In a $1.1 million traffic surveillance investment, the ACT Government is adding 40 new Bluetooth sniffers to track Canberra traffic during the construction of Light Rail Stage 2.

Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel has today announced new measures designed to mitigate ongoing disruptions caused by the construction of Stage 2, starting today with the closure of several carparks across the CBD.

Mr Steel said these measures will be used during the raising of London Circuit and additional infrastructure projects include the strengthening of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.

The ACT Government has funded new technology to be rolled out across Canberra’s traffic network that will provide motorists with real-time information via variable message signs showing the most convenient road routes.

Currently, CCTV technology and the Bluetooth sniffers monitor morning road congestion but the additional technology will provide active traffic surveillance throughout the entire day.

Bluetooth sniffers pick up on motorists’ MAC (Media Access Control) address to track their movements and travel time to help Roads ACT locate the most congestion and efficiently redirect people away from those areas.

Mr Steel insists the ACT Government does not collect any more data than is required, it is deidentified and encrypted, and deleted as soon as travel time details are received.

“The measures we are putting in place I think are reasonable, and I think Canberrans understand that, but if they don’t want their data to be picked up, their MAC address, then they can simply switch off the Bluetooth function on their device.”

He said the traffic disruption in and around the city centre is expected to last for “some years”, and the ACT Government is committed to giving Canberrans the most detailed and up-to-date information as possible.

“There is a period of disruption that’s associated with construction,” he said.

Around 600 carparks around the city have been closed today, Thursday 29 September, but Mr Steel said there are around 14,000 available carparks, so city goers will need to readjust their commuting habits or look at alternatives, like public transport.

Find updated information at Built for CBR.

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