The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in the US has activated a new traffic management system from Jacobs Engineering Group along northbound Interstate 5 in south Seattle, Washington.

The active traffic management system, called Smarter Highways, will manage congestion using dynamic message signs over each lane at half-mile intervals.

The signs display variable speed limits, lane status and real-time traffic information, which helps drivers understand what is happening ahead.

WSDOT can control the signs to actively close lanes or slow speeds in advance of congestion or a blocking incident.

The total construction cost of the project is estimated to be around $60m.