RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Tamara Neale 804-786-6458 Tamara.Neale@VDOT.Virginia.gov

HRO- CO-0612 March 14, 2006

511 VIRGINIA NOW FEATURES INFORMATION ON MAJOR BRIDGES AND TUNNELS IN HAMPTON ROADS AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA

RICHMOND, March 14, 2006 - The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) added four tunnels and seven bridges to the Virginia 511 travel information system this month, improving information available through the phone and internet-based service. Callers to 511 now have access to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads bridge and tunnel information in the reports for traffic, construction and weather.

“VDOT’s customer feedback has shown strong interest in reports for bridges and tunnels. We are pleased to offer the Virginia traveler these improvements to the 511 system,” said Connie Sorrell, VDOT chief of system operations.

The following bridges and tunnels are included on the 511 system in Virginia:
Hampton Roads region -
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel, Midtown Tunnel, Downtown Tunnel and Berkley Bridge, James River Bridge, High Rise Bridge, Coleman Bridge and Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Northern Virginia region -
Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the American Legion Bridge.

When a caller accesses information on a route containing one of the featured bridges or tunnels, specific bridge and tunnel information is now available in addition to other information on that route number. Callers can also say the name of the bridge or tunnel and the system will immediately give the caller the option of hearing traffic and construction information or weather related information for that location.

Bridge and tunnel information as well as email alerts are also available on www.511Virginia.org.

The 511 system covers 98 roads in Virginia, including every mile of interstate and many U.S. and state routes.

The Virginia 511 system can handle 264 calls simultaneously with an additional 96 call overflow queue. Each line can handle a single call. Most calls are under two minutes.

Nationally 511 is available to 93 million people in 24 states. More than 47 million calls have been received by 511 systems across America since its inception in early 2002.