Quick Start

Get up and running in 3 steps:

1. Get an API key

Sign up at portal.road511.com to get a free API key (14-day trial, 1,000 requests/day).

2. Make your first request

curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events?jurisdiction=WA&limit=5"

3. Parse the response

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "WA-691391",
      "type": "construction",
      "severity": "minor",
      "title": "Maintenance - US 101",
      "description": "Travelers in both directions...",
      "latitude": 46.449,
      "longitude": -123.872,
      "jurisdiction": "WA",
      "start_time": "2026-03-23T07:00:00Z"
    }
  ],
  "total": 90,
  "limit": 5,
  "has_more": true
}

Authentication

All API requests require an API key. Pass it via the X-API-Key header (recommended) or the api_key query parameter.

curl -H "X-API-Key: sk_live_abc123" https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events

curl "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events?api_key=sk_live_abc123"

Errors & Rate Limits

The API returns standard HTTP status codes. Rate limit headers are included in every response.

Events

Traffic events include incidents, construction, closures, weather alerts, restrictions, and special events across all active jurisdictions.

GET /api/v1/events

GET /api/v1/events/geojson Starter+

Same parameters as /events, returns a GeoJSON FeatureCollection. Content-Type: application/geo+json.

GET /api/v1/events/{id}

Single event by ID. Returns full event detail with metadata.

# Events near Seattle, WA
curl -H "X-API-Key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events?jurisdiction=WA&lat=47.6&lng=-122.3&radius_km=100"

import requests

resp = requests.get("https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events", params={
    "jurisdiction": "WA",
    "lat": 47.6, "lng": -122.3, "radius_km": 100
}, headers={"X-API-Key": KEY})
events = resp.json()["data"]

const res = await fetch(
  `https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events?jurisdiction=WA&lat=47.6&lng=-122.3&radius_km=100`,
  { headers: { "X-API-Key": KEY } }
);
const { data, total } = await res.json();

req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET",
    "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/events?jurisdiction=WA&lat=47.6&lng=-122.3&radius_km=100", nil)
req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", key)
resp, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)

Features

Features are non-event data: cameras, weather stations, rest areas, signs, truck parking, EV charging, and more. All types share the same endpoint — specify the type with the type parameter.

GET /api/v1/features?type=

curl -H "X-API-Key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/features?type=cameras&jurisdiction=CO&lat=39.7&lng=-104.9&radius_km=50"

GET /api/v1/features/{id}/details

Lazy-loaded detail for a single feature. Some features (map-layer compact data) only return full properties via this endpoint.

Truck Corridor Pro+

Find all truck restrictions along a route. Draws a buffered corridor between two points and returns every bridge clearance, weight restriction, truck route, and restriction that intersects it. Uses PostGIS spatial queries for accurate great-circle buffering.

GET /api/v1/truck/corridor

curl -H "X-API-Key: $KEY" \
  "https://api.road511.com/api/v1/truck/corridor?\
from_lat=47.61&from_lng=-122.33&\
to_lat=47.66&to_lng=-117.43&\
buffer_km=10"

{
  "corridor": {
    "from": [47.61, -122.33],
    "to": [47.66, -117.43],
    "buffer_km": 10,
    "distance_km": 371.2
  },
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "US-nbi-WA-531234",
      "feature_type": "bridge_clearances",
      "name": "I-90 over Snoqualmie River",
      "latitude": 47.53,
      "longitude": -121.82,
      "properties": {
        "posting_status": "open",
        "year_built": 1969,
        "_distance_km": "2.31"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "WA-cvr-R-WA-90-1",
      "feature_type": "truck_restrictions",
      "name": "Snoqualmie Pass",
      "properties": {
        "restriction": "Oversize loads require pilot car",
        "_distance_km": "0.45"
      }
    }
  ],
  "total": 142,
  "limit": 500
}

GET /api/v1/truck/corridor/geojson Pro+ GeoJSON

Same query, returns GeoJSON FeatureCollection. Use this to render corridor results directly on a Leaflet or Mapbox map.

// Render truck corridor on Leaflet map
const url = `https://api.road511.com/api/v1/truck/corridor/geojson`
  + `?from_lat=47.61&from_lng=-122.33&to_lat=47.66&to_lng=-117.43&buffer_km=10`;

fetch(url, { headers: { "X-API-Key": KEY } })
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(geojson => {
    L.geoJSON(geojson, {
      pointToLayer: (f, ll) => L.circleMarker(ll, { radius: 6 }),
      onEachFeature: (f, layer) => {
        layer.bindPopup(`<b>${f.properties.name}</b><br>${f.properties.feature_type}`);
      }
    }).addTo(map);
  });

import requests

resp = requests.get("https://api.road511.com/api/v1/truck/corridor", params={
    "from_lat": 47.61, "from_lng": -122.33,
    "to_lat": 47.66,  "to_lng": -117.43,
    "buffer_km": 10
}, headers={"X-API-Key": KEY})

for feat in resp.json()["data"]:
    if feat["feature_type"] == "bridge_clearances":
        print(f"Bridge: {feat['name']} ({feat['properties'].get('posting_status', 'unknown')})")

Analytics Pro+

Historical analytics and trends. All endpoints require Pro or Enterprise plan.

Webhooks

Subscribe to real-time event changes. When a traffic event is created, changes severity, or is archived, the API sends an HMAC-SHA256 signed POST to your webhook URL.

Payload format

{
  "event": "event.created",
  "timestamp": "2026-03-25T14:30:00Z",
  "data": {
    "id": "WA-691391",
    "type": "construction",
    "severity": "minor",
    "jurisdiction": "WA",
    "title": "Maintenance - US 101",
    "latitude": 46.449,
    "longitude": -123.872
  }
}

Verify the X-Road511-Signature header using HMAC-SHA256 with your webhook secret. Deliveries retry with exponential backoff (3 attempts).

Feature Types

Pass any of these as the type parameter to /features.

Event Types

Plans & Limits

Get Free API Key