NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

2011TRAN0064-000986

Aug. 13, 2011 Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

New webcams help you "know before you go"

VICTORIA - Three new web cameras in the Columbia-Kootenays have been added to the Province's DriveBC website, providing real-time coverage of highway conditions in the area and helping motorists plan a safe journey.

The Province is adding 30 new web cameras to its DriveBC network this year. Priority for new web cameras is given to routes prone to extreme weather or traffic congestion, and for sites where there is not already a nearby webcam. Highways in the Columbia-Kootenays include high mountain passes where weather can change quickly. These new webcams provide travel and weather conditions with the click of a button. This will bring the total number of web images available on DriveBC to over 200 by the end of the year.

The web cameras are live today and are located at:

* 50-Mile, Highway 23 approximately 90 kilometres north of Revelstoke:

http://prd.images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/248.html

* Coffee Creek, Highway 31 between Nelson and Kaslo:

http://prd.images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/234.html

* Eholt Summit, Highway 3 east of Greenwood:

http://prd.images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/247.html

DriveBC is the Province of B.C.'s most popular website. It provides timely road condition updates, travel advisories, road closure information for provincial highways, weather information and other important links to the travelling public, to help ensure easier, safer trips.

Quote:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom -

"These new web cameras will help travellers in the Columbia-Kootenays plan a safe and enjoyable trip and are just one of the many tools available on the DriveBC website. Real-time highway conditions, traffic, weather information and seasonal safety tips provide everything you need to know before you go."

Quick Facts:

* The Province launched the DriveBC website in 2005.

* DriveBC received an average of 2.9 million visits per month in 2010.

Learn More:

* View current webcam images on DriveBC at: www.drivebc.ca

* Get DriveBC updates on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/drivebc

Contact:

Kate Trotter

Government Communications and Public Engagement

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

250 508-5506

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect