$5 Million Solar-Powered ‘Smart’ Highway Trial Launched in NSW

Perth's smart freeway, Mitchell Freeway Southbound. Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times

The New South Wales (NSW) government has pledged $5 million (US$3.1 million) towards the trialling of smart technology on regional highways in the state.

Most of the technology will be powered by wireless solar energy systems that the government claims can be installed “relatively cheaply.”

It includes electronic signs with machine learning ability to warn drivers of hazards including bushfires, black ice or smoke. They will also have full connectivity to Internet of Things, a network of interconnected devices linked to a cloud.

Permanent traffic counter devices will also be installed which provide information on speed, road temperatures, and vehicle numbers.

Variable speed limit signs can instruct drivers on the main road to slow down when a car on the side of the road is approaching.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the government was commitment to making the road network “safer, more reliable, and more resilient.”

“What’s so important about Smarter Highways is that the technology’s focus is to effect behavioural change and reduce risky driving actions, such as not driving to the conditions, that we know contribute to deaths and injuries on our roads,” she said on Jan. 14.

“I’m glad that the Smarter Highway technologies will be trialled in the regions because outside of the cities, driving is often the only available form of transport and sometimes there are no alternative routes, so we need to make those journeys safer.”

The smart tech trial will be managed by state agency Transport for NSW on state roads, but local partnerships on council roads will also be considered in the future.

The announcement comes after the NSW government switched on smart motorway technology on Sydney’s Western Distributor in December.

In this case, the smart technology provides drivers with real-time digital information, including speed limit changes and safety messages.

Smart motorway technology has also been installed on the M4 motorway from Concord to the Blue Mountains, including 1,300 road sensors every 500 metres.

Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward flagged issues with a different road project on Jan. 14.

Ward raised concerns that an upgrade on the Princes Highway to bypass the Milton and Ulladulla town centres may not go ahead.

“Nothing is happening here and we’ve heard so much from the community about the expectation that this bypass would be built, this road would be upgraded,” she said.

“And we’ve seen only delay and talk ... this is clearly not going to happen under Labor.”

Western Australia Also Pushing Smart Freeways

NSW is not the only state in Australia implementing smart technology on freeways.

In December 2024, the Western Australian government officially launched a new smart freeway including 1,400 new technology pieces.

Southbound lanes of the Mitchell Freeway have been upgraded with road sensors, on-ramp signals, CCTV cameras with incident detection sensors and overhead gantries.

“Depending on where they’re travelling from, drivers can expect to save up to seven minutes during morning peak hour, which ultimately means a safer journey and less time spent in gridlock,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

In South Australia, artificial intelligence-powered mobile phone detection cameras were also installed in 2024, leading to more than 2,500 fines within a week.

The AI cameras are located at five high-risk locations with warning signs in Adelaide, keeping tabs on 13 lanes.

Victoria also has a smarter roads program including  traffic monitoring cameras, pedestrian detectors and travel time sensors.

Smart Highway Risks

Smart highways can cause driver confusion due to rapidly changing conditions, such as if speed limits are changed quickly and lanes are opened or closed frequently.

The over-reliance on technology including sensors, cameras, and message signs could also lead to danger if the systems were to fail or malfunction.

Further, variable speed limits can present an issue if they are ignored by drivers or adjusted inappropriately.

Meanwhile, flexible lane usage can also require frequent lane changes, which may present a challenge for some drivers.

Smart highways also rely on data systems that could be targeted by hackers, making them potentially vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Globally, smart highways can be found in multiple locations including the the states of Georgia, Michigan, and Washington in the United States, as well as Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, South Korea, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.