I have a few things I’ve noticed.
If I drive the same unmapped road 100 times, why does it not show up on the map ? This is rhetorical, it should. At the very least if Waze notices a trend of driving a particular unmapped road, it should place down cookie crumbs and then render it into an unnamed road.
If I report an unmapped road with the little bulldozer tool within the app, after finishing, the app should allow me to name it and assign some values such as private, dirt, paved, 2 lane, etc, from within the app.
I’d LOVE to contribute an entire network of publicly accessible roads in Northern Alberta that don’t exist on the waze map, but after a 20 hour work day and 5 hours to sleep, I’m not going to log onto a map editor which slows my chromebook to a crawl.
Hi TheRealJCole,
Waze will not draw roads automatically. It is up to map editors (who are users like yourself) to do this. The pave feature is useful for marking exactly where new roads are so that they can be added properly in the map editor by you or another editor. If you can supply a Permalink (https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Waze_Map_Editor/Permalink) to where you are driving, it will be easier for someone to help you add the roads. I don’t have editing rights in Alberta, but if no one chimes in here, I suggest to send a PM (private message) to an appropriate area manager here: https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Canada#Area.2FCountry_Managers who can get things fixed up.
Thanks for helping to make Waze better.
Let us know which areas in Alberta you’re interested in. I travel a fair bit and don’t mind making a detour to help pave roads.
Qaz, I appreciate the response, however I feel the current method for adding roads is cumbersome. Perhaps there are reasons why adding a road from the app itself is a bad idea, but Waze would be more accessible to more people if they could create proper roads all within the app.
There has to be some control to ensure the road is set up properly. If you want to add a simple road you paved, it is not hard to finish it in the map editor. Granted, most may not be inclined to do that but there are editors here willing to lend a hand.
A problem you may face is that Waze editors and users tend to congregate in cities so your unfinished paved roads may not capture the notice of random editors either. Again, I suggest to send a PM (private message) to one of the local area managers listed here:
https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Canada#Area.2FCountry_Managers
They should be able to help you get your roads mapped now that you’re back.
OK so I added the Willie road a few days ago off hwy 40 about 75km south of GP city limits. Didn’t see an update for a few days then tonight I got to the road and noticed cookie crumbs. I assume this is normal behaviour ? Sort of a last double check of GPS/vectors I assume ?
You’ll have to send a Permalink so other editors can find the exact location.
https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Waze_Map_Editor/Permalink
Sounds like what you’re seeing with “cookie crumbs” are new roads that have not yet been confirmed. Drive down these roads and the car icon on your mobile device will turn into a Pac Man. Once the crumbs are munched, Waze will see this as a confirmed path.
Oops, I guess bread crumbs is the right term.
Another question with the editor; Is there a way to quickly find roads I have paved ? If I click on a drive, it doesn’t allow me to zoom out far enough to find the road. It would be nice if the map editor had a list of paved roads I’ve submitted. Especially if it’s been a few days since I paved the road, and don’t remember which day it was.
On the upside, contributing to the map is very cool.
If you click on the “Drives” tab on the left of the editor, it will show you where you’ve been. Selecting “editable areas” on the top right will also help.
I looked at the road you added.
https://www.waze.com/editor/?env=usa&lon=-118.71007&lat=54.53208&layers=2533&zoom=5&segments=501827176&problemsFilter=false&update_requestsFilter=true&mapProblemFilter=0&mapUpdateRequestFilter=0&venueFilter=0
Be sure to click on all segments and fix all the “red” turn restrictions and road directions or else it won’t be navigable. I highlighted one in the Permalink. Also, be sure to be familiar with the editor guide and especially the new user part.
https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Waze_Map_Editor
As well, feel free to ask questions to make sure the map is in top condition.
Please also be sure to indicate whether it’s a one-way or two-way road. Further west you have it connecting to two one-way roads. (Willie Road as well as Pad #19 road.)
Permalink
As well it would be handy to add names to the places you’ve added, so that drivers can find them. The Places Wiki has some great detail and info on what should be added. 
Cheers!