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SALT LAKE CITY — A new emergency alert system is in place to notify Utah drivers of major traffic delays and road closures.
UDOT has launched a traffic app called UDOT Traffic, available for smartphones and tablets. The app will send messages via TravelWise to the phone or tablet. The first alert was sent Friday morning regarding road closures for the Salt Lake City Marathon.
TravelWise Alert: Salt Lake Marathon — Local road closures & heavy congestion expected Saturday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plan for delays.
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) April 19, 2013
With these new alerts, UDOT can directly communicate with drivers during at crucial times, including major traffic accidents, traffic warnings, weather-related road conditions, construction and air quality information.
"UDOT is committed to continually using innovative ways to keep traffic moving," Acting UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras said. "This new tool will help the department quickly provide critical traffic information directly to drivers and will help UDOT work in providing information as effectively as possible."
UDOT is already warning drivers of delays for Saturday's marathon in downtown Salt Lake. The delays and heavy traffic are expected from about 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Areas affected include 500 East, Van Winkle Expressway, Holladay Boulevard, and Sugar House park.
You can view the route map and road closure times here.
UDOT says the best way to get the alerts is from the UDOT Traffic app. Alerts will also be available on Twitter (@UtahDOT) and the UDOT Traffic website.