AMES, Iowa – Feb. 10, 2012 – With the mild winter, Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) maintenance crews are performing work that would have otherwise been left undone until spring or summer. It is also giving some contractors a head start on the 2012 construction season, which is set to be a record year in overall volume. That means lane, road and bridge closures can be encountered anywhere in the state.
The Iowa DOT’s 511 traveler information system is the way to keep informed year-round about road/lane/bridge closures, detours, road/bridge height and width restrictions, traffic incidents, and traffic flow in certain metro areas. Until the end of winter, you can also use 511 to get the latest road conditions.
511 has become the Iowa DOT’s primary source for 24×7 traveler information. It is easily accessible via the phone (511 in Iowa or 800-288-1047 nationwide) and Web (www.511ia.org), and to Twitter users (sign up at www.511ia.org). It will also soon be available to Facebook users.