RALEIGH — Four cameras stationed along the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project in Davidson and Rowan counties now offer a live look at how traffic is flowing in this important work zone near the Yadkin River. Citizens can see the images at any time on the project website, www.i-85yadkinriver.com.
The cameras offer two main benefits. First, they provide motorists with an easy way to “know before you go” about congestion, accidents or construction-related traffic pattern changes. Drivers can save time and money by using the real-time images to make smart decisions to avoid any traffic trouble spots.
The N.C. Department of Transportation also uses the cameras to make travel safer by instantly dispatching response teams when accidents happen, cars break down in the roadway or debris blocks a lane of traffic. NCDOT’s Incident Management Assistance Patrols, as well as law enforcement officers, work together to handle these situations and efficiently get vehicles moving again.
“Every minute a travel lane is blocked it creates at least four minutes of traffic back up,” said Pat Ivey, NCDOT Division 9 engineer. “By quickly removing the reason for the congestion, we reduce the risk of crashes and improve the overall traffic flow.”
The cameras are spread out across the 9-mile work zone to easily show how traffic is moving between Rowan and Davidson counties.
• Camera 1 is located along I-85 at Belmont Road (Exit 86) facing south.
• Camera 2 is stationed along I-85 at Belmont Road (Exit 86) looking north.
• Camera 3 is positioned at the I-85 and I-85 Business split facing south.
• Camera 4 is installed on Hilltop Drive looking north at I-85.
Cameras 1, 2 and 3 are built on portable trailers, so NCDOT can reposition them at any time to better see a traffic situation or provide another angle on construction. They are powered by solar energy collected through panels installed on the trailers and remotely controlled by NCDOT’s Triad Traffic Management Center. Camera 4 is stationary and runs on electricity.
NCDOT broke ground last September on the first phase of the project, which involves replacing eight bridges and widening 3.3 miles of I-85. Phase two extends the reach of the interstate widening 3.8 miles from north of N.C. 150 to just north of I-85 Business. Work on both phases is concurrent and should be complete in 2013.
For more information on both phases of the $201.5 million project, visit www.i-85yadkinriver.com. To receive instant updates on traffic pattern changes, construction-related congestion and project milestones, follow NCDOT’s I-85 Twitter feed, https://twitter.com/NCDOT_I85.
(The website is best viewed in FireFox, Google Chrome or Safari. Internet Explorer users should download an Axis Media Control program when prompted to view the live traffic camera images.)