The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), together with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the National Weather Service (NWS), have updated Nebraska 511 service. It is anticipated the updates will result in better service to Nebraskans as they plan for winter travel.
The Nebraska 511 travel report has served motorists for more than two decades. What originally started as a phone service has evolved to also include a web application as well as a mobile app.
The service provides information on construction, road conditions, closures, lane restrictions, highway cameras and other important information. From November of 2020 to October 2021, the 511 system was utilized by 1.5 million users.
New features of the updated Nebraska 511 include integrated weather, dedicated information to commercial carriers, overhead digital signs and their messages, updated icons, and a new user interface.
The agencies are also highlighting the importance of preparing for winter weather as the season rapidly approaches.
‘‘Winter is often a long season in Nebraska, bringing cold temperatures, snow and dangerous wind conditions.
This winter, motorists are reminded to be prepared with warm clothing water and food when traveling during winter weather. Be sure to travel on well-established routes and notify someone when you are leaving for your destination. If traveling a distance, a winter weather survival kit is advised with additional basic items.
Travelers are advised to not drive faster than conditions allow. Surfaces will be slick under the snow and visibility may be poor. Allow plenty of time to arrive at your destination.
With snowplows out on the roads, travelers are urged to be cautious and courteous to those operating them, making sure to: Slow down as you approach plows. They travel slowly, usually 25 to 30 miles per hour or less.
Stay well behind plows to give you and them plenty of room. When traveling outside of a business or residential district, it is unlawful to follow a highway maintenance vehicle (snowplow, truck or grader) more closely than 100 feet when it is plowing snow, spreading salt or sand, or displaying a flashing amber or blue light.
Never pass a plow on the right – snowplows are equipped with “wing plows” which extend beyond the truck itself.
Know where plows are and actions they may be taking while they plow snow.
Do not use cruise control in wet or snowy weather and keep a full fuel tank.
As a reminder, the NSP Highway Helpline is available 24 hours per day for motorists in need of assistance.
Drivers can reach NSP by dialing *55 from any cell phone. Call 911 for any emergency.
The coming winter weather may also affect the delivery of this newspaper.
Unlike many newspapers which are now sent many miles to a central printing plant. this newspaper is printed in its own plant in Superior. But delivery may involved long distances over difficult roads. Newspapers mailed at Superior on Wednesdays that last winter were sorted in Grand Island are now taken to Omaha for sorting. A subscriber in Lincoln called Tuesday to ask why the paper she had been getting on Fridays is now not being received until Tuesday.
For our Kansas subscribers the papers are taken to Mankato and mailed from there. However, the Kansas Department of Transportation recently warned it would take longer to clear roads after a winter storm because the department does not have as many employees as in past years and a shortage of applicants was making it impossible to fill many of the positions.
Because of reports like these, The Express is now available via the internet. If subscribers to the print edition asks, they may receive at no additional charge a subscription to the internet paper.
For the last issue more than 300 people logged into the web site. In the month of November, the website had 1,190 unique visitors.
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