Yesterday, I was travelling West bound on I76/I70 near mile post 118.4 in Pennsylvania. Traffic stopped and after a while my phone got a message, to register at 511paconnect.com (cool this is new and helpful!)
Google maps was showing a travel delay of about 50 Minutes (it varied a few minutes over time). In reality we sat in the same place for 3 hours.
511PAConnect is a new, trapped-traveler emergency communications tool that allows incident response teams to communicate via automated phone or text message directly with motorists who are trapped in a roadway backup. The tool also gives emergency crews a clearer picture of who is sitting in a trapped vehicle and where they are, so agencies can better plan for the use of resources. Source
So I registered and went to the site for details. I received a message an hour plus later, on the phone and the web page showed that the accident (7 miles ahead) was cleared and traffic was starting to move.
Google maps showed the travel delay clearing, and for a long time while we were sitting there, it showed, the road was clear with no delays.
BUT it was another HOUR before the car in front of me moved at all. I mean really not moving. Once we started moving we travelled at 20 to 40 MPH until passing the accident (truck jackknifed) site, and to the next exit (where I got off)
Why did 511paconnect.com tell me we would be moving soon (implying minutes) when really it was still an hour delay?