18 June | Online – The International Road Federation (IRF) convened infrastructure leaders, technology experts and road operators on 18 June for the latest edition of its Circle of Excellence webinar series, exploring how innovation is helping road agencies optimise infrastructure performance and improve traffic flow without relying solely on costly network expansion.

Hosted by IRF Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu, the webinar, “Optimising Infrastructure Performance and Traffic Flow through Innovation,” showcased award-winning projects and emerging solutions that are transforming how transport infrastructure is planned, managed and operated.

The webinar featured presentations from recipients of the IRF 2025 Awards, each demonstrating a distinct approach to improving mobility, safety and operational efficiency.

Reconnecting Communities Through Underground Infrastructure

Zhang Zhihang, Senior Engineer at the Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, presented the Beijing Eastern Sixth Ring Road Underground Reconstruction Project.

The project relocates a 16.3-kilometre section of the Sixth Ring Road underground, addressing long-standing challenges associated with noise, emissions and urban fragmentation. By moving traffic below ground, the project has enabled the creation of a 14-kilometre linear park above the tunnel, transforming former roadway space into a new public amenity.

Beyond its engineering achievements, the project demonstrates how transport infrastructure can support broader urban development goals by improving connectivity, enhancing environmental quality and creating valuable public space.

Active Traffic Management Delivers Capacity Gains

Sun Fuling, Dean of the Digital and Intelligent Transportation Research Institute at CIECC Huake Transportation Construction Technology Co., Ltd., presented the implementation of Active Traffic Management (ATM) on the Nansha Bridge, a critical transport link within the Greater Bay Area.

Faced with growing traffic volumes, congestion and safety challenges, the project introduced a closed-loop traffic management system integrating real-time monitoring, analysis, decision-making and operational feedback.

The results have been significant. Road capacity increased by 17.3 percent, average travel speeds improved by 52 percent, travel times were reduced by 34 percent and traffic accidents decreased by 25 percent. Importantly, these gains were achieved without major physical expansion of the bridge infrastructure, demonstrating the value of intelligent operations and coordinated management.

Sun emphasised that successful implementation depended not only on technology but also on building trust among investors, operators and public authorities through clear evidence of economic and social benefits.

Simplifying Incident Management Through System Integration

Representing Austrian technology company Evon GmbH, Daniel Seewald presented an integrated incident management solution developed for Austria’s motorway operator ASFiNAG.

The platform consolidates tunnel operations and open-road traffic management into a single system, integrating more than 170 tunnels, 2,200 kilometres of motorway and approximately 6.5 million data points.

By automating documentation, harmonising incident reporting and streamlining operator workflows, the solution reduced documentation time by 75 percent and cut reporting workloads by half. The system enables operators to focus more attention on incident response and traffic management while improving the quality and consistency of operational data.

The project highlighted how digital integration can improve not only traffic operations but also organisational efficiency within road agencies.

Emerging Technologies Expanding Operational Capabilities

The webinar also featured contributions from IRF members showcasing additional innovations in traffic management and incident detection.

Paolo Guarnieri of Movyon presented a dynamic traffic flow management system deployed on a heavily trafficked motorway corridor near Milan. Using artificial intelligence, radar, laser scanners and connected traffic management technologies, the system dynamically opens and closes emergency lanes to optimise capacity while maintaining safety. The solution helps reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and lower vehicle emissions.

Dimitrios Zavantis of egis introduced an AI-based incident detection platform implemented on Kazakhstan’s BAKAD ring road around Almaty. By leveraging existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) infrastructure, the system identifies abnormal traffic patterns and potential incidents without requiring additional roadside equipment. The approach enables faster incident detection, reduces operational costs and improves network performance through better situational awareness.

Shared Lessons for the Road Sector

Despite addressing different infrastructure challenges and operating in diverse environments, the projects presented during the webinar shared several common themes.

Speakers consistently emphasised the importance of proactive management, data-driven decision-making and collaboration across agencies and stakeholders. Rather than focusing on infrastructure expansion alone, the projects demonstrated how innovation can unlock additional capacity, improve safety and enhance sustainability by optimising existing assets.