Published Sunday, 16 November, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
South-west traffic control moves into cyberspace
Traffic control in south-west Queensland will enter cyberspace this week when Main Roads turns on the region’s first traffic web camera in Roma as part of continuing works to upgrade the town’s intersections.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the web camera, at the intersection of Quintin and McDowall streets, would give a live view of traffic in and around the intersection.
"Web cameras are predominantly installed in the larger urban centres of Queensland,” Mr Pitt said.
“However, this technology has the capacity to be used all over the state to help in reporting traffic incidents or advising Main Roads of network disruptions.
“The Roma web camera is the first to be installed west of Toowoomba and the Great Dividing Range, and will help the thousands of vehicles that use this intersection each day.”
Mr Pitt said the web cam would also send images to the Toowoomba Traffic Management Centre (TMC) to better manage traffic flow and efficiency in Roma.
"The live images broadcast from the web cam will enable the Toowoomba TMC to adjust the timing of the traffic signals to help keep traffic flowing, while also gauging the actual peak traffic times of the intersection,” he said.
"The information and statistics gathered from the web broadcast by the TMC will help in providing recommendations of when to adjust the signals to best fit traffic patterns during the week."
Mr Pitt said the Roma images would be available in the 'Public and road users' section of the Main Roads website, at www.mainroads.qld.gov.au
For more information, contact Main Roads South West Regional Office on 4622 9511.
Last month, Main Roads switched on Roma’s first set of traffic lights at the Quintin and McDowall streets intersection.
The new lights include the latest light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are 70 per cent more energy efficient than previous lights and have a longer life span. The lights are also brighter, which improves visibility for road users.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s office 3227 8819