Traffic cameras could've helped warn drivers about construction delays yesterday

They’re abundant in Southern and Eastern Ontario and now traffic cameras are making their way to the region.

However, there’s none in or approaching the City of North Bay.

511on.ca shows three traffic cameras in the area, on Hwy 17 East in Mattawa, Hwy 11 in Trout Creek and Hwy 17 West at the Sturgeon River Bridge.

Some listeners reported 45 minute delays with yesterday’s construction merging traffic into one lane at Seymour and the Bypass.

Northbound vehicles were lined up for a few kilometres south of the Stockfish overpass.

Although there are construction notifications on the 511 website, traffic cameras could’ve provided drivers with an early warning to choose an alternate route.

The City of North Bay, meantime, has a Lake Nipissing ‘Bay-Cam‘ on their website.

MTO Officials say the area cameras are actually road condition monitoring cameras tied to Ontario 511 and are not designed to collect traffic data.

They also say there are currently no plans to install road condition monitoring cameras on Highway 11/17 within the City of North Bay.

(Screen grab of 511on.ca)