November 23, 2011
Province Announces Launch of 511
– – –Enhanced Highway Road Information System Ready Just in Time for Winter Driving Season: Ashton
BRANDON—Highway travellers, commercial truckers, visitors and families across the province will benefit from Manitoba’s new 511 service, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announced here today during the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention.
“The new 511 traveller information service will provide drivers with the most up-to date information on driving conditions, helping families ensure they get to their end destinations safely and giving truckers the ability to plan their routes more efficiently,” said Ashton. “The system is now up and running and people can access 511 from anywhere in the province to get current road information.”
Similar to 911 for emergencies and 311 for municipal information, 511 is a number dedicated to traveller information. The new 511 system is an enhanced version of the former highway information system, the minister said. Manitobans can now dial 511 to get one-stop access to traveller information including:
- current provincial road conditions,
- notifications on road or bridge closures,
- updates on winter roads,
- current weather information,
- information on how to contact Travel Manitoba, and
- contact information for trucking permits.
Manitobans will notice significant improvements to the online service, as enhancements to the 511 system will together provide an easy way for the commercial and travelling public to plan their routes and avoid delays, Ashton added. A new interactive Internet map featuring links to five areas of the province (southeast, southwest, central east, central west and north) will allow visitors to guide their mouse over a desired location to see current road conditions for that area. The new map also features current road information for neighbouring provinces and states including Ontario, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Minnesota.
Statistics from the former site show the online version of this service isone of the most visited provincial sites with about 2,300 visits on a typical winter day, Ashton said, adding the usage can surge to over 45,000 visits a day during storms.
“The trucking industry depends on our roadways to provide its services to Manitoba communities year round. Having current, up-to-date and readily available road and weather information makes our roadways safer for the general traveling public and the many people in our industry that use these highways daily,” said Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. “We appreciate this new service and know that our industry will find it beneficial.”
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation began developing the new 511 system in the spring of 2011 in co-operation with all telecommunication service providers operating in the province.
“Westman Communications Group is pleased to support this initiative from the Province of Manitoba. We feel it’s very important to make the road and weather conditions easily accessible. The new dedicated 511 call routing we have implemented on our phone service will ensure that happens,” said Dave Baxter, president and CEO of Westman Communications Group.
Manitoba is the first province in Western Canada to adopt this type of system to provide motorists with the most current information about provincial roads, the minister said. Similar 511 systems are provided by 30 states south of the international border including those along I-29. Manitoba and many jurisdictions along I-29 are part of the North America’s Corridor Coalition (NASCO), a forum which brings together public- and private-sector leaders to address critical trade, transportation, security and environmental issues along the international mid-continent route. Manitoba joins a growing list of North American jurisdictions providing the recognizable 511 service that is also available in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Yukon in Canada, Ashton said.
The latest information on Manitoba’s road conditions is available any time toll-free at 511, at www.mb511.ca or by following the new Twitter account @MBGovRoads.
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