UK-based road management and roadworks information provider Causeway one.network has announced that the City of Tampa, Florida, has deployed Live Link, the company’s leading construction site safety software, to reduce congestion and protect workers and motorists. Live Link allows workers to update lane closure information via major GPS providers and notify the public directly from the construction site. This information is traditionally generated from paper work permits and spreadsheets that become out of date almost as soon as they are created.

The software will provide Tampa’s traffic managers with a unified operational view of work zones and related incidents and events on the city’s public roads, increasing efficiency, reducing travel times and improving safety. As other regional agencies use the Causeway one.network platform, the city’s traffic managers will also be able to extend their view to neighboring counties to anticipate situations outside the city that could impact Tampa drivers.

Barry Matlack, vice president of North America at one.network, says the initiative will take the often-inaccurate information on work zones to a new level. “With nearly 400,000 residents and more than 26 million visitors a year, this project has a major impact on the lifestyle of the entire community,” he said. “This project digitizes the entire process from start to finish and equips traffic managers with real-time decision-making tools. It makes the difference between free traffic flow and congestion, and we are excited to provide these traffic managers with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.”

Florida is the first state to deploy the Live Link solution. The software was developed and tested in the United Kingdom before being deployed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on all state highways in 2022. Since then, other Sunshine State agencies, including the Central Florida Expressway Authority, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority and Hillsborough County, have added the Causeway one.network platform to their work zone safety tools. The intuitive Live Link mobile app solution allows workers on a job site to update their location, specific lane closures and even whether a work zone is active. This information is sent directly to major GPS mapping providers, including Google, Waze and Apple Maps, providing drivers with information in the format, place and time they need.

Matlack believes Live Link will make a significant difference for work crews, residents and visitors in Tampa. “We are committed to making the streets safer and as efficient as possible,” he said. “Tampa is a city with advanced traffic management and working with people who share our goals and commitment is extremely rewarding.”