Tim Simodynes is the Assistant Director of the Traffic Operations Bureau at the Iowa DOT. He says for years, the only camera showing traffic on the I-80 bridge was located along the highway, quite a long distance from the bridge itself.
The bureau decided to add these two cameras to increase access to traffic information on the I-80 Mississippi River Bridge. The bureau also uses all its roadside cameras to help verify reports and create messages and alert drivers using electronic signs and social media.
The I-80 bridge camera is located near Cody Road in LeClaire and shows all four lanes of traffic from Iowa to Illinois.
Simodynes also says the Iowa DOT records video from all its traffic cameras. The recordings are saved for seven days. The Iowa DOT uses the recordings to investigate crashes and evaluate delays to try and improve service.
The recordings are available by request.
Access the traffic cameras online HERE. There's also an Iowa 511 smartphone app.