North Carolina Department of Transportation—I-26 Integrated Corridor Management

North Carolina DOT improved safety, emergency response, and mobility through its I-26 Integrated Corridor Management project. Integrated Corridor Management (ICM), an approach to Traffic Incident Management that synchronizes multiple response measures to quickly reopen travel lanes and dynamically manage traffic demand, was deployed on 23 miles of heavily congested I-26 in western North Carolina. ICM strategies improve quick clearance, mitigate impacts of construction projects, minimize traffic delays, maintain motorist and worker safety, improve the efficiency of the construction activity, and maintain access for businesses and residents within the vicinity of the project. ICM strategies deployed on this project included a dedicated incentivized tow contract, increased Safety Service Patrol presence, activating specific signal timing plans on arterial detour routes, implementing coordinated response plans with preplanned Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) scenarios, and sharing CCTV feeds with local partners. ICM strategies were also used for work zone management on I-26 to reduce construction timelines. The ICM strategy would allow for a full nighttime closure, directing motorists off the interstate and onto the selected alternate route with DMS and dynamic trailblazer signs, which were installed as a low-cost solution. In all, this $13.4 million project delivered lasting benefits that persist beyond construction projects, including long-term partnerships with key stakeholders and permanently enhanced incident management capabilities.