Highways as the Solution: Unlocking Right-of-Way for Transmission Build-Out
“We know that the highway right-of-way is the solution that has been hiding in plain sight”
Underutilized land along interstate roadsides presents a massive opportunity to overcome major barriers in transportation, energy, and communications. Over the past year, The Ray has collaborated with state departments of transportation across the country to utilize our Esri GIS mapping tool for statewide corridor analyses.
Expanding the NextGen Highways Initiative
Building on this foundational work, the NextGen Highways initiative strategically colocates fiber-based broadband and high-voltage transmission lines directly within existing highway rights-of-way (ROW).
Forward-thinking agencies—including the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)—are already actively exploring these collaborative projects to advance regional infrastructure capabilities and growth.
