Designed To Further Enhance Roadside Safety, I-66 EMP Introduces Next-Generation Incident Response Vehicle for the 66 Express
Building Upon an Innovative Custom Vehicle First Introduced in 2022, the Enhanced Safety Blocker Features New Technology To Better Protect Drivers and Responders
Manassas, VA – July 13, 2026 – Continuing the roadway operator’s investment in innovative front-line safety, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway, is preparing to place a newly enhanced, custom-built incident response blocker vehicle into service. Delivered by Traffic Pro Beds of Frederick, Md., the blocker vehicle has been specially designed to better protect both roadway responders and the traveling public.
Originally conceptualized and designed by the I-66 EMP operations team in 2022 under the leadership of Justin Chenault, Director of Roadway and Field Systems Maintenance, the original custom blocker vehicle was developed to provide a higher level of safety, maneuverability, operational efficiency, and scene protection than the traditional pickup-based incident response vehicles commonly used throughout the roadway response industry. Since first entering operation in late 2022, the innovative vehicle has helped support safer incident response operations along the 66 Express corridor.
This newest, updated version builds upon that original design with additional safety-focused enhancements and operational refinements aimed at further reducing responder exposure to live traffic, improving incident scene efficiency, and enhancing operator ergonomics during roadside operations.
Unlike conventional roadway safety blocker trucks adapted from commercially available platforms, I-66 EMP’s new vehicle was purpose-built for the specific operational demands of the express lane corridor and the real-world experiences of front-line responders. The result is a one-of-a-kind vehicle configuration designed to create a safer and more efficient roadside work environment.
Key enhancements include safer, more ergonomic roadside equipment access, improved traffic control deployment systems, integrated visibility and communication technology, and the addition of the J-TECH LaneBlade system, which allows operators to remove roadway debris while remaining protected inside the vehicle cab.
The vehicle also features a TrafFix Devices Scorpion TL-3 attenuator, advanced emergency lighting and messaging systems, multiple-camera recording technology, and custom storage and equipment configurations designed around the real-world needs of front-line roadway responders. Its compact footprint and tight turning radius further allow operators to navigate congestion quickly and position protective equipment efficiently during active roadway incidents.
“Safety innovation is most effective when it comes directly from the people performing the work every day,” Chenault said. “This vehicle was designed around real operational challenges our teams face on the roadway, with every improvement focused on reducing exposure, improving efficiency, and creating a safer environment for both responders and the driving public.”
The enhanced blocker vehicle reflects I-66 EMP’s unwavering commitment to operational innovation, employee safety, and improving customer experience along the 66 Express corridor. For travelers in need of assistance, that means faster incident response, better-protected roadside operations, and safer incident scenes. For the employees rendering that assistance, it means equipment intentionally designed around their safety—not simply adapted from existing industry standards.
“At I-66 EMP, innovation isn’t just about new technology,” said Hector Rubio, Chief Operating Officer of I-66 Express Mobility Partners. “It’s about empowering the people closest to the work to solve real-world problems in ways that help ensure everyone—from I-66 EMP responders to 66 Express customers—gets home safely.”
About the 66 Express Outside the Beltway:
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the lanes of the 66 Express are a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project with advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic flowing at all times. Featuring seamless pavement, dedicated access ramps, 11 miles of shared-use path paralleling I-66, and sufficient median space for constructing future transit infrastructure, the lanes of the 66 Express provide Northern Virginia commuters, businesses, and mass transit with a reliable option to move people, goods, and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More. Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more, and keep up with the 66 Express on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About I-66 Express Mobility Partners:
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies including Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Outside the Beltway through 2066, in a public-private partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.
