110 to 5 Freeway Connector to get 'Smart'
A series of innovative and futuristic type of lighted and magnetic studs will be placed along the 110 Freeway out of downtown to help ease traffic congestion on the the northbound 5 freeway later this year. Basically, "at peak hours, the 'smart studs' would illuminate to automatically open a second connector lane on the 110, easing the long lines," explains the LA Times. If you know anything about this particular connector, you know it can be traffic hell. Caltrans is scrunched for options because the tunnels are historic and the connector curves around a hill that holds a reservoir. Add to that the need for two lanes is only at certain times of the day. With the "smart studs," the lanes can be controlled and changed from offsite. This $3.2 million pilot project is expected to launch in November.