SWARCO sets up live-lane in Germany

SWARCO has installed a temporary hard shoulder clearance, or live-lane running system, on the A8 motorway in south-west Germany for the Die Autobahn highways agency.
May 4, 2023 Read time: 2 mins
The set-up consists of four display cross-sections with LED variable VMS, eight pole installations for VMS or camera technology as well as 12 route stations (image courtesy Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Südwest)

The A8 motorway is an important central east-west link in the European transport network. The section between Karlsruhe motorway interchange and Karlsbad junction features a winding route and gradients of around 7.5% and is highly congested with
about 110,000 vehicles per day. Traffic flow is often blocked in this section due to slow-moving trucks and there are frequent overtaking manoeuvres and lane changes taking place.

SWARCO’s system spans 2.8km along the motorway between Karlsruhe and Karlsbad. It consists of four display cross-sections with LED variable message signs (VMS), eight pole installations for VMS or camera technology as well as 12 route stations. In addition to the outdoor equipment, SWARCO also provides central control software.

The camera technology is from Fuunkwerke video systeme while the operation of all functions is managed by the Autobahn GmbH traffic control centre in Stuttgart. Before the hard shoulder lane becomes a live-lane, it must be checked by the traffic control centre to ensure that no obstacles are blocking the lane.

SWARCO says that the system offers a climate- and resource-friendly possibility for using existing infrastructure more effectively without the need for costly and more permanent expansion of that infrastructure. In fact, notes SWARCO, the capacity of the infrastructure can increase up to 30% with such a system. The first live-lane running took place in early December 2022.

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Zipping up road lanes – with Barrier Systems
    September 10, 2018
    QMB has a Lindsay Road Zipper on duty near Montreal. World Highways deputy editor David Arminas climbed aboard As vice president of Canadian barrier specialist QMB, based in Laval, Quebec, Marc-Andre Seguin is sanguine about the future for moveable barriers. On the one hand, it looks good. The oft-stated advantage of moveable barriers is that the systems are cheaper to install than adding a lane or two to a highway or bridge. Directional changes to lanes can boost volume on a road without disrupting tra
    Read More
  • SWARCO Traffic launched the Smart City Messenger
    October 26, 2016
    SWARCO Traffic has launched the Smart City Messenger, a new generation of mobile variable message sign with built-in UTMC connectivity. They offer the same level of management and control as their fixed installations and can be controlled from a SWARCO back office system. They use LED technology with a high contrast ratio, a wide viewing angle and excellent character uniformity. The LEDs feature SWARCO’s colour-mixing lens and have full colour capability allowing a complete range of graphical traffic sig
    Read More
  • Recycling machines have helped add new lanes to an Italian highway
    May 30, 2013
    The use of recycling and stabilisation equipment has played a key role in adding new lanes to a congested Italian highway. Running from Bologna to Taranto, the A14 Autostrade has seen a major increase in traffic volumes for several years. Data shows that traffic has increased around 4% year on year with some 110,000 vehicles using the highway/day. The traffic growth trend looks set to continue and this resulted in the Italian Government opting to upgrade and widen the route.
    Read More
  • Germany is developing infrastructure plans
    March 21, 2016
    The German Government's new transport investment strategy will see increased spending until 2030. The Ministry for Transport says that the emphasis will be on renovating existing infrastructure, instead of building new projects. Around 70% of investment will be for renovation and improvement projects, compared to 56% in the previous transport strategy. The plan is worth a total of €264.5 billion, an increase of €91 billion over the previous plan, with 49.4% targeted at road projects, 41.3% for rail and 9.3%
    Read More

Highlighted Content