The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has activated the ramp meters deployed at US 90B / Pontchartrain Expressway.

The new ramp meters are designed to reduce traffic congestion, improve travel time, and provide safer merging on highways.

DOTD secretary Shawn D Wilson said: “In order for us to be competitive, both regionally and nationally, we must have an innovative and competitive transportation infrastructure system that takes advantage of technology.

“Utilising the ramp meters will serve to decrease congestion, improve travel times and enhance safety along the multimodal US 90 B corridor.

“That translates to people getting to and from work, and goods and services being delivered in a more efficient and timely manner, and doing so more safely during peak travel periods.”

A total of seven ramp meters have been installed in river-bound direction, as well as in the lake-bound direction.

"Utilising the ramp meters will serve to decrease congestion, improve travel times and enhance safety along the multimodal US 90 B corridor."

The $3.6m project, which includes lengthening of Claiborne on-ramp onto US 90 B, restriping US 90 B from two lanes to three lanes, and installing one ramp meter, was initiated in February 2015 and was completed in January this year.

Additionally, six ramp meters were installed across US 90 B, as part of the $1.8m New Orleans Hospitality Zone project that began in April last year and is now nearing completion.

Each of these projects was designed to ease traffic congestions, as well as improve safety and travel times.

The DOTD will be monitoring these meters from the New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center and will deliver adjustments if required.

Image: A poster demonstrating the sites where ramp meters will be installed along US 90B / Pontchartrain Expressway. Photo: courtesy of The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.