IDOT upgrades popular travel website

Getting Around Illinois redesign debuts for winter driving season

[January 17, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- The latest on winter driving conditions, ongoing road construction, traffic volumes on state routes and the status of future projects is more accessible than ever on the new and improved www.gettingaroundillinois.com, unveiled by Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.

"The Illinois Department of Transportation strives to provide the best in customer service," Hannig said. "The relaunched Getting Around Illinois site makes it easier than ever for the public to tap into a wealth of travel information compiled by IDOT staff."

The site, featuring an interactive, multilayered map of Illinois, pulls together information from a variety of IDOT bureaus. A couple of mouse clicks is all it takes to find updated construction information, average daily traffic counts and projects contained in IDOT’s multiyear plans. Users also can map their trips to include stops at various points of interest across the state, including gas stations, restaurants, hotels, schools, government offices and museums.

Since its inception five years ago, www.gettingaroundillinois.com remains a mainstay with travelers and weather forecasters for its road conditions updated every 10 minutes. During the winter, the site receives an average of 50,000 hits a month.

The redesign incorporates a modernized map, highlighted by new aerial imagery and expanded points of interest. In addition, the site offers improved access to data critical for the commercial trucking industry, such as information about weight restrictions on local roads and bridges.

The revisions to the site were developed by IDOT and GIS Solutions in Springfield using popular mainstream technologies, such as Microsoft Silverlight, ESRI ArcGIS Server, Navteq and Map Tips. For a look at some of the new features you’ll find, check out this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZxhjpYN_9Q.

[Text from news release from the Illinois Department of Transportation]