The paper now published was awarded in the Road Safety category.

 

The World Road Association (PIARC) has published in its digital magazine "Routes" an article on the study of the Road Management System for adverse weather conditions: wind and fog, which was awarded the prize in the category of Road Safety at the 27th World Road Congress held in October 2023.

The A-8 Cantabrian motorway in the Alto del Fiouco area, between km 545+500 and 549+500, presents particular weather conditions with episodes of dense fog combined with strong winds that hinder traffic, sometimes making it necessary to close it and divert vehicles to the N-634 road, as it is not possible to guarantee the minimum safety conditions for its use. For this reason, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has established protocols for managing the road when there are adverse weather conditions of fog and wind, and has installed a series of ITS equipment that has made it possible to manage the restrictions more efficiently and safely, also increasing the number of hours that the motorway is in operation.

The system installed allows the automatic closure and diversion of vehicles through the use of the following ITS devices: weather stations for the detection of visibility values due to fog and wind intensity and direction, Variable Message Signs, photo eyes to control compliance with restrictions and traffic lights and beacons to inform users. In addition, presence detector beacons have been installed, which allow greater safety in foggy conditions, warning of the presence of vehicles driving ahead on the road to minimize the risk of rear-end collisions.

The published article summarizes the presentation in which the protocols applied, the equipment systems installed to comply with these protocols and the effect these systems have had on the operability and safety of this affected section of the A-8 were presented.

Special thanks to the Directorate General of Traffic - Ministry of the Interior - and the Northwest-Cantabrian Traffic Management Centre, as the main promoter and creator of this successful project.

 

PIARC Prize Road Safety - Road Management System for Adverse Weather Conditions: Fog and Wind