Smart traffic lights and live streaming cameras

The Alaskan Way Viaduct closes tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 21) for nine days. To help motorists get around during the construction work, the city of Seattle's Department of Transportation is trying two new innovations: live streaming traffic cameras and technology that not only senses traffic conditions, but automatically adjusts red lights to move things along.

This is an important innovation that other cities – and the state – should look at. Building new highways and bridges is incredibly expensive, both on the state and local level.

Because our state is growing, we need to keep working to serve more citizens trying to get to work or the grocery store – and businesses getting goods to market.

Yet building new highways and bridges is incredibly expensive. New technology and innovations like this, on the other hand, are relatively cheap solutions.

Here's a recent news story from KING 5 on the new live streaming cameras.

Click here for more information on the Viaduct project.