Date:
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Contact:
WSDOT NCRegion Traffic/Maintenance Engineer Jennene Ring (509) 667-3080 E-Mail: ringj@wsdot.wa.gov
WSDOT NCRegion Communications Manager Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 E-Mail: adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov
WENATCHEE - The North Central WSDOT Region’s newest traffic cameras are now available to the public on the Department’s Traffic and Roads web page:
(US 97A North) http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/wenatchee/default.aspx?cam=9014
(US2/97 East) http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/wenatchee/default.aspx?cam=9013
And the North Central Region camera page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/NorthCentral/Camera.htm
The two new Wenatchee area cameras are located at the west end of the US 2/97 Odabashian Bridge. One camera provides an eastward view of the bridge deck and roadway to the SR 28 intersection in Douglas County. The second camera provides a northward view of US 97A toward Entiat and Chelan on the west bank of the Columbia River.
The $13,000 camera system was paid for from a federal traveler information grant. The cameras are available on the internet to provide current traffic volume and weather conditions so travelers and freight shippers can make better route selection choices, which improves highway operations.
The region’s camera system is used for WSDOT maintenance staff to evaluate conditions and determine how to most efficiently dispatch crews and equipment during weather events. WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol use the cameras to plan traffic control when collisions occur. Traffic engineers also use the cameras to identify how drivers deal with highway features such as lane changes to exits and speed limits, under different volume, weather and light conditions.
The Odabashian cameras become the Region’s 21st and 22nd. The 20th Camera/RWIS installation that went on line last week is near the Loup Loup summit on SR 20, between Okanogan and Twisp.
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