Caltrans to begin testing movable Express Lane barriers

The Interstate 15 Express Lanes will be temporarily reconfigured on a daily basis starting April 8 as part of a short test of barrier-transfer machines, according to Caltrans.

Each weekday for a few weeks, a machine will start reconfiguring the I-15 Express Lanes early in the morning, with three lanes in the southbound direction and one lane in the northbound direction. Then, about mid-day, a machine will reverse the configuration with three lanes northbound and one lane southbound. The lanes will be reconfigured with two lanes in each direction on weekends.

Caltrans has three of the machines. Two were delivered in 2008 while the third arrived in January, according to spokeswoman Cathryn Bruce-Johnson. Until now the machines have been operated only “to keep the machine batteries charged, ensure the fluids are circulating and to clean debris around the barriers.”

“We’ve done some of this on a very limited basis and wanted to evaluate the machine’s performance during a full-scale operation simulation,” Bruce-Johnson said. “It may be noticeable for some motorists, especially those that use the Express Lanes on a regular basis.”

The I-15 Express Lanes accommodate carpools, vanpools and buses free of charge. Single drivers with a FasTrak account may also use the lanes. Electronic message signs will alert motorists when the barrier transfer machine is in operation.