Traffic management industry thriving in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's continuing population growth and the need for more infrastructures is contributing to a boom in the traffic management industry.

Traffic signs and cones zones make up a part of the commuting landscape in the Central Valley.

While they can cause an inconvenience -- traffic management companies are a thriving business here in Fresno.

Larry Westerlund, Director of Economic Development said, "We are seeing a lot of new infrastructure that needs to be put in place. If you have watched the nearly billion and a half dollars of infrastructure that is going into highway 99, again there is also the high speed rail project."

Debbie Hunsaker and her family have been in the traffic management business in Fresno since 1971. In those 40 years, she has seen her company benefit from the city's expansion.

"Now we not only have Highway 41," said Hunsaker. "We also have the 180 and the 168. So that brought a whole different level of traffic control requirements than we had in the past."

One of Alert-O-Lite's most recent projects was the braided ramps construction, where they oversaw and arranged more than 400 closures. Big projects like these caught the attention of the largest traffic management company in the state and now they're adding a Fresno office.

Chris Spano with Traffic Management Inc. said, "With the increase in population which means there's more cars on the road so that adds to traffic, which adds to the need for more infrastructure, for improved infrastructure and it all kind of circles around to needing to have a company like ours."

Spano and his team are used to big projects, recently coordinating street closures for the shuttle endeavor's trip on Los Angeles streets to the California Science Center.

Traffic Management Incorporated purchased a Fresno building just about a year ago. They expect business to continue to expand so much that soon they will be using all of the space in this warehouse.

In its first 18 months in Fresno, Traffic Management Inc. has seen a 50 percent growth in business, and they expect to continue to see a 20 percent increase indefinitely.