Bridges

It's been more than 90 years since crews completed the original Navajo Bridge, an arching, architecturally significant span that looms dramatically across Marble Canyon and provides a rare vehicle crossing of the Colorado River in a remote, rugged part of the Southwest.

Driving along US 60 at Pinto Creek, motorists see heavy equipment carving a road out of the rocky terrain at what might seem like a slow pace.

But when the highway is closed to the public, progress comes in bursts.

It's not a dance move, but an innovative new technique for replacing bridges. Read more in today's blog.

PHOENIX – A new technique that basically slides precast bridges into place has greatly reduced delays for the Bellemont community with an Arizona Department of Transportation project replacing spans over Interstate 40 at Transwestern Road west of Flagstaff.

Let’s face it: Nobody looks forward to construction delays.

But with restrictions and some temporary closures set for the Pinto Creek Bridge replacement project on US 60 between Superior and Globe, we’re giving drivers something they can look forward to: a predicable schedule.

With a little planning now, you can avoid some frustration and save time.

Here’s what to plan for:

An Arizona Department of Transportation project on US 60 east of the Phoenix area is replacing the 70-year-old bridge over Pinto Creek with a nearly 700-foot span designed to better accommodate personal and commercial travel for decades to come. 

PHOENIX – Winning a $10.4 million Federal Highway Administration grant will allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to advance improvements to four US 191 bridges in a corridor important to residents of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona.

The bridges cross major drainages on the Navajo Nation between Chinle Wash at milepost 470 north of Many Farms and Lukachukai Creek at milepost 488.

Not one, but two, innovative techniques are helping us save time and money as we rebuild the bridges on Interstate 40 at Meteor City.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project replacing the Interstate 40 bridge at Meteor City Road is using innovative techniques that get the work done faster, limit inconvenience for motorists and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

PHOENIX – Drivers heading along I-40 between Flagstaff and Winslow should slow down and expect delays while work is taking place. The ramp detour will remain in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph.

In addition to replacing the bridges, crews will also reconstruct the roadway approach to the bridges.

The current detour will last through mid-August while the project is anticipated to wrap up sometime in the fall.

Thanks to a new overpass that is part of a $55 million ADOT improvement project, drivers no longer have to wait for trains crossing SR 347.

Our photographer was seeing meerkats at the project to expand Pinnacle Peak over Interstate 17.

There's a lot of logistics and planning that goes into large products, like the concrete deck pour for the expansion project of I-10 in Casa Grande.

Today's Art of Transportation photo is a meta-level look at our project on I-17 and Pinnacle Peak.

It was 90 years ago that Arizona dedicated Navajo Bridge spanning the Colorado River at Marble Canyon.

The Ligurta Underpass is one of Arizona's best examples of clean design in a World War II-era rural bridge.

A celebration this week in 1915 included a parade of decorated automobiles, a concert and horse races.

Two years after construction began on an interchange connecting Interstate 10 and the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, crews have placed the final bridge girders needed for this huge Arizona Department of Transportation project in west Phoenix.

April 30 to May 9

Two slideshows take you through and above projects widening I-10 to three lanes in each direction in Casa Grande and near Eloy.