LAYTON -- Motorists looking to avoid the next big traffic jam need to look no further than their own cellphone.
Utah Department of Transportation has released a new smartphone app that will allow motorists to get traffic, road conditions and road forecast information on the go.
UDOT spokeswoman Tania Mashburn said the UDOT Traffic app provides mobile access to the most up-to-date information from UDOT's Traffic Operations Center, based in Salt Lake City.
The available information includes:
- a Google Maps display that allows users to zoom in and out and scroll from side to side;
- current traffic conditions on Utah's freeways and major surface streets;
- lists of accidents, road construction activities and other hazards;
- special events affecting traffic;
- current road weather conditions and road weather forecasts;
- road closures;
- current traffic camera images and electronic roadway sign messages.
"Basically, anything that we monitor, people can get with this app," Mashburn said.
She said the app was made public Nov. 30 and has already been downloaded nearly 16,500 times.
"We've had a lot of interest already, and we think the interest will grow even more once people start finding out about it," she said.
Mashburn said motorists were able to use the app during last week's big windstorm.
"People could get on the app and see what wind speeds were on the freeway, where accidents were, how long the delays were," she said. "And that's what we hope will continue. We hope people use it in their planning and be informed."
The traffic app is available for iPhone and Android users at no cost and can be downloaded at app stores for the two phones.
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