Odd behavior on I-70W

by **ozguy** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:32 am

There is a section on I-70 Westbound, just before Rostraver Road that looks normal on the map, but when you drive it, Waze suddenly shows your car sliding sideways (like if you drive down a street that Waze thinks is one-way on the opposite direction).

Below is the permalink for the section:
https://www.waze.com/editor/?zoom=3&lat ... TTTTTTTTFT

If starts happening approximately mid way between the 2 exits shown on the map (the very middle of the screen), just after the bend, and stops about 50 yards before the exit ramp on the left of the screen. There is no junction at that point in the road, so I am a bit baffled as to the cause.

I can only guess that maybe the satellite image that the waze map is traced over isn't lining up with the actual roadway, so maybe it thinks you are momentarily driving on the wrong side of the freeway?

I have driven the route many times, and it always happens, but every time I look at the map, I can't tell why. HELP. Note: That section of I-70 is locked.

by **rleejr79** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:54 am

I noticed this as well, as I travel that road once and a while. I thought it was a bug with Waze on my phone, not a mapping issue. Since you experienced it as well, something must be up. I can unlock it and take a stab at fixing it, but I don't want to step on any toes. I will toss mapcat a PM and ask him to chime in as he was last to edit. Is there a lane shift here with construction or is that further down toward Washington that I am thinking about?

by **jondrush** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 1:15 pm

I usually see that behavior when you are going the wrong way down a one-way road. Everything looks normal to me.

by **ozguy** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:29 pm

No there has not been any road work on that section of i70 for quite a while.

I drove it again today. It appears that I was correct. It does show me driving on the wrong side of the road momentarily, right after the bend.

So I believe the solution would be to move the eastbound lane slightly southwards to give more separation between the two directions.

The effect only occurs for about 100 yards, not quite as far as I thought previously.

by **gettingthere** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:56 am

It could be weak gps signal on your smartphone in that specific area.

by **ozguy** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:17 am

I wouldn't think so. There is only a low hill to the north of the freeway. It doesn't display the GPS signal lost message. I have had it happen on 3 different phones (LG Optimus, Droid Incredible, and Droid Bionic). It happens every time, not just occasionally.

One would think that Waze would apply some logic and make an educated assumption that a vehicle is generally going to continue in the same direction it was heading, on the same road (especially if there was no abrupt change in speed).

I see someone yesterday reported wrong driving directions because Waze thought they were in the eastbound lanes.

by **ozguy** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:54 am

Different issue, but same general area....
Can someone please fix the locked westbound ramp shown by the map issue here so that Waze does not try to route you onto the wrong ramp.
That ramp on the left side of SR-51 should be blocked if you are travelling north on SR-51. That should then cause Waze to route to the correct ramp.
https://www.waze.com/editor/?zoom=4&lat ... TTTTTTTTFT

by **Spil** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:34 am

ozguy wrote:Different issue, but same general area....
Can someone please fix the locked westbound ramp shown by the map issue here so that Waze does not try to route you onto the wrong ramp.
That ramp on the left side of SR-51 should be blocked if you are travelling north on SR-51. That should then cause Waze to route to the correct ramp.
https://www.waze.com/editor/?zoom=4&lat ... TTTTTTTTFT

Corrected that and a few other turn restrictions that should have been turned off, should be better after the next update.

by **gettingthere** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:20 pm

ozguy wrote:I wouldn't think so. There is only a low hill to the north of the freeway. It doesn't display the GPS signal lost message. I have had it happen on 3 different phones (LG Optimus, Droid Incredible, and Droid Bionic). It happens every time, not just occasionally.

Exactly why I think it's poor GPS reception in that area. Happens every time on multiple devices. The SmartPhones may not update the GPS reception data instantly on the display. If the GPS is only lost for a few seconds you would not even know.

There are several places on my regular commute where GPS reception is lost for a couple of seconds and the results are the same in regards to my Waze route and GPS tracks in the editor.

by **ozguy** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:29 am

What is really odd is that when I look at my recent drive traces, it shows me on the correct side of the road (Westbound). Almost perfectly tracing right over the road, until just before the Rostraver Rd ramp, at which point it shows me on the Eastbound side.

The point where it shows me on the wrong side of the road is actually AFTER the point at which Waze goes back to normal.

I looked at the street view on Google Maps to see what the terrain is like. There is a clear view of the sky West, East, and South. North has a grove of trees along the side of the road, and you can still see sky through the trees, so no mountain behind. I don't see why there would be any problem getting a good GPS fix there. Phones are mounted on a windshield mount.

Must be a mystery spot.