Hey, ADOT Kids, do you know how all those road signs are made?

The Arizona Department of Transportation makes all its own signs at a sign shop in Phoenix, where a handful of sign technicians turn out 300 to 400 signs every month.

The signs come in all shapes and sizes and in all colors, including square, rectangle, diamond, green, white, yellow, blue and red.

But, did you know they are all made from aluminum stock?

There are two ways signs are made: Screen printing and electric cutting. 

For the electric cutting method, technicians first apply reflective vinyl onto the aluminum. If it is a red sign with white letters, the white vinyl goes on first and then the red vinyl. Then the sign goes to the electric cutter. Technicians program precise measurements into the cutter machine. Then the cutter cuts out the words that will appear white on the red sign. The red vinyl is peeled off where the letters were made, revealing the white vinyl underneath. That’s how a red sign gets white letters.

Making signs is so much fun that ADOT Director John Halikowski made some from scratch during a visit to the shop several years ago. You can watch him making signs in our video. We even had a 7-year-old sign lover named Hunter Vincente tour the sign shop. Read about that visit and the "no trucks" sign that was created just for him.

The sign techs also have fun making the signs. One of them missed making signs so much he came out of retirement to return to the sign shop!

If you want to learn more about our highway signs, you can read this other ADOT Kids story we did about them. And if you would like to learn more about what goes into building and running highways and freeways, check out our ADOT Kids website for fun videos and activites to bring our your inner engineer!

Hey, kids! Have you ever noticed highway signs while you were going someplace in a car with your mom or dad?  

Of course you have! These signs come in all sizes, shapes and colors, and give your folks and other drivers important information, like what speed they should drive, where they should stop and whether there’s a curve coming up.

Did you know that the Arizona Department of Transportation makes all the highway signs you see? ADOT has its own sign shop, and a small handful of employees makes thousands of different signs.  

Each month, these men and women produce about 400 new signs. They also take care of 500,000 signs a year. That is a lot of signs!

I bet you already know what the red, eight-sided sign is, even without reading it. It means stop! Do you know what the five-sided sign with two children carry books on it means? That’s right, it means a school zone!

There are a whole bunch of signs just for school zones. There are other categories, too, like work zone signs, route marker signs, recreational and cultural signs, guide and information signs, historical markers and much more.

Some signs are very small, such as mile markers, which are only a few inches long. Others can be very big. One guide sign is 23 feet long!  That’s as long as some African elephants.

Did you know you don’t need much lighting to see ADOT signs? That’s because they are made with highly reflective, prismatic sheeting. Some are also protected by graffiti shields. They are made to stand up to wind, rain, snow and the strong draft created by big trucks.

A lot of people get excited about signs. You can read a blog about a little boy, Hunter Vincente of Chino Valley, who is so enthralled with highway signs that he had the tour of his dreams at a sign shop recently. You can also catch our blog when Hunter dressed as a highway sign for Halloween.

Grown men like highways signs too. You can watch a video of ADOT Director John Halikowski try his hand at making all the signs you see along state highways, rest stops and MVD offices.

As long as ADOT has been building roads we’ve been building signs. After all, we would be lost without them!

If you want to learn more about what goes into building and running highways and freeways, check out our ADOT Kids page for fun videos and activites to bring our your inner engineer!

During this unprecedented time, ADOT has created a website with transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids to see what we have going on. 

By Audrey St. Clair / ADOT Communications

Winter break is here for most students! After all the fa-la-la-ing and decking the halls, you may find yourself with some extra time. Well, ADOT Kids is here to help fill those empty hours with fun and educational activities for future engineers – or anyone interested in designing and building things like bridges and roads.

Visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids to watch featured videos about bridge and freeway building or even demolition (which is always fun to watch!). You can also download activities, like word searches, mazes and coloring sheets, or learn about civil engineering. What does a civil engineer do, you ask? Civil engineers are the ones that design and maintain infrastructure – things like freeways, bridges, tunnels, dams and airports.

One of ADOT’s civil engineers, David Benton, says he first thought about construction and engineering when he spent a lot of time playing in the mud as a kid.

“If you like to build things out of mud and like to shape things out of mud, that’s what it’s like to build with concrete,” he said. “I remember a teacher said if you like to build things and you’re good at math, civil engineering is a good profession.”

Or maybe you and your family might be traveling to the northern part of Arizona to enjoy the snow over winter break. The ADOT Kids website has a whole section about snowplows. Did you know that ADOT has about 400 snowplow drivers? And if you are driving in the snowy part of the state, the safest place to be is four car lengths behind a snowplow?

Also, remind your parents to pack an emergency kit with items like extra blankets; warm clothes; food and water; healthy snacks; cat litter or sand for traction; and a first-aid kit. Make sure your gas tank is at least three-quarters full and take along a fully charged cellphone, and never park alongside the highways to play in the snow.

Be sure to check the ADOT Kids website in January when we will have a new topic, “Engineer as a Career!” and hear from actual ADOT engineers about their jobs and what’s important to learn in school.

Think it doesn’t snow in Arizona? Think again!

Driving in snowy and icy road conditions require some extra caution and planning. ADOT’s snowplows keep the highways in Arizona's mountain areas clear of snow and ice to help everyone stay safe. Operating these powerful machines are drivers who receive a lot of training, including spending time in a snowplow simulator machine. That training is important, since a new snowplow costs from $303,000 to $340,000, depending on the plow’s configuration. ADOT has about 200 snowplows. 

There is a lot to learn about snowplows at an ADOT website we call Know Snow. You also can check out our Know Snow YouTube playlist with videos about snow, snowplows and winter driving. Both links will take you to lots of safety tips. Most of these safety tips are for drivers, but here's one every kid should know: Never play in the snow next to a highway. One reason is that snowplows throw A LOT of snow and ice way off the roadway. You don't to be in the way when that's happening!

Download and print the snowplow-focused activity you see here to color. You can also read safety tips for your next trip with your family to play in the snow!

Earlier this year, when living rooms became classrooms and personal studies became work offices, the ADOT Communications team knew it wanted to find some small way to help all the kids – and their parents – who were suddenly spending more time indoors and away from friends and family.

That's why we started ADOT Kids, a series of educational blogs posts and activities focused on fostering a love for transportation, engineering and infrastructure, while also providing some home-based, socially distanced fun. Since April, kids have been able to learn about snowplows, build toothpick bridges, submit their own freeway designs, and so much more.

We sure loved seeing everything the kids submitted, such as what they would put up on our overhead digital signs. ADOT Kids has been a hit with children, parents and educators as well as ADOT employees who have also served as subject-matter experts in answering questions from children.

And, it seems some other folks out there thought this was a good idea too.

You see, since 2007, the Transportation Research Board had sought out the best ideas and innovative practices among agencies to explain complex transportation topics to a general audience, in the form of its John and Jane Q. Public Competition. For this, the competition's 14th year, the theme was appropriately "Success Communication during Disruptive, Crisis Situations." 

Turns out that ADOT Kids fit the bill perfectly. The Transportation Research Board let us know that the series took away top honors in the competition, adding “We applaud your initiative to make the extra effort to ensure the important work of the transportation profession is accessible to the public!”

ADOT Communications will be recognized at the board's annual meeting in January – held virtually, of course – and will have the opportunity to talk up ADOT Kids during a panel session.

To see our small effort to help during the public health situation receive a national award makes us feel as proud as the parents whose children produced these amazing bridge drawings.

Now if only we had a refrigerator to hang it up on.

Did you know that today, September 19, is National CleanUp Day? 

That's right, today is the day when everyone is encouraged to help keep our outdoors looking great by picking up litter.

Last year on National CleanUp Day, 1.3 tons of litter was removed from along Arizona’s highways. That’s huge! You can help by picking up trash in your own neighborhood. Be sure to be safe, watch for cars and bikes, and wash your hands when you are done! Challenge your friends to see who can pick up the most trash from your neighborhood!

For those too young to join in, but still want to show their support for keeping Arizona, we have a Adopt-a-Highway-themed ADOT Kids word search and scramble! Download your own copy by clicking on the activity sheets below.

If you are able to get out there and help today, please share your experience with us! Use the hashtag #NationalCleanUpDay and tag your photos with @ArizonaDOT on social media or email your photos to us: [email protected].

The Adopt a Highway Volunteer Program is an important program for Arizona. Over 1,100  groups volunteer to pick up litter from along the state highways each year. Permits are needed to participate on an annual basis, and one-time pick-up permits are also available. Anyone 12 and older can participate.If you live in Maricopa County, learn more about reducing litter from Don’t Trash Arizona! If you would like to help reduce trash in your neighborhood, please visit My Beautiful Phoenix hosted by Keep Phoenix Beautiful.

Arizona, Keep It Grand!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wondering how to keep your kids entertained on car rides or road trips? ADOT has something fun to bring along.

We've created bingo cards filled with highway signs, traffic signs, specialty license plates and other things that you may spot on an Arizona road trip. Pack these cards on your next car trip for some family fun and we hope it can help keep the kids occupied for a bit!

The cards can be downloaded and printed for up to four players each game. Pennies make good card markers, or print enough for each trip and check off items with a pencil, pen, marker or crayon. If you’re super-crafty, print them on cardstock paper, then laminate and use over and over with a dry-erase marker. 

(Sidenote: If your kiddo is really into roadways, they might be interested in poring through the Arizona Manual of Approved Signs. For those curious about specialty plate offerings, you can view all available plates here.)

Wherever your destination, remember to drive safely, buckle up and download the free ADOT Alerts and AZ511 apps before you head out the door. 

Remember, depending on the season, road trips across Arizona can be extremely hot or bitterly chilly. Always make sure your car has an emergency kit with plenty of extra water, snacks, a fully-charged cell phone, extra clothes for the season, hand sanitizer, wipes and a face covering. You can find information on driving in extreme weather, from snow storms to dust storms, here.

With this much fun and information at your fingertips, you’ll never wonder, “Are we there yet?”

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EDITOR'S NOTE: ADOT Kids is an initiative connecting children with transportation-related subjects. Whether or not your child aspires to a career in engineering, we hope everyone finds ADOT Kids fun and informative. You'll find many other activities on the ADOT Kids website at azdot.gov/ADOTKids.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Arizona officially entered monsoon season earlier this week. That means many of us will probably experience a few dust storms and heavy rainstorms over the next few months.

Dust storms can be fun to watch live on TV news or YouTube videos. They grow thousands of feet high, dozens of miles wide and sometimes seem like a computer-generated special effect from a blockbuster movie. Did you know on July 9, 2018, a dust storm soared a mile high and traveled nearly 200 miles, going from Arizona’s Mogollon Rim, through Phoenix and on to Yuma before fizzling out near Imperial, California?

Because dust storms can get so big, they can affect roads and people traveling in cars. If you’re in a car and see a dust storm ahead, the driver shouldn't go into it. If a dust storm moves quickly and your car can’t avoid it, ADOT recommends following the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” tips to increase your safety in a dust storm.

To help kids become familiar with dust storm safety, we've created some fun activities that you'll find below and on the ADOT Kids website at azdot.gov/ADOTKids.

CREATE AND SHARE A DUST STORM SAFETY MESSAGE: We're encouraging you to create your own sign to keep people from driving into a dangerous dust storm. At ADOT, we use the slogan Pull Aside, Stay Alive. Create your own message, then take a picture of it and email to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Friday, June 26, and we’ll feature it on our social media and the ADOT Kids webpage! There's a coloring sheet at the bottom, but you can create the message any way you want.

WORD SEARCH: Do you like word searches? If so, you’ll enjoy activity below where we’ve hidden 18 monsoon-related terms.  

CONNECT THE DOTS: The activity below gives you a glimpse at what cars should do when a dust storm is rolling through.

If you want to see some videos of what it’s like to drive into a dust storm – and why it’s dangerous – ADOT has created this playlist of videos on YouTube.

Please keep an eye on the ADOT Blog over the next week for interesting posts about monsoon season, including a video featuring the dust detection and warning system we've installed along 10 miles of Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix. You'll also hear an original ADOT song about dust storm safety.

For more information about the severe weather events that can happen in Arizona during monsoon season, please check out the National Weather Service’s Monsoon Safety Page.

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Safety message coloring sheet
(Please email yours to [email protected] and we'll feature it on social media and our website!)

Word search

Connect the dots

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on. 

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

Over the past several weeks, Friday afternoons have been my favorite time. That's because I get to see videos in which ADOT experts answer your questions about snowplows, bridges and more that are featured in ADOT Kids activities. Today, I'm happy to introduce a video in which Tom Herrmann answers your questions about the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. I also get to post the freeway designs and landscaping you created during our latest weekly activity. Great job, everyone! 

About the video: Mr. Herrmann is a public information officer who specializes in major projects including the South Mountain Freeway. It's a big job that requires him to learn about a lot of complex things and then explain them to the public. He works closely with the engineers who designed and built the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, which opened in December and connects the West Valley and East Valley in the Phoenix area. 

I hope you're enjoying this week's new Keep It Grand coloring challenge. If you share your art to [email protected] by next Wednesday, May 20, we'll post it in a slideshow. 

It's hard to believe that we created ADOT Kids just a little more than a month ago. Since then, we have provided posts and activities pretty much every day. With so many staying at home, we thought ADOT Kids would be a fun way to help everyone feel connected and learn how interesting it is to work in transportation. What we do has a lot to do with science, technology, engineering (obviously) and math. If you've enjoyed these activities, and I hope you have, please consider putting civil engineering onto your list of possible careers. Someday you could help get everyone safely home.

We've enjoyed doing ADOT Kids so much that we're going to continue it even as we all transition back to a more normal routine. We won't be posting every day from now on, but we'll have new activities on the ADOT Blog every month or so. In the meantime, please keep checking the ADOT Kids website at azdot.gov/ADOTKids. You'll find lots of interesting things there.

Now for the most important thing to share: your great art! Thanks, ADOT Kids. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on. (This blog originally appeared in 2020)

By Mary Currie / ADOT Communications

We loved the chalk art you created a couple of weeks ago encouraging others to Keep It Grand by not littering. I hope you were able to catch my video where we answered your questions about the most common type of litter picked up and how much trash we collect. That video also features your artwork and we've added it to a Flickr album too! 

This week we have a coloring page where you can color in the Keep It Grand logo or add your design to the Adopt a Highway kids. Click on the image at right to get a version you can print.

Once you're done, don't forget to email your coloring to [email protected] by Wednesday, May 20, 2020. We'll again feature it on our website and we may share it on Twitter or Facebook! If you have a parent post your artwork on social media, make sure they use the hashtag #ADOTKids so we'll see it. 

On Friday, May 22, we'll share all of your art and also send those of you who participated a stormwater activity book and an Adopt a Highway lapel pin.

You may be wondering why we encourage everyone to avoid tossing trash out their car window. We have some statistics that will help you understand that trash is a problem we need to deal with.

• Each year 51.2 billion pieces of litter are left on roadways in the United States. That's more than 6,700 pieces of trash per mile! 
• Last year, Arizona Adopt a Highway volunteers picked up 16,000 bags of litter.
• Volunteers helping pick up trash along state highways saved taxpayers $580,000 in 2019.

While we have more than 1,100 volunteer groups cleaning up nearly 2,000 miles of state highway, there is more work to do. If you or your family is interested in adopting a mile, please visit our Adopt a Highway webpage. It's easy to adopt and you can even get your name on a highway sign!