Special to the
Opelika Observer
Road closures because of maintenance, upgrades or troubleshooting of Opelika Utilities’ water distribution system are now being posted through a new automated notification system through Twitter.
According to Alan Lee, capital projects manager for Opelika Utilities, “We will specifically generate notifications internally based on highly targeted GIS programs. They will automatically be distributed through Twitter (Opelika Utilities @OpelikaWater) and Opelika Utilities’ website www.owwb.com.
Newspapers, the city of Opelika and other media outlets will be able to capture and send out closure information from the new system.
On planned outages for maintenance and improvements, notices will be sent as far in advance as possible and again when the project is completed.”
The system not only shows a closure but also the reason for closure, any detours, a map of the affected area and anticipated date of completion. It also allows customers to drill down into very specific information, should it be needed. A tweet will follow when the project is completed, roads re-opened and water service restored.
Road closure notification is part of Opelika Utilities’ ESRI GIS system, which is one of the most advanced system is and a prototype for others across the country. Customers should follow Opelika Utilities on Twitter (@OpelikaWater) to get the most immediate notification.