Dunedin's first dedicated traffic information web camera is now providing road users with updates that may help them avoid peak hour traffic jams.
Two web cameras installed by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) at the intersection of State Highway 1and Andersons Bay Rd were switched on late last week. One of these camera’s looks southwards down the Caversham Highway - the other along Andersons Bay Rd.
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Otago/Southland Regional Director Bruce Richards says the site for the cameras was chosen because it is the busiest in Dunedin, with up to 25,000 vehicles a day are using State Highway 1 from Andersons Bay Rd to Lookout Point.
“A picture speaks a thousand words is an old saying, but one that is true where webcams are concerned, as they let people see traffic conditions for themselves at busy locations like Andersons Bay Road. Based on what they see, they can then make an informed decision about whether to travel or not, especially during peak traffic times”.
Mr Richards says the main focus of these cameras is to provide road users with information not to monitor their driving behaviour. This web camera facility costing around $20,000 could be moved to other sites around Dunedin if road users are not accessing online information from the current site.
The Anderson Bay Rd site is part of a network of state highway traffic information web camera’s the NZTA operates nationwide. The Andersons Bay Rd camera can be viewed at www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/webcams/dunedin.html(external link) Images from the site are updated every minute.
