Tag Archives: ADOT

No state highway construction closures over Independence weekend

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PHOENIX — As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, state and local agencies are focusing efforts on promoting safety along the busy highways, including Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Camp Verde, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT and its contractors will not schedule construction closures along state highways between Thursday afternoon and late Sunday night. Drivers are urged to use caution over the weekend, especially in areas that have been narrowed due to existing work zones.

As they have done over recent major holiday weekends, ADOT, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety will team with local first responders on the state’s “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” safe-driving campaign.

While pointing out that drivers hold the key to safety, state officials stress the importance of being patient, obeying speed limits, buckling up and avoiding distractions. While the holiday weekend safety campaign is underway, DPS will place an emphasis on speed enforcement, especially during the busy Thursday and Sunday afternoon travel periods.

ADOT’s I-17 overhead message boards will be used to post safety and highway-condition messages. Highway crews also are staging equipment such as front loaders and utility trucks at strategic locations along the highway, including the Outlets at Anthem mall and the Sunset Point Rest Area. The equipment will allow crews to respond as soon as possible if crashes or disabled vehicles need to be cleared.

Existing work zone locations along state highways include State Route 260 about 20 miles east of Payson, where traffic is shifted to single lanes in each direction for a bridge-improvement project. Interstate 40 west of the State Route 89 junction near Ash Fork also is narrowed to one lane in each direction for bridge work.

Drivers are urged to check their vehicles, including tire pressure, and get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip. Motorists also are urged to:

  • Buckle up
  • Obey speed limits
  • Avoid the busiest travel times if possible
  • Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver in advance
  • Be prepared for unexpected closures during warmer weather and possible thunderstorms
  • Pack extra drinking water and snack foods in case traffic is stopped due to a crash or disabled vehicle up ahead

State agencies also will work with the Black Canyon City and Daisy Mountain fire departments as part of the I-17 safety corridor campaign. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with local law enforcement agencies on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign.

Last year in Arizona, nine people were killed in a total of seven fatal crashes along highways and local streets over the Independence Day weekend. The sobering figures were higher during the holiday weekend in 2013, when 16 people died in 15 fatal crashes across the state.

You can check on statewide highway conditions on ADOT’s Travel Advisory site at az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1 (within Arizona). Traffic information also is available on ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT).

ADOT completes widening of another US 93 section

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PHOENIX — For the past two decades, the Arizona Department of Transportation has made the US 93 corridor a priority, by methodically turning what was once a two-lane rural roadway into a modern four-lane divided highway along the primary travel route for Phoenix motorists headed to Las Vegas and a vital corridor for trade and commerce.

This past weekend, ADOT completed another widened section of US 93, approximately 20 miles north of Wikieup and moved 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.

The completed $20 million project widened the three-mile-long Antelope Wash segment of US 93 (mileposts 101-104), which included building two new southbound lanes and reconstructing the two northbound lanes to tie into the new roadway configuration.

This was one of two US 93 widening projects ADOT has been working on this year. In February, ADOT launched another expansion project along US 93 between state routes 71 and 89 (mileposts 185-190), just north of Wickenburg. The $12.5 million project will include converting the roadway from two lanes to four lanes and is expected to be completed in 2016.

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. The entire northern segment of US 93 from Kingman to the Nevada state line (mileposts 1-68) is now a four-lane divided highway following the completion of a $71 million project in 2010.

Widening project on US 93 north of Wickenburg will affect traffic next week

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WICKENBURG — For the past several months, a five-mile widening project on US 93 approximately three miles north of Wickenburg has been under way. Next week, beginning on Tuesday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 1, crews will be working on the existing roadway of US 93 at both ends of the project (mileposts 185 and 190) which will require a single lane restriction between 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected. US 93 runs north and south, not east and west as previously mentioned.

Crews will place temporary concrete barrier, shift the traffic lanes and restripe the roadway so they can continue the widening project. Drivers will be in this temporary configuration for the next three months. An 11-foot width restriction will be in place during that time.

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 paving work on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley this weekend

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CHINO VALLEY — Overnight paving work has been scheduled on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley this weekend starting Friday night, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, weather permitting. Work will take place on the south end of the project at the new Deep Well Ranch Road roundabout.

Motorists traveling on SR 89 between 4 p.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 (no impacts on Friday night) should allow extra travel time through the work zone. A detour will be in place redirecting traffic in both directions onto the new Deep Well Ranch Road to Ruger Road.

Delays of up to 15 minutes at a time are expected. Flaggers and law enforcement will be present to guide motorists through the detour safely.

Upon completion of the $17 million project, ADOT will expand the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway along a five-mile segment of SR 89 (mileposts 320-325) between Road 4 South in Chino Valley and Deep Well Ranch Road in Prescott, just north of the SR 89/SR 89A junction. The project is scheduled to be complete by August.

Drivers are reminded to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ this monsoon season

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PHOENIX — Where will you be when the dust settles?

That’s a question the Arizona Department of Transportation is asking motorists this year as another summer monsoon season begins.

For the fourth consecutive year, ADOT is rolling out its “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm public awareness campaign in an ongoing effort to educate drivers about the year-round threat of dust storms as monsoon season officially begins in Arizona today. Dust storms pose a serious public safety risk because they can strike out of nowhere. Motorists can protect themselves if they plan ahead and know the safe actions to take when the dust hits.

This year, ADOT – and partners at the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service – has created new television and radio public-education announcements that ask drivers if they know what to do if they get caught in a sudden dust storm event. The new TV public service announcement depicts a young driver following all the safety recommendations when she sees a dust storm while driving along a highway.

ADOT’s mission is to provide useful and memorable safety information to drivers before they get caught in a low-visibility dust storm. This year, the agency’s top recommendation is to avoid driving into a wall of dust at all costs.

“We hope motorists have heard the message that driving into a dust storm is dangerous and should be avoided,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “But every day we have new-to-Arizona drivers, and young drivers, who may not yet know about ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive.’ If you know a new driver, take a moment to remind them about dust storm safety.”

Halikowski added, “As the monsoon arrives, this year we’re asking drivers to do the smart thing, the safe thing and plan ahead for possible blowing dust and limited visibility along the highway. It’s better to alter travel plans rather than attempting to drive through dust storms. It’s a risk you don’t have to take.”

Dust storms develop quickly and dust-related crashes can occur, particularly along the Interstate 10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. To advise drivers of approaching storms, ADOT employs a range of strategies – including electronic highway message boards, social and traditional media, communication with ADOT staff and law enforcement officers in the field, television and radio advertising, and close coordination with partnering agencies – to keep information flowing to motorists.

Please visit PullAsideStayAlive.org for the new public-education video, along with videos from past years. The website also includes a safety tip sheet.

During Arizona Monsoon Awareness Week, ADOT will be using social media to engage Arizonans in spreading the word to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.” In addition to blog posts (azdot.gov/media/blog) and Facebook posts (Facebook.com/AZDOT), the “Haboob Haiku Challenge” is back for a fourth year at twitter.com/ArizonaDOT: use #HaboobHaiku. Anyone can channel their inner poet, but this year ADOT is asking the public to show off their creativity by providing poems about safe driving tips in dust storms.

Tips for drivers who encounter a dust storm:

  • Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
  • If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
  • Stop your vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds in high wind.
  • A driver’s alertness and safe driving ability are always the top factors in preventing crashes. It is your responsibility to avoid distracted or impaired driving.

Overnight work on Interstate 17 continues south of Camp Verde this week

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CAMP VERDE — Overnight paving work continues this week on Interstate 17 just south of Camp Verde (mileposts 280 to 286) between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Wednesday, June 24 through July 9.

Northbound I-17 will be narrowed to one lane and drivers will be guided through the work zone with a pilot car for the protection of workers and the traveling public. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.

Crews will not work on Thursday, July 2 or Sunday, July 5 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

This $7.5 million project consists of the removal of a layer of the existing pavement, repaving the roadway, bridge work and shoulder improvements. Work is expected to be complete by September.

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.

Utility relocation work on State Route 89 at Perkinsville Road in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY —Relocation of utility lines on State Route 89 at Perkinsville Road in Chino Valley is scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 25 and continue through Thursday, July 2 at noon in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

Work hours are Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

Utility work will require a single lane restriction northbound (milepost 328) at the SR 89 and Perkinsville Road intersection during work hours.

This work to relocate utility lines is in advance of a roadway improvement project estimated to begin in the fall.

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.

Work scheduled on I-17 near McGuireville rest area this week

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Maintenance work will resume at the McGuireville rest area on Interstate 17 this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24, approximately two miles south of the State Route 179 junction (mileposts 294 to 299).

Drivers can expect a single lane restriction in both directions during work hours from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Minimal delays expected.

The rest areas will remain open.

Lane restrictions on Interstate 17 tomorrow for pavement work

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will perform routine pavement maintenance on Interstate 17 between New River and the Bloody Basin traffic interchange (mileposts 235 to 258) tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23 between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Motorists should be prepared for alternating lane restrictions and intermittent shoulder closures between mileposts 235 and 258 to provide a safe work zone for maintenance crews. Minimal delays are expected.

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

Maintenance on I-40 just west of Flagstaff scheduled for June 23 and June 24

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FLAGSTAFF — Motorists traveling eastbound on I-40 just west of Flagstaff on Tuesday (June 23) and Wednesday (June 24) should allow for extra travel time and potential delays as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) performs maintenance work from milepost 185 to 190. The work will be conducted during daylight hours and will require closure of the travel lane during operations.

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