East End Crossing Partners Enhances Road Markings for Autonomous Vehicles on the Lewis and Clark Bridge

East End Crossing Partners Enhances Road Markings for Autonomous Vehicles on the Lewis and Clark Bridge

(IN BRIEF) East End Crossing Partners has completed an upgrade to the road markings on the Lewis and Clark Bridge to prepare for the operation of autonomous vehicles. The improvements, which include high-contrast lane boundaries and intersection markings, are designed to enhance visibility for camera-based vehicle systems, especially in low light and adverse weather conditions. The upgrade aligns with Indiana’s strategy to promote the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles and reflects the East End Crossing’s commitment to adapting infrastructure to emerging mobility technologies.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 7-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — East End Crossing Partners, a subsidiary of VINCI Highways and BBGI, has completed an upgrade to the road pavement marking system on the Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River Bridge–East End Crossing), making it one of the first bi-state public-private partnership (P3) projects in the United States to be fully prepared for autonomous vehicle circulation.

As autonomous vehicles rely on accurate, visible road markings for navigation, the teams at East End Crossing have enhanced lane and intersection markings with high-contrast black trailing stripes. These improvements significantly improve the visibility of lane boundaries for camera-based vehicle systems, particularly in low light and adverse weather conditions.

The newly upgraded pavement markings comply with Indiana Highway standards, ensuring high-visibility lane guidance for both human and autonomous drivers. Vertical signage, already compliant with autonomous driving standards, complements the improvements. This upgrade marks the East End Crossing’s readiness to support autonomous vehicles, reinforcing Indiana’s broader strategy to safely deploy autonomous vehicles using consistent lane marking practices.

The upgrade was completed in collaboration with the Indiana Finance Authority, which oversaw the certification and validation of the changes. With autonomous driving technology progressing rapidly, the project aligns with the anticipated benefits of autonomous vehicles, including enhanced road safety, smoother traffic flow, reduced congestion, and improved fuel efficiency. The East End Crossing now meets the needs of Level 3 autonomous vehicles, which can assume full control of driving under certain conditions.

Opened ahead of schedule in 2016, the East End Crossing has showcased the success of the public-private partnership (PPP) model in addressing significant infrastructure challenges. The project has earned top-level environmental certification and successfully refinanced through green bonds. The recent pavement marking upgrade demonstrates the project’s continued commitment to innovation and its adaptability to emerging technologies in mobility.

Key Facts and Figures:

• Dashed Lane Lines: Each white dash (10 feet long, 6 inches wide) is followed by a 10-foot black stripe, increasing contrast for vehicle cameras, particularly in low light and rainy conditions.
• Intersection Markings: White lines at intersections (typically 3 feet long and 6 inches wide) were extended with a 3-foot trailing black stripe to enhance visibility for autonomous systems approaching stop zones or turns.
• Total Distance Upgraded: 24 linear miles (39 km) of pavement markings.
• Total Work Hours: 96 hours were spent completing the upgrade.

About VINCI Highways

VINCI Highways is a leader in road concessions, operations and mobility services. We design, finance, build and operate highways, bridges, tunnels, urban roads and mobility services on a 3,750 km network in 14 countries. VINCI Highways leverages its expertise to deliver the highest performance and safety standards and provide drivers with a positive experience.

Media Contact:

email: communication@vinci-concessions.com
Tel: 01 57 98 61 35

SOURCE: VINCI