Cameras help avoid traffic backups

Motorists who frequently travel through the area of I-95 at Route 288 (exit 62) can now get a bird's eye view of their commute thanks to a newly installed Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) traffic camera that's viewable using the Internet.

Real-time traffic images are available at www.VirginiaDOT.org or www.trafficland. com and offer travelers the most accurate information on incidents that can impact the flow of traffic.

VDOT also recently installed cameras along I-64 at its intersection with I-295 (exit 177) and the Mechanicsville Turnpike (exit 192).

The three cameras are the latest addition to VDOT's statewide traffic camera network, comprising more than 500 total cameras.

"Adding these three new cameras to our expanding traffic coverage brings us one step closer to a complete view of Richmond area highways," said Robert Alexander, P.E., director of VDOT's Richmond District Smart Traffic Center. "We're excited to give motorists the ability to make informed decisions about their commutes and to provide more safe and efficient travel throughout the Richmond area."

Motorists can view the same images as controllers at VDOT's Smart Traffic Center. The cameras have full tilt/pan/zoom capability, so users may see the cameras move while Smart Traffic Center operators scan for incidents. Citizens can also subscribe to TrafficLand services that send traffic camera images to their Web-enabled cell phones or PDAs.