Real time closures

Roads may be partially or completely closed in one or both directions for multiple reasons:

• Road construction
• Natural disasters
• Local events

Also these instances may close a road for a few hours, days, weeks, and even years. Depending upon how long the road will be closed will determine what method us used to update the map.

Hours, days, weeks

If the road is affected for only a few hours or even a few weeks then use the Report > Closure feature in the Waze client application. Note this requires a person be physically located at the point of the road closure to report it in the client application.

Weeks, months, years

When the road is closed for longer term construction or other issues, it is best to modify the map directly. See the article on Road Construction for information on how to rename the affected road segments during the construction.

Daily for certain times

If the road is closed every day or numerous days for a certain time of day, the proper solution will require time-based turn restrictions which are not currently supported. In that case it is best to leave the road unmodified and let local drivers approach the area and follow the local detour signs during those times. Waze navigation will update their route after they alter their direction.

NOTES for all durations

The current time frame for map tile generation is every day on all map infrastructures. Due to when the map update cycle starts, road closures and openings should be saved in the editor two days prior to the event.

• Don't forget to edit the map back when the road partially or completely reopens.
• If a road is closed, it is recommended to disconnect the section of road that is closed. Changing the road direction to "Unknown" will not prevent routing on the road since this means to Waze that it should analyze drives along this segment and change the road direction automatically. This setting will allow Waze to create routes along the road as if it were a 2-way segment.
• If one direction of a road is closed, change the road direction to "One-Way" and also put a turn restriction as appropriate on junctions with the road.
• There is no need to edit the map for lane closures.
• If the road is slower than usual, Waze will learn the average road speed has fallen and make automatic road reports
• If there is an official detour route, Waze will learn about it as you drive it
• You should check all surrounding roads are mapped properly and have correct directionality and connectivity so that Waze can find the best detour.