Tag Archives: ADOT

Paving scheduled on SR 89 at Perkinsville in Chino Valley Sunday and Monday night

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CHINO VALLEY — Crews will pave the new roundabout on State Route 89 at Perkinsville in Chino Valley on Sunday and Monday nights between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. each night.

Minor delays are expected during work hours. The final work is expected to begin next week on the inside of the roundabout and crews expect it to be fully functional by mid-August.

Drivers may have minimal impacts during work hours and 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.

This $1.5 million project consists of a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Perkinsville Road between mileposts 328 and 329. Additional work includes removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

Pikachu agrees, Pokémon Go is a no-go when driving

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pokemon4525bf78c8006c57b531ff0000a35efcPHOENIX — Have you captured Pikachu? Nabbed Rattata or the elusive Charizard? Leveled-up and trained your monsters at a Gym?

Of course, we’re talking about Pokémon Go, the week-old smartphone app soaring in popularity. The video game phenomenon is sending Pokémon Trainers to landmarks and into parks, neighborhoods and cities, hunting for rare monsters.

The lure of the chase can be strong and the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety want to remind Pokémon Trainers that driving and searching for exotic monsters or checking in at Poké Stops don’t mix.

“Distracted driving takes many forms, even looking for Pokémon,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Although we hope you catch ’em all, if you’re not focused on driving with your eyes on the road, you’re at a higher risk of injuring or killing yourself and others in a crash. No Pokémon is worth that.”

To urge Pokémon Go fans to hunt safely, the following message will be displayed statewide on overhead highway signs this week:

POKEMON GO
IS A NO-GO
WHEN DRIVING
“Distracted driving is not a game,” said DPS Capt. Damon Cecil. “Playing Pokémon Go is not worth your life or someone else’s.”

So, please, #DontCatchAndDrive. And when traveling on foot don’t play the game near the road, either. Do you really want the eggs you’re incubating to get smashed in a crash?

On all Arizona roadways in 2015, distracted driving contributed to at least 33 fatal crashes and nearly 8,000 distracted drivers were involved in crashes on Arizona roadways, according to data collected by ADOT.

Northbound Interstate 17 construction between Kachina Village and Interstate 40 Junction

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FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be applying Recessed Pavement Markers and other pavement markings on the recently re-surfaced six mile stretch of northbound Interstate 17, from the Kachina Bvd/Mountainaire road exit (milepost 333) to the Lake Mary road exit south of the I-40 Junction (milepost 339). Work will occur on Thursday (July 14) and Friday (July 15) during daylight hours.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zone. Delays can be expected during construction; please allow for extra time for travel in the area. ADOT advises travelers to observe reduced speeds in the area, and to watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.

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

Finishing work on SR 98 west of the US 160 Junction

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Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be performing finishing work to complete construction on a 9-mile segment of SR 98 (milepost 340 to 349); west of the US 160 Junction towards Page from Wednesday (July 6) through Wednesday (July 13). Work will take place weekdays during daylight hours only. Travel will be reduced to one lane with a pilot car to allow for alternating travel in the area.

What to expect:

  •        Traffic will be reduced to one lane during construction
  •        Pilot car escort will allow for alternating travel through the work zone
  •        Anticipate 15 minute delays during lane closures
  •        Work scheduled for weekdays only, early morning to sunset

Please allow for extra time for travel in the area. There will be reduced speeds and lane restrictions at various locations during work hours and flaggers will be used to guide vehicles through the work zone.

Interstates are key commerce corridors fueling economic growth

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i-15-virginriverbridge-no1-800PHOENIX — Arizona’s interstate highways are key commerce corridors serving not only as the backbone of our transportation system but providing businesses and their customers with food, fuel and other essentials.

With the U.S. marking the 60th anniversary of the national interstate highway system that President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched in 1956, John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, said this essential infrastructure requires adequate and sustained investment.

“By carrying many thousands of trucks each and every week, our interstates in Arizona are a critical lifeline for the health of our state’s businesses and our economic well-being,” Halikowski said. “If our interstate freeways are not reliable, high-quality corridors, Arizona will not be able to maintain our existing businesses and attract new business to the state.”

With ADOT facing limited transportation funding as it safeguards Arizona’s $20 billion investment in highways and looks toward future improvements, the state’s 1,169 miles of interstate highways anchor a reliable travel network vital to economic growth.

“Arizona is at the heart of the 10th-largest regional economy in the world stretching from Southern California to Texas,” Halikowski said. “We’re reminding Arizonans, from business owners to policymakers to the traveling public, that interstates provide the links to this trillion-dollar market. The importance of these links cannot be overstated.”

That applies to Interstate 10, the state’s longest at 392 miles, and the 30 miles of I-15, Arizona’s shortest stretch of interstate.

It’s one of the reasons Halikowski earlier this month led efforts to establish an Interstate 10 Corridor Coalition with transportation leaders from California, New Mexico and Texas. An agreement, signed June 2, supports innovations that make travel on I-10 safer and more efficient.

ADOT also is looking to the future by laying the groundwork for another interstate. Although it’s likely many years from existence, Interstate 11 is on the drawing board as a multimodal corridor improving travel not only between Phoenix and Las Vegas but also as part of a bigger vision for connecting southern Arizona, at Nogales, with the Intermountain West region, including Nevada.

Last December, Congress formally designated I-11 through Arizona as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. While that designation didn’t come with funding, it does make the corridor eligible for future federal funding.

“When it comes to what I’ll call the ‘state of our interstates,’ we need to change our driving culture to avoid distractions, be patient and drive sober. ADOT will maximize and use available funding wisely to ensure that we get everyone home safely through road improvements, technology and driver awareness,” Halikowski said. “Focusing on safety and the economy in our transportation infrastructure system will foster a better quality of life for all Arizonans.”

No state highway construction closures over Fourth of July weekend

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PHOENIX — During the Fourth of July weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe, and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur. As part of America’s 240th birthday celebration, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractors won’t schedule construction closures along state highways from Friday through Monday evening.

While no closures are scheduled during the holiday weekend, travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place, including on I-10 near Benson.

ADOT is emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays. Along Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, for faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles to decrease travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety will have an enhanced presence on highways, targeting impairment and dangerous driving behaviors. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with local, county and state law enforcement agencies on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign. Last year, 11 people died in 11 fatal traffic collisions during the holiday weekend on Arizona roadways. Eight of the crashes were alcohol-related.

To encourage smart driving decisions, ADOT’s overhead signs will display current traffic conditions and safety messages.

Fire restrictions are in place for much of Arizona and those traveling to campgrounds are advised to check with park rangers about campfire restrictions. Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, those traveling during the weekend should:

  • Pack extra drinking water and snacks
  • Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible
  • Get plenty of rest before driving
  • Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Travel Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

New SR 89 bridge at Hell Canyon opens to traffic

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New and old bridges over Hell Canyon.

New and old bridges over Hell Canyon.

CHINO VALLEY — The new State Route 89 bridge at Hell Canyon is longer, wider and better able to accommodate commercial traffic between Prescott and Interstate 40 than the 62-year-old span it replaces.

The Arizona Department of Transportation opened the $14.4 million bridge to traffic Thursday, June 23, after 13 months of work.

“SR 89 between Prescott and I-40 is not only an important commuter route between central and northern Arizona, but is also a key strategic detour route, when there are closures to I-17, I-40, and US 93,” ADOT Northwest District Engineer Alvin Stump said. “The new bridge will help ensure that SR 89 can continue to provide these critical transportation needs, including oversized commercial loads.”

The Hell Canyon Bridge, located about 18 miles north of Chino Valley between Prescott and Ash Fork, will carry about 3,400 vehicles each day.

The first bridge over Hell Canyon was a concrete arch structure built in 1923 as part of what was then the Prescott to Ash Fork Highway. That bridge was abandoned in 1954, when the 89 alignment moved west and the just-replaced bridge was completed.

The new bridge is 665 feet long and 47 feet wide – 65 feet longer and 17 feet wider than the structure it replaces – and has added strength from a fourth span. It has 12-foot lanes and 10-foot shoulders in each direction, allowing it to better accommodate oversized loads.

The 1954 bridge, which no longer met state and federal design standards for larger and heavier vehicles, will be dismantled over the next three months.

Traffic signal control cabinet replacement scheduled at US 180 and Birch Avenue in downtown Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be replacing the traffic signal control cabinet at US 180 (Humphreys Street) and Birch Avenue in downtown Flagstaff from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 28.

The signal will be down during replacement and no left turns will be permitted at the intersection; access will be maintained for through traffic on US 180, and for right turns at US 180 and Birch Avenue.

Drivers are asked to adjust their travel route if needed, and use caution while electrical work is performed in this area. Please reduce speeds, and be observant of crews and equipment in the intersection.

New bridge at Hell Canyon on SR 89 opens Thursday night

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The new bridge at Hell Canyon on State Route 89 at milepost 345 will open to traffic on Thursday (June 23) by midnight. Minimal impacts are expected.

For the past year, crews have been working on a new $14.4 million improvement project which included the construction a new four-span steel-plate girder bridge to the east of the existing bridge. The removal of the existing three-span steel deck truss bridge is expected to occur in mid-July.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

State Transportation Board approves 2017-2021 Five-Year Construction Program

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation’s five-year construction program for state highways promotes commerce through investments in major freight and travel corridors, supports Greater Arizona through key projects and highlights the agency’s commitment to not only maintaining but improving the quality of pavement, bridges and other infrastructure.

Meeting Friday in Holbrook, the State Transportation Board voted to adopt the agency’s 2017-2021 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, which determines projects in Greater Arizona, the Maricopa County region and the Pima County region that will receive funding during the period.

“Major freight corridors that connect Arizona to Mexico and large neighboring U.S. markets will benefit from key expansion projects in this Five-Year Program,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Improvement projects along some of Arizona’s busiest corridors will not only provide better mobility but help enhance trade, commerce and economic development. Meanwhile, we are protecting Arizona’s $20 billion investment in highways and answering Governor Doug Ducey’s call to continuously improve our value to this state.”

Because of additional funding available through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, ADOT will be able to move forward on a quicker timeline with four major projects that will improve key commerce corridors: widening Interstate 10 in Pinal County from State Route 87 to Picacho and from Earley Road to Interstate 8, and widening two stretches of US 93 between Wickenburg and Interstate 40.

Once the two I-10 projects are complete, ADOT will have reached its goal of widening the entire stretch of I-10 between Casa Grande and Tucson to a six-lane divided highway.

Other projects programmed for funding include improving State Route 189 in Nogales to enhance the flow of commerce between the port of entry and Interstate 19.

A long-sought railroad overpass on State Route 347 in Maricopa will move forward thanks to a $15 million federal TIGER grant and $15 million local contribution in addition to ADOT’s $19 million commitment.

Facing growing needs and limited transportation funding from traditional sources, ADOT remains committed to preserving the existing state highway system. The program approved Friday meets the agency’s goal of $260 million per year dedicated to preservation.

That funding supports two of ADOT’s key performance indicators under Governor Ducey’s call for continuous improvement among state agencies:

  • Bridges: ADOT strives to keep the percentage of highway bridges rated in good or fair condition at 95 percent or more.
  • Pavement: ADOT aims to increase interstate highway rated in good condition from 73 percent to 80 percent as measured by smoothness.

The State Transportation Board’s approval of the Five-Year Program, which is updated annually, followed a call for public comment in March and three public hearings. In general, projects begin as part of the agency’s long-range visioning process, move into a 20-year plan and a six- to 10-year development program and then become part of the Five-Year Program, which is developed by working closely with local planning organizations and community leaders to identify projects that are ready to build or design.

Funding for the Five-Year Program is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and the vehicle license tax. Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases that allow for more expansion projects to take place.

The following is a list of major projects for Greater Arizona, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) region and the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) region during the 2017-2021 Five-Year Program. This list provides an overview and does not include all projects in the Five-Year Program. The 2017-2021 Five-Year Program will be published next week at azdot.gov.

Greater Arizona

  • State Route 189, Nogales to Interstate 19: Total project cost is estimated at $70 million. ADOT is moving forward with these improvements along SR 189 to ensure international commerce can efficiently and safely travel between Arizona and Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry, one of the busiest land ports in the United States.
  • State Route 347 Railroad Overpass: This project will alleviate traffic backups at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Maricopa by replacing the existing at-grade intersection with an overpass on SR 347. The SR 347 project received a $15 million federal TIGER grant and a $15 million local contribution to add to ADOT’s $19 million commitment to construct the project starting in FY 2017.
  • Interstate 10: State Route 87 to Picacho: This $85 million project to start in FY 2018 will widen the highway to three lanes in each direction and improve traffic interchanges.
  • Interstate 10: Earley Road to Interstate 8: This $40 million project in FY 2019 will widen the highway to three lanes in each direction and improve traffic interchanges south of Casa Grande.
  • US 93: “The Gap” Tegner Drive to State Route 89: This project, which will widen a three-mile stretch of US 93 near Wickenburg to a four-lane divided highway, will be funded in phases.
  • State Route 89: State Route 89A to Deep Well Ranch Road: $15 million allocated in FY 2017 for a corridor widening project that will improve capacity, operations and safety near Prescott. The roadway will be widened from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway.
  • US 60: Show Low to 40th Street: $7 million allocated in FY 2017 to add turn lanes, widen the roadway and improve intersections.
  • US 93: Carrow to Stephens: $35.5 million allocated in FY 2021 to widen this three-mile section of US 93 north of Wikieup. This project is part of ADOT’s commitment to convert all of US 93 to a modern, four-lane divided highway.

Pima County region

  • Interstate 10: Ina Road traffic interchange: $93 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2018 to fully reconstruct the Ina Road traffic interchange in Tucson. Interstate 10 currently passes over Ina Road, and with this project Ina Road will be elevated and pass over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The existing frontage roads and ramps will also be reconstructed.
  • Interstate 10: Houghton Road traffic interchange: A total of $46 million is allocated in FY 2017, FY 2020 and FY 2021 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 10: Ruthrauff Road traffic interchange: $106 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2020 for this reconstruction project.
  • Interstate 10: Country Club Road traffic interchange: $21 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 19: Ajo Way traffic interchange: $30 million allocated from FY 2018 to FY 2019 for Phase II of this reconstruction project.

Maricopa County region

  • Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway: $973 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2019 for construction of the 22-mile-long freeway scheduled to begin later this year.
  • Interstate 10: 32nd Street near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the Loop 202 Santan Freeway in Chandler: $324 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for widening and other improvements. This project includes improvements at the Broadway Curve to help traffic flow more efficiently.
  • Interstate 10: Loop 202 Santan to Riggs Road: $74 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane and an HOV lane in each direction within this six-mile stretch.
  • Loop 101 Pima Freeway: State Route 51 to Princess Drive: $61 million allocated in FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane in each direction within a six-mile stretch.
  • Loop 101 Pima Freeway: Princess Drive to Shea Boulevard: $53 million allocated in FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane in each direction within a six-mile stretch.