State installing fiber optic for signs and sensors

Anyone tracking road conditions in Carson Valley knows that occasionally the reader boards, traffic cameras and sensors along Highway 395 suffer glitches.

But a big blue roll of fiber optic conduit is being installed along the highway may help stabilize that service.

“(The state) is installing new fiber conduit to upgrade connectivity to existing intelligent transportation systems such as highway electronic message signs and roadway weather monitoring stations on U.S. 395 and elsewhere,” said Nevada Department of Transportation Spokeswoman Meg Ragonese on Wednesday.

Gardnerville contractor Curtis & Sons is working their way north along the eastern edge of the highway to install the conduit.

“Drivers will see shoulder closures on segments of northbound U.S. 395 between Airport Road and Johnson Lane through mid-April as crews place the new conduit,” Ragonese said. “The shoulder closures will primarily take place between 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Future shoulder closures will also take place for final wire installations and connections.”

The fiber optic cable will mean the state no longer has to lease circuits for the signs and sensors.

Ragonese said the new fiber conduit provides more stable connectivity to the department’s network of intelligent transportation systems, which help keep drivers and NDOT operational staff informed of immediate weather and road conditions.

The electronic highway message signs help alert the approximately 24,000 drivers daily who travel the section of Highway 395 in the Carson Valley of any potential weather, chain control or other vital road alerts.

More than 200 digital message signs are stationed along highway corridors across the state.