Tag Archives: ADOT

Pavement work in median on SR 69 in Humboldt this week

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adot-logo3HUMBOLT – The Arizona Department of Transportation will be working on the pavement in the median and left turn lanes on State Route 69 in Humboldt (milepost 279) on Thursday and Friday, June 12 and 13 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Drivers can expect the left turn lanes to be closed through the work zones. A clearly marked detour will be in place. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Minimal delays are expected.

ADOT launches ‘Safe Phone Zones’ at 14 highway rest area locations

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PHOENIX – Travelers who stop to take a break at one of Arizona’s 14 highway rest area locations will now notice new signs designating the rest areas as “Safe Phone Zones,” which is part of a nationwide effort to encourage drivers to pull into a safe location to use their phones for calling, texting and accessing mobile apps.

Today, the Arizona Department of Transportation unveiled the new Safe Phone Zone signs as part of a partnership with GEICO. The signs feature the GEICO Gecko image and can be seen along the highways leading to the rest areas and within the rest areas themselves.

This sponsorship program is part of ADOT’s rest area public-private partnership, which began last October and is the department’s first fully implemented public-private partnership. Under this five-year agreement, Infrastructure Corporation of America, a private company, manages the daily maintenance and operations of the rest areas, and has implemented a sponsorship and advertising program to generate revenue for reinvestment in the rest areas. The GEICO sponsorship is the first one to move forward. ADOT still owns all 14 rest areas.

“ADOT’s top priority is safety and we are committed to educating the public about the dangers of distracted driving,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “These Safe Phone Zones provide travelers with the opportunity to pull into a rest area where they can use their phones safely and responsibly. We are able to move this project forward because of the legislation enacted to generate public-private partnerships in Arizona — partnerships that have proven to be an innovative approach to funding transportation projects with non-traditional funding sources.”

This morning, Halikowski was joined by representatives from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, GEICO and Infrastructure Corporation of America to unveil the new Safe Phone Zone signs at ADOT’s offices in Phoenix. The signs have already been installed in the rest areas and along the highways throughout Arizona.

“Distracted driving is a major concern for motorists in Arizona and across the country. Each year, there is a growing number of injuries and fatal accidents directly related to this issue,” said Martha Furnas, GEICO regional vice president. “GEICO is proud to partner with the Arizona Department of Transportation to create Safe Phone Zones throughout the state, where motorists can answer texts and make phone calls, all in a safe and convenient environment.”

The Safe Phone Zone signs will be installed and maintained by Infrastructure Corporation of America, as part of the public-private partnership with ADOT. The company plans to generate other sponsorships to add more amenities within the rest areas to provide a better experience for travelers.

“Every state is facing a tremendous challenge to do more with less in order to keep their infrastructure preserved and maintained,” said Butch Eley, CEO of Infrastructure Corporation of America. “ICA is proud to be Arizona’s partner in an innovative project that will ensure rest areas are well-maintained, that they generate new revenues to support high-quality maintenance, and through GEICO’s participation and expansion of the Safe Phone Zones, will make the highways safer. We are thrilled the Arizona Department of Transportation is taking a nationally leading role in advancing this innovative, public-private partnership model for the people of Arizona.”

ADOT is one of several state departments of transportation to implement public-private partnerships to move public transportation projects forward with private investment. For more information about ADOT’s public-private partnership program, go to azdot.gov/P3.

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

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adot-logo3PHOENIX – Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

That’s the familiar message to drivers from the Arizona Department of Transportation as another summer monsoon season approaches.

For the third year, ADOT continues its efforts to educate drivers about the threat of dust storms as monsoon season officially begins in Arizona on June 15. ADOT and its partners – the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service – show motorists the real meaning of “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” with new television and radio public-education announcements that focus on the devastating outcomes for drivers who try to drive through dust storms.

The new public-education announcement focuses on a recent dust-related fatal crash along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. The “911 Call” announcement illustrates what can happen to drivers who do not heed the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” message. Audio of 911 calls from the crash are heard against visuals of emergency personnel moving among crushed vehicles and semi-trucks surrounded by blowing dust.

ADOT’s mission is to provide valuable information to drivers before they get caught in a low-visibility dust storm. The agency’s top recommendation is to avoid driving into a wall of dust at all costs.

“Driving into a dust storm is very dangerous, but the key is that oftentimes it can be avoided,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Drivers must be ready to alter their plans if there is a threat of a dust storm. It’s better to change plans than try to power through dangerous conditions. But if you’re on the road and a dust storm suddenly appears near you, pull off the highway as quickly and safely as possible. Never drive through a dust storm. It’s not a risk worth taking.”

Because dust storms can develop very quickly, particularly along the Interstate 10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson, ADOT uses several methods to get information to drivers. These include 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.

Throughout this week, which is Arizona Monsoon Awareness Week, ADOT will be using social media to engage Arizonans in spreading the word to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.” There will be posts on the ADOT Blog (azdot.gov/blog), Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) and Twitter account (twitter.com/ArizonaDOT).

Please visit PullAsideStayAlive.org for the new public-education video along with videos from past years. The website also includes a tip sheet, which ADOT encourages drivers to print and keep handy in their vehicle.

Tips for drivers who encounter a dust storm:

  1. Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
  2. If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.
  6. Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
  7. Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  8. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  9. Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.
  10. A driver’s alertness and safe driving ability are always the top factors in preventing crashes.

ADOT to widen seven-mile stretch of Oracle Road in Tucson

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adot-logo3PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is starting a project that will make it easier for drivers and cyclists to move along a seven-mile stretch of Oracle Road (State Route 77) in the Catalina area.

Beginning June 12, crews will begin adding one new travel lane in each direction for a total of six lanes between Tangerine Road and the Pinal County line. Work will also include widening the shoulders of the road making it easier for cyclists to ride in the area as well as adding raised medians, making traffic signal improvements and installing a shared-use path on the east side of Oracle Road from Wilds Road to Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard.

Two wildlife crossing structures, one overpass and one underpass, funded by the Regional Transportation Authority, will be constructed as a part of the project. These structures are designed to keep motorists safe and reduce vehicle-animal collisions.

Two lanes of travel will be maintained through the work zone with occasional lane closures taking place during nighttime hours. Drivers are reminded to slow down while traveling through the work zone.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by spring 2016.

Utility relocation work began in spring 2013 to relocate utility lines – including gas, cable, phone and electric – so they won’t be in conflict with the widening project. The utility relocation work will continue through the beginning of the project.

The $33.9 million construction project is a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the Regional Transportation Authority.

Overnight work on paving project on I-17 continues next week

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adot-logo3The Arizona Department of Transportation will continue with overnight work on Interstate 17 at the State Route 169 traffic interchange starting Sunday night, June 8, which will require overnight restrictions for drivers this week.

I-17 will be closed in both directions at the SR 169 junction (milepost 278) and drivers will be required to use the off- and on-ramps to continue around the work zone. Drivers can expect a single lane closure intermittently during work hours in both directions on I-17 through work zone.

Work will occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. both Sunday and Monday, June 9.

ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, to comply with the reduced speed limit and to be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT begins I-17 intersection improvement at JW Powell south of Flagstaff

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Work begins next week on the JW Powell Boulevard and I-17 intersection, with construction realigning State Route 89A at that location, and adding roundabouts at the Fort Tuthill County Park entrance and the I-17 southbound ramp.

Preparations for this project began last September when ADOT worked closely with Coconino County, the city of Flagstaff and the local utility company to remove trees within the work zone prior to construction starting this year. The trees were then used by a local non-profit throughout the winter. The area will be reseeded once the project is completed.

No traffic restrictions are anticipated during construction because the existing ramps and roadway can still be used while the realignment and roundabouts are constructed adjacent to current traffic operations.

The project is anticipated to be complete by summer 2015.

Improvement project on US 180 in Flagstaff has started

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Improvements include improving and adding turn lanes, new pavement and guardrail improvements between Columbus Avenue and Bader Road. There is currently work along the shoulder of the road with no lane restrictions. However, travelers using this route can expect delays and lane restrictions through the project area as early as Monday, June 9 as construction continues.

In addition, some night work will take place during the asphalt milling and paving operations to minimize impacts to heavier daytime traffic.

Motorists interested in traveling to the Grand Canyon can use I-40 to State Route 64 west of Flagstaff as an alternate route.

SR 89A project resumes in Oak Creek Canyon’s switchbacks

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adot-logo3OAK CREEK – As the battle against the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon winds down, the ongoing highway-improvement project along the “switchbacks” section of State Route 89A will resume this weekend.

The previously-scheduled closure of the three-mile stretch of SR 89A between the Pine Flat Campground and the Vista scenic overlook south of Flagstaff will remain in place for several weeks while crews remove loose rocks above the switchbacks, complete other safety improvements and resurface the highway.

SR 89A will reopen to traffic before the Fourth of July weekend.

The full closure of the highway had been scheduled to start on Tuesday (May 27) but crews were temporarily pulled off the project more than a week ago (Tuesday, May 20) due to the Slide Fire.

DETOUR INFO: While the switchbacks section along SR 89A is closed, ADOT recommends drivers use Interstate 17 and State Route 179 to travel between Flagstaff and Sedona.

Final paving on SR 89 on White Spar Road in Prescott next week

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adot-logo3ADOT is nearing completion of a pavement maintenance on White Spar Road in Prescott which began April 10.

Final pavement will be placed next week on the new roadway on State Route 89 (White Spar Road) in Prescott on Wednesday and Thursday, June 4 and 5 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

As paving activity occurs, drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Once paving is complete, crews will return in 30 days for final striping.

The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph through the work zone. ADOT advises drivers and bicyclists to proceed through the work zone with caution. Comply with the reduced speed limit and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Pavement maintenance next week on State Route 89A in Prescott Valley

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adot-logo3State Route 89A in Prescott Valley will be narrowed to one lane toward the top of Mingus Mountain (mileposts 331 to 338) between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3 and 4 for pavement preservation work.

Flaggers and a pilot car will direct traffic in alternating directions through the work zone. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph and drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

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

Fines for speeding through a construction zone are doubled.