The nation's first Smart Freight Corridor on State Highway 130 in Texas

Nation’s First Smart Freight Corridor

The Smart Freight Corridor on State Highway 130 (SH 130) in the greater Austin area represents one of the most advanced smart road deployments in the United States. In November 2023, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) selected Cavnue, a Consor company and smart road infrastructure developer, to develop this corridor.

The initial four-mile deployment launched in November 2024 and is now operational, delivering real-time safety information and operational insights to TxDOT.

The initial results validate the approach, demonstrating that integrated digital and physical infrastructure can improve corridor safety and efficiency in real-world conditions. The full 21-mile corridor is planned to stretch from Georgetown to Mustang Ridge, with potential to expand across key interstate routes, including I-10, I-35, and I-45, strengthening freight movement within the Texas Triangle.

Map of Austin, Texas, showing a highlighted route on US Highway 130 from Del Valle in the south to Georgetown in the north.

By the numbers

Mile Initial Deployment

4

Miles of a Future Smart Freight Corridor

21

Average Daily Vehicles on Segments 2-3 of SH 130

57k

Technology

The SH 130 Smart Freight Corridor will be equipped with advanced infrastructure, including sensors, cameras, radar, and wireless communication systems. These technologies create a comprehensive digital model of the roadway, providing real-time data on traffic flow, road conditions, and potential hazards. This information will be shared with connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and TxDOT, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. ​

Benefits

By leveraging Cavnue's technology, the SH 130 Smart Freight Corridor enables real-time hazard detection and faster emergency response, while continuous visibility optimizes traffic management and vehicle routing. It demonstrates that smart road infrastructure operates reliably in real-world conditions and is repeatable across Texas corridors.

What people are saying about us

  • “This new technology provides TxDOT operators full, real-time visibility so they can verify incidents faster, spot hazards sooner, and make near real-time decisions that protect all drivers.”

    Mike Arellano, Austin Deputy District Engineer, Texas Department of Transportation

  • “Really what we’re trying to do is to develop smarter, better information-sharing corridors. It’s about focusing not just on autonomy but on people now. How quickly can we get better information to people in their vehicles when they’re traveling along the interstates? That additional information can hopefully reduce crashes.”

    Darran Anderson, Director of Strategy and Innovation, Texas Department of Transportation

  • “The trucking industry is constantly working to improve safety, and this is good for all Texans. Smart Roads and adopting the advancements in safety technology help us do our part to make our highways safer for all Texans.”

    John Esparza, President of the Texas Trucking Association

  • “The insights that TxDOT will gain from this smart corridor will ultimately support more efficient traffic management and operations to a broader network of roadways along key travel corridors in Texas in the future.”

    Brenda Guerra, Austin District Director of Operations, Texas Department of Transportation

News and Updates

Three Years In, An Ambitious Vision for
Next-Generation Roadways Comes to Life

Vehicles driving on a highway with roads, trees, and a blue sky in the background.
Learn more

TxDOT Wants to Explore ‘Smart Highways’
as the Future of Freight and Commerce in the State

Empty multi-lane highway stretching into the distance on a cloudy day, with green grass median and trees on either side
Learn more

Can a ‘Smart Highway’ in Texas Pave the Way to Self-Driving?

Multiple overpasses and roads in a highway interchange with a single black car visible on a lower road. The sky is partly cloudy with green fields surrounding the infrastructure.
Learn more

TxDOT launches operations of SH 130 Smart Corridor
Learn more