Category Archives: News

US 89 south of Page repaired and open to traffic

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us89_timelapse_above_slide_julythrunov2014PHOENIX — At approximately 4:15 p.m. on March 27, US 89 south of Page was reopened to traffic for the first time following a Feb. 20, 2013, landslide that caused catastrophic damage to the roadway, requiring a 23-mile closure between the junction of State Route 98 in Page and US 89A near Bitter Springs.

In order to reopen the US 89 roadway today, the Arizona Department of Transportation completed an extensive $25 million repair, which included removing approximately one million cubic yards of rock material to realign a 1,500-foot section of roadway and construct a downslope rock buttress at the base of the Echo Cliffs to stabilize the area.

School buses from the Page Unified School District were the first vehicles to pass through the newly rebuilt roadway.

For more than two years, community members – including school children – of Bitter Springs, Marble Canyon and Cedar Ridge have used alternate routes, including the Temporary US 89 route that was opened in August 2013, to and from the Page and Lake Powell areas following the US 89 landslide.

“This is great news for those living and working in the area,” said city of Page Mayor Bill Diak. “It will shorten the commute of our school children that live below the closure by some 94 miles a day. For many of the river-related businesses, this means that their days just became more profitable. For the city of Page this means we will get our main access back. Life is good in Page and now even easier to get to. Come and enjoy!”

US 89T, which had served as the primary detour route to connect to the Page and Lake Powell areas following a $35 million project to upgrade Navajo Route 20, is expected to be relinquished to the Navajo Nation on April 17 when the State Transportation Board convenes in Phoenix. The 44-mile route was mostly a dirt road before being paved during a three-month-long project in summer 2013.

Prior to starting the US 89 landslide repair in summer 2014, ADOT had to clear several significant hurdles to keep the project moving forward. After an extensive geotechnical assessment identified the necessary repairs in July 2013, ADOT retained an engineering firm through an innovative construction delivery method (Construction Manager at Risk), which allowed the contractor to work directly with the design team and develop plans for the eventual repair. ADOT and the team also finalized all federally required environmental reviews that included cultural, biological and water quality measures, and completed plans for the required right-of-way easements with the Navajo Nation.

“The damage to the roadway looked like a scene out of a Hollywood movie and unfortunately a quick fix was not possible,” said ADOT Intermodal Transportation Division Director Steve Boschen. “From day one, we were committed to restoring mobility to the area as soon as possible with the paving of N20 (US 89T), but the real fix is now here with today’s opening.

“Reopening US 89 was the last step and with the commitment from our valued partners, including the Navajo Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Division of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and our contractors FNF Construction and Kleinfelder, we were able to expedite the US 89 repairs and reopen as soon as possible despite many challenges along the way.”

The US 89 landslide repair project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures.

McGuireville Rest Area work continues next week

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Motorists traveling on Interstate 17 need to be aware that the northbound McGuireville rest area entrance will be closed on Thursday, April 2 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. as crews work on the roadway, forcing the closure of the rest area.

Alternating lane restrictions in both directions are expected between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. between mileposts 294 and 299 starting on Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3. The rest area will remain open during construction with the exception of Thursday, April 2.

Work will be day and night on State Route 87 through the end of April

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Drivers heading northbound on State Route 87 today north of Sunflower between mileposts 223 and 229 will be shifted onto a single lane of the southbound lanes, which will become a two-lane roadway through the work zone. The traffic shift will be in effect through Wednesday, April 1 to allow crews to mill and pave the northbound lanes. Drivers northbound will be intermittently stopped starting at 5 p.m. tonight as crews relocate concrete barrier and allow for the scheduled traffic shift. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

Starting today, crews will work on a 24-hour, six days a week (Monday through Saturday) schedule through April 20 to ensure the project will be done before the Memorial Day weekend. With the exception of this weekend, crews will be working today through April 1 (Friday through Wednesday).

On April 2, the traffic will be back to one lane in each direction. As work continues, a 10-foot width restriction will be in place through April 20. Project completion is expected to be open May 15.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destinations and proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.

The $6.2 million safety improvement project, which began in October, approximately seven miles south of the State Route 188 junction, includes the reconstruction of an existing curve at milepost 227, as well as building a new northbound truck escape ramp at milepost 228. Runaway truck ramps offer an opportunity for out-of-control trucks, which may have inoperable brakes, to safely exit the highway and come to a controlled stop.

This weekend activities

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Anna's Meatloaf sandwich special. Can be ordered with Macaroni salad or other side.

Anna’s Meatloaf sandwich special. Can be ordered with Macaroni salad or other side.

All Weekend: Anna’s Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe open until 8 p.m.!
Marvelous Marv’s Private Grand Canyon Tours
Come see the bear cubs at Bearizona
The Grand Canyon Railway will be running tours to the Canyon all weekend.

Vaccine2015-03-27The vaccinate clinic at Spoiled Rotten from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Afterward you should just have time to make it to the Keyhole Sink tour. Begins at 2 p.m. Of course the Keyhole Sink isn’t going anywhere soon. But this is the last chance at a guided tour.
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Top it off with a steak dinner at the Lost Canyon Younglife camp Sunday evening. Tickets may still be available at the Cafe 326 on Route 66.

Vaccine clinic tomorrow

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WILLIAMS — The vaccine clinic by the Williams Veterinary Clinic will be held at Spoiled Rotten Pet Boutique tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Boutique is located on the east end of town at 517 E. Route 66.

The canine vaccines available will be DA2PPV (distemper and parvo) for $20, rabies $18, bordetella $18. Feline vaccines will include FVRCP (upper respiratory) for $20, $18 for rabies and $22 for FELV.

No credit cards will be accepted. Cash only. You can call 928-635-5392 for more details.

Thank you Vietnam Veterans

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vietnam-vets

Rolling Thunder Photo

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute, March 29 is Vietnam Veterans’ day. Although it is not considered a legal holiday, we should reflect this Sunday on the sacrifices that the brave men and women of America made in an unpopular war.
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We also take time to note the continuing effort of these heroes on behalf of POW/MIAs and other veterans in their Run For the Wall and Rolling Thunder events. Anyone who would like to support these events can go to the web site and make a donation or purchase their products.

Run for the Wall begins May 13 and one of the routes makes their first stop in Williams and Phoenix. They sell products on their run to help support their efforts. Anyone may purchase items or simply come by the American Legion hall and show their support.

Links:
Department of Veterans Affairs Vietnam Veterans benefit page
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall page
Vietnam Veterans of America
Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

Congressman introduced Life at Conception Act

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Alex X. Mooney, West Virginia

Alex X. Mooney, West Virginia

WASHINGTON — Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2] has introduced H.R. 816—the Life at Conception act. The act would use the 14th Amendment to guarantee the right to life at all stages of life. The bill would also prevent prosecution of a woman for the death of her unborn child.

The bill defines a human person or human being as:

…every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.

The bill provides:

However, nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

The bill is broadly defined to include cloning or any other method of fertilization which results in an embryo.

The bill, which was introduced February 9, has 82 co-sponsors and was referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice on March 16. Only one Democrat has co-sponsored the bill.

Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

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PHOENIX –– As planning for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor advances, Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski today expressed appreciation for the efforts of U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Senator Jeff Flake for their work to introduce the Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015 to Congress.

The bill formally extends Interstate 11 from Wickenburg south through the Tucson area to Nogales, Arizona. Interstate 11 had previously received a congressional designation from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act would not only formally designate I-11 across Arizona from border to border by establishing a new international trade corridor, but would also extend the interstate north through Nevada as well, with plans to ultimately connect with existing high-priority corridors to the Canadian border.

This act formalizes and reinforces ADOT’s overall concept for Interstate 11 in Arizona. ADOT, through its two-year feasibility study, which was completed last fall, focused on and supported the concept of Interstate 11 that runs border to border throughout Arizona, beginning at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and ending at the Arizona-Mexico border.

“I applaud the efforts of Senators McCain and Flake for their continued support to make Interstate 11 a reality,” said Halikowski. “As a part of ADOT’s Key Commerce Corridor plan, investment in corridors like Interstate 11 provides tremendous opportunities for Arizona to connect to other economic centers and up our game through increased trade, tourism, commerce, job growth and economic development throughout Arizona and the Intermountain West.”

The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act is also supported by Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

Other benefits of Interstate 11 include connections to major trade hubs and transcontinental roadways and railroad corridors, while improving safety and travel time along the north-south corridors of the western United States.

Last fall, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation completed an initial two-year feasibility study as the first step in the Interstate 11 process. In December, the Arizona State Transportation Board took action to approve $15 million for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which will allow ADOT to begin an environmental study in the area between Nogales and Wickenburg. The Tier 1 EIS is expected to begin later this year and is estimated to take three years to complete.

Dirt haul on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley scheduled next week

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CHINO VALLEY — Traffic on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley will be required to stop intermittently next week to allow trucks to safely cross the highway.

The hauling operation will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday, March 30 through April 2, with intermittent closures for dirt hauling. Drivers can expect minimal delays during work hours.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Upon completion of the $17 million project, ADOT will expand the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway along a five-mile segment of SR 89 (mileposts 320-325) between Road 4 South in Chino Valley and Deep Well Ranch Road in Prescott, just north of the SR 89/SR 89A junction. The project is expected to be complete by August.

ADOT urges drivers to slow down, avoid distractions during National Work Zone Awareness Week

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File photo.

File photo.

PHOENIX — It is one of the most dangerous jobs across the country, that of the highway worker. Operating close to traffic subjects highway workers to safety risks, including speeding, impaired or distracted drivers. But the Arizona Department of Transportation also points to national statistics that show most victims in work zone crashes are likely to be drivers or their passengers.

“Expect the Unexpected” is the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, which started Monday.

In 2013, the latest year for which national statistics are available, 579 people died in work zone-related crashes across the country, according to the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation. About 80 percent of those killed or injured in such crashes were drivers or their passengers.

A review of law enforcement crash reports shows 17 people were killed in Arizona work zone crashes in 2013. It was a noticeable increase over seven such fatalities in 2012 and 10 deaths in 2011.

ADOT and other U.S. transportation agencies have joined together this week to urge drivers to pay attention to signs and other warning devices, slow down and give workers plenty of space in and around work zones along highways and local roadways.

No ADOT workers have been killed in work zone crashes in recent years, and the agency wants to keep it that way.

ADOT has unveiled a new Work Zone Safety public service announcement that highlights the risks construction and maintenance crews face along highways, especially when drivers don’t heed lowered speed limits in work zones. The video shows a close call for a paving crew as a speeding recreational vehicle passes by them.

“A tragedy can occur at any moment within a work zone,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Our highway workers are somebody’s family member. We’re asking you to slow down and pay attention so those workers can make it home safely to their families at the end of the day.”