Clearing roadway debris in seconds is no problem for this new high-tech vehicle

Clearing roadway debris in seconds is no problem for this new high-tech vehicle

MANASSAS, Va. (7News) — The people who run the Express Lanes on I-66 recently deployed what they said is the most high-tech roadside assistance vehicle in the D.C. region. They said it will not only make the interstate safer, but also reduce delays for commuters.

If you travel local highways, you’ve probably seen roadside assistance vehicles performing a number of jobs, including helping stranded drivers and clearing debris from the roadway.

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I-66 Express Mobility Partners said its new “incident response” vehicle, which was deployed about a month ago, does those same jobs in a safer and faster manner.

The company gave 7News an exclusive look at its vehicle. One of its most prominent features is called the “Lane Blade,” a device attached to the front that can capture and shove debris off the interstate in just seconds.

“Prior to this we’d have to close the lane, and the responder would have to get out and physically remove that [debris],” said Nancy Smith, a spokesperson for the I-66 Express Lanes outside the Capital Beltway. “Now we don’t have to take that time to do that. We can quickly pull up behind the debris, deploy the Lane Blade, and push it off to the shoulder and out of the way of the traveling public.”

Smith said using the Lane Blade is not only safer for the roadside assistance workers, but it’s safer for commuters who will no longer have to swerve to avoid the debris once it’s quickly off the road. She adds that it also saves commuters time by avoiding the need to close lanes and back up traffic.

All too often in this world, employees of a company use equipment that was designed by someone who doesn’t actually do their job – and sometimes, it shows. Smith said I-66 Express Mobility Partners wanted to avoid that in this case, so they had their employees help design the vehicle.

As a result, it has several features designed to make roadside assistance safer and more efficient. In addition, it is designed to be easily seen by drivers and includes a large LED sign that is capable of displaying messages if needed.

Although the new roadside assistance vehicle mainly works on the Express Lanes, Smith said it will help on the other lanes when needed.

I-66 Express Mobility Partners plans to deploy a second new high-tech vehicle in August and add two more by the end of the year. Smith said just like earlier versions of roadside assistance vehicles the company has used, the new vehicles will be out 24 hours a day working along the Express Lanes.

The 66 Express Lanes outside the Beltway first opened in 2022. They run 22.5 miles both directions between the Beltway and the Route 29 exit in Gainesville, Va.