I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge Part-Time Shoulder Use System

The Green Mountain Team Designs and Builds Dynamic Part-Time Shoulder Use (PTSU) System for the Piscataqua River Bridge

Challenge

The Piscataqua River Bridge supports the section of I-95 that connects New Hampshire and Maine between Portsmouth and Kittery. During peak travel times, especially during the summer months, the bridge is prone to heavy congestion, with traffic often backed up for more than a mile on either approach. To address the inconvenience and safety hazards created by this congestion, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), and the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) agreed to open the right shoulder of the road to traffic over the bridge and for a few miles in both directions when traffic is heavy. Officially launched in May, 2024, this dynamic PTSU system is the first of its kind in New England.

Situation

The PTSU system required a variety of ITS devices to be installed along the I-95 corridor and exit ramps to enable the TMC operators to remotely control and monitor the shoulder lane use based on real-time traffic conditions. The design-build team led by Green Mountain Communications included AECOM Engineering, Liddell Brothers (RoadSafe), and MobilityTech.

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