Daily Archives: September 29, 2015

US 93 traffic switch planned for Thursday north of Wickenburg for widening project

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to make considerable progress on an improvement project to widen and upgrade a five-mile segment of US 93 between State Route 71 and State Route 89, just north of Wickenburg.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, crews are scheduled to switch both directions of traffic to the newly constructed southbound lanes. As crews make preparations for the planned traffic switch, motorists may be stopped intermittently for up to 15 minutes at a time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Oct. 1.

While one travel lane will remain open in both directions, motorists should continue to be prepared to allow 10 to 15 minutes extra travel time through this segment (mileposts 185-190).

Once the traffic switch is complete, ADOT will begin work to repave and restripe the existing northbound lanes.

ADOT began this expansion project in February to widen US 93 from two lanes to a modern, four-lane divided highway. The $12.5 million project is expected to be completed in November.

Once completed, ADOT will move one step closer to the agency’s ultimate goal of transforming the entire 200-mile stretch from Wickenburg to the Hoover Dam bypass bridge into a modern, four-lane divided highway.

Since 1998, ADOT has invested more than $350 million in projects to upgrade the US 93 corridor, which stretches from Kingman to the Nevada state line and Wickenburg to Interstate 40 (a 23-mile segment of I-40 east of Kingman connects the north and south sections of US 93).

Currently, all but 46 miles of the 200-mile drive (more than 75 percent) from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line has been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway in an effort to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area.

Rescuers Respond to Paria Canyon Twice in Two Days

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, September 27, the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a sick hiker in Paria Canyon in very close proximity to where the previously described response occurred. The DPS helicopter based in Kingman responded, located the ill hiker, and landed. The individual was flown out of the canyon and subsequently refused any medical treatment.

Yesterday at about 5:00 pm, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Kane County Utah Sheriff’s Deputy who advised of a personal locater beacon spot activation in Paria Canyon approximately 8 miles upstream from Lees Ferry. The family members of the hikers in possession of the device, indicated to investigators that the distress signal was a level 2 which indicates the individuals initiating the signal are sick or injured and need help as soon as possible.

Due to the late hour of the day, the impending darkness and the rugged terrain, an air search was conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter based in Flagstaff—instead of a ground search. The helicopter left the airport at 5:30 pm and arrived at the location where the device was activated an hour later and began an air search.

Crew members spotted the hikers approximately 1 mile downstream from the initiation point. The pilot was able to safely land the helicopter and crew members made contact with the group of hikers. According to one of the individuals, he was changing the batteries in the spot locater and accidentally activated the level 2 emergency signal. None of the party members required transport and the DPS helicopter returned to Flagstaff.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety for the availability of air rescue helicopters and crews. This vital service is extensively utilized by the Sheriff’s Office throughout Coconino County on search and rescue assignments and a wide variety of other law enforcement related missions.