Effective fog detection and warning systems could help reduce adverse impacts of fog on safety along roads where fog is a major issue. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of deploying a new active fog detection and warning system in West Virginia, in addition to the one and only existing active system as of 2012, installed on I-64 Kanawha River Bridge. The system contains Roadway Weather Information System (RWIS), variable message signs (VMS), fiber optic cables, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), inductive loop surveillance, environmental sensor station, and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR). Through a benefit cost (B/C) analysis justification, efficiency of fog detection and warning system was demonstrated, using data obtained from US DOT, State DOT's, FHWA, National Weather Service and several companies working in the traffic control and warning systems field. Benefits were represented as savings in the number of fog related accidents. Cost estimates were based on a previous report by USDOT RITA published in 2008.

Based on the assumption that the planned system would be deployed along a five- mile segment of a highway and using unit cost estimates provided in USDOT RITA 2008 report on ITS benefits, costs, deployment, and lessons learned, the total capital and installation cost for this study was estimated as $1,031,000 (in 2012 dollars), as detailed in the Table below. In addition, assuming the yearly operational and maintenance including the labor cost would be ten percent of the capital based on the information, annual operational and maintenance cost was calculated as $103,100.

Table 1. Cost Estimation for the Planned Fog Detection and Warning System