An intelligent traffic safety cone or pylon is placed in a traffic lane of a roadway to mark the beginning or end of a roadway traffic obstruction. The pylon has a GPS sensor disposed at the top of the body portion that rises from the pylon base. A battery is situated within the pylon base providing stabilizing weight. A microprocessor circuit within the pylon body is coupled to the GPS sensor to acquire location data of said pylon to within a resolution of a lane of the roadway. A radio transmitter within the pylon body coupled to the microprocessor provides a radio signal modulated to provide the location data to a central traffic navigation facility. The pylon may have a folding antenna, and may have additional sensors for traffic conditions and weather conditions.