Inside the unique highway is an intelligent system that never sleeps.
The R2 viaduct on the Kriváň – Mýtna section is a unique structure. The 4.37-kilometer long road stands on pillars at a height of 45 meters, with cars speeding along it high above the valley, old roads, and surrounding forests. It has been dubbed the 'treetop highway,' and the builders are justifiably proud of its unique structural design. However, few people know that it also has its own 'brain.' Within its structure is a unique safety and information system, designed and installed by Slovak experts from the company Betamont.
“This is the longest bridge we have ever built. The technology that monitors its safety and provides drivers and dispatchers with continuous necessary information is like a living organism that never sleeps. We designed and installed this ‘brain’ over twenty months,” says Vladimír Lenoch, CEO of Betamont. A thirty-member team from the company participated in the work.
The Intelligent Road Information System (ISRC) can be imagined as something that continuously monitors, measures, warns, and reacts. Speed, weather, or impending danger. Cameras monitor traffic, weather stations warn of dangerous weather, and counters record the number and type of vehicles. And the installed LED traffic signs can change markings in seconds if needed, to prevent problems. The entire system is connected by more than ten kilometers of cables.
Unusual 'high-altitude' work
The Betamont team consisted of programmers, designers, and installers. The work on this road was truly exceptional, especially for them. Cameras, sensors, and weather stations were installed at the same great heights where the builders worked. The biggest challenge was working inside the bridge. “It’s like working inside an almost five-kilometer long tunnel, which is also nearly 50 meters above the ground,” explains Miroslav Jurík, head of Betamont’s construction team. It was precisely inside the road structure that his team had to install all key components of the system. Including a security system that detects any potential unauthorized entry. “This road, which is essentially a giant bridge, must be absolutely protected. It is out of the question for anyone unauthorized to access its ‘brain’,” emphasizes Miroslav Jurík.
Driver safety is paramount.
While the average driver may not know the technological inner workings of the R2 road on the Kriváň – Mýtna section, without its continuous operation, they would not be able to use this road. A dispatcher continuously monitors events on the road, and everything they see is provided by the installed technology, which also automatically changes modes as needed.
On the viaduct, which ‘lies’ at a height of 45 meters, for example, there is a completely different regime in the event of sudden crosswinds than on a regular road surface. In case of strong winds, the system immediately evaluates the situation, reduces the speed limit on traffic signs, and warns drivers. The same applies to ice, fog, or an accident. “A modern road, especially a viaduct like this, cannot function at all today without such technological elements,” reminds Vladimír Lenoch, adding that precisely such a system ensures not only safety but also smooth traffic flow on the viaduct.
Betamont 'guards' roads and railways worldwide.
Betamont implements intelligent safety systems in Slovakia primarily for Slovak Railways and the National Motorway Company. However, the company also has similar projects in Georgia, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, and other countries. “This is our work; every project is a challenge, but this latest one on the Kriváň – Mýtna section was truly unique and proves that Slovak technologies, and especially technological solutions, can be and are part of unique European projects,” concluded Vladimír Lenoch, adding that some drivers might occasionally remember that when they ‘fly’ along the treetop road, Slovak technology operates within its structure, not only seeing but also thinking about their safety.
R2 Kriváň – Mýtna in numbers:
- Section length: 9.3 km (of which 6.5 km are bridges)
- Longest bridge: 4.37 km (the longest in Slovakia)
- Height above ground: 15-45 meters
- Optical cable: more than 10 km
- Betamont team: 30+ people over 20 months
- Value of tech. part: 3.27 mil. € (excl. VAT)
