FACT SHEET

Freeway Incident Surveillance Cameras
January 2000

OVERALL GOALS

• Reduce freeway incident response times
• Shorten time needed to clear freeway incident
• Improve response to freeway incidents by responding with appropriate equipment
• Improve motorist safety

THE PROJECT

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is in the process of installing freeway incident surveillance cameras on urban freeways throughout San Diego. The cameras will be operated from the Transportation Management Center (TMC) in Kearny Mesa and will enable Caltrans and California Highway Patrol crews to quickly respond to safety hazards or other freeway incidents on area freeways. From debris in the roadway to multi-vehicle accidents, the cameras will be used to determine the type of incident and equipment needed to quickly and safely clear the incident from the roadway. In San Diego, nearly 100 pivoting cameras are expected to be constructed on area freeways. Similar systems are already successfully in use in Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago.

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Five separate projects will construct camera poles and place fiber-optic cables along San Diego freeways in preparation of camera installation. Caltrans crews will install cameras after the poles are constructed.

The first project was completed in May 1999 and constructed four camera poles and placed fiber-optic cables from the Transportation Management Center (TMC) in Kearny Mesa along Interstate 805 to State Route 163, along SR-163 to Washington Street, and on I-8 from SR-163 to Hotel Circle. The project cost $2.5 million to complete.

The second project is currently under construction and will construct seven camera poles, and place fiber-optic cable on I-8 from Hotel Circle to I-5, and on I-5 from I- 8 to Washington. The second project is expected to be completed in February 2000. The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million.

The third project is also under construction, and will construct 13 camera poles and place fiber-optic cable on I-5 from Washington Street to the San Diego-Coronado Bridge (SR-75). The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2000 at an estimated cost of $3.6 million.

The fourth and fifth projects are currently in the design and planning process. The final number and location of cameras and fiber optic cable is still being decided on these two projects. The fourth project is expected to construct six camera poles and place fiber optic cable on portions of I-5 and SR-94 and is expected to begin construction in Summer 2000. The fifth project is expected to construct 28 camera poles and place fiber optic cable on I-15 from I-8 to SR-56 and is scheduled to begin construction in Summer 2001.