Two public meetings in northern Arizona have been scheduled by the Arizona Department of Transportation to share the details of its plan to develop a network of electric vehicle fast charging stations along interstate highways in Arizona.

The first meeting is in Kingman and will be held on Tuesday, November 1st from 5-7 p.m. at the Mohave County Administration Building, 700 W Beale Street.

In Flagstaff, the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 2nd from 5-7 p.m. at the Flagstaff Aquaplex, 1702 N Fourth Street.

This is an open house format without a formal discussion; a recorded presentation with study details will be shown throughout the meeting and study team members will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. 

Under the recently-approved plan funded through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, Arizona’s Interstate highways including I-40, I-17 and I-15 in northern Arizona, will have improved or new charging stations placed in locations along the highway no more than 50 miles apart. That work is slated to begin in 2023. 

The goal of the federal NEVI program is to encourage adoption of electric vehicles by improving the accessibility, reliability and equity of clean transportation options.

For more information about the EV plan, additional ways to provide input including an online survey, as well as details on upcoming meetings throughout the state, visit /planning/transportation-studies/arizona-electric-vehicle-program

LITTLEFIELD – With lane restrictions and oversize truck detours beginning next week on the I-15 Virgin River Bridge No. 1 project in Littlefield, a new app designed to communicate traffic information and project updates is now available for free download on Apple and Android devices. 

The smartphone app, called Virgin River Bridge, was designed by the contractor for the I-15 bridge replacement project, and it will provide updates of construction activities that will likely impact traffic flow on I-15. 

“This project seemed like a great fit to have its own app to keep the public updated on construction progress and traffic impacts because most of the traffic on this section of I-15 is passing through from one state to another,” said Brenden Foley, assistant district engineer for ADOT’s Northcentral District.

The new app arrives just in time for the start of traffic restrictions on the project. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 8, I-15 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction across the bridge, and there will be width and weight restrictions in place. 

The width restriction means that all vehicles wider than 10 feet will have to use a 224-mile detour route during construction. Additionally, the overweight restriction means that all vehicles over 129,000 lbs will also have to utilize the detour. Signs, as well as the new app, will direct oversize vehicles to the detour route of US 93, Nevada State Route 319 and Utah State Route 56 between Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah.

Information from the app is also available on GPS navigation apps such as Drivewyze and Waze.

Kiewit Corporation, ADOT’s contractor for the project, has had success with similar smartphone apps for its work on the Valley Metro Central Avenue Light Rail extension in Phoenix and Project Neon, a project upgrading nearly 4 miles of I-15 in Las Vegas. 

The $56 million bridge-replacement project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2024. For more information, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the Northcentral District.

PHOENIX – While work is underway to reconstruct Bridge No. 1 along Interstate 15, access to the Virgin River that passes under the bridge will be closed for public safety beginning March 8. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation will be replacing the abutment foundations of the bridge as part of the project. With heavy equipment and work taking place beneath the bridge, the public will not be able to access or utilize the river or adjacent lands at this location during the construction project.

Access to the river for activities including kayaking, boating, swimming, sightseeing and other water recreational activities, will be closed off.

The closure is expected to last until May 2023.

Also, in the interest of public health and safety, crews will permanently remove the man made pool known as “Little Jamaica” in the I-15 right-of-way under Bridge No. 1. As was noted during public involvement for the bridge-replacement project, this site frequently has trash, human waste and other types of waste and lacks water-quality monitoring. It also poses a threat to endangered species and vegetation in the vicinity.

With its location within the ADOT right-of-way and the potential health hazards, crews will remove the sandbags that helped create the pool and allow the spring to return to its natural path. Fencing will be placed around the spring to prevent future diversions.

Work on the $56 million project includes replacing the abutment foundations, piers and the bridge deck of Bridge No. 1. New pavement, pavement markings, guardrail and signage are also included in the project. 

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/projects.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is set to begin work on replacing Virgin River Bridge No. 1 along Interstate 15 with a brand new bridge that will increase safety and help the corridor to continue carrying commerce for decades to come.

Work on the $56 million project is set to begin Monday, Feb. 8. At first, most of the work will occur below the bridge. Later this year, drivers can expect traffic shifts as the bridge is rebuilt first along the northbound lanes and then the southbound lanes. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained throughout the project.

Work will include replacing the abutment foundations, piers and the bridge deck of Bridge No. 1. New pavement, pavement markings, guardrail and signage are also included in the project.

“We continue to make progress rehabilitating the I-15 bridges through the Virgin River Gorge,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s Northcentral District. “This latest project will extend the life of the bridge and help commerce to continue flowing through this region.”

Work is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2024.

Dating back to early 2014, ADOT has conducted a series of rehabilitation projects on the I-15 Virgin River bridges from minor repairs and resurfacing of bridge decks on Bridge No. 2, Bridge No. 3 and Bridge No. 7, to an extensive rehabilitation of Bridge No. 6 that was completed in 2016. 

Last summer, ADOT completed repairs and deck rehabilitation to Bridge No. 2, Bridge No. 4 and Bridge No. 5.

Arizona’s 29-mile-long portion of I-15 directly connects Nevada and Utah and is a heavily-traveled commercial and economic corridor linking southern California with the Rocky Mountain region.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/projects.

PHOENIX – While 2020 presented many challenges, the Arizona Department of Transportation continued to serve drivers in northern Arizona by using different methods, including the innovative bridge slide, to improve bridges to keep cross-country commerce flowing and increase the mobility of local traffic.

In Flagstaff, ADOT completed the replacement of the Fourth Street bridge over Interstate 40 on the east side of town in just six months using the innovative bridge slide method. The slide method allowed ADOT to construct the bridges to one side, then slide them into place over one long closure which greatly reduced the impact to the traveling public.

The new bridge improves safety, traffic flow and mobility in the area by increasing the number of lanes for vehicles to use and adding a protected path for bicycles and pedestrians on one side of the bridge. The protected path connects the Flagstaff Urban Trail System across the interstate.

Along Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge, ADOT resurfaced the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5, while Bridge No. 4 received a new deck. Work was completed this summer after important additional repairs were made. These improvements will ensure the continued life of these bridges to safely move cars and trucks cross-country.

For this project, ADOT used a first-of-its-kind queue warning system that included portable message boards informing drivers of stop-and-go traffic ahead. Using equipment that detects traffic in real-time, the system is designed to help reduce collisions as traffic builds.

ADOT also improved the Interstate 17 bridge over McConnell Drive as you come into Flagstaff. The project, which began in 2019, involved a full bridge deck replacement, bridge widening and sidewalk construction on the north side of McConnell Drive.

For more ways on how ADOT continues to serve drivers in northern Arizona, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

PHOENIX – Northbound Interstate 15 will be narrowed to one lane over Bridge No. 7 in the Virgin River Gorge for the next several weeks so the Arizona Department of Transportation can repair damage from an August crash involving a semi-truck.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, northbound I-15 will be narrowed to one lane at milepost 22. Drivers traveling between Mesquite, Nevada and St. George, Utah should expect delays and allow extra travel time. Southbound I-15 traffic will not be affected by the work.

All vehicles wider than 10 feet will have to use a 224-mile detour route during construction because of the Virgin River Gorge terrain and the narrow width of I-15. Signs will direct wide-load traffic to the detour route of US 93, Nevada State Route 319 and Utah State Route 56 between Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah.

In August, a semi-truck heading northbound on I-15 crashed and caught fire while crossing Bridge No. 7. Crews will be repairing the guardrail, concrete barrier wall and bridge deck, all of which were damaged in the crash. Maintenance crews set up temporary barriers at the crash site until ADOT could arrange for the repair project.

Work is anticipated to be completed by the end of November.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at azdot.gov/ADOTAlerts will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project improving the decks of three Interstate 15 bridges through Virgin River Gorge is complete and all restrictions have been lifted. 

Work began in April 2019 to resurface the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5, while Bridge No. 4 received a new deck. 

For this project, ADOT used a first-of-its-kind queue warning system that included portable message boards informing drivers of stop-and-go traffic ahead. Using equipment that detects traffic in real-time, the system is designed to help reduce collisions as traffic builds.

Crews plan to return to lay down permanent striping on the bridges within the next week, so drivers should expect some minor delays while that work is completed.

Early next year, ADOT will begin work to rehabilitate and add wider shoulders to Bridge No. 1 near Littlefield.

For more information on I-15 bridges in the Virgin River Gorge, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the Northcentral District.

PHOENIX – To enhance safety and manage traffic through the bridge improvement project along Interstate 15 in the Virgin River Gorge, the Arizona Department of Transportation is using a first-of-its-kind alert system to help reduce emergency braking and collisions.

With I-15 reduced to one lane in each direction during construction, traffic begins to queue during peak travel times and holidays. A queue warning system that includes portable message boards informs drivers of stop-and-go traffic ahead using equipment that detects traffic in real-time. 

With advance notice, drivers can anticipate heavy traffic, slow down and avoid erratic behavior, helping reduce collisions in the queue.

While this is the first time the system has been used on an ADOT project, going forward the agency intends to use it on projects creating similar traffic conditions.

The $6.4 million bridge improvement project is resurfacing the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5 in I-15, while Bridge No. 4 is receiving a new deck. 

The project is scheduled to wrap up next spring.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

PHOENIX – Motorists using Interstate 15 in far northwestern Arizona will need to budget extra travel time over the next year as the Arizona Department of Transportation improves the decks of three bridges through the Virgin River Gorge between St. George, Utah, and Mesquite, Nevada.

Starting in April, crews will resurface the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5, while Bridge No. 4 will get a new deck. Crews will move all traffic to one side of the freeway while working on the other, allowing one travel lane in each direction.

Completing this $6.4 million project, which is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2020, will require reducing the width of travel lanes to 10 feet during construction. All vehicles and loads wider than 10 feet will be required to use a 224-mile detour, with signs directing wide-load traffic to US 93, Nevada State Route 319 and Utah State Route 56 between Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah.

Along with other improvements ADOT has made to I-15 bridges in recent years, this work will extend the lives of bridges along this busy corridor for commercial and passenger travel.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.