Tag Archives: ADOT

Flagstaff to host second public hearing for ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Program

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FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to gather comments for its proposed Five-Year Construction Program by reaching out to all members of the public and communities statewide for their input on which projects should move forward over the next few years.

The second public hearing for the 2018-2022 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, April 21, at the Coconino County Administration Building, first floor board meeting room, 219 E. Cherry Ave., Flagstaff, 86001. The monthly State Transportation Board meeting will follow.

In its Tentative Program, ADOT proposes accelerating some key expansion projects for Greater Arizona because of federal funding increases, grants and state budget appropriations. They include:

  • two Interstate 10 widening projects in Pinal County (State Route 87 to Picacho and Earley Road to Interstate 8), now accelerated to fiscal year 2018 due in part to a $54 million federal FASTLANE grant;
  • the first phase of a project to improve State Route 189 in Nogales between the Mariposa Port of Entry and Interstate 19, now planned for fiscal year 2019 because of a $25 million state budget appropriation aimed at accelerating the project;
  • two major widening projects along US 93 in fiscal years 2018 and 2020 that will bring ADOT closer to its goal of completing a four-lane divided highway from Wickenburg to Interstate 40, laying the groundwork for the proposed Interstate 11;
  • widening Interstate 17 in areas between Anthem and Sunset Point in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, with specific areas and projects still under study.

These are just some of the projects that are included in the 2018-2022 Tentative Program. The complete report is available at azdot.gov for review and comment until May 30.

Many of the major projects in this Tentative Program focus on improving some of Arizona’s busiest corridors. Better mobility means better daily commutes and travel for everyone. Improved roads also enhance freight movement, trade, commerce and economic development, all of which benefit the quality of life statewide.

ADOT is also committed to protecting Arizona’s nearly $21 billion investment in the state highway system through dedicated preservation funding. This Five-Year Program meets ADOT’s target of $260 million per year for preservation. Projects like repaving highways, repairing or reconstructing bridges and projects to extend the life of existing pavement all help to preserve the highway system and keep it functioning as it should.

The public comment period for the 2018-2022 Tentative Program began on March 17. It includes public hearings in Tucson (March 17), Flagstaff (April 21) and Phoenix (May 19). The State Transportation Board will make its final decision in June about what will be in the updated Five-Year Program.

The Tentative Program is available for public review and comment at azdot.gov/FiveYearPlan, where a “how to read it” guide is available. ADOT welcomes feedback through Survey Monkey at surveymonkey.com/r/M36583J, by email at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov and by calling 855.712.8530. The comment period ends at 5 p.m. on May 30.

Following are details about the two remaining public hearings and the State Transportation Board’s June meeting where the final Five-Year Program is expected to be approved:

April 21 at 9 a.m.: Public hearing and State Transportation Board meeting at the Coconino County Administration Building, first floor board meeting room, 219 E. Cherry Ave., Flagstaff.

May 19 at 9 a.m.: Public hearing and State Transportation Board meeting in the ADOT Administration Building Auditorium, 206 S. 17th Ave., Phoenix.

June 16 at 9 a.m.: State Transportation Board meeting in Payson. Meeting details will be announced when finalized.

Visit the Tentative Five-Year Program website at azdot.gov/fiveyearplan for more information.

ADOT improving Twin Arrows interchange along I-40 east of Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – An Arizona Department of Transportation project underway at the Twin Arrows interchange along Interstate 40 just east of Flagstaff will improve access for drivers.

The $4.5 million project between mileposts 218 and 220 will create new eastbound off- and on-ramps, and improve the bridge structure with new girders, wider abutments, a widened and repaved deck, and new safety barriers.

I-40 drivers will encounter a lane restriction in both directions at the interchange as work continues. Access to Twin Arrows Road and I-40 will be maintained, though occasional detours can be expected. Work is expected to be complete by fall.

Maricopa police train using home acquired for SR 347 project

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MARICOPA – While Lt. Mike Campbell hopes Maricopa Police Department officers never need to enter a home to remove a barricaded suspect, a partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation has helped them prepare, just in case.

With ADOT preparing to build a bridge carrying State Route 347 over the Union Pacific Railroad, officers have been able to train twice in a house acquired on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The home eventually will be demolished to make way for a new alignment of Plainview Street that will connect Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway to Honeycutt Road and SR 347.

Campbell said the partnership ensures that the department’s Special Response Team has the opportunity to train for potentially life-or-death situations. That included practicing how to enter a home with a dangerous suspect inside, breaking down doors and methodically working their way through the building.

“There are very few opportunities for us to train for these rare but dangerous situations,” Campbell said. “Every time our officers can experience the challenges that come with entering a building in a hostile situation means we can do a better job if this kind of situation arises. This makes our officers better at their jobs and it makes Maricopa a safer place for our residents.”

ADOT has a 25-year tradition of working with first responders to provide real-world training opportunities in the controlled environment of vacant buildings. Training collaborations like the one that took place this month in Maricopa date back to construction of State Route 51 in the early 1990s.

Just last summer, ADOT-acquired properties along the route of the South Mountain Freeway were used to train fire and law enforcement officers from more than a dozen agencies. That included SWAT teams using homes to practice responding to hostage situations and the Phoenix Fire Department, which trained 48 ladder companies and scores of new recruits.

ADOT works side-by-side with emergency responders every day, said Brian Rockwell, ADOT assistant chief right of way agent.

“Police officers willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect all of us in dangerous situations,” Rockwell said. “When we have the opportunity to help them train, as we did here, we’re not only happy to do that but we consider it part of our service to the community.”

Construction of the SR 347 bridge begins this fall. The two-year, $55 million project will carry traffic over the railroad tracks on a path just east of the current SR 347. It will alleviate congestion on a road that is expected to see traffic double to more than 60,000 vehicles a day by 2040 and save drivers the time of waiting for trains to cross the highway. The area now sees 40-60 trains a day, a number that is expected to reach 100 daily in the next 20 years.

Avoid a line and print that annual off-highway road vehicle decal at an MVD kiosk

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PHOENIX – Just in time for spring, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has added a new feature to its self-serve kiosks. For the first time, customers can use a ServiceArizona kiosk to print the annual off-highway vehicle (OHV) decal, eliminating the need to wait in line.

“Off-highway vehicles are very popular in Arizona, and the law requires that owners renew their decals every year,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “Rather than make people wait in line to get this credential, we expanded this service to kiosks located at many MVD offices as well as court buildings in a number of communities throughout the state. This is another way MVD is getting people out of line and safely on the road ‒ or, in this case, off-road.”

OHVs made primarily for use over unimproved terrain and weighing 1,800 pounds or less are required by law to display a valid OHV decal, which costs $25 and must be purchased annually. This includes “street legal” vehicles that meet those requirements. Getting the decal isn’t to be confused with registering the vehicle, which is required only for those OHVs that are meant to be street legal.

While OHV decals and registration are handled by the Motor Vehicle Division, renewal notices are sent by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information, please visit azgfd.com/OHV.

In fiscal year 2016, nearly 86,000 decals were issued. Thirty percent of the funds collected go into the state’s Highway User Revenue Fund, which is distributed to counties and cities for road and highway maintenance.

The remaining funds are split as follows:

· 60 percent to Arizona State Parks for grants, agreements, trail construction, development and maintenance, signage and maps
· 35 percent to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for law enforcement education and outreach
· 5 percent to the Arizona State Land Department for mitigation signage and enforcement

For an interactive map showing court and MVD office locations with self-serve kiosks, please visit azdot.gov/MVD and click the Hours and Locations link under MVD Services.

ADOT set to reopen routes to lakes in White Mountains

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PHOENIX – After a long winter’s nap, three state highways to lakes in the White Mountains are scheduled to reopen Thursday, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

They are State Route 261 between Eagar and Big Lake; State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake; and State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake.

Another highway that closes for the winter, State Route 67, leading to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, is anticipated to reopen in mid-May.

Before heading off to enjoy the mountains, motorists should do the following:

  • Make sure all occupants in a vehicle are buckled in.
  • Check tire pressure, fluids and more to make sure a vehicle is in proper running condition.
  • Be patient, including not following other vehicles too closely and building in extra travel time.
  • Get enough sleep before the trip.
  • Bring extra water and food.
  • Never drink and drive.
  • Check for information about highway restrictions and more by visiting az511.gov, calling 511 or following ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).

ADOT kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week

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PHOENIX – Give’em a brake, Arizona.

That’s the message the Arizona Department of Transportation is sending to drivers during National Work Zone Awareness Week. Through April 7, ADOT will join federal, state and local transportation organizations across the country to bring attention to the importance of being alert when driving in work zones.

Throughout this week on social media, ADOT will share personal stories about work zone safety from ADOT employees who work alongside speeding vehicles while building and maintaining Arizona’s highways. Motorists will see work zone awareness safety messages on overhead signs, too.

“Safety is the No. 1 priority at ADOT,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “When it comes to work zones, where vehicles can speed by just inches away, there are very few more dangerous places to spend a workday. We rely on motorists to pay attention when entering work zones, not only for the safety of our crews, but for drivers and passengers, too.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers and passengers accounted for 82 percent of work zone fatalities nationally in 2014, the most recent year with complete data. According to preliminary data for 2016, Arizona had seven fatal crashes in work zones, resulting in seven deaths, and 27 serious-injury crashes.

To protect motorists and those who build and maintain Arizona’s highways, follow these tips when traveling through work zones:

  • Pay attention: Observe and obey posted warning signs, as well as flaggers. You can be cited for disobeying a flagger’s directions.
  • Expect the unexpected: Speed limits might be lowered, travel lanes could be narrowed or eliminated and people may be working near your travel lane.
  • Slow down: Speeding is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes.
  • Merge safely: Do it early and carefully or as directed by signage instead of barging into a line of vehicles at the last moment.
  • Don’t tailgate: The most common crash in a work zone is the rear-end collision. Don’t follow too closely and, again, slow your speed.

For more information about work zone safety, visit azdot.gov/workzone.

Shoulder widening project on State Route 89A in Prescott Valley starts this week

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PRESCOTT – The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin work on a nine-mile shoulder widening project this week on State Route 89A between Coyote Springs Road and Legend Hills Drive (mileposts 324 to 332) in Prescott Valley.

Drivers are encouraged to be alert for increased construction activity throughout the work zone and adhere to reduced speeds as work begins.

Work hours initially for this project are Monday through Thursday between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of the month and then construction will be a 24-hour operation towards the beginning of May.

This $2.4 million project consists of widened shoulders, resurfacing, installing new signage, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and other miscellaneous work.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

ADOT crews now can clear travel lanes of minor wrecks

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PHOENIX – With a goal of keeping drivers and first responders safe and traffic flowing, Arizona Department of Transportation personnel are now authorized to clear or order removal of vehicles that are involved in minor crashes.

When incidents occur, ADOT coordinates with Arizona State Troopers to set up traffic control, close highways and, when necessary, arrange hazardous materials cleanup. When ADOT personnel arrive before State Troopers at the scene of a minor crash or when State Troopers ask them to do so, a new agency policy empowers them to take action to clear travel lanes.

“Quickly clearing hazards is a proven way to make everyone safer, including State Troopers, ADOT personnel and others responding,” said Brent Cain, ADOT’s director of Transportation Systems Management & Operations. “Having ADOT’s highly trained crews take action when appropriate to keep traffic moving promotes safety and reduces congestion.”

The change stems from best practices in Traffic Incident Management (TIM) strategies, including the principle of Quick Clearance.

Getting vehicles that are involved in minor crashes out of travel lanes quickly makes the roadway safer for other vehicles and emergency responders, reduces the chance of secondary crashes when traffic approaches the incident and minimizes overall traffic congestion.

State law requires drivers involved in minor crashes that don’t involve injuries to get their vehicles out of travel lanes as soon as it’s safe to do so.

State Troopers must authorize removal of vehicles involved in crashes that result in serious injuries or deaths.

Expect road work for the next four weeks on Interstate 17 between New River and Sunset Point

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Crews have completed the initial paving on Interstate 17 between New River and Sunset Point as part of a $10.8 million pavement project that began last summer. However, crews will be on site over the next four weeks as they work on sign and guardrail installations, delineators and other miscellaneous work.

Work is scheduled to occur Sunday through Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should anticipate north and southbound lane restrictions during work hours.

The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2017.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Overnight work on State Route 260 continues next week; crews will reduce roadway to one lane overnight

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Overnight work will continue on SR 260 in Camp Verde near Interstate 17 as crews haul excess materials. SR 260 will be narrowed to one lane from Sunday, April 2 through Thursday, April 7 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Drivers will need to allow additional travel time as they will be guided through the work zone by flagging crews.

The $62 million safety improvement project in Yavapai County will upgrade a nine-mile segment of SR 260 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane, modern divided highway east of Cottonwood between Thousand Trails Road and the Interstate 17 junction in Camp Verde. The work is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.