Sedona AZ (January 5, 2017) – With Valley drivers benefiting from several freeway improvement projects completed during 2016, including the widening of Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Scottsdale area, the Arizona Department of Transportation is poised to start or complete several Phoenix-area projects in the coming year.
ADOT’s highlights for the regional freeway system in 2017 include:
· Beginning construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. Work scheduled for the first half of 2017 includes setting foundations for some of the 40 bridges planned, widening eastbound lanes of Pecos Road to accommodate two-way traffic during construction, creating access roads near the freeway’s future interchange with Interstate 10 in west Phoenix and creating drainage structures. This 22-mile direct link between the East Valley and West Valley will open by late 2019.
· Opening the south half of the Interstate 10/Loop 303 interchange in Goodyear, Arizona, by fall. The $63 million project, launched February 2016, will complete freeway-to-freeway ramps and extend Loop 303 south to Van Buren Street providing Loop 303 traffic with direct connections to and from Cotton Lane south of I-10. The north half of the I-10/Loop 303 interchange opened to traffic in August 2014.
· Resurfacing an 11-mile stretch of Interstate 17 between 19th and Peoria avenues in Phoenix in spring 2017. Crews will add a new layer of smooth, durable rubberized asphalt along the Black Canyon Freeway when warmer spring weather provides the best conditions for the resurfacing work. Rubberized asphalt, which has been used on Valley freeways for several years, includes rubber from shredded recycled tires as part of the pavement’s mixture.
· Completion of the new Bell Road/Grand Avenue interchange in Surprise by spring 2017. The $42 million project started February 2016. Crews opened the new bridge carrying Bell Road over Grand Avenue and the parallel BNSF Railway tracks on November 22, 2016. New ramps connecting Grand Avenue to and from the Bell Road bridge are scheduled for completion in time for the Cactus League baseball season in late February 2017.
· Installing Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) traffic-management technology between Ray and Broadway roads in Mesa. The project, scheduled to start by summer 2017, will add several overhead message signs, closed-circuit traffic cameras and traffic-flow sensors along the Santan Freeway. The technology allows ADOT to provide travelers with updated freeway conditions. A current ADOT Freeway Management System project along Loop 202 between Dobson and Ray roads is scheduled for completion in spring 2017.
For further highlights, follow the SedonaEye.com.
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Weekend Travel Advisory – January 6-9, 2017
Drivers should be aware of the following restrictions this weekend:
Riggs Road narrowed to one lane at Interstate 10 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Northbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) closed overnight between I-10 and McDowell Road from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday
Southbound Interstate 17 off-ramp at Seventh Avenue closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
No services available for part of Wednesday, Jan. 18, at I-10 Burnt Well Rest Area
Restrooms, drinking fountains and vending machines won’t be available at the Interstate 10 Burnt Well Rest Area west of Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, due to utility work in the area.
Motorists will still be able to stop at the rest area, which has locations in both directions at milepost 86 near Tonopah, while the power is out and services aren’t available.
Other ADOT rest areas along I-10 between Phoenix and the California state line are Bouse Wash at milepost 53 and Ehrenberg at milepost 4.7.
Weekend Travel Advisory – January 13-16, 2017
Drivers should be aware of the following restrictions this weekend:
•Interstate 10 closed briefly in both directions near 71st Avenue in west Phoenix from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday
•Grand Avenue (US 60) narrowed to one lane in each direction at times between Dysart and Litchfield roads from 9 p.m. Sunday to 9 p.m. Thursday
Weekend Travel Alerts – Jan 16-20, 2017
State Route 51 overnight closures scheduled week of Jan. 16-20
Crews installing new traffic-flow detectors along freeway
PHOENIX – Sections of State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) in Phoenix will be closed overnight during the week of Jan. 16-20 while crews install new traffic-flow detectors, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Planned restrictions are subject to change due to inclement weather.
Drivers should consider alternate routes, including southbound Interstate 17 or 16th and 24th streets, while the following SR 51 closures are in place:
· Northbound SR 51 closed between Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue from 9 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 17). Northbound SR 51 on-ramps at Indian School Road and Colter Street also closed. DETOUR: Consider exiting ahead of closure and using northbound 16th or 24th streets before entering northbound SR 51 at Glendale Avenue/Lincoln Drive. Northbound I-17 is alternate freeway route.
· Southbound SR 51 closed between Glendale Avenue and Bethany Home Road from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 18). Southbound SR 51 on-ramps at Northern Avenue also closed. DETOUR: Consider exiting southbound SR 51 at Northern Avenue and using southbound 16th Street to eastbound Bethany Home Road or Highland Avenue to access SR 51. Southbound I-17 is alternate freeway route.
· Southbound SR 51 closed between Bethany Home Road and Highland Avenue from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 19). Southbound SR 51 on-ramp at Glendale Avenue also closed. DETOUR: Consider exiting ahead of closure and using southbound 16th Street to eastbound Highland Avenue or Indian School Road to access SR 51. Southbound I-17 is alternate freeway route.
· Southbound SR 51 closed between Colter Street and Highland Avenue from 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday (Jan. 20). Southbound SR 51 on-ramp at Bethany Home Road also closed. DETOUR: Consider exiting ahead of the closure and using southbound 16th Street to eastbound Highland Avenue or Indian School Road to access SR 51. Southbound I-17 is alternate freeway route.
Updates on freeway conditions and restrictions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov or by calling 511. ADOT also provides state highway information via its Twitter feed.
Drivers should be aware of the following restrictions:
· Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Dobson and Alma School roads from 10 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday (Jan. 22) for traffic-flow detector installation. North- and southbound Loop 101 ramps to eastbound US 60 also closed. Eastbound US 60 on-ramp at Dobson Road closed. DETOUR: Please consider alternate routes, including eastbound Baseline Road or Southern Avenue to Alma School Road, to access eastbound US 60.
· Southbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) closed overnight between Indian School and Thomas roads from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (Jan. 23) for traffic-flow detector installation. Southbound SR 51 on-ramp at Highland Avenue also closed. DETOUR: Please consider alternate routes, including southbound 16th or 24th streets to Thomas Road to access southbound SR 51.
· Cotton Lane closed in both directions between Van Buren and Garfield streets in Goodyear from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 22) for construction at the future Loop 303 bridge over Van Buren Street. DETOUR: Detours will be signed. Consider alternate north-south routes, including Citrus Road and Sarival Avenue.
With the worst of back-to-back winter storms yet to come, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s snowplow operators are working 12-hour shifts to keep highways open.
In some cases, other drivers are making that difficult job even tougher.
On Thursday afternoon, an SUV struck a snowplow working on State Route 89A between Prescott Valley and Jerome (shown in the photo). Everyone was OK – though the SUV was severely damaged – but ADOT lost precious time clearing that route.
Meanwhile, snowplow drivers are encountering difficulty clearing Ash Fork Hill on eastbound Interstate 40 because large trucks aren’t, as signs instruct them, staying in the right lanes.
ADOT’s 400 certified snowplow drivers, operating the agency’s nearly 200 snowplows, need room to work. Give them space, starting with staying at least four vehicle lengths behind and never passing a working plow until the driver pulls over to let traffic pass.
Here are other tips straight from ADOT’s snowplow drivers:
· To avoid interfering with snowplows, drivers of large trucks need to heed signs on steep uphill grades telling them to stay in the right lane or right lanes.
· Never assume a snowplow operator knows you are nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.
· Plowed snow can create a cloud that reduces visibility, and spreaders on trucks throw de-icing agents or sand that can damage vehicles, so stay back.
· Leave space when stopping behind a snowplow. The driver might need to back up.
· If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.
· Just because a plow has been through the area, drivers shouldn’t assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice.
· Nighttime plowing is far more difficult than daytime plowing, so use extra caution around snowplows after dark.
For more tips on respecting the plow and other winter-driving essentials, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
Overnight closures of Phoenix area US 60 (Superstition Freeway) for construction this week also could affect Interstate 10 traffic near the Broadway Curve in Tempe. Crews will be installing new traffic-flow sensors, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Drivers should plan ahead, consider alternate routes and allow extra travel time while the following overnight restrictions are in place:
• Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between McClintock Drive and Loop 101 from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 1). Eastbound US 60 ramps to north- and southbound Loop 101 closed. Eastbound US 60 on-ramps at Rural Road and McClintock Drive closed. Eastbound I-10 HOV-lane ramp to eastbound US 60 closed.
DETOUR: Consider exiting eastbound US 60 ahead of the closure and using westbound Baseline Road or Southern Avenue to Dobson Road to access US 60.
• Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Interstate 10 and Priest Drive from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 2). All I-10 ramps to eastbound US 60 closed. Eastbound I-10 on-ramp at Broadway Road and southbound State Route 143 connecting ramp to eastbound I-10 closed. DETOUR: Consider alternate routes, including eastbound Baseline or Broadway roads to Priest Drive or Mill Avenue to connect with eastbound US 60.
• Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed near Dobson Road from 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday (Feb. 3). DETOUR: Traffic will exit and re-enter westbound US 60 at Dobson Road.
Updates on freeway conditions and restrictions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov.
A section of northbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) north of Interstate 10 will be closed tonight while crews install new traffic-flow sensors, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Drivers should allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes while the following SR 51 closure is in place:
· Northbound SR 51 closed between Interstate 10 and Indian School Road from 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, for traffic-flow sensor installation. All I-10 ramps and the westbound Loop 202 ramp to northbound SR 51 also closed. I-10 ramps to eastbound Loop 202 will remain open.
DETOUR: Please allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes, including northbound 16th or 24th streets, to travel beyond the closure.
Northbound I-17 is alternate freeway route.
Updates on freeway conditions and restrictions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov.