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Overhead electronic signs

Overhead electronic speed signs are part of the Lane Use Management System used by staff to reduce speeds. This reduces potential congestion events and opens and closes lanes to keep everyone safe on our Smart Freeway.

The overhead electronic signs are used to communicate travel conditions to road users in real time.

Our operators monitor traffic densities and speeds from the Road Network Operations Centre, using in-road sensors and other technologies. If congestion is building, they use the overhead electronic signs to drop speeds on the freeway, slowing vehicles down to allow the traffic ahead to clear, preventing stop-start conditions.

The overhead signs are also used to close lanes when needed, directing traffic into adjoining lanes if there are incidents ahead on the Smart Freeway.

These systems reduce congestion, improve travel times and enhance safety.

 

 

Electronic message boards

Electronic Message Boards are located on most of the overhead electronic signs on the Smart Freeway and are used to display information about conditions ahead, including incidents and travel information.

Large electronic message boards are located on the left of many of the overhead electronic signs north of the Mt Henry Bridge through to the Narrows.

These generally remain blank until our operators need to notify drivers of changed freeway conditions ahead or provide other information relevant to your journey.

When this occurs, messages will be displayed to tell drivers what’s happening ahead, how to safely negotiate any incidents, possible alternate routes or any delays they may be facing.

When these electronic message boards are used, please pay attention, as the advice presented could be important to your journey.

 

 

The ‘Red X’ above a lane or lanes

The overhead electronic lane signs can be changed in response to crashes, breakdowns or debris on the freeway. When that happens, our operators use the ‘Red X’ to alert drivers that the lane or lanes are closed.

To protect road users, emergency responders and maintenance workers, the overhead electronic lane signs alert drivers that the lane has been closed. This may be due to a potential incident ahead, such as a crash, breakdown or debris on the freeway.

If a lane is closed, drivers will see a ‘Red X’ on the sign above that lane. This means you must not enter that lane. If you’re already in that lane, you must leave it as soon as you can safely do so.

The ‘Red X’ is used to protect an incident site or to free a lane of traffic and help emergency services get through.

 

 

Co-ordinated ramp signals

There are ramp signals on some of the Smart Freeway on-ramps that work like traffic lights, only faster, allowing one vehicle per lane to join the freeway at a time. They reduce congestion and make merging easier and safer, giving drivers time to get up to freeway speeds before merging.

To reduce congestion and make merging easier, traffic signals have been installed on five northbound on-ramps along Kwinana Freeway, at Farrington Road, South Street, Leach Highway and Cranford Avenue.

These signals work the same as normal traffic lights, only faster, quickly switching between green, yellow and red, allowing one car per lane to join the freeway at a time.

Managing the flow of vehicles onto the freeway makes merging easier and safer. It prevents stop-start conditions building from the merge point and helps keep freeway traffic moving.

 

 

The ‘White Arrow’

When a lane is closed ahead (with a ‘Red X’ above that lane), the preceding overhead electronic signs display a ‘White Arrow’ pointing to the lane, or lanes, you need to move to.

Some distance before a ‘Red X’ sign, road users are directed to begin moving out of the closed lane. The electronic speed sign above the closed lane will display a ‘White Arrow’ pointing to the lane, or lanes, road users need to move to.

This advanced warning sign helps drivers merge prior to the lane closure or incident site, ensuring a safe area is available to those at the incident site.

 

 

Emergency stopping bays

Our Smart Freeway has six emergency stopping bays located on average every 630 metres, providing off-freeway refuge in the event of a breakdown.

All six emergency stopping bays are monitored 24/7 by Stopped Vehicle Detection cameras that alert staff in our Road Network Operations Centre as soon as someone pulls into a bay.

Please remember these bays are for emergency use only – for example if a vehicle is no longer able to drive or the driver unable to continue driving before reaching the freeway exit.

If you can’t make it to an emergency bay, stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt fastened and put your hazard lights on.

This section of freeway is monitored 24/7 by CCTV and incident detection radars so you will be seen and our operators will close lanes and reduce speeds to keep you safe till help arrives.

We also have a dedicated incident response service on standby 24/7 on the Smart Freeway that can quickly be dispatched to assist.

 

 

FAQ

What is a Smart Freeway?

Smart Freeways are used successfully around the world to manage congestion, improve safety and get the most out of existing freeway infrastructure.

Using Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), traffic conditions can be monitored and adjusted to reduce congestion by changing speed limits when needed, using ramp signals to make merging easier and opening and closing lanes in the event of an incident.

Why has the emergency stopping lane been removed?

Canning Highway’s northbound on-ramp has been a major contributor to traffic congestion on the Kwinana Freeway. Traditional widening wasn’t possible along this section of freeway due to its location between the railway and the Swan River.

Converting the emergency lane into a full-time traffic lane means vehicles joining the freeway from Canning Highway on-ramp no longer need to merge. This will reduce congestion and keep Perth-bound traffic flowing more smoothly on Kwinana Freeway.

Six emergency stopping bays are available on the Smart Freeway, between Canning Highway and the Narrows, located an average of 630 metres apart. These provide off-freeway refuge in the event of a breakdown.

The stopping bays are monitored 24/7 by the Road Network Operations Centre, with CCTV coverage and Incident Detection Systems alerting operators as soon as someone pulls into a bay.

The overhead electronic signs are used to open and close lanes and to create improved safety zones around stranded motorists unable to reach a bay, with dedicated incident response vehicles available 24/7 to attend and assist.

What happens if I break down?

Our Smart Freeway has six emergency stopping bays located an average of 630 metres apart, providing off-freeway refuge in the event of a breakdown.

The emergency stopping bays are constantly monitored by the Road Network Operations Centre staff, who can respond quickly.

If you can’t make it to an emergency bay, stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt fastened and put your hazard lights on.

This section of freeway is monitored 24/7 by CCTV and Incident Detection Systems that alert our operators as soon as someone pulls into a bay or stops in a traffic lane. Our operators then close lanes and reduce speeds to assist in keeping you safe until help arrives.

A dedicated Incident Response Service operates 24/7 on the Smart Freeway, which means we will see you and send help quickly.

What do the electronic signs above the Kwinana Freeway do?

These overhead electronic speed signs are controlled by the Road Network Operations Centre, which monitors traffic numbers and speeds on our Smart Freeway using a range of technologies such as sensors, radars and CCTV.

When there’s an incident causing congestion to build up, our operators can reduce speeds on the freeway. Slowing vehicles down allows the traffic ahead to clear, preventing stop-start conditions, and reducing rear-end crashes.

The overhead electronic signs are also used to close lanes and direct traffic into adjoining lanes when there’s an incident or debris ahead on the Smart Freeway.

These systems are used to improve travel times and enhance safety.

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