We’ve all heard the classic adage: “You can’t be in two places at once.” While that’s certainly true on a metaphysical level, ADOT can subvert the old axiom through our virtual RWIS system.

RWIS, shorthand for Road Weather Information System, is an added tool ADOT crews use to gather real-time information about and make decisions concerning adverse weather events. Cameras located at RWIS sites throughout the state update multiple times every hour and provide a quick perspective of current weather conditions.

Among the many features of ADOT’s RWIS system are sensors that can read air temperature, pavement temperature, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation. The cameras attached to the RWIS sites can help detect visibility issues due to fog or smoke. 

ADOT uses the information gathered from RWIS sites for real-time conditions reporting, forecasting, pavement temperatures and wind conditions. Knowing what the weather is like at a specific location helps crews know the proper treatment options, especially when it relates to snow and ice. 

Dispatchers at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center use the information obtained from RWIS to update real-time messages on our overhead message boards. In turn, the motoring public uses this to make informed decisions about their own travel.

Bottom line, the functionality of RWIS helps ADOT improve safety, organize operations and reduce cost.

The cameras connected to RWIS stations are similar to, yet separate from, ADOT’s AZ511 traffic camera system. RWIS cameras are used primarily for weather conditions rather than strictly traffic conditions. 

There are 19 RWIS stations located strategically along Arizona highways. Most of them are placed on Interstate 40, where adverse conditions like snow are very common in the winter time. Arizona is one of many states in the Union that utilize the RWIS system. In fact, Iowa has 62 different RWIS sites while Minnesota (famous not just for its many lakes, but also lots and lots of snow) boasts an impressive 125.

Kevin Duby, ADOT’s Statewide Road Weather Manager and RWIS Coordinator, is particularly excited about the recent addition of grip sensor technology at RWIS sites:  “This can help with even an already robust winter operation,” he says. “Grip sensor technology basically measures friction of the pavement. The lower the friction value, the less traction that we have on the roadway.” 

Duby is confident that ADOT’s RWIS system  will continue to provide benefits.

“The future looks bright and as technology changes and gets better, so do the operations," he said.

Being the transportation geeks that we are, we get excited about a lot of things: Box culverts, Bid-Wells, bridge girders, etc. And that's just the Bs!

But if we moved down into the Cs, we find something else that makes us excited that we think you will like too: cameras.

As you are probably aware, ADOT has a network of more than 400 cameras statewide, with the majority being along the major freeways in Phoenix and Tucson. We use these traffic cameras to help manage traffic. When the ADOT Traffic Operations Center is notified of a freeway incident, dispatchers use our camera system to search for the incident. Once it's spotted, appropriate personnel are dispatched. Often Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers will be dispatched for a crash, but you may see a sweeper sent out to clean debris from the freeway or an ADOT Incident Response Unit helping set up traffic control. 

Additionally, those feeds are provided to the public through az511.gov, so you can check traffic and/or weather conditons along your chosen route before you go. You can even set up personalized routes with just the cameras that matter to your daily commute.

So being able to see as much as possible along a freeway is a win-win for everyone.

That's why we are excited that az511 is now displaying nearly 20 new cameras along the Loop 303 between Northern and the I-17 junction. Folks wanting to get the skinny on what's happening near Grand Avenue, Happy Valley Road or Lake Pleasant Parkway can now pull up a camera and take a look. 

Even if you don't live in the northwest Valley, go ahead and check out the new cameras. And, if you are so inclined, let us know how you like them on Twitter at azdot.gov/ArizonaDOT. If you mostly access information using your mobile device, you can also see our cameras by downloading the AZ 511 app. 

Alright, now that we covered cameras, we can move into other "C" things we get excited about, such as curing compounds, climbing lanes, chip seals...

Oh, no longer interested? That's okay; go ahead and enjoy the new cameras!

Just before the new year, we opened the 22-mile long South Mountain Freeway. Now, we can show it off with our traffic cameras! AZ511.gov now displays 20 cameras along the South Mountain Freeway.

Most of the cameras are at major exits along the route. The freeway isn't completely done and a few more cameras will come online once it's completed. If you regularly travel the Loop 202, you'll want to set up a personalized account on az511.gov so you can see the cameras along your route. If you just want to check out all of our cameras, you can visit az511.gov and make sure "Cameras" is checked on the menu on the right. 

As you probably know, ADOT uses traffic cameras to help manage traffic. When the ADOT Traffic Operations Center is notified of a freeway incident, dispatchers use our camera system to search for the incident. Once it's spotted, appropriate personnel are dispatched. Often Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers will be dispatched for a crash, but you may see a sweeper sent out to clean debris from the freeway or an ADOT Incident Response Unit helping set up traffic control. 

Once you check the new cameras, let us know how you like them on Twitter at azdot.gov/ArizonaDOT. If you mostly access information using your mobile device, you can also see our cameras by downloading the AZ 511 app. 

Pics, or it didn't happen.

That's an old saying from the beginning of the Internet era. We are not going to touch on its veracity, but will instead substitute it for one of our own: Pics help you see what's happened.

That's why we are excited that our Arizona Traveler Information website at az511.gov has added 21 new cameras along rural highways across the state. Cameras along state highways are an invaluable tool for us to look at weather and traffic. But that's valuable information for anyone, which is why they can be accessed by drivers to get a look at what they might encounter once they leave home. 

So if you are taking US 60 through Globe, you now have three cameras to give you a view of the road. Or if you are heading from Phoenix to Casa Grande on Interstate 10, you might appreciate the two cameras now available around Sacaton – like in the image to the right – to give you an idea of how traffic is moving. Feel free to explore for yourself to see what cameras are at there, but know that this recent addition gives us new cameras on US 93 north of Kingman, US 89 north of Flagstaff, State Route 264 at Ganado and Window Rock and along SR 89A in Oak Creek Canyon. 

Additional cameras will be added to AZ511 as they become available. ADOT now has more than 400 traffic cameras throughout the state, which you can view by going to az511.gov, and clicking “Cameras” in the upper right corner. On the AZ511 app, choose “Road Cameras” after clicking on the three gold-triangle icon in the lower right corner.

In addition to easy access to traffic cameras, AZ511 app users can receive information about delays, crashes, construction and closures. They get real-time information and receive alerts about their routes.

If seeing is believing, then Phoenix-area motorists can now get behind the wheel more confident than ever of what to expect when it comes to traffic conditions.

That's because we have added 20 traffic cameras on either end of the Valley to the Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, giving drivers an even better look at what's happening on three freeways.

In the East Valley, nine additional cameras are available along the Loop 202 Santan Freeway from US 60 to Higley Road, like the one at Ray Road that took the image at right.

In the West Valley, five cameras are now providing images along Interstate 10 near Loop 303, from Estrella Parkway to Perryville Road. Another six cameras provide views of Loop 303 between I-10 and Northern Avenue.

ADOT now has more than 400 traffic cameras throughout Arizona’s highways showing traffic and weather conditions.

Accessible to everyone on our az511.gov website and/or AZ511 app, the cameras effectively act as eyes on the road, allowing drivers to see conditions before beginning a daily commute or weekend trip.

To view them at az511.gov, click “Cameras” in the upper right corner and the map will populate with them.  A list version is also available.

On the AZ511 app, choose “Road Cameras” after clicking on the three gold-triangle icon in the lower right corner.

In addition to easy access to traffic cameras, AZ511 app users can receive information about delays, crashes, construction and closures. They get real-time information and receive alerts about their routes.

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

What's wrong with this picture?

If your answer is that a ladder doesn't belong on the front end of a car on the Loop 101, you are absolutely right. But that's what happened recently when an unsecured ladder fell off a vehicle and this unfortunate driver struck it. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

We see a lot of objects on Valley freeways on almost a daily basis – boxes, mattresses, furniture, appliances and, yes, lots of ladders, all of which are hazards. In addition to damaging vehicles, debris left on the roadway can cause crashes. It also can put law enforcement and ADOT crews at risk trying to remove these items from busy freeways.

That's why we are reminding people about practical steps they can take to keep debris off the freeways:

• Tie down loads: Make sure to use tie downs, netting, bungee cords, ropes or straps when hauling items. Ensuring that the items are snug and secure can go a long way toward keeping things on your vehicle and off the freeway.
• Cover loads: Use a tarp to ensure that nothing will fly out of the truck bed or trailer.
• Don’t overload vehicles: Hauling too much in a vehicle is a recipe for things to fall off.

If you see debris on a freeway, it's an emergency. Please call 911 right away so the professionals can handle it.

You can learn more about how to keep items off our roads on the Secure Your Load portion of our FocusOnDriving website.

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, you might say drivers in Tucson now have 7,000 words to paint a vivid picture of their next trip on Interstate 19. That’s because ADOT has upgraded the highway’s seven traffic cameras to high-definition devices that constantly provide images to ADOT's Arizona Traveler Information site.

The cameras show conditions from roughly between I-10 to a little north of San Xavier Road, so you’ll know if you’re facing a smooth commute, delays from a crash or a cloudburst that’s drenched the roadway.

The images update every 5 seconds to ensure you’re always seeing the latest conditions.

There’s more to the cameras than providing real-time highway so drivers can make informed decisions. The cameras are a key tool for operators at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center to look for crashes, debris on the road and weather conditions. Using those cameras, operators can quickly and accurately update overhead message boards so drivers know what’s ahead of them.

ADOT operates roughly 300 cameras along the state’s highways, mostly in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

As the clock ticks closer to 5 p.m., your thoughts shift from work to what’s next in the day. Is there anything in the fridge for dinner? Did that package from Amazon arrive? And how long will it take to drive home?

While ADOT can’t help with the first two questions, we’ve got something new to give you a clearer view of your commute on the freeway. We’ve recently upgraded a couple stretches of traffic cameras to high definition on Loop 101 in the East Valley, giving you a better picture of what you’re facing even before you get behind the wheel.

Several of the HD cameras are on the Pima freeway segment of Loop 101 in Scottsdale, between Cactus Road and Princess Drive. Also, the Loop 101 Price freeway passing though Tempe, Chandler and Mesa has new cameras between the Red Mountain and Santan segments of Loop 202.

You can check out the cameras at our Arizona Traveler Information site, az511.gov.

We’ve put the cameras online for the benefit of drivers, but they serve another purpose. Our more than 300 cameras are placed along highways so ADOT’s traffic operators and troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety can monitor traffic conditions. The cameras allow us to more quickly update overhead message boards to alert drivers to conditions we’re seeing thanks to the improved view provided by the new cameras.

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

It says something about my journey along life's path that updating my eyeglass prescription has become a magical event, especially after waiting much too long to visit the ophthalmologist.

When I uncased my latest pair of bifocals last night, the world seemed so much more colorful and detailed. Only the first person on Mars could gaze with such wide-eyed wonder, I thought while leaving the eyeglass counter, no doubt to concerned looks from staff and fellow customers.

I have something of the same feeling when I look at new az511.gov views along the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway in Tempe, especially when the view cheats a little south to include Tempe Town Lake. We recently upgraded traffic cameras in this stretch.

My Traffic Operations Center-based communications colleague Garin Groff, a master at finding early morning shots of the moon and stars, has new vantage point for his winning images.

Drink in that sweet HD view.

Traffic Camera

We're sometimes asked why all traffic cameras aren't HD.

The traffic cameras the public sees on the az511.gov are positioned along highways to allow ADOT operators and DPS troopers at our Traffic Operations Center to monitor conditions. The cameras can accomplish that mission without an HD view.

ADOT continues to upgrade older traffic cameras as funding permits, with a goal of moving everything to digital HD. The work and funding required mean we can't upgrade everything right away, but you can see at az511.gov that we're making progress.

I hope you enjoy these crisp new views from our Loop 202 Tempe traffic cameras as much as I enjoy reading fine print and faraway text with my spiffy new glasses.

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications

The Interstate 17 wrong-way vehicle detection and warning system in Phoenix has been up and running for almost six months now. As we reported this week, the results are promising.

Simply stated: The I-17 system, installed last fall along the busy 15 miles of the Black Canyon Freeway between the I-10 “Stack” near downtown and the Loop 101 interchange in north Phoenix, has worked as designed in detecting wrong-way vehicles entering ramps and immediately alerting ADOT and the state Department of Public Safety to those incidents.

ADOT’s I-17 pilot project is the first of its kind in the nation to use thermal traffic cameras as part of a computer-based decision support system that sounds an alarm when a wrong-way vehicle is detected turning onto a freeway off-ramp. An instant alert allows DPS to help its troopers respond quickly, rather than waiting for a 911 call, while also allowing ADOT to post warning messages for other drivers.

Since January, when the I-17 system went into operation, thermal cameras have detected more than 15 vehicles entering an off-ramp, mostly in late night or early morning hours. Above and below, we’ve included some examples of the thermal-camera video clips the system collects.

The majority of drivers in those cases turned around on the ramp. A few stayed on the frontage road, still driving in the wrong direction, and traveled out of a thermal camera’s view. To our knowledge, no crashes have been reported within the I-17 project’s boundaries this year.

That’s because, fortunately, none of those drivers traveled onto I-17’s mainline lanes. We can all be grateful for that. It’s possible they noticed the system’s special electronic wrong-way signs that light up with flashing red LED lights or quickly figured out they’d mistakenly turned onto an off ramp.

It’s important to note that most wrong-way drivers are impaired by alcohol and-or drugs. That’s a huge challenge to overcome. Technology obviously can’t prevent someone from becoming a wrong-way driver or prevent all tragic crashes caused by such drivers.

What the I-17 alert system is designed to do, and so far has done, is instantly detect potential wrong-way vehicles. The goal is to reduce the risks posed by these errant drivers. Other states are interested in this technology. ADOT will keep gathering information about the system’s performance this year and share the results. As noted earlier, so far they’ve been promising.

Please be a safe driver. Stay alert, buckle up and never drive while impaired. If you encounter someone who shouldn’t be behind the wheel, take their keys or, if that’s not possible, contact law enforcement.