State Route 89 reduced to one lane at Hell Canyon tomorrow for bridge inspection

State Route 89 north of Prescott at Hell Canyon (mileposts 345) will be narrowed to a single lane from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 as crews perform bridge work.

The lane closure will provide a safe work zone for ADOT crews, who will conduct a routine bridge inspection on the bridge. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph and brief delays are expected.

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

Blasting on State Route 69 in Prescott scheduled tomorrow and Tuesday

State Route 69 in Prescott, between Prescott Lakes Parkway and Lee Blvd., will be closed tomorrow, Oct. 8 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 for up to 15 minutes between 6:25 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. for blasting.

The closures will provide a safe work zone for blasting operations as part of a development project adjacent to SR 69 near the Ranch at Prescott.

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. Law enforcement personnel will be present to enforce the closures as they occur.

Vegetation clearing on US 180 to begin tomorrow

FLAGSTAFF — Travelers heading on US 180 north of Flagstaff should allow for extra travel time while ADOT crews perform vegetation clearing operations for a one-mile stretch just north of Shultz Pass Road (mileposts 219 to 220). This operation will clear out damaged and unwanted trees and requires a lane closure and occasional 10-minute roadway shutdowns during removal activity. The work will take place Monday through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and be in effect during the weeks of October 5th and October 12th.

Drivers are asked to allow for extra travel time to reach their destinations, use caution and observe reduced speeds while maintenance is being performed in the area.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Oct. 6-8

PHOENIX — Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require four separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Immediately prior to each blast, crews need to set the concrete barrier for that blast and additional delays are possible.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

For more information on the project, please visit azdot.gov/us60oakflat.

US 93 traffic switch planned for Thursday north of Wickenburg for widening project

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to make considerable progress on an improvement project to widen and upgrade a five-mile segment of US 93 between State Route 71 and State Route 89, just north of Wickenburg.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, crews are scheduled to switch both directions of traffic to the newly constructed southbound lanes. As crews make preparations for the planned traffic switch, motorists may be stopped intermittently for up to 15 minutes at a time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Oct. 1.

While one travel lane will remain open in both directions, motorists should continue to be prepared to allow 10 to 15 minutes extra travel time through this segment (mileposts 185-190).

Once the traffic switch is complete, ADOT will begin work to repave and restripe the existing northbound lanes.

ADOT began this expansion project in February to widen US 93 from two lanes to a modern, four-lane divided highway. The $12.5 million project is expected to be completed in November.

Once completed, ADOT will move one step closer to the agency’s ultimate goal of transforming the entire 200-mile stretch from Wickenburg to the Hoover Dam bypass bridge into a modern, four-lane divided highway.

Since 1998, ADOT has invested more than $350 million in projects to upgrade the US 93 corridor, which stretches from Kingman to the Nevada state line and Wickenburg to Interstate 40 (a 23-mile segment of I-40 east of Kingman connects the north and south sections of US 93).

Currently, all but 46 miles of the 200-mile drive (more than 75 percent) from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line has been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway in an effort to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area.

Final striping today on SR 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley

CHINO VALLEY — Work at the State Route 89 and Road 4 North roundabout in Chino Valley is almost complete and crews are striping the new intersection today, Sept. 28 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Minimal impacts are expected during work hours. For the remainder of the week, drivers can expect intermittent lane restrictions approaching the roundabout for final miscellaneous work.

Drivers are encouraged to be alert for construction equipment and personnel through the work zone.

This $2.1 million project began in February and included a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 4 North near milepost 331, the removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Sept. 29-Oct. 1

PHOENIX — Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require five separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Immediately prior to each blast, crews need to set the concrete barrier for that blast and additional delays are possible.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

Pavement work scheduled overnight at Sunset Point tomorrow

The Arizona Department of Transportation will install new pavement markers at the Sunset Point rest area on Saturday, September 26. Drivers can expect minimal delays and restrictions to the on and off-ramps at Sunset Point on southbound Interstate 17 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

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

ADOT MVD wins award for driver license services expansion

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division won an award at the recent American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Conference for its expanded offering of driver license services at Authorized Third Party businesses across the state.

The Motor Vehicle Division received a Customer Convenience Award for giving customers more options to obtain a driver license or identification card by expanding the number of Authorized Third Party businesses that offer those credentials.

“One of MVD’s goals is to give communities across Arizona more access to our services,” said Third Party Program Administrator Juan Beltran. “Earlier this year, we rolled out a phased expansion program, and have added three to four businesses in each phase to expand the number of Third Party businesses that offer driver licenses and identification cards.”

There are currently 19 Authorized Third Party businesses around the state that offer driver license services in addition to title and registration services.

ADOT’s goal is to have 23 Authorized Third Party businesses offering driver license and identification card services around the state by next January.

Delays starting next Monday on US 60 at Queen Creek Tunnel for rock removal

The Arizona Department of Transportation will be starting another improvement project on US 60 in the Superior area on Monday Sept. 28. The project will involve removal of loose rock from the embankments around the entrances to the Queen Creek tunnel.

Two other construction projects are currently going on in the Superior area, including the passing lane project at Oak Flat and the Silver King/Superior Streets widening project.

There are currently weekly delays for blasting for the passing lane project, but no major delays for Silver King/Superior Streets project.

Work hours for the Queen Creek tunnel rock removal will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should plan for intermittent 20-minute delays during this time as crews remove loose rock from the embankment and clear the road.

Some of these delays will be done during the scheduled closures for the Oak Flat passing lane blasting. (Blasting schedules for the Oak Flat Passing Lane project may be found at azdot.gov/us60oakflat).

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT is working to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work. The project is scheduled to be completed in three weeks.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.