Minnesota is known for its freeways, but its traffic system has a much different feel when it comes to speed.
Traffic control for the I85 highway in Minneapolis, which spans I-94, I-35W and U.S. Highway 3, is among the fastest in the country.
But that doesn’t mean drivers can expect to see the same kind of speed as they would on the Interstate.
“I think it’s because of the way the freeway is constructed,” said Brian O’Neill, an engineering professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
“The design allows for lots of speed bumps and a lot of speed, so drivers have to be really careful and cautious.
You need to be able to make sure your vehicle is going to have the best possible position to go over the bumps.”
While traffic control on the I-85W and the U.D.H.E. freeway is the most comprehensive in the nation, traffic is also made more difficult when it crosses the highway’s narrow lanes.
That means drivers need to take extra precautions and take advantage of lane changes and intersections.
“When you cross a wide lane on I-95, you’re going to see a lot more bumps and more congestion,” said O’Connell.
“And so, the freeway doesn’t have as many curves as it does on the highway.”
But the traffic control system can also be a bit of a pain.
While Minnesota’s traffic is considered one of the most efficient in the state, traffic control in the I65 is much more complicated.
“Minnesota has a really great system of traffic control and a really good infrastructure,” O’Neil said.
“But I think that you have to understand how the freeway works.
And then you have the I95, which is basically a two-lane highway.
So, you have a very complex, wide, wide area.
And you have lots of bumps, but you also have a lot going on at the same time.”
One of the best ways to learn about traffic control for I-65 is to look at traffic cameras, which monitor all of the lanes in the freeway.
Those cameras are equipped with cameras that are located in front of the median, so the drivers can see them.
“So, you can get a sense of how the lanes are going to be there,” said Terence Renn, a traffic engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
“That gives you an idea of how congested the area is.”
Traffic cameras are used for two main purposes.
First, they are used to alert drivers of a potential delay if traffic conditions aren’t optimal.
When drivers have trouble getting over bumps or traffic lights, they can call the dispatch center and let the dispatcher know.
Second, the cameras also allow traffic control crews to see which vehicles are going the fastest and where they are going.
“It’s really helpful because it’s the best way to see what’s going on, and that helps us plan,” said Renn.
Drivers also have an opportunity to review their driving habits in case they’re behind on their speed limit.
“They can look at what kind of driving patterns are causing the delays,” said Jason Ollend, an engineer for Minnesota DOT.
“You can really see how the speed is changing and see if it’s a traffic signal or something else.
And if you’re driving slower than normal, that could be something you want to look into.”
While the traffic camera system can help, it can also make drivers more cautious.
When the traffic cameras are operating, the driver can use the phone app to find the nearest lane change and speed up.
The app will even notify the driver if they’re going too fast, which means drivers can better plan ahead.
“The more they know how traffic is moving and the more they’re paying attention to the traffic, the better it’s going to work,” said Lenny Smith, a professor of transportation engineering at the Carlson School.
“It can be really helpful for the drivers because it gives them a better sense of where their vehicle is, and the speed limit is going, and they can also have the information that they need in case of an emergency.”
While most states have some sort of traffic cameras in place, Minnesota has none.
“We don’t have a traffic camera on I85,” Smith said.
“That would be a really cool feature,” said Smith.
“A good example is that when the highway opens up for construction, there’s always a traffic jam.
If you can see how that is, it’s not uncommon to see people driving slower.”
Trailers aren’t just a nuisance on I95 though.
As the interstate highway is being built, the highway is going through neighborhoods.
Traffic engineers say that’s where drivers will find the most problems.
“If there’s any kind of traffic disruption, drivers can find themselves behind,” said Michael Pfeifer, an analyst with Traffic Analytics Inc. “If