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SALT LAKE CITY — Parleys Canyon often turns into a treacherous travel zone when snowstorms slam the Wasatch Front, but new traffic signs will warn travelers of unsafe conditions.
During the winter of 2013, many cars were sliding off the roads and crashing accidents during snowstorms. Several traffic engineers from the Utah Department of Transportation gave a plan to install electronic, variable speed limit signs in Parleys canyon.
"We are really looking to improve safety, and also improve mobility throughout that canyon," said UDOT director of traffic management Rob Clayton.
The brand new variable speed limit or VSL signs are currently being tested off the road. When the first winter storm hits Parleys Canyon, the big LED numbers will inform drivers how much to decrease speeds.
"Driving in canyon settings, such as Parleys Canyon: it's a harsh environment in the wintertime," Clayton said.
Car accidents not only destroy lives and property, but they slow traffic on the busy transportation corridor. UDOT and the Utah Highway Patrol coordinated plans and decided to implement signs that would allow them to remotely vary the speed limit depending on weather conditions.
- VSL signs improve traffic flow
- VSL signs warn drivers to decrease speeds in poor road conditions
- Traffic officials can adjust speed limits remotely
- The VSL system cost $720,000
"As those speeds drop, we will use that as an indicator that conditions are deteriorating," Clayton said. "We will look at the speed data and the weather data, to make a decision about what speed is appropriate."
The normal posted speed limit is 65 mph through Parleys Canyon, but Clayton said they anticipate that during winter storms, the speeds could be lowered to 35 mph. The posted speed limit will be an enforceable speed limit by police officers.
A University of Washington study found that the system reduced the average vehicle speed by up to 13 percent in Washington, and overall safety improved. Clayton said that the system cost $720,000, but that the program is affordable in the realm of highway safety, especially if it saves lives.
"We're very hopeful that this will be a good tool to help us manage traffic in bad weather," Clayton said.
UDOT crews will remove all of the old speed limit signs from the mouth of the canyon to Kimball Junction during the upcoming weeks. Fifteen of the new signs will be installed and will undergo extensive road testing starting in October.
