County gets more road Web cameras

The state Department of Transportation has installed two new cameras at two major traffic congestion points so area motorists can check traffic conditions online before heading out the door, or on their favorite mobile device right from their cars.

One is at the Randy Papé Beltline/Delta Highway interchange; the other is at the Interstate 5 and Interstate 105 interchange.

“They provide the ability to see pavement and traffic conditions, which are important in inclement weather, heavy traffic periods and for emergency vehicle travel, or if the interchange is needed for an emergency evacuation route,” ODOT spokesman Rick Little said.

The camera views can be found at www.tripcheck.com, the Web site ODOT launched 10 years ago that also includes maps, announcements, travel tips and weather forecasts. The cameras stream a live, continuous picture from various perspectives to ODOT’s Traffic Operations Center dispatch crew. Photos are updated online every five minutes.

Nine of the now 223 cameras in the state are in Lane County, including five in the Eugene-Springfield metro area, and there are plans to add three or four more in Eugene, Little said.

There are now two cameras on the Beltline — the other is between the Northwest Expressway and River Road — and plans to add another at the River Road interchange. In addition to the new camera at the I-5 and I-105 interchange, there are also cameras on I-5 at milepost 191 in south Eugene and at milepost 187 in Goshen. Another camera or two will be added on Delta Highway, as well as one on the flyover at I-5 and Beltline, Little said.

“This is a great addition to our statewide network of highway cameras,” ODOT District 5 manager Mike Spaeth said in a statement. “The highway interchanges are important connections that are often subject to congestion. Now, motorists can visit TripCheck and know the traffic conditions before they travel. In addition to being a benefit for motorists, the new cameras will also allow ODOT crews to verify congestion, pavement conditions and other factors that determine maintenance decisions.”