Nebraska Adds New Features for Traveler Information
The Nebraska Department of Roads’ 511 Advanced Traveler Information System has been updated to provide a more current and enhanced product for the public with new features that will assist commuters, truckers, and travelers along Nebraska’s highway system.
There are now three options for 24-hour-a-day, year-round Nebraska road condition and traveler information including phone, website, and a new app.
The 511 phone system is using a new system and no longer provides the weather report. To access 511 via a cell phone or landline, dial 511. If outside of Nebraska, dial 800-906-9069.
The 511 website can be accessed on the Nebraska Department of Roads’ home page www.roads.nebraska.gov or www.511.nebraska.gov. The 511 website provides you with road conditions, cameras, weather information, and now an additional layer called traffic speeds which colors the roadways to show speeds (fast through slow) to indicate a slowdown in real-time. It now offers different versions based on your Internet connection – full featured for a high-speed Internet connection, streamlined for a low-bandwidth Internet connection, and mobile for smartphones and tablets. The mobile version is primarily a text-based version with images for the cameras. Another new feature of the 511 website is the option to create an account which allows you to create and save routes and then schedule alerts along selected routes. The alerts can be in the form of a text message to your cell phone or an email.
Nebraska 511 now has an app that works on smartphones and tablets operating on the Apple and Android platforms. Visit the App Store or Google Play and search for Nebraska 511.
Remember, the primary responsibility of every driver is the safe operation of his/her vehicle. Do not rely on the Nebraska 511 information as the sole basis for travel decisions. Before you travel in bad weather, check several resources to gather as much information as possible about the weather and road conditions. You alone are responsible for making the final decision to travel during periods of bad weather.
