Nighttime drivers on the Capital Beltway near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will soon encounter the latest in traffic management technology -- a speed limit that changes depending on the degree of congestion.

The variable speed limit goes into effect overnight tonight at the Telegraph Road work zone. Virginia transportation officials hope it will help avoid the funnel effect that occurs when lanes are closed for construction. 

The Virginia Department of Transportation is hoping to regulate the flow of traffic by regulating speed through the bottleneck at the Wilson Bridge, thus getting more vehicles through more safely. This approach has worked on some European roads, including the United Kingdom's M25 "controlled motorway."

In order to make sure that this new approach is adhered to by drivers, expect to see a stepped-up police presence to enforce the new limits.

Traffic operators will monitor conditions using cameras and sensors along the road. If congestion occurs, they will lower the speed limit in increments of 5 to 10 miles per hour. The speed limit along the effected stretch will range from 35 to 55 miles per hour and will be posted on signs that look like regular, white speed-limit signs, only with a light board in the middle.

If the technology is successful at night, officials hope to deploy it near the Wilson Bridge during the day as well.

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