ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC), manager of the Indiana Toll Road, and eX² Technology, LLC, a single-source solution for those seeking to build, scale, or future proof their communications infrastructure, announced the completion of a fiber optic communications system as part of ITRCC’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) expansion project along the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road.
This $34 million project spans Northern Indiana from the Illinois to the Ohio state lines and provides dramatic safety improvements for the millions of people who travel the Toll Road annually. In 2020 alone, ITRCC’s ITS resulted in a 79% decrease in secondary crashes while providing advanced information to travelers regarding upcoming roadway conditions.
“The benefits of the fiber communications network extend far beyond safety,” said Nic Barr, CEO, ITR Concession Company. “The Toll Road corridor connects to more than 124 million people and provides a wealth of opportunity to foster, support and propel local communities across northern Indiana.”
ITRCC’s communications infrastructure was built with additional conduit and fiber optic cable capacity to serve as a backbone for future community broadband expansion initiatives in northern Indiana and beyond. eX² Technology, ITRCC’s exclusive commercialization partner, is currently marketing the conduit and dark fiber on a competitively neutral lease basis. Funds that are generated by the commercialization program are put back into the Toll Road for continued roadway safety and customer improvements.
“It is with great excitement that we announce the completion of the ITR network,” said Jay Jorgensen, Chief Operating Officer, eX² Technology. “The fiber-rich network not only catapults the safety of those traveling along the Toll Road, but establishes a tri-state, open access corridor that gives surrounding communities and anchor institutions abundant broadband connection opportunities.”
This fiber network provides necessary bandwidth and network capacity to underserved markets and minimizes the digital divide amidst the increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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