Category Archives: Arizona Department of Transportation

Lane restrictions on State Route 260 east of Cottonwood for drainage repair

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PRESCOTT – Motorists traveling on westbound State Route 260, approximately four miles east of Cottonwood at Wilbur Canyon, need to be aware that crews will begin repairs on embankments along the roadway due to recent erosion at between mileposts 209 to 210.

Work is expected to begin on Monday, Nov. 17 and will require a single lane restriction westbound only for the next three months. Work hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph 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.

Adopt a Highway program continues to keep Arizona beautiful

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PHOENIX – Nearly 7,000 miles of Arizona highways take motorists on a journey through a variety of environments, from desert landscapes to snow-covered highlands to bustling urban settings. Keeping this wide-ranging system of roadways free of litter is no easy task, yet more than 12,000 volunteers and hundreds of sponsor groups beautify Arizona’s roadways and support the efficient use of state transportation system resources.

Since its inception in 1988, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program has offered an opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to perform litter clean-up activities on two-mile sections of the state’s highway system.

Each year, Adopt a Highway volunteers typically collect around 63 tons of litter and provide ADOT with a current statewide labor value of $2.3 million. The Adopt a Highway program is active in all 15 counties in the state along approximately 2,000 miles of roadway.

More than 1,500 volunteer groups and several hundred sponsor groups collect litter. In rural areas, volunteer groups are asked to clean up their designated section of highway at least twice a year. An ADOT acknowledgement sign recognizes the volunteer group’s section after their first cleanup. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, sponsor group organizations pay an ADOT-approved professional landscaping company to remove litter on a section of freeway.

The cost to taxpayers for the program is minimal. ADOT’s costs include vests and trash bags for the volunteers, and the production of the acknowledgement signs. A single ADOT staff member is responsible for managing the statewide program with operational and permitting support by ADOT field offices.

“The Adopt a Highway program promotes civic responsibility and community engagement,” said Patricia Powers-Zermeño, Adopt a Highway program manager. “Picking up litter is a way for someone to have a positive impact on the appearance of their community with just a few hours of effort.”

It is community spirit that attracts volunteers to the Adopt a Highway program in appreciation of Arizona’s natural beauty. Ron Curtis and his family volunteer on a section of the Arizona State Highway System in the Navajo Nation. “It’s a tradition,” said Curtis. “The earth is our mother and nowadays it is up to us to take care of mother earth. It brings us together and we send a message out.”

Richard Martin rides a motorcycle and says it’s important for him to give back. “We use these highways all the time. I encourage motorcyclists to participate,” said Martin.

Barbara Ricca is a 10-year volunteer in southeastern Arizona. She likes being outdoors and began participating in the Adopt a Highway program to introduce her family to community service. “My girls are grown now, but the satisfaction of working in the community is still strong,” said Ricca. “Right before my daughter Amanda moved to Scotland last year, I asked her what she wanted to do and she said volunteer with the Adopt a Highway program one more time.”

Not only do volunteers feel a sense of satisfaction cleaning up the environment, periodically they also find some entertainment in the things they pick up along Arizona’s roadways: a metal sculpture of a roosting bat, articles of clothing from head to toe, cans of food, geocache items and sometimes small bills or coins.

Night work continues on roundabout on US 93 at Wickenburg Ranch

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Overnight work continues on US 93 north of Wickenburg through next Thursday, Nov. 20 as part of the new roundabout being constructed by the Wickenburg Ranch development.

Drivers can expect intermittent single-lane restrictions between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning tonight, and next week Monday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 20.

Flaggers will direct traffic in alternating directions using the single lane that is open and with delays of up to 15 minutes. During nighttime work hours, a 12-foot width restriction will be in effect.

To maximize resources and complete the project quickly, crews are working seven days a week with day and night work for the next three months. Work hours during the day are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a 14-foot width restriction will be in place.

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.

Overnight delays on State Route 87 north of Sunflower expected

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PHOENIX — Motorists who regularly travel overnight between Phoenix and Payson on State Route 87 are urged to plan ahead or allow extra travel time as the Arizona Department of Transportation moves into the next phase of an improvement project, approximately 7 miles north of Sunflower.

Beginning on Sunday night, Nov. 9, the highway will be restricted in both directions between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily as crews begin slope excavation work. Traffic will be stopped in both directions between mileposts 223-228 and guided through the work zone with the aid of a pilot car.

Overnight traffic restrictions from Sunday night through Friday morning between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily are expected to continue through Nov. 21.

Delays up to 30 minutes at a time are possible. A 12-foot vehicle width restriction will also be in place from mileposts 223-228.

The $6.2 million safety improvement project, which began last month 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 southbound 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.

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

ADOT nearing completion of project to display commute times on more freeway message signs in Phoenix area

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PHOENIX – Many Phoenix-area drivers have benefited from the display of commute times on freeway message boards since the Arizona Department of Transportation first introduced the program in 2008. ADOT is nearing completion of a project to add more rush-hour commute times on overhead message signs along Valley freeways.

The number of electronic message boards displaying commute times is due to increase to 76 by late this year. Since the expansion of the travel-times program in began in September, ADOT has added commute times to 34 freeway message boards, bringing the total to 65 signs that currently display the information for morning or afternoon freeway commuters.

The electronic signs provide drivers with estimated commute times to locations ahead, including major cross streets and well-known points along the freeways, such as the I-10 Deck Park Tunnel near downtown Phoenix.

Twelve of the 76 message boards will display the travel times during both the morning and afternoon rush hours.

The goal is to increase both efficiency and safety along Valley freeways, according to Reza Karimvand, an ADOT assistant state engineer.

“Having more signs showing travel time information can result in a smoother flow of traffic, since drivers have a better idea of freeway conditions up ahead,” said Karimvand. “National studies have shown that providing travel times reduces the likelihood of rear-end collisions or secondary crashes when an initial crash or other incident has occurred.”

When commute times are longer, drivers can use that information to make decisions about using alternate routes.

Five message boards also show rush-hour commute times along I-10 in Tucson.

ADOT operates a total of 193 overhead message boards along Arizona highways, including 108 in the Phoenix area and 15 in the Tucson area.

ADOT worked with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the metropolitan planning organization in the Phoenix area, in launching the commute-times program along Valley freeways six years ago.

Final pavement work on Interstate 17 south of SR 169 for the next two weeks

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The final phase of the project to repave Interstate 17 between Dugas/Orme Road and State Route 169 is scheduled 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 13.

Workers will install pavement markers on I-17 in both directions for the next two weeks and will restripe the SR 169 traffic interchange on Monday, Nov. 10.

Drivers can expect alternating lane restrictions in both directions and a 12 foot width-restriction through the work zone for the next two weeks. Minimal delays expected.

As the World Trades: Leaders to discuss Arizona’s place in global economy

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i11PHOENIX — Leaders from Arizona’s transportation, trade and commerce industries will come together with national and international business specialists next week to discuss Arizona’s stake in the global marketplace and strategies to foster international trade and economic growth.

The Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance, a partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the Arizona Commerce Authority, is hosting a steering committee meeting, followed by its second annual global trade forum on Nov. 6 in downtown Phoenix. The two events will bring together leaders from the state’s transportation and trade industries, along with business experts from the United States, Canada and Israel, with a focus on attracting international company investments and partnerships to Arizona.

Registration is still open for the event, which will be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown in the Encanto Ballroom, 340 N. Third Street in Phoenix. Visit azmc.org to register. The cost is $35 to attend. The TTCA Steering Committee meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by the As the World Trades II forum from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., then ending with a hosted reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Guest speakers include:

  • Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles
  • Kerry Dewberry, controller with Magellan Aerospace
  • Ed Hadley, southwest region president of Walton Development and Management
  • Glenn Williamson, CEO and founder of the Canada Arizona Business Council
  • Bruce Wright, associate vice president of Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona

The Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance recently completed its Roadmap, a comprehensive document designed to support moving Arizona toward a more globally competitive second century, focused on high-value trade and investment, market connectivity, and alignment of policy and actions. The Roadmap was constructed by a group of experts from the public and private sectors, brought together by Governor Jan Brewer to develop a plan to position Arizona in a fast-growing global marketplace.

The result of more than a year of work, the TTCA Roadmap makes a clear case for the need to continue to add modern and efficient transportation infrastructure to ensure Arizona’s connectivity to both domestic and global markets. This infrastructure connectivity provides the means to attract new businesses and industries, create jobs, foster trade and economic development, and secure investment and new wealth.

Safety project on SR 87 south of the SR 188 junction requires daytime lane restrictions

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As work continues on the new safety improvement project along State Route 87 approximately 14 miles south of the SR 188 junction, crews will narrow the highway to a single lane in both directions during the day for the next two weeks between mileposts 227 and 236.

Work hours are Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Drivers need to be aware of alternating daytime single-lane restrictions and some shoulder closures as crews continue to make progress on the reconstruction of the curve at milepost 227 and the building of a new northbound truck escape ramp at milepost 228. Minimal delays are expected.

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.

Beulah Boulevard/SR 89A to be closed for both directions just north of Fort Tuthill County Park to Purple Sage Trail

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Access through Beulah Boulevard/SR 89A just north of the Fort Tuthill County Park will require a temporary full roadway closure beginning at the north park entrance and continuing to Purple Sage Trail, beginning Monday, Oct 27 at 6 a.m. including nights and weekends, until Wednesday, Nov 5 at 6 p.m.

The full roadway closure will accommodate constructing a new roadway transition from the existing Beulah Boulevard /SR 89A alignment to the new roadway intersection being built at JW Powell Boulevard. This work is part of the intersection improvement project currently underway which includes a new roundabout and realignment of SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard.

During construction traffic may still enter and exit the fairgrounds at Fort Tuthill County Road, and also at Purple Sage Trail. For commuters who frequent Beulah Boulevard /SR 89A for travel, northbound traffic may exit onto I-17 from JW Powell Boulevard and take Exit 339 (Lake Mary Road). For southbound travel, traffic may exit at McConnell Drive to Milton/I-17, and take Exit 337 at JW Powell Boulevard.

I-17 southbound ramp to be closed at JW Powell Boulevard

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FLAGSTAFF – Access to the I-17 southbound off-ramp at Exit 337 (JW Powell Boulevard) will be closed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to complete preparations for new ramp construction. This work is part of the intersection improvement project currently underway which includes a new roundabout and realignment of SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard.

The recommended detour for southbound I-17 connections to the Flagstaff Airport and to SR 89A is to continue southbound on I-17 past Exit 337, then exit at Kachina Trail/Mountainaire Road (Exit 333). Detour signage will be in place to assist travel in the area.