Caltrans adding traffic-monitoring gear on Interstate 5, Highway 99 in Stanislaus County

The California Department of Transportation will install closed-circuit television cameras, fiber-optic cables and other equipment on Highway 99 and Interstate 5 in Stanislaus County that will provide motorists with real-time information about road conditions.

The project will cost $2.33 million, starts Monday and is expected to be completed by late winter, according to a Caltrans news release.

Motorists will be able to access the information at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. They can learn about congestion, incidents and other factors that can slow traffic. Caltrans will be able to monitor traffic volumes and speed once the project is completed.

Caltrans said the project will upgrade two critical roadways, which cover 53 miles in the county. The release said 187,000 vehicles – including 31,000 tractor-trailers – travel along Highway 99 and Interstate 5 in the county in a typical day.

Work that could affect traffic will be done primarily from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The project will require lane closures, and drivers should expect delays of 10 minutes.

The project includes installing 110 in-ground loops on the two roadways, 12 cameras and a weather station. The work will be performed by Pacific Excavation of Elk Grove.

This story was originally published March 6, 2016 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Caltrans adding traffic-monitoring gear on Interstate 5, Highway 99 in Stanislaus County."