When you drive down a highway and notice the placement of a green exit sign, or the lane striping on the concrete, or even arrows that help direct you into certain lanes — those are all design aspects of the highway that are carefully crafted for your safety. 

Kerry Wilcoxon, the state traffic engineer who runs the Traffic Design Section, and his team are responsible for making those decisions and ensuring the recommendations that come out of planning and road safety analyses are enacted through signing, striping and roadway design changes that make highways safer and easier to use. 

“My job is to make sure that everyone who’s using the road today gets to their next birthday, and they arrive to and from the place they were intending to go, get home safely in the evening, and that happens day-in and day-out,” Wilcoxon said.

Wilcoxon and his team analyze crash data and traffic patterns to design roadway improvements that benefit the traveling public. 

“We want to make sure that every project we work on ends up safer than the configuration we have today,” Wilcoxon said.

For example, years ago, when Wilcoxon was working as the state traffic safety engineer, a Road Safety Audit had recommended adding an extra lane on a stretch of the Loop 101 Price Freeway northbound in Tempe to help alleviate capacity issues. 

Later, when that section of highway was slated for a pavement improvement project, Wilcoxon and his team realized there was an opportunity to implement some of the recommendations that came from the audit. He collaborated with Traffic Safety, the Roadway Design Group, Central Regional Traffic Engineering Office and the Central District to brainstorm a plan. 

“We were able to come up with a way to fit the additional lane into the segment that was being re-striped in such a way that it wouldn’t be too disruptive to either the construction project or the sections of Loop 101 north or south of there,” Wilcoxon said. 

That improvement was completed last year and the effect was “pretty immediate.” Wilcoxon said in areas where there had been congestion, traffic was flowing better. And there was a more uniform speed across all lanes, so fewer vehicles were trying to switch into a faster moving traffic lane. 

And seeing that positive change is highly rewarding. 

Wilcoxon loves his job as an engineer because it allows him to apply math to real world problems. At the end of the day, he tasks himself with the job of making the roads better and safer than he found them at the beginning of the day.

“I really want to make sure I’m having an impact as much as possible, and that ultimately, when I’m done with my career,” he said, “I can look back and say ‘I made the roads safer and there’s people alive today that wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t been on duty.’” 

After graduating in 2021 from Northern Arizona University with a degree in mechanical engineering, Matt Steiner, a Transportation Engineering Specialist at ADOT, quickly found out that he was in the wrong field.

“I wasn't happy with the work,” he said.

So, when attending a job fair in Flagstaff in 2023, Steiner learned about ADOT's Engineer in Training (EIT) program and immediately signed up. He joined ADOT as an EIT in January 2023 and calls it the best professional decision he’s made. Joining ADOT's EIT program has worked out well for many engineers that came before Painter, including ADOT Director Jennifer Toth, who started at the agency as an EIT.

We sat down to talk with Steiner about his experiences working as an engineer at ADOT in the early stages of his career and the EIT program.

Question: What did you like most about the EIT program?

Answer: I think it's a great way to start a career in civil engineering since you're given a large sample of overall tasks an engineer is expected to perform.

I think the people here at ADOT are really helpful and caring and they genuinely want you to learn. I actually really enjoyed the way that you would change jobs every few months. It was very dynamic.

It gives you this opportunity to find out what you actually like. So, on paper something might sound amazing, but you actually get to go in there and find out what they do day-in and day-out and you get to just decide for yourself whether that's something you like.

Q: What are some of the benefits of the EIT program?

A: You get time to study for the Fundamentals of Engineer exam. It's a requirement in order to complete the EIT program. So, they give you time to study for that but they'll also purchase study materials for you. Those can be upwards of a couple thousand dollars.

Q: Why did you choose to work at ADOT?

A: Before coming to ADOT, I was working in the mechanical engineering field and I wasn't happy. I wasn't happy with the work. I went out to a career fair in Flagstaff and I found the ADOT EIT program. They accepted me and I haven't regretted it once. 

Q: What kind of work do you do currently with ADOT? 

A: I'm with roadway design. I have only been here for a couple of weeks in my full-time position, but I guess in general, roadway design is about making and editing roadway plans based on your analysis of what's currently out there on the road and what you want to improve.

Q: How did the EIT program prepare you for your work here?

I get to work with a lot of knowledgeable people, so you're working side by side with professional engineers, and you're sort of getting a mentor-level guidance on a variety of things in civil engineering as you move through these different fields. It's really good preparation for full-time work at ADOT. 

Another big one for me, is that I've gained this working knowledge of how these interdepartmental rules come together to form the bigger picture and complete projects. It's something that I think not a lot of people get the opportunity to see first-hand.

They'd have to apply for these jobs, move into them, work them and then after a few months or a year, move on to the next one. It would take them years to have the same sort of generalized experience that I was given through the EIT program. 

Q: What inspired you to become an engineer?

A: The real truth is that I picked it at random. I couldn't think of what I wanted to do in my future and I just picked it randomly. 

Originally, I picked mechanical engineering. I actually went through the whole thing and found that I didn't enjoy the work, so civil engineering was much more enjoyable for me.

Q: Do you have a memorable project?

A: At the intersection of State Route 160 and State Route 98 there was a project that was about re-signing the road and re-striping the road in order to make it safer. I was given that entire project. This was the first time in my life that I had been given an entire project to oversee. That meant that from first stages to completion I was in charge of the majority of the tasks. I got to see that road beforehand and when it was completed and that was kind of an amazing feeling to guide that work to completion. 

Many famous movies have been filmed in Arizona, including multiple “Star Wars” films, “Planet of the Apes” (1968) and “Oklahoma!” (1955) – which, despite its name, was shot mostly in Nogales, Arizona. 

Production crews for films like these must obtain permits from the Arizona Office of Film & Digital Media to film in Arizona, but if the shoot involves a state highway, that’s where ADOT comes in.

ADOT generally issues 10-20 permits each year, for movies, TV shows, commercials, music videos and more. ADOT Film permits are offered at no cost, but proof of insurance and plans for traffic control are required.

Here are some of the most iconic films that prominently feature Arizona state highways:

In “Forrest Gump” (1994), the namesake character passes through Arizona on I-40 during his run across America, and again on US 163. The run ends a few miles into Utah near the Arizona state line, and Monument Valley can be seen in the background.

“Psycho” (1960) famously opens in Phoenix, and the main character drives from there to California. Some filming took place on Arizona highways, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority’s website, but most of it didn't make the final cut.

As its name would suggest, “Raising Arizona” (1987) was filmed in multiple locations in Arizona, including on and next to SR 88 (Apache Trail).

One of the biggest action scenes in “The Kingdom” (2007) was filmed on Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in Mesa. However, the film is supposed to take place in Saudi Arabia, so you may notice signs written in Arabic, which were placed over ADOT’s signs.

The opening titles of “The Karate Kid” (1984) end at the Canyon Portal Motel directly off SR 89A, where the protagonist and his mother push their car onto the highway to get it to run. The motel no longer exists, but it was located in what is now uptown Sedona.

Route 66 plays a significant role in “Grapes of Wrath.” (1940). Part of the movie was filmed along the historic route, including at the bridge that used to carry travelers over the Colorado river between Arizona and California. The bridge has since been converted to a pipeline bridge, but was still used in the filming of “Easy Rider” (1969), which also filmed on multiple other Arizona highways.

Multiple “Transformers” movies were filmed in Arizona, including “Transformers: The Last Knight” (2017), which was filmed on SR 88, the Roosevelt Lake Bridge (SR 188) and Loop 303 in Phoenix. 

'Transformers' filming closes Arizona freeway https://t.co/tu8gqfbQH7 pic.twitter.com/T3QRWXisKk

— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) June 10, 2016

Denton Hanna, location manager for “Transformers,” praised ADOT for its assistance and problem-solving while Paramount was filming in Arizona.

“I cannot overstate the importance of ADOT in the success of filming these action road scenes in Phoenix,” Hanna said.

In “Little Miss Sunshine,” (2006) a family drives through Arizona while on a road trip. There are scenes filmed on multiple highways in Arizona, including Route 66 and Loop 101 Agua Fria in north Phoenix.

“Fools Rush In” (1997) - Multiple scenes, including the climax of the film, take place at the Arizona-Nevada state line on US 93, which at the time still ran along the Hoover Dam. Now, US 93 connects the states along the nearby Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

Multiple scenes of “National Lampoon's Vacation” (1983) were filmed on or next to multiple highways in northern Arizona including I-40, US 160 and SR 64.

The most recent film on the list, “Hard Miles” (2023), which is about a bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon, received an ADOT permit to film at the intersection of SR 89 and SR 89A.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of all the movies featuring Arizona highways. If we missed one of your favorites, let us know on social media! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X/Twitter.

Some bonus fun facts:

• Although the ending of “Thelma & Louise” (1991) famously takes place at the Grand Canyon, the movie was actually filmed in Utah.
• There are many movies, including “Back to the Future III,” (1990) that were filmed in Monument Valley just off US 163. But in that film, the highway is never shown due to the time period in which they are set.
• “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989) was famously filmed at multiple locations in metro Phoenix, including Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa. While there was no filming on the highway, US 60 can be clearly seen in the background of the waterpark scenes.

When Rich Dimaio, a member of ADOT’s Incident Response Team, sponsored by GEICO, suited up for work the morning of Tuesday, April 30, he didn’t expect he’d come home with new member of his family

Going about his usual morning routine, Dimaio received a call on his radio from dispatchers to respond to an incident on Interstate-17 near Thomas Road in Phoenix.

There, an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper was pulled over to the side of the highway, trying to catch an agitated female German Shepherd that had been darting in and out of traffic.

“I was way out,” he said. “I didn’t expect to get there in time. Typically these animals don’t make it. It’s pretty rare.”

When Dimaio arrived on scene, all traffic had stopped.

“Just imagine at 6 in the morning, 7 in the morning, how much traffic there was,” he said.

Rich just happened to be pulling up when his dispatchers radio’d that  the dog was running his way. 

“I went to get her with the catch pole and she ducked it and took off.”

After a lot of scrambling, Dimaio and the trooper eventually caught the dog and Dimaio took her to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control.

“I could just see the fear that she had,” he said. “She had nobody.”

“Her eyes just melted me,” he added. “I just told her at the time, ‘I promise you if nobody claims you, I’ll take you home.’”

About a week went before Dimaio got a call from animal control officials. They said no one had claimed the dog and they wanted to know if he still wanted to adopt her.

Dimaio didn’t hesitate.

“I said, ‘Absolutely.’”

Today, the 4-year-old German Shepherd, who has been named “Freya” by Rich and his wife Florame, is a new dog. She’s put on weight and a minor injury she had to her leg has healed. 

The timid pooch took a while to come out of her shell, but she’s settled in nicely with  the Dimaios.

“Today I was blown away,” he said. “She was chasing the ball.”

Rich said Freya is very food-motivated and her favorite treats are Costco chicken, which he gives to her without the skin, and peanut butter snacks.

Freya’s still learning the rules of the house, including staying off of the beds. Still Rich admitted when Florame isn’t home, he occasionally lets her snuggle up with him there for pets and belly rubs.

“I can’t say no to her,” he said.

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When monsoon season comes around, most Arizonans are familiar with the thunderstorms and dust storms that can cause dangerous driving conditions.

At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we’ve been working on keeping motorists safe on the highways in areas prone to blowing dust for more than 50 years.

Between 1972 and 1973, ADOT implemented a dust warning system along 81 miles of Interstate 10 and Interstate 8 near Casa Grande. The 40 message signs could rotate between different preset messages depending on weather conditions: GUSTY WINDS, USE CAUTION and BLOWING DUST, REDUCE SPEED. In clear conditions, the signs would display information about route designation. The message signs were operated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, whose dispatchers could change the signs using radio signals.

Later, in the summer of 1976, these signs were updated to show a “dust storm alert.” According to archive photos, motorists could tune to Phoenix radio stations KOY (550AM), KTAR (620AM) and KJJJ (910AM) for advisories about what actions to take during a dust storm when the alert was displayed.

That same year, the agency also distributed posters that explained the actions to take during dust storms and how the changeable message signs along stretches of I-8 and I-10 worked. Those posters were put up at rest stops throughout central and southern Arizona, including at the Sacaton Rest Area on I-10. Pamphlets were also distributed to motorists at ports of entry, Motor Vehicle Division offices, AAA offices and other locations.  

Today, ADOT has a first-of-its-kind dust detection system located along a 10-mile corridor of I-10 between Eloy and Picacho Peak. There are 13 visibility sensors along the highway that detect the amount of dust particles in the air. When the sensors indicate that dust particles are reducing visibility, variable speed limit signs will reduce the speed limit from 75 mph to as low as 35 mph. 

This system has been operational since 2020 and has proven to be reliable. The sensors have successfully detected blowing dust and reduced speed limits on the electronic signs when dust drops visibility, and drivers do slow down. 

This stretch of the highway near Picacho Peak where the current dust detection system is located also used to have the original changeable message signs from the 1970s. So, ADOT has been improving on strategies with evolving technologies to help keep drivers safe in low-visibility conditions for decades.

And even today, you’ll find new posters at rest areas across the state, urging drivers to follow the Pull Aside, Stay Alive tips when encountering dust storms.

The “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” tips were developed by ADOT in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and National Weather Service. If a dust storm is approaching, do not drive into it. But if you encounter low-visibility blowing dust and aren’t able to exit the highway, remember to: 

• Check traffic around you and begin slowing down. 
• Pull off as far right as you can and exit the highway before visibility becomes poor. 
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including flashers. This is to prevent someone in a vehicle behind you using your lights as a beacon, possibly crashing into you. 
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake. 
• Stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and wait for the storm to pass. 

We turn 50 years old this month and have many milestones to celebrate! With a myriad of walks down memory lane this month, we’ve got one here that may be a bit more personal. At least for one ADOT employee.

About a month ago, we got a tip from an inside source that a local thrift shop received several pins once owned by an ADOT employee. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, these three commemorative items can tell a whole story.

We start with this pin, in the shape of the State of Arizona, etched with “ADOT” in the agency’s original orange color. Unfortunately, we’re unable to place the year or timeframe of when this pin was made.

This pin, however, shows an exact and very special date in the agency’s, and nation’s for that matter, history. This one commemorates “The Final Link” of Interstate 10 with the opening of the Deck Park Tunnel on August 10th, 1990. The tunnel truly marked the final link, as Interstate 10 was finally finished from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida.

Next up is a pin bestowed to ADOT employees with 20 years of service. You see the 20 inside a shape of Arizona surrounded by a desert landscape in the agency’s primary colors at the time. We thank the pin-owner for serving the people of Arizona for at least two decades. 

Have you ever found something significant to your life or place of business in a thrift store? Tell us your stories on social media