Callers Overwhelm ADOT's Road Info System

Dec 30, 2010

Weather Prompts 60,000 Calls In 8 Hours


BELLEMONT, Ariz. -- Motorists looking to the state Department of Transportation for information on road conditions will experience some delays.

The winter weather has overwhelmed a Web site that lets drivers know which roads are closed and provides live shots of some roadways.

People also will have trouble getting through on a department hot line that has automated updates on road conditions.

Department spokesman Timothy Tait said the Arizona 511 system took 60,000 calls in an eight-hour span Thursday morning. The line typically handles 1,000 calls in a 12-hour time frame.

Tait said people shouldn't rely solely on the department for weather-related closures. He said the department's Twitter page, media Web sites and TV stations are all good sources of information.

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