Overheight Vehicle Detection System (WisDOT Pilot)

Wisconsin has experienced numerous overheight-vehicle (OHV) bridge strikes in recent years, with average repair costs around $200,000 per incident (and some exceeding $1M). These crashes snarl traffic, require costly detours, and risk injuries. In response, WisDOT is pursuing early, real-time warning solutions to alert drivers before they reach low-clearance structures. State data also show roughly 104 OHV-related bridge strikes per year (2017–2021), underscoring the need for proven, field-ready countermeasures. To address this issue, this project will identify, deploy, and evaluate a real-time overheight-vehicle (OHV) detection and warning system at a high-risk bridge in Wisconsin. Building on a statewide screening of strike-prone sites and an objective market scan of commercial technologies, the team will select one priority location, procure an off-the-shelf system, and pilot it for ~8–11 months. Performance will be monitored (uptime, false/missed detections, alert latency, adverse-weather reliability) and paired with cost and maintenance tracking to assess cost-effectiveness. Deliverables include a GIS-based candidate-site list, vendor/system recommendations with cost estimates, pilot results, and implementation guidance to support broader WisDOT deployment.