travelers to weather conditions, public safety announcements, Amber Alerts, roadway incidents and construction information. The new DMS will also carry lane reversal and tolling information, which will include the congestion-based varying toll fee prices that is used across VDOT’s network of HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) and Express Lanes.
The new Daktronics DMS will be deployed on I-395, which contains reversible, barrier-separated HOV-3 lanes. During rush hour, the HOV facility operates in the direction of primary traffic flow and is restricted to vehicles containing three or more passengers. Motorcycles, alternative fuel cars, hybrids, and federal law enforcement vehicles are also permitted to use HOV lanes, even if carrying only one occupant. The new signage will indicate direction of flow and other restrictions, and will be controlled by the corridor’s ATMS (Active Traffic Management System) from VDOT’s regional operations center.
Daktronics’ versatile products are known for their reliability, and the company’s transportation division features a large portfolio of differing types of electronic signage, which help guide motorists safely and efficiently to their destination. Daktronics provides LED DMS in a complete range of scalable matrix sizes, offering products that can display speed limits, toll prices and estimated travel times.
The trademark line of Daktronics transportation products, Vanguard DMS, offers a variety of character heights from 6-18 inches (15-46cm), with products ranging from single line to large scale to accommodate any roadway setting. Daktronics LED messaging display technology offers a long lifetime with consistent, industry-leading performance and low power consumption.
“We’ve established a great working relationship with Virginia DOT over the years and are excited to continue our work along the Beltway,” said Koreen Bjorklund, Daktronics Transportation Division national sales manager. “The additional eight miles will provide new travel options for single-occupant drivers, while improving I-395 traffic with an active traffic management system.”
