ADOT to start US 60 widening improvements near Superior

PHOENIX — After decades of improvements to the US 60 corridor, the Arizona Department of Transportation will start a new project beginning Monday, Sept. 14, to widen the Silver King and Superior Streets sections of US 60, the last two remaining sections of the highway between the Phoenix metropolitan area and Superior that have not yet been converted into a modern, four-lane divided highway.

The $32.9 million project, which will improve traffic flow and enhance safety along the corridor, will continue the improvement of US 60 from the East Valley through Superior and the State Route 177 junction. In 2008, ADOT finished expanding the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway from Florence Junction through Gonzales Pass near the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

The divided highway will be extended to the western boundary of Superior near Silver King Road (mileposts 222-227), which is located approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix in Pinal County.

In addition, the urban section through Superior will be converted to a four-lane roadway with a raised median and will include separate left-hand turn lanes.

Work will start on the west side of the project by the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, where crews will start constructing two additional lanes. The new divided highway will be constructed north of the current highway and will tie back into the highway near the Superior Municipal Airport. Work will be focused mostly north of the existing highway until spring 2016 when work will transition to the Superior Streets section.

Initially, there will be minimal traffic impact initially because most of the work will occur north of the current alignment.

Motorists should be aware that there is currently another construction project east of Superior (US 60 Oak Flat Passing Lane) and delays are possible due to blasting. ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts by scheduling work hours on overlapping projects at different times of the day as much as possible.

The US 60 Silver King/Superior Streets project is expected to be completed by early 2018.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.