Rural Intersection Conflict Warning System (RICWS)
Project Description

The goal of the Rural Intersection Conflict Warning System deployment (RICWS) program is to reduce the fatal and serious injury crashes at rural non-signalized intersections. RICWS provides supplemental warning to drivers of other vehicles approaching the intersection. MnDOT has deployed these warning systems statewide at high crash risk locations.
RICWS consists of a combination of a minor road warning and major road warning or major road warning only. The minor road warning will warn drivers that there are major road vehicles approaching the intersection. The major road warning will warn drivers that there are vehicles on the minor road that are entering the intersection.
The systems are composed of signing, vehicle detection, and dynamic warning beacons. Drivers on the major road will see a static “Entering Traffic” with a “When Flashing” plaque. Drivers on the minor road will see a constantly illuminated blank-out sign message “Traffic Approaching” with a “When Flashing” plaque. In the case of a malfunction or power outage, drivers on the minor road will not be given a message as the blank-out sign will be black/off.

Project documents
- Concept of operations (PDF)
- System requirements (PDF)
- Test Plan (PDF)
- Turn-on Test (PDF)
- RICWS phase 1 (Word)
- RICWS phase 2 (Word)
- RICWS design and oversight (Word)
- RICWS 2 design (Word)
- RICWS 2 oversight (Word)
- RICWS 2 final plan (PDF)
- RICWS 2 final provisions (PDF)