ADOT

Runaway Truck Ramps: A vital safety feature on the highways

Runaway Truck Ramps: A vital safety feature on the highways

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Runaway Truck Ramps: A vital safety feature on the highways

Runaway Truck Ramps: A vital safety feature on the highways

Kathy Cline/ADOT Communications
May 20, 2022

Have you ever searched the Internet for videos of trucks using a runaway-truck ramp? If so, you might have seen this video:

A truck having to use a runaway truck ramp is a frightening thing to see. But truck ramps are very effective at stopping trucks that have lost use of their brakes. There are two types of runaway truck ramps:

  1. Gravity ramps: A truck takes the ramp and experiences an uphill grade that naturally will stop it.
  2. Gravel arrester beds: These are on a flat-level grade. Trucks taking the ramp will run into a bed full of small, round gravel. The friction from the wheels going through the gravel is what slows the truck and eventually stops it.

Why are they necessary? Here's a quick answer from ADOT’s Roadway Design Guidelines:


The combination of heavy trucks and steep highway downgrades presents a potential safety hazard... Defective or incorrectly adjusted braking systems on trucks or trailer, among other things, can contribute to brake overheating and failure resulting in the driver's inability to control vehicle speeds on downgrades. Truck escape ramps offer an opportunity for out-of-control trucks to exit the highway and come to a controlled stop.

For more details on runaway truck ramps, click here.

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

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Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Kathy Cline/ADOT Communications
April 26, 2022

Crews installing reflective sheeting on I-17 bridge deckA truck striking the bottom of a lower-height bridge deck -- also commonly called an overpass -- can cause plenty of damage.

ADOT engineers had noticed that one problem area were I-17 overpasses in Phoenix. Trucks hitting overpasses at 19th Avenue, 16th Street and other locations were causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Enter the Central District and Regional Traffic Engineering teams. After exploring a few options, it was determined that a solution to this recurring issue was adding red-and-white reflective sheeting to the bottom decks of several I-17 bridges. This makes the bridge overpass stand out for trucks that don't meet the bridge clearance.

Sheeting was trimmed to fit the bottom edges of the bridges. Highway Operations team members installed the material on I-17 overpasses at 19th Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Seventh Street and 16th Street.

The team's ingenuity and perseverance paid off. Since the sheeting was installed last summer, there have been no bridge hits at those locations. Previously, overpass repairs at those locations totaled about $37,000 a year.

“The feedback so far has been very favorable regarding the visibility, cost and ease of installation,” said Highway Operations Superintendent Sean McHugh. “Based on this easier and lower cost process, standard work was created for low-height bridges that can be applied across the state.”

 

 

 

Two I-10 closures this weekend in metro Phoenix

Two I-10 closures this weekend in metro Phoenix

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Two I-10 closures this weekend in metro Phoenix

Two I-10 closures this weekend in metro Phoenix

By Kim Noetzel / ADOT Communications
April 21, 2022

There’s a famous quote that says, “Without struggle, there is no progress.”  It’s a good one to keep in mind this weekend  if your travels take you along Interstate 10 in the metro-Phoenix region. You might struggle a bit with delays and longer-than-usual detours getting to and from your destinations. Two major closures will be in place beginning the night of Friday, April 22, through the early morning hours of Monday, April 25:

Both closures are necessary so we can make progress on two projects that will provide motorists with smoother driving surfaces and more travel lanes, while reducing congestion and improving safety. 

The decision to have two weekend closures on an urban interstate – including one that shuts it down in both directions at the same time – isn’t made lightly. Before any weekend work is scheduled, our project teams in the metro-Phoenix region map out every location on the state highway system where construction or maintenance activity needs to occur. All of the construction and maintenance teams meet to coordinate closures for the following month. They evaluate which directions of travel will be impacted, as well as the most efficient detour routes for high volumes of interstate traffic. They coordinate ADOT project schedules with road work that’s underway on local roads and streets, as well as with major special events that draw 30,000 or more people. 

 

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At the same time, our project teams are required to follow their project contracts and keep work on time and on budget. That brings to mind another famous quote: “Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.” This weekend we’ve gotta do some very specific work so that both projects can move to the next phase. Bumping one of them this weekend simply wasn’t an option if we want to stay on time and on budget and make the highways better for everyone who uses them.

Our allowable times for major closures also impact when we can do major work. Unlike many other states, ADOT doesn’t close urban highways on weekdays. We schedule the highly impactful work during overnights and weekends, with the understanding that every cone and barricade must be picked up by 5 a.m. on weekdays so we don’t tangle up your morning commute. With weekday traffic volumes back to pre-pandemic levels in many areas, our commitment to maintaining open lanes during peak travel times continues. 

With the limited time available, our project teams complete as much work as they can under the umbrella of a weekend closure. For example, Salt River Project crews need to close I-10 along the Broadway Curve this weekend to relocate a 75-foot-tall, 17-ton power pole and the high-powered lines that span both directions of the highway. The massive pole stands in the way of where the new ramp from southbound SR 143 to westbound I-10 will be constructed. While the SRP closure is in place, workers will take advantage of the opportunity to repair the concrete-pavement driving surface in the project area, and shift the work zone. Combining all the work into one weekend means fewer closures later on – good progress.

Our work in the West Valley includes removing the existing asphalt pavement and repairing the concrete pavement to make the driving surface smoother. Making the improvements requires closure of a full set of lanes (again, eastbound this weekend). As someone once said, “You’ve got to take the good with the bad.” In fairness, someone also said “You’ve got to take the bad with the good.” Either way, you get the point.

As you plan to hit the road this weekend, remember another popular quote: “The best defense is a good offense.” Plan ahead. Check out detour routes in advance. Allow yourself plenty of extra time.

Lastly,  remember what the English soldier who founded the Boy Scouts said: “Be Prepared.” We encourage you to prepare yourself by downloading The Curve mobile app for updates on the I-10 Broadway Curve Project; visiting az511.gov; or downloading the AZ511 mobile app for real-time highway conditions. Then you’ll be ready to process the progress!

In Florence, we’re building a bridge that’s designed to move

In Florence, we’re building a bridge that’s designed to move

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In Florence, we’re building a bridge that’s designed to move

In Florence, we’re building a bridge that’s designed to move

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications
April 7, 2022

When ADOT builds a new bridge, our top priority is to make sure the gigantic mass of steel and concrete stays right where we build it.

But that won’t be the case with a new bridge we’re constructing on State Route 79 in Florence, because this bridge is designed to move.

Or more precisely, slide. 

This new bridge’s mobile nature will be only temporary, however, as part of an innovative method of constructing a new bridge by assembling the new structure’s components next to the old bridge and then sliding them into place.

The process begins by constructing new bridge piers in the bed of the Gila River. The piers will be extra wide so the new structure’s components can be built in halves on either side of the old bridge. Once the new segments are complete, crews will tear out the old bridge and slide each half of the new structure where the existing bridge now stands.

ADOT has slid new bridges into the place of old ones before, including a 2020 project to replace the Fourth Street bridge over Interstate 40 in Flagstaff.

By sliding a bridge into place, ADOT can keep traffic moving with minimal delays during construction. Both lanes of traffic will remain open during the SR 79 project, except for two weekends when the bridge halves are slid into place. On both weekends, a temporary traffic signal will restrict traffic to one lane in each direction.

The existing bridge was built in 1957-58 and has reached the end of its useful life. When ADOT began planning for a replacement, engineers had several options for its construction. 

One common method involves building the new bridge next to the old one, which was the case when ADOT replaced the Pinto Creek bridge on US 60 between Globe and Miami. That option was ruled out for the Florence bridge project because of the additional cost to buy right-of-way and shift the road to the new structure. 

Another approach is replacing the bridge one half at a time, which is how ADOT replaced the SR 77 bridge in Winkelman. That option would have meant only one lane of traffic would remain open during the project, which would have led to excessive delays because SR 79 carries significantly more traffic than the highway through Winkelman.

No matter what method ADOT chooses to replace a bridge, our goal is to maintain a safe and reliable transportation system while minimizing delays for motorists. In the case of the project in Florence, drivers should look for a reduced speed limit in the work zone and watch for traffic alerts when the bridge slides require two weekends of lane restrictions. 

Learn more about the project and stay up to date by checking out the SR 79 bridge replacement project page

ADOT to host two public meetings for I-17 Improvement Project

ADOT to host two public meetings for I-17 Improvement Project

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT to host two public meetings for I-17 Improvement Project

ADOT to host two public meetings for I-17 Improvement Project

March 22, 2022

With construction set to begin later this year on Interstate 17 between Anthem Way and Sunset Point, the Arizona Department of Transportation is hosting two public meetings to share information and answer questions. 

ADOT encourages everyone to participate to find out what to expect while work is underway through 2025, and how the improvements will help reduce congestion and enhance safety and traffic flow along this busy 23-mile stretch of highway north of Phoenix. 

Anyone can attend one or both meetings to learn more, provide input and ask questions. 

PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY: A virtual public meeting is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31. ADOT’s project team will provide an overview and answer questions from meeting participants. To join the meeting, visit http://www.improvingi17.com/ at 5:45 p.m. on March 31 and follow the link to the WebEx presentation.

PARTICIPATE IN PERSON: Join the project team for an open house at Canon Elementary School, 34630 School Loop Road in Black Canyon City, on Tuesday, April 26. The open house begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 6 p.m. The open house will continue from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For those who can’t make it to either meeting, there is a third option to find out about the project and ask questions. Beginning March 31 and continuing through April 26, anyone can walk through a virtual open house at http://www.improvingi17.com/. This standing open house via the project website will provide the same information as the virtual and in-person public meetings, but can be viewed at your convenience. There will still be opportunities to ask questions or make comments through this virtual open house.

Construction on the highly anticipated I-17 Improvement Project: Anthem Way to Sunset Point will begin later this year and is expected to take approximately three years to complete. Pre-construction work is currently underway. Once the major work officially begins, drivers can expect the entire 23 miles to be under construction at once and should plan their trips accordingly.

Once complete, this project will help alleviate congestion and improve safety and traffic flow north of the metro Phoenix region. The 23 miles of improvements include 15 miles of roadway widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City, two bridge replacements, one bridge deck replacement, 10 bridge widenings, and the installation of an approximately eight-mile flex lane system from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point. Flex lanes are a new feature for Arizona’s highway system and are proven technology to help reduce congestion on I-17 during peak travel times and allow for traffic movement during emergency situations.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate, two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep, winding 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday. Similarly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays. The flex lanes will be next to, but physically separated from southbound I-17 using concrete barriers. Access to the flex-lane entrances will be controlled by gates.  

For more information about the I-17 public meetings or this project, visit http://www.improvingi17.com/, call 877.476.1717 or email [email protected].

ADOT project helps save endangered species

ADOT project helps save endangered species

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT project helps save endangered species

ADOT project helps save endangered species

March 17, 2022

GLOBE - The recent completion of an Arizona Department of Transportation bridge replacement project near Globe means new life for an endangered species of cactus. 

The location of the US 60 Pinto Creek  bridge is also home to the endangered hedgehog cactus, which grows only within a several mile radius of the site. About a foot high, usually covered in spines and often with red flowers at the top, Arizona hedgehog cactus looks something like the small animal it’s named after. The species is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is protected under Arizona law.

When the project began in 2018, a team from Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix safely removed 34 cactus that would have been impacted by the construction work, then nurtured and propagated more, replanting a total of 61 cactus earlier this month. 

This environmental protection effort took on added importance in the summer of 2021. At that time a wildfire swept through the project site, threatening some of the cacti in that area that were not removed because they were not threatened by construction. 

“The plants on site could have easily been destroyed in the fire which is why it was a good thing these plants were taken back to Desert Botanical Garden out of harm’s way”, said Steve Blackwell, Conservations Collections Manager for Desert Botanical Garden. “That was an important side benefit of taking cactus out when we did. Another valuable part of this process was that we were able to hand pollinate the plants at the Garden, clone the mother plants and develop a seed bank for future preservation. This is a great win for the environment”

“ADOT has a responsibility to respect the environment and to make sure the plants and animals that make Arizona special are protected,” said Josh Fife, ADOT’s biology team lead. “We’re proud that the work we did will make sure the Arizona hedgehog cactus will continue to exist in the one special place in the world where they thrive.”

Attenuating circumstances: It’s time to pay attention to attenuators

Attenuating circumstances: It’s time to pay attention to attenuators

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Attenuating circumstances: It’s time to pay attention to attenuators

Attenuating circumstances: It’s time to pay attention to attenuators

By the Broadway Curve Project Team
March 3, 2022

Is there such a thing as TMI about TMAs? TMAs (truck-mounted attenuators) are also called crash cushions, but there’s nothing cushy about them when it comes to keeping drivers and workers safe. 

All kidding aside, we’re serious about your safety and that of workers during the state’s largest urban freeway reconstruction project, the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project

Attenuators, whether truck-mounted or fixed, are hard to miss (hint: the yellow and black stripes usually give them away) and you’ve probably seen them along the project area, which spans I-10 for 11 miles in both directions from the Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain freeways) to Interstate 17. Additional work is occurring on one mile of eastbound and westbound US 60 between I-10 and Hardy Drive and on 1 mile of northbound and southbound State Route 143 between I-10 and the Salt River. 

The mobile TMAs act as a safety barrier between the workers on the job and freeway traffic. A project crew member parks the TMA behind the work crew; if a driver veers into the work site, the vehicle will hit the attenuator instead of a heavy truck or a construction worker. 

Fixed attenuators stay in one place in active work zones. They are usually installed near off-ramps or medians and anywhere a temporary barrier wall comes to an end. 

Fixed or mobile attenuators are designed to absorb the impact of a crash, protecting workers and helping to reduce injuries to motorists and damage to their vehicles. But anytime one is hit, people can be seriously injured. Also, the attenuator must be repaired or replaced right away, which is costly and requires additional lane closures and delays for drivers.

Work zones will be shifting throughout the length of the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, and fixed attenuators will be added and removed as needed during construction. Mobile TMAs will follow and protect workers for the next three years. Watch for these as you drive through the project area! 

So please slow down, avoid distractions and give our attenuators your full attention. 

 

All about attenuators: /adot-blog/all-about-attenuators

Learn more about the future Loop 101 widening project west of I-17

Learn more about the future Loop 101 widening project west of I-17

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Learn more about the future Loop 101 widening project west of I-17

Learn more about the future Loop 101 widening project west of I-17

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications
February 24, 2022

Now that the Loop 101 Pima Freeway has been widened with additional lanes between Interstate 17 in Phoenix and Pima Road in north Scottsdale, ADOT is working with transportation planners at the Maricopa Association of Governments on next steps within MAG’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). That includes improvements along Loop 101 to the west of Interstate 17. On Thursday, Feb. 24, you can learn more about those plans.

The RTP is essentially the blueprint for freeway projects via Prop 400, which Maricopa County regional voters approved in 2004. Funding includes a half-cent regional sales tax specifically for transportation improvements in the Phoenix area, including freeways.

An upcoming Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) project is designed to add an additional general purpose, or regular, lane in each direction along the freeway between 75th Avenue and Interstate 17. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as 2023. That of course will be of particular interest to many northwest Valley residents as well as folks to regularly use that part of the regional freeway system.

You can take part in tonight’s virtual public meeting about the project. Here are the details for doing so:

What: Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway (75th Avenue to I-17) project virtual public meeting

When: Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

How To Participate: Details about participating in this virtual meeting via computer or smartphone are available at the project website.

Information for those who are not able to attend the virtual meeting, how to provide comments or get additional details is available on the project website.

In addition to gathering comments and answering questions during the meeting, ADOT also is prepared to receive any other public comments through March 10, 2022.  

In addition to providing new lanes, the Loop 101 project between 75th Avenue and I-17 also will widen bridges, reconstruct interchange ramps, provide upgraded freeway lighting, add sound walls where warranted and make other improvements.

A wider Loop 101 in play for the 2022 Phoenix Open, but consider shuttling to the event

A wider Loop 101 in play for the 2022 Phoenix Open, but consider shuttling to the event

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A wider Loop 101 in play for the 2022 Phoenix Open, but consider shuttling to the event

A wider Loop 101 in play for the 2022 Phoenix Open, but consider shuttling to the event

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications
February 9, 2022

Yes, the Loop 101 widening project in the north Valley was finished in time for this year’s edition of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. And, yes, the improved freeway will help a lot of golf fans get to the area of the TPC Scottsdale course in less time. But if you’re heading to the tourney this week, you’ll want to give serious consideration to shuttling to the event.

We’re using our “pitching wedge” at ADOT to help the Phoenix Open organizers and our partners at the City of Scottsdale get the word out about alternative parking plans for spectators.

Experience tells us that with an event as popular as the Phoenix Open, crowded conditions and delays can be expected at times for general parking near the TPC. That’s why this year there is a shuttle lot in place at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s just a “straight drive” south of the TPC near Loop 101 and Talking Stick Way.

Parking also is available at WestWorld of Scottsdale, off the Loop 101 frontage road at Bell Road north of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. WestWorld also is the location for a Rideshare lot. Before you head toward the Greatest Show on Grass, check on parking through the Phoenix Open’s website.

It is great to know that ADOT and its project team last month wrapped up major improvements on the $185 million Loop 101 project that added a fourth regular travel lane in each direction between Interstate 17 and Pima Road/Princess Drive in the north Valley.

In addition to the increased traffic capacity helping drivers get from Point A to Point B in less time, the big project also involved improvements and the realigning of on- and off-ramps at the interchanges within the project’s boundaries. 

As the Phoenix Open takes place this week, allowing some extra travel time should remain par for the course (sorry, couldn’t resist). And, if you’re not going to the event, consider adjusting your travel schedule and/or using alternate routes. That’s advice from a little “birdie.”

Broadband project connects Arizonans

Broadband project connects Arizonans

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Broadband project connects Arizonans

Broadband project connects Arizonans

By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications
February 4, 2022

Here at the ol’ ADOT Ranch we talk a whole lot about highways and freeways, and why not? It’s a major part of what we do. (Huge, if unrelated, shout out to our great MVD, by the way). And the title of this blog reflects our commitment to making those transportation connections possible.

There’s another connection that is just as vital and ADOT is playing a big part in that. 

If you’re reading this, chances are pretty good that you have access to broadband internet service. For the uninitiated, broadband is essentially the highest standard for internet service, with lighting-fast download and upload speeds. But there are still a lot of people in Arizona who have little choice but to endure long waits with slow internet service. There are still many people, in rural and tribal communities that have no internet capability at all. 

That’s not right, and Governor Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority and ADOT are partnering to bring broadband to much more of Arizona. 

ADOT’s part is to install conduit on about 200 miles of right-of-way next to several Arizona interstate highways. From there, Internet Service Providers can develop access to thousands of homes in underserved portions of our state.

Connecting people on everything from 12-lane urban freeways to humble two-lane highways surrounded by open spaces is part of our daily work. Connecting people through technology is a little new for us, but no less important. 

ADOT Fiber Installation Project from ADOT Vimeo-External on Vimeo.