Category Archives: Arizona Department of Transportation

Taxpayer money recovered through ADOT’s Insurance Recovery Unit

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PHOENIX — During the past 12 months, the Arizona Department of Transportation has recouped more than $3 million in damage to the state highway system, saving taxpayers from bearing the cost of repairs.

ADOT accomplishes this through its Insurance Recovery Unit that is made up of professionals with an insurance-industry background. These professionals reach out to the party responsible for damaging a highway component as well as the party’s insurance carrier to recover the repair costs, which include labor, equipment and materials. This money goes back into the state highway fund.

The Insurance Recovery Unit processed nearly 1,400 claims over the past 12 months.

“Insurance recovery aids us in being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Ted Howard, safety and risk management director. “This unit helps save taxpayers millions of dollars each year by holding the person who damages state property accountable for the cost of repairs.”

The recovery process begins when law enforcement responds to an incident where guardrail, a bridge or some component of the highway system was damaged. The officer will mark the damaged item with a sticker that has the police report number on it. ADOT maintenance is then notified of the damage and makes the repair. A member of the Insurance Recovery Unit will utilize the police report to contact the party that caused the damage or their insurance company to file a claim.

Since 2009, ADOT has processed more than 9,500 claims.

SR 89A reduced to one lane through switchbacks

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will close one lane of State Route 89A through the switchbacks at milepost 389 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 14, to complete repairs to roadway damage caused by recent weather events.

Traffic delays may occur during construction with traffic reduced to one lane. There will be directional signage and flaggers present during construction. ADOT advises motorists to be alert for construction equipment and personnel, and to proceed through the work zone with caution.

ADOT postpones early opening of new ramp at I-10/Loop 303 interchange this weekend

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PHOENIX – The planned early opening of one of the ramps that will soon connect Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in the West Valley will not take place this weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT has decided to postpone opening the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 until overhead lighting is in place for all four of the ramps that will connect the two freeways.

Plans had called for crews to open the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 ahead of schedule to reduce the amount of traffic using the construction detour route along McDowell Road and Cotton Lane.

The new ramp and three others at the I-10/Loop 303 interchange will instead open on schedule in September.

Work on the $145 million interchange connecting I-10 and Loop 303 began in November 2011.

ADOT MVD receives award for self-service kiosks

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PHOENIX – When the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division launched ServiceArizona.com in 1997, it was the nation’s first motor vehicle division online service for vehicle registrations.

Over the years, continual technological enhancements and the addition of multiple customer service features allow the website to handle more than eight million MVD-related transactions per year. In recognition of the most recent improvements, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators recently presented ADOT with a 2014 Public Affairs and Consumer Education (PACE) Award for the installation of self-service, touch-screen kiosks, which perform ServiceArizona transactions, in more than half of the statewide MVD offices.

“These kiosks allow customers to quickly and efficiently complete their transactions in an MVD office and we’re pleased that thousands are doing so each week,” said Stacey Stanton, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division.

In 2013, ServiceArizona.com was redesigned to enhance the browsing experience and to improve the capabilities of the website. In addition, many of the features available on the full-service website were made available on kiosks located in MVD offices.

Two types of kiosks were developed. The EXPRESS Registration Renewal kiosk is programmed for registration renewals only and the EXPRESS MVD Services features registration renewals in addition to 19 other transactions, including address changes, voter registration and temporary vehicle permits. Most of the larger MVD offices are equipped with both kiosks.

ADOT MVD offices conduct an average of 14,000 kiosk transactions each month.

The self-service kiosks were implemented to allow more customers in MVD field offices the opportunity to conduct transactions on their own without assistance from customer service representatives. By introducing customers to the time-saving benefits of the new touch-screen kiosks, ADOT hoped more customers would be encouraged to conduct future transactions online at ServiceArizona.com.

The PACE Awards program recognizes public relations, public affairs and consumer education excellence among the motor vehicle, law enforcement and traffic safety agencies across North America. The awards acknowledge creativity, cost effectiveness and the ability to reach consumers with a well-crafted, measured and executed message.

ADOT prepares for early opening of first ramp at I-10/Loop 303 interchange in Goodyear this weekend

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ADOT Photo

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adot-logo3PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is ready to open the first of four ramps at the freeway-to-freeway traffic interchange that will connect Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear.

The elevated ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound Loop 303, which rises more than 70 feet above ground at its highest point, will open to traffic this weekend while crews continue their work to complete the remainder of the $145 million interchange project on schedule in September.

ADOT’s project team has been planning to open the first ramp at the interchange as soon as possible to reduce the amount of eastbound I-10 traffic, including commercial trucks, using the current Cotton Lane connection to northbound Loop 303 at Thomas Road.

When the new ramp opens, eastbound I-10 drivers will have a direct connection to northbound Loop 303, and will not have to exit at Citrus Road and use local streets, including Cotton Lane north of McDowell Road.

To allow crews to finish adding lane markings for the new ramp, eastbound I-10 will be narrowed to one lane overnight between Perryville and Citrus roads from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday (July 12). The eastbound I-10 exit ramp at Citrus Road also will be closed. Eastbound I-10 drivers should allow extra travel time while the overnight restriction is in place.

The new ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound Loop 303 is expected to open to traffic by Saturday afternoon.

Completion of the I-10/Loop 303 interchange project by this fall will conclude ADOT’s series of five major projects that began in 2011 to improve Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway between I-10 in Goodyear and Grand Avenue (US 60) in Surprise.

The I-10 and Loop 303 improvement projects in the West Valley are funded as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by county voters in 2004. Projects are paid for with a countywide half-cent sales tax for transportation as well as the MAG region’s share of federal funds.

Guardrail repair on northbound I-17 next week

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adot-logo-03aThe Arizona Department of Transportation will repair damaged guardrail along a 17-mile stretch of northbound Interstate 17 (mileposts 243 to 260), from north of Rock Springs to just north of the Bloody Basin bridge starting Monday, July 14 through Thursday, July 17.

Work hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily with alternating lane restrictions during work hours to provide a safe work zone for maintenance crews. Drivers can expect minimal delays.

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

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

Pavement work on I-17 south of SR 169 continues next week

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adot-logo3Overnight paving work will continue on northbound Interstate 17 between the Dugas/Orme exit and the State Route 169 junction (mileposts 268 to 278) starting Sunday, July 13 through Wednesday, July 17 between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. each night.

During work hours, drivers can expect a single lane restriction on northbound I-17.

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.

Heavy traffic expected on Interstate 15 during Independence Day holiday

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adot-logo3PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation will lift some of the traffic restrictions on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge prior to the Independence Day holiday weekend (July 4-6), but is advising motorists to expect additional traffic through the weekend and be aware of the existing work zones.

With limited alternate routes available due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT is urging drivers traveling between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, to plan ahead for possible delays in both directions through the work zones due to heavier traffic volume throughout the holiday weekend.

Considerable progress has been made to date on ADOT’s multiple bridge projects along Arizona’s I-15 corridor. The $2.8 million improvement project to upgrade the surfaces of Bridge No. 3 and No. 7 (mileposts 13 and 22) is nearly complete. One traffic restriction remains on the northbound side of Bridge No. 3, which is narrowed to one lane through the work zone.

The $27 million project to reconstruct Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16), located approximately 20 miles south of St. George, is also ongoing and the highway is currently narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in 2016. This significant project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.

ADOT makes switch to online surplus equipment auctions

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adot-logo-03aPHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is trading in the auctioneer’s gavel for the computer mouse in making the switch to more convenient online auctions of the agency’s surplus vehicles and other equipment starting Tuesday, July 1.

The use of online auctions means ADOT’s used vehicles, older construction equipment and other surplus items will be put up for bid more frequently as they become available throughout the year. Until now, ADOT has held a public auction one or two times a year at an agency equipment yard in Phoenix.

Potential bidders will need to register online for free at publicsurplus.com where they will select Arizona as the region and Arizona Department of Transportation as the participating agency. Discover, MasterCard and VISA credit cards will also now be accepted as payment options.

ADOT’s first online auction items are scheduled to be available for bid starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Online auctions will typically run for 14 days.

Full descriptions of each item, along with photos and disclosures of any known issues, will be provided on the auction website.

Potential bidders also will be able to schedule an appointment to inspect items during each auction period by contacting ADOT Fleet Management. Information on how to schedule an appointment will be listed on the auction website.

Winning bidders of items will receive an email notification and then have five days to pay for the items and pick them up at the ADOT Equipment Services Yard, 2225 S. 22nd Ave., Phoenix.

Bidders should be aware that any ADOT vehicles and equipment will be auctioned and sold on an “as-is” basis.