Heavily congested California highway will now be controlled by AI

Artificial intelligence is coming to one of California’s most congested highways, all in an effort officials say could reshape how the state fights gridlock and potentially save hundreds of millions in construction costs.

Monterey County made the move this week, rolling out a new adaptive traffic signal system along Highway 68.

Nine traffic signals between San Benancio Road and Josselyn Canyon Road started operating Monday under an adaptive traffic signal control (ATSC) system.

The launch followed months of field testing and calibration aimed at refining the technology.

The effort is part of a five-year pilot program approved in March 2025 by the Board of Directors of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.

Caltrans District 5 is working alongside the agency to run the system and will provide ongoing updates and performance analysis throughout the trial period.

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Instead of fixed schedules, the new signals use sensors and real-time data to adjust timing automatically based on traffic conditions.

The goal is to ease congestion by responding instantly to changing flow patterns.

The system covers a 9-mile stretch of Highway 68, a major connector between Salinas farmland and the Monterey Peninsula that also feeds traffic in from Highway 101.

The corridor is known for heavy summer congestion, especially during major events at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, when travel times can spike dramatically.

Officials are effectively testing the technology during the peak tourist season, putting it under real-world pressure from day one.

Supporters say the economics are hard to ignore. The pilot costs about $1.2 million, compared with a projected $200 million-plus price tag for converting intersections into roundabouts.

Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado, who sits on the TAMC board, summed up the comparison to Caltrans: “If we can save 200 million… by spending a million dollars… I would like to find out as soon as possible if AI works.”

Caltrans says the system relies on cameras and sensors to monitor traffic in real time and adjust signal timing accordingly.

Engineers will be watching closely for any technical issues, including potential sensor failures.

The project is part of a broader push across California to incorporate artificial intelligence into transportation planning.