Another reason to love smartphones! Four apps that help you dodge construction zones.
Road construction season is in full swing, which is a pain in the neck for anyone trying to get from A to B in a car. Luckily there are traffic navigation apps that can help you steer clear of road closures and construction zones. Here are four (in no particular order) to help make your journey faster and less stressful.
- INRIX XD Traffic Maps, Routes & Alerts
This app from INRIX XD does it all. It’ll tell you if there’s been an accident on your route, where construction zones are, and how to avoid heavy traffic from local events.
This app is the perfect tool to help plan your trip - including the best time to leave. It lets you predict your time of arrival with greater accuracy and even share your ETA with your friends and family.
The app costs you nothing and can save you big in travel time. Download it from the Apple or Google Play stores and take a look at its rave reviews from users who swear by it.
Waze is a crowdsourced navigation app that’s gained widespread popularity. Millions of Waze users provide updates on driving conditions in real time. It constantly updates as notifications come in, so it’s a powerful source of minute-to-minute traffic data.
Use the app to check out your route in advance and also get redirection advice on the fly. It offers turn-by-turn information and will help guide you away from traffic jams, construction, and congestion.
The Google Maps app is one of the most popular navigation apps by far. It uses information the real-time traffic updates from Waze (which Google also owns) to show you the fastest route. On its user friendly map, you can see areas of slow-moving traffic, and your ETA automatically updates as driving conditions change.
One way to avoid construction entirely is to take public transportation or walk. This is where Google Maps really shines - you can easily switch your view to see bus and train times as well as convenient walking routes.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Mobile 511 App
This free app from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) lets you access all the information from MnDOT’s www.511mn.org website on your mobile device.
The app features a zoomable map with clickable icons that show you traffic incidents, road conditions in winter, construction zones, and images taken by MnDOT’s freeway cameras. As an added bonus, you can access Google’s traffic data to help you estimate how long your trip will take based on current traffic conditions.
MnDOT cautions drivers not to use the app while driving - it’s meant to help you figure out your route before you start your journey.
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Construction is a necessary evil, but it doesn't have to wreck your commute. Give these apps a try, and see which one works best for you. These handy little tools are real lifesavers - how did we ever get around before they existed? And just for fun - check out our post “10 Phases of Driving Through Minnesota Road Construction [as told by GIFs].”
Image by Danny Choo via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
