Road conditions are updated based on visual observation from MDT maintenance staff out on the road. Observed conditions are then relayed to our transportation management center staff via phone or radio, and then updated on the map and mobile app. 

Maintenance staff update road conditions as they change throughout the day, after visual observation. Staff report the predominate condition on the length of the predefined reporting segment. Additionally, every maintenance section is contacted a minimum of twice a day (Monday-Friday) to provide updated road conditions. 

If staff are not working (weekends/holidays, with limited to no weather forecasted), there will very rarely be an update to the conditions until staff are out on the road again. 

In our new system, the segment pop-up cards will display the time the conditions were last updated. The time is listed in the first sentence of the pop up card, when it says, 'conditions as of....[time] MST.' That time indicates the last time that particular segment was updated. 

Weather and highway conditions in Montana change quickly, and the reports are not intended to be real time.

For Statewide Road Conditions by telephone/cell phone please call 511 within Montana, or 800-226-7623 outside Montana

Need to contact MDT? Call 406-444-6200 M-F, 8am to 5pm or write to us anytime through our website form.

Have a question or comment about the 511 website? Click the "Contact Us" link in this widget. 

For Technical Assistance, click here

NOTE: MDT DOES NOT RECORD RWIS CAMERA OR TRAFFIC CAMERA IMAGES

For a better mobile experience, download the MT 511 App for iPhone or Android


Using the 511 Web Map Menu:



Zoom-in and Zoom-out to adjust the map view.


Map Overlays

Choose Road Conditions or Traffic Speeds.  Road conditions are identified by color and pattern.

On the mobile app pressing the KEY iconopens the legend in use.


Road Conditions:

    Unknown
    Dry/Normal
    Wet/Scattered Wet
    Slush/Scattered Slush
   Scattered Frost/Ice
    Black Ice
    Snow Covered
   Scattered Snow/Ice
    Snow Ice
    Severe Driving Conditions
    Road Closed
    Closed For Season


Traffic Speeds:

Colors indicate the percent of normal speed.

    > 80%
    60 - 80%
    40 - 60%
    < 40%


Toggle the Direction widget and Satellite View.


Direction        

   Opens the Trip Planner.

   To use "turn by turn navigation", download the app. (iOS or Android)


Satellite View 

   Turns Satellite View on or off.


Travel Alerts

Travel alerts include layers for Construction, Restrictions and Incidents & Events.

Toggle the Construction or Restriction layer on or off by selecting the checkbox beside the layer.

The Incidents & Events checkbox toggles all of these layers:

 Incidents
 Local Emergencies
 Fires
 Road Closure
 Events
 Crashes
 Chains Required
 High Winds
 Falling Rocks

Weather

Use the weather option to overlay the map with precipitation, air temperature or wind speed. This menu option also features the RWIS Cameras to enable road weather camera and additional sensors data. Sensor data for the sensor you select in the RWIS section will appear embedded in the cloud icon on the map.  Air Temperature is the default data selected.


Map icon showing RWIS Air Temperature and indication of RWIS Camera


Travel Information

Enable additional map layers including other state/province cameras and helpful travel information.

 Other Cameras
 Message Signs
 Rest Areas
 Ports of Entry
 Neighboring States 511
 Snow Plows
 Parks/Beaches/Museums



Access Travel Information Reports: