A major corridor in Metro Vancouver faced severe gridlock due to two adjacent, high-volume intersections operating in total isolation. The challenge was not just traffic volume, but incompatible infrastructure.
Vendor Lock-in
The intersections utilized controllers from two different manufacturers with closed, proprietary protocols. Standard coordination cables could not be connected.
Jurisdictional Split
Owned by separate municipalities, the signals followed conflicting maintenance schedules and inventory specs, preventing a unified hardware upgrade.
Dynamic Load
Located near a freeway interchange, the flow involved heavy, unpredictable turning movements that static "Time of Day" plans could not resolve.