November 2023 - Blog Post

Three Years In, An Ambitious Vision for Next-Generation Roadways Comes to Life

The world of mobility and infrastructure has changed dramatically since Cavnue first embarked on its mission — to build the world’s most advanced roads — three years ago. Cavnue grew out of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners’ (SIP) belief that the future of infrastructure requires smarter roads. In the years since, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and developments like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act have started to transform transportation, and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have hit the roadways. 

Today, the problems Cavnue originally set out to address have become even more pressing. Congestion continues to worsen, roadway infrastructure systems remain outdated, and the demands on our roads are growing more complex as CAVs proliferate. Perhaps most concerning of all: after a three-decade trend of declining roadway deaths, roadway fatalities have increased since 2020. States and cities appreciate the urgent need to modernize their transportation networks to support connectivity, automation, electrification, safety, and more.

Enter Cavnue. From Michigan to Texas, we are modernizing and future-proofing some of the country’s busiest and most important roads. Through innovative partnerships with state and local governments, we are equipping highways with integrated physical and digital infrastructure that are providing real-time data, insights, and advisories to vehicles, transportation agencies, and emergency services. Most importantly, these innovations are on track to make these roads some of the safest in the country.

Two projects in particular spotlight the potential for Cavnue’s next-generation smart roads platform. The first is a new project in Texas, where we are developing the nation’s first autonomous trucking corridor.

Just today, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced that it has selected Cavnue as its innovation partner in building the State Highway 130 (SH 130) Smart Freight Corridor, a 21-mile stretch of highway in the greater Austin area where we will deploy Cavnue’s digital infrastructure platform.

Cavnue will implement a network of sensors, including cameras and edge computing infrastructure, that will monitor real-time traffic and roadway conditions, detect traffic incidents, and communicate advisories to vehicles on the road. By providing key information on the road ahead, beyond the line of sight for these vehicles’ sensors, Cavnue will reduce the complexity of SH 130 for autonomous trucks, accelerating their safe and efficient deployment. 

The SH 130 Smart Freight Corridor reinforces Texas’ leadership in autonomous trucking and commitment to roadway safety for all Texans. Our partnership will enable TxDOT to evaluate integrated physical and digital technology improvements that enable connected and automated driving systems for commercial trucks along the SH-130 corridor and, eventually, on a wider network of roadways in the state. We at Cavnue are proud and excited to be TxDOT’s trusted partner in unlocking Texas’ roads for an automated future.

The second project is a major milestone in our ongoing partnership with Michigan, building on the legislation that the state passed last year to enable and accelerate private sector innovation in the development of CAV roadways. Following our close collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the design and pre-development activities, Cavnue recently broke ground on the pilot for the CAV Corridor project between Ann Arbor and Detroit. For the pilot, we are upgrading a three-mile segment of I-94 with digital infrastructure, including sensors and fiber, and a variety of physical improvements, such as high-quality pavement, improved lighting, and new guardrails. 

When construction on the pilot is complete, we will begin to conduct testing with CAV manufacturers along this segment of I-94 to demonstrate the ability of Cavnue’s system to observe, infer, and advise CAVs with near-real-time information on the road ahead to improve their performance and comfort. We will also work closely with MDOT to provide them with this information and better understand how it can be integrated into their systems, including finding ways to improve and streamline the roadway’s operations and maintenance.

For the Michigan CAV Corridor project more broadly, we are partnering with MDOT to develop a technology-enabled express lane in both directions of I-94 that makes the road safer for all drivers and that improves the reliability and comfort of CAVs. These lanes will feature both a robust technology deployment — including roadside sensors that create a digital twin of the road, and communications technology that relays important information to vehicles about the road ahead — as well as physical delineation from the general-purpose lanes. Cavnue’s integrated deployment of digital and physical infrastructure will not only simplify and improve the operating environment for CAVs — it will also strengthen safety outcomes for all drivers, enhance operations and maintenance of the roadway, and create new accessibility, mobility, and economic opportunities for individuals and communities along the corridor.

These two projects exist in very different transportation environments. Texas has some of the largest and most heavily trafficked highways in the country — byways that are essential for moving freight and people. Meanwhile, Michigan, the historic heart of the US auto industry, has a series of busy commuter highways that regularly face challenging weather conditions that impact road quality and conditions. 

They also showcase complementary but distinct use cases for Cavnue’s technology. Our work in Texas is focused on deploying technology along the corridor that will facilitate and strengthen automated trucking, in support of one of the most important growth drivers of the Texas economy. And in Michigan, our project leverages both digital and physical infrastructure to enhance the safety and efficiency of CAVs, while improving safety and accessibility for all Michiganders.

What began as an ambitious vision is rapidly becoming reality on the ground, as our technology modernizes major roadways and unlocks new capabilities on routes from Michigan to Texas. Importantly, our work aligns with and supports national goals, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. New project announcements are on the horizon as Cavnue drives toward the future of roads — one that is digitally optimized, seamlessly connected, and technology-enabled. As we’ve proven, the flexible architecture that our technology creates can meet diverse transportation needs, from enabling pioneering autonomous trucking fleets to providing real-time data that improves both safety outcomes and roadway operations. Through these diverse use cases, we are not only creating smarter, safer roads — we are unlocking economic opportunities and increasing mobility for local communities along the way.

Smarter roads are better roads — and Cavnue’s technology is paving the way. Stay tuned for more updates as our network of smart roads continues taking shape across America.