X

The smart highway of the future

A new highway under development has adjustable markings made of lights, interactive condition lights and even a lane that can charge electric cars as they drive.

Michelle Starr Science editor
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
Michelle Starr
2 min read

(Credit: Studio Roosegaarde)

A new highway under development has adjustable markings made of lights, interactive condition lights and even a lane that can charge electric cars as they drive.

Electric cars seem to be proliferating as the environmentally friendly vehicle of the future — but Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde is taking technology to the road.

Together with Heijmans Infrastructure, Roosegaarde is currently developing a dynamic highway in the Netherlands, with glow-in-the-dark markings, which will change according to various conditions. Its proposed features include paint that reacts to temperature — lighting up when the temperature gets below freezing to indicate that the road may be slippery with ice — wind-indication lights and a lane that is embedded with induction coils that will charge an electric car on the go.

There are two main objectives behind it: sustainability and cost efficiency. The first road — a 100- to 150-metre strip due to be completed by June this year — will include the glowing road and the dynamic paint, reducing the need for streetlights while maintaining safety. According to Co.Exist, road fatalities are on the rise in France, the UK, and the Netherlands as those countries turn off streetlights at night to save money.

(Credit: Studio Roosegaarde)

But the idea is also to transform the landscape into something that is more interactive and dynamic. According to the press release:

The unique collaboration between Roosegaarde and Heijmans is a true example for the creative industry and those multinationals with a desire for innovation. The design and interactivity from Studio Roosegaarde and the specific knowledge and craftsmanship of Heijmans combine the best of both worlds. Despite their big differences, they focus on the process instead of the product and that is innovating the Dutch landscape.

You can read more about the project on Roosegaarde's website here.

Via www.fastcoexist.com