WV Department of Transportation Using Social Media To Keep Publi - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Many of us get alerts about breaking news or random thoughts through social media.

Now the West Virginia Department of Transportation has merged onto the information highway.

By using tools like Facebook and Twitter, the DOT said its keeping the public informed. 

"That is our job to keep the traveling public safe so of course, we're putting out road closures or if they're going to be delays we're going to let people know, anything weather related, people have enjoyed that kinda of stuff," said Carrie Byle, DOT's communications specialist.

Set up last year, it didn't have many followers, but over time DOT's Twitter and Facebook pages have increased with more than 600 followers on Twitter and 129 on Facebook.

 "If we can get something out immediate in 149 characters on Twitter and keep updating constantly that's the way we want to go right now, but we're always going to need what we've always done, but its great to have these avenues of social media to get the message out a little faster," said Byle.

Byle said the DOT sends out many alerts about accidents and construction projects. We found one post about paving work being done along Route 33 between Buckhannon and Elkins, and sure enough the work was being done where the DOT said it was.

 "It's a whole other thing to tell people what we do, but when they can see something and we're making a difference that's what really matters," said Byle.

The DOT also has videos on You Tube, and by this fall or next summer it hopes to begin its new 511 traffic alert system.