We have news if you have ever wondered what these cables do.

Highway Projects in Montana

The summertime in Montana means many construction projects are happening across the state. These projects include fixing bridges, roads, guard rails, and more.

These projects can slow traffic to a snail's pace, which can be frustrating for many travelers trying to arrive at their destination quickly.

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Some road projects take years to finish, and many of these plans need data to help the Montana Department of Transportation and companies figure out how to do their jobs quickly and efficiently without greatly slowing down traffic.

One way to help the Montana Department of Transportation and companies learn how busy traffic is on certain roadways might surprise you.

Traffic Flow in Montana

Have you ever driven around on Montana roads and noticed two separate black cables crossing the road?

They aren't cables but are called road tubes.

These rubber tubes show up on random sections of roads and highways across Montana, and drivers might wonder what they are for.

These tubes serve a purpose in planning future road projects.

These tubes count the number of cars on these roads daily or weekly. This information helps determine whether the street sees a high volume of vehicles.

Using the data from the road tubes helps plan where to start road projects and set up slow-down or restricted driving areas.

Cameras vs Road Tubes

The answer is logical. These tubes are affordable, can be reused, and won't be vandalized or stolen.

Another upside of setting up the cables is how simple and fast you can put them down on the road compared to a camera.

We hope this helps answer a trivia question in the future.