FAQ

511 Alberta is a free traveller information service, operated by the Alberta government, that may be accessed via phone, mobile device or computer. The information covers highway conditions, roadwork, major incidents, weather alerts, availability of ferry services and waiting times at border crossings. Users within Alberta may access the information via phone toll-free by simply calling 5-1-1, similar to the way they would call 9-1-1 for emergencies or 4-1-1 for directory assistance. Computer and mobile device users may also visit the 511 Alberta web site at www.511.alberta.ca. Having both phone-in and web site components ensures 511 Alberta is available to the widest range of users. 511 Alberta is part of a North American approach to providing weather and traveller information.

Yes. All you have to do is call 511 for free, instant access or go online at 511.alberta.ca. You will also find 511 on Twitter @511Alberta

511 Alberta, which you can access by telephone, smart phone and on the Web, is the only official source of transportation information necessary to plan safe trips across Alberta. It is also the place to report weather and road conditions or an incident on Alberta’s major highways, make a comment or a complaint.

511 via the telephone will provide such information as:

• delays or detours resulting from roadwork;
• major incidents; 
• the availability of ferry services; and
• information for neighbouring provincial and state road reporting agencies

Over the telephone, you can search for information by route, road, region or hotspot. The 511 Alberta telephone service works by either voice activation or by a telephone keypad.

511.alberta.ca online or via smart phones will provide:

• traffic camera images;
• an interactive map displaying highway conditions, roadwork and events under provincial responsibility in a given region;
• links to partners' websites or information pages;
• links to Environment Canada weather and weather radar;
• links to border crossings;
• links to detailed information for national and provincial parks within Alberta;
• links to alternative fuel locations;
• status of provincially operated ferries;
• visual representation of the highway messaging sighs across the province; and
• the location of all snow plows and other maintenance equipment contracted to provide highway maintenance in the province.

You can dial toll-free 1-855-391-9743 from anywhere in North America to hear the same information as if you are dialing 511 from within Alberta.

Call 911 for any emergency.

Informing the general public is a priority for the Alberta government. Aware of potential disruptions on its road network, the Alberta government has adopted information transmission procedures and dissemination tools to reach users, road professionals and its various partners. Highway maintenance crews and others across the province regularly update the information provided through 511 Alberta.

Information concerning major events in progress on the road network and resulting in significant disruptions is updated every time new developments occur or as soon as the event ends.

Information on winter road conditions is updated at least once a day or whenever significant changes occur. The information provided reflects the current conditions on a given segment.

Information on roadwork is updated as major construction phases begin and when the work is over. Once the information is captured in the information processing systems, it is made available on 511 Alberta within 5 minutes.

The Government of Alberta has partnered with the AMA since 1927. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has always provided AMA with road reports information and later, camera access to timely photos of conditions, to help travellers plan safe trips across the province. Transitioning to the new service to become part of the North American-wide 511 road reports system, we decided together that the government was best situated to provide Albertans with this information moving forward. The new 511.Alberta.ca website now offers the timely road reports and other important travel information on a Government of Alberta website. The Government of Alberta values our 75-year plus partnership with the AMA and will continue to work with them on driver training and traffic safety initiatives.

If you are in Alberta, use of the 511 Alberta phone service is free.

Travellers using 511, Alberta’s Official Road Reports, will notice some changes in road condition descriptions. Canadian road authorities have worked together to develop a new and consistent vocabulary as part of 511 systems being implemented by jurisdictions throughout the country. You will find the complete descriptions here.

You can receive the latest information updates regarding the Alberta road network instantly and free of charge on your computer or on your smart phone. 
Register for My 511 to set up your personalized routes and alerting options. You can customize how and when you recieve your alerts and for what type of event. 

For developers, visit the API Documentation page for more information. 

Links to neighbouring road report information are on the 511 Alberta website. The 511 telephone component also provides road information contact numbers for other areas bordering Alberta.

Please contact the appropriate highway maintenance contractors in your area. Highway Maintenance Contractors

You can add the 511 Alberta button.

To embed the 511 Alberta button to your website copy the following code:

Embed Code

<a href="http://511.alberta.ca/"><img alt="511 Alberta" src="http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/images/511.jpg" /></a>