NAVIGATION TIPS FOR USING IOWA'S 511 PHONE SERVICE
Thank you for using Iowa's 511 traveler information phone service. The following tips will help you successfully navigate through the voice-activated phone menu system. 511 is an automated system and you will interact with a computer-generated operator.
Route information on 511: The 511 system is managed by the Iowa Department of Transportation and only includes reports for interstates, US and state numbered highways within the state of Iowa – not city or county roads. If you are looking for 511 information from a nearby state, please select the third menu option, by saying "Transfer to nearby States' 511".
Getting started: Dial 511 from your landline or wireless phone (within Iowa). If you are calling from outside Iowa's coverage area or if your phone service provider does not yet participate in the 511 effort, you will need to dial 800-288-1047.
Welcome message: Once connected, you will hear a welcome message with instructions on how to proceed. If you know the request option you want, you can interrupt the welcome message with your request.
How it's organized: Below are the main menu options. Once you confirm a request, you must wait for the system operator to complete the results before asking for more information or navigating to another menu.
- Say “Traffic Events” – reports by highway number, name of city or county, or ask for a trip between two cities
- Say “Truck Restrictions” – reports including size and weight restrictions
- Say “Transfer to Nearby states’ 511” – phone numbers for surrounding states’ 511 phone systems
- Say "Feedback" – Leave feedback on the 511 phone system. This is not for emergencies or reporting traffic incidents. The feedback system is not monitored 24/7.
Return to main menu: To return to the main menu at any time during your call, simply say "main menu" and you will be taken to the main menu where you can make a selection.
Request option examples:
Say "Traffic Events"
To hear reports about a highway, city, county, or a trip between two cities. For example:
- To hear reports on a numbered highway or interstate, say "Information for I-80 West".
- To hear reports about a city, say "Tell me about traffic in Ames".
- To hear county reports, ask "What is happening in Woodbury County?"
- To hear reports for Bondurant to Marshalltown, say "Give me traffic between Bondurant and Marshalltown".
Traffic events include road closures, serious crashes, major road construction, extremely poor pavement conditions, and other events that significantly impact traffic.
Say "Truck Restrictions"
To learn about size and weight limits and reports about a highway, city, county, or a trip between two cities. For example:
- To hear size and restrictions only, say "size and weight restrictions only".
- To hear restrictions and events, say "all reports".
- To hear reports on a numbered highway or interstate, say "Information for I-80 West".
- To hear reports about a city, say "Tell me about traffic in Ames".
- To hear county reports, ask "What is happening in Woodbury County?"
- To hear reports for Bondurant to Marshalltown, say "Give me traffic between Bondurant and Marshalltown".
Traffic events include road closures, serious crashes, major road construction, extremely poor pavement conditions, and other events that significantly impact traffic.
Say "Transfer to nearby states' 511" to navigate to a nearby state's 511 phone system. The system operator will list nearby states and ask you to type or say the associated number to complete the transfer outside of Iowa's 511 phone system. Transfer options include:
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
Confirming your request: Each time you select a route number using your voice, the 511 system operator will ask you to confirm your selection by saying "yes" or "no". If you select a route number matching more than one highway (such as a state route and an interstate), the 511 system operator will ask you to confirm which route you want.
Voice-activated: You can speak to make requests while using the 511 phone system. The voice-response system uses advanced technology to interpret your commands. For example, you can request reports for the route US 30 by saying "30" or "highway 30" or "US 30". There may be some instances when the caller's speech cannot be understood. You will be returned to the main menu to try the request again. If you are having difficulties, try using the 511ia.org website or mobile app.
Lack of response: If you don't respond to the system operator or if it doesn't understand your voice commands, you will be returned to the main menu to try the request again. If you are having difficulties, try using the 511ia.org website or mobile app.
Using your wireless phone:Information regarding road and traffic conditions can be a valuable tool for travel decisions, like delaying a trip or taking another route. Motorist safety is the Iowa DOT's number one priority. The Iowa DOT encourages responsible use of your wireless phone. That means pulling off at a rest area, fueling station, restaurant, or other location to make your call. (Parking on the shoulder of an interstate highway for non-emergency purposes is illegal in Iowa.)
