Just as you blame Holly, Betsy, AJ & Bruce for bad weather, we are who you curse for that accident on the East Shoreway. The WTAM Traffic Center can't prevent that accident or slowdown but we do our best to help you around it; all day, everyday, 24/7.
With strategically placed cameras, Pat Butler at Channel 3, our two mobile units, Nate in the CVS Samaritan Van, data partner INRIX and most importantly you, the listener, calling in on the tip line we do our best to get you from Point A to Point B without any problems.
216-986-8888 The Traffic Tip Line is open 24/7 to take in any fender benders, washer/dryer combos on the roadway or acts of god causing general road closures. Program 216-986-8888 into your speed dial. A good tip now could mean a $100 Circle K Gift Card. You could use it for gas, cigarettes, the lunch you forgot to pack or maybe even buy 169 of your friends a Polar Pop. Congratulations to our past winners:
2009 January: Debbie Malisheski of Avon Lake February: Mike Tomko of Strongsville March: Brian Bockhoff of Shaker Heights April: Steve Myktuk of Hinckley May: Roman Rakowsky of Parma June: Kim Seal of Cleveland July: Amy Halberin of Avon August: Anita Keeler of Parma 2008 June:Steve Farley of Hiram July:Jerome Pavlik of Streetsboro August: Curly Joe of Mentor September: Ben Johnston of Willoughby Hills October: Jim Hanculak of Mayfield Hts November: Mike Kazan of Lorain
December: Gary Powers of Wickliffe
Grand Prize Winner: Jim Hanculak of Mayfield Hts
Keeping you informed
You can have it. When you want it. When you need it.
A view of I-71 and Route 176 from the MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive
I-77 from just south of I-480
A view of I-77 at I-480 from atop the Crown Centre on Rockside Road in Independence
Inner Belt from Hilton Garden
A view of the inner belt at East 9th Street from atop the Hilton Garden Inn on Carnegie Avenue at East 9th Street.
I-90 at Cleveland Public Power
A view of I-90 from the Cleveland Public Power building along the shoreway.
The "Who" in getting you "Where"
Faith Nezovich The central nervous system of the WTAM Traffic Center. She coordinates all the information from our various sources during your morning and evening rush.
Dave Ramos Your traffic center anchor helping you get to work with Wills and Synder on the :10, :20, :40 & :50. Dave ties together total team coverage from Pat Butler and the mobile units on the interstates. Plus, tune in at 5:50 and 7:50 during Wills and Snyder for your daily dose of entertainment news and celeb gossip with The Scoop. And don't miss The Ramos File, right after Rush's morning update at 6:55. ** Don't miss Ramos Radio on Saturdays since the French guy is gone.
Pat Butler Our pretty face for the camera, Pat, brings you live reports from Channel 3 every morning and holds down the fort after the morning rush until 1pm. He anchors top and bottom of the hour reports with additional coverage for Dave Ramos. In addition, you can hear Pat as one of the Prize Guys on The Contest Show.
Matt Bean Beans rolls in and brings you reports at the top of the hour starting at 2pm. Starting 4pm Matt goes live during news and whenever Triv feels like it. He also gets you around trouble on your way to Progressive Field during Tribe Insider w/ Mark Schwab.
Steve Douglas Never seen and rarely heard, he helps you safely arrive home from Tribe home games starting at 11pm. Being a 24 hour operation, his eyes are watching the roads as most sleep until Faith, Dave and Pat take over at 5am. Saturdays he get the earlybirds moving with Bob Becker.
Will and Nate can be seen patrolling Cleveland between 6AM to 9:30AM & 3PM to 6PM, Monday through Friday. Their set route is I-71 from Snow Road to I-90 through downtown to Marginal Road. Don't be suprised to see them in other spots if needed.
They provide an amazing list of services: Cost-free Disabled Vehicle Repairs for Stranded Motorists EMT or Paramedic Level Emergency Medical Assistance Vehicle and Brush Fire Containment. Contain Small Fuel, Anti-freeze, and Similar HazMat Spills at Accident Scenes Traffic Control Disabled Vehicle Relocation Animal Rescue - Canine, Equine, Reptiles, whatever is needed Unattended Vehicles Checked and Tagged Hazardous Debris Removed from Freeway and Shoulders Lost Motorists Redirected Transport Motorists and Pedestrians to Safe Locations Open Locked Vehicles (keys locked inside) Check all Stopped Vehicles for Assistance Needed. Community Special Event Participation Traffic Reporting - Live and Feed Reports Safety and Program Speaking Engagements - schools, organizations, etc. Samaritan Van Demonstration and Tours Community and Health Fair Blood Pressure Checks
Just when you thought things were better in the good old days as you rolled in Detroit Steel, think again...
Current Road Conditions: Click on Flow, Incidents or Construction to view
Friday 08-29-2008 2:15am ET
Look a bit blank? Just scroll to the bottom of the map and check the box marked Flow for congestion, Incidents for accidents and Construction to see where the orange barrels are.
Should ODOT Consider?
Tuesday 07-07-2009 6:28pm ET
Orange Barrrel Monster?
Thursday 06-18-2009 9:49am ET
This would have happened in Ohio but every orange barrel is already in use.
Innerbelt Anguish
Tuesday 12-02-2008 3:04am ET
Not a good situation if you work or drive through downtown and your commute involves 71, the Jennings, or 90 Westside.
As of November 19th heavy truck are no longer allowed on the bridge. The alternate route is using I-490 and I-77 in both directions.
The Innerbelt Bridge is down to3 lanes in each direction. That means a squeeze inbound at the merge before West 14th's merge (that ramp is already closed); outbound your big merge begins at East 9th. To accomodate drivers making their way on the Innerbelt South, ODOT went ahead and closed the entrance ramps from77 North and Ontario to the Innerbelt South. You can still get on at East 9th (recently re-opened), East 26th, East 24th/Chester and Prospect. The ramp from Ontario to 77 South has also re-opened. Get used to driving on 490 & 77; if the West Shoreway is accessible consider yourself lucky.
No word on when this will completely re-open.
ODOT Issues Warning To Drivers: Be On The Lookout For Deer
Tuesday 09-30-2008 5:42am ET
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) says the Autumn season often brings the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes, and drivers need to stay alert and watch for deer-crossing warning signs to stay safe.
In 2007, there were a total of 26,304 deer-vehicle crashes, including 11 fatalities and 1,166 people injured. These numbers are down from the previous year. However, many deer-vehicle collisions go unreported to authorities, so the actual number of crashes throughout Ohio may be as high as 60,000 crashes each year.
From October to December, the number of deer-vehicle crashes spikes to as many as 4,200 incidents per month. The average number of crashes is less than half that number, or 1,500 crashes each month from January to September.
Ohio has eight million drivers, 121,000 miles of roadway and 600,000 deer. Trying to predict when and where a deer and motorist will meet is an impossible task. But drivers who understand how deer behave are more likely to avoid a crash.
ODOT advises motorists to use these driving tips to help avoid a collision with a deer:
Watch for deer-crossing signs and drive with extreme caution especially in areas where those signs are posted.
If you see a deer near the road, expect other deer will follow.
The times when deer are most likely to be on the road are dawn when 20 percent of most crashes occur and between 5 p.m. and midnight when 50 percent of the collisions occur.
After dark, use high-beams when there isn’t oncoming traffic. This will illuminate deer eyes, allowing more time for the driver to react.
Always wear safety belts, and drive at safe, sensible speeds for road conditions.
Deer make up the bulk of the 530,000 animal-related auto accidents reported in the United States annually, according to the Ohio Insurance Institute.
Courtesy of Brian Stacy, District 3 Communications
The Big Ones - Road Projects that is...
Wednesday 11-19-2008 9:51pm ET
Rt 82 to Rockside Rd (Independence, Broadview Hts, Brecksville) This is one of the longer projects planned, involving a complete recontruction and addition of a new lane for both north and south I-77. Current work is concentrated on the left side along the center median (building a gigantic concrete wall) with temporary lane closures during mid-day and overnight hours. At an estimated $86 million in costs, expect to see the orange barrels until summer of 2011.
Jennings Freeway (176) to I-77 (Brooklyn Hts & Independence) Way back in May 2006, ODOT embarked on this project of rebuilding and surfacing I-480 in both directions (east & west). Currently the Eastbound direction is COMPLETELY RE-OPENED!! But, expect additional lane closures in mid-day and late evening hours for the finishing touches. The majority of work on the westbound side is done and the project as a whole is set to wrap up in November.
Summit County Line to Rt 422 (Oakwood, Bedford, Bedford Hts, Warrensville Hts) A thorough resurfacing job is in place ripping up both sides of the east side's main north/south artery. Most of the work happens after the sun goes down, only blocking off lanes when volume is light. The northern half should be complete by the end of summer while the stretch where I-480 co-habitates will be worked on through next year.
© 2009
