Since an eastbound Interstate 10 bridge started carrying traffic over Ruthrauff Road in 1965, the number of vehicles that have traveled this northwestern Tucson locale is impossible to calculate.

But once crews began demolishing the structure this week, we can count exactly how much time it took to reduce the bridge’s surface into concrete rubble and twisted rebar: two days.

This Flickr album of the demolition work shows the rapid progress we’re making to rebuild I-10/Ruthrauff Road interchange only two months after starting the $129 million project.

As for the remaining parts of the bridge, they’ll also be history by the end of the week.

If you’re wondering how I-10 traffic can keep flowing with one of two bridges now gone at Ruthrauff Road, here’s the solution ADOT’s project team has in place: Westbound I-10 traffic is now getting through the work zone on the westbound frontage road, while eastbound I-10 traffic has been shifted to the old westbound lanes.

Some temporary sections of pavement allow three lanes of traffic to flow in each direction. And we’re maintaining access to all businesses with other temporary changes to the frontage roads.

The demolition work is just one of many dramatic changes drivers will see until the I-10/Ruthrauff Road project is completed in late 2021. Stay tuned for more photos and other updates.

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

Travelers along State Route 89 south of Ash Fork will see the bridge over Meath Wash come down as crews begin the six-month process of a removing the old structure and replacing it with a cast-in-place, two-span bridge.

The original bridge dates back to 1932 and was widened in 1947.

The replacement bridge will look like the existing one with a few small differences, such as the spans being longer and the shoulders slightly wider. Crews will also reconstruct and re-stripe the approaches to the bridge to improve sight distance because of heavy traffic in the area from a cement plant.

A detour will direct traffic around the closed bridge. Motorists should expect delays in the area while the work progresses.

The bridge itself is expected to be closed for six months, though the overall project, which started at the end of January, is scheduled to last into October.

You can check out more information about the project, and subscribe for emailed updates, at its page on our website.

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

Today we're using a drone to provide a different perspective on work demolishing the old I-10 bridges over Jimmie Kerr Boulevard in Casa Grande, part of a project widening 4 miles of the interstate to three lanes in each direction.

In between the bridges that are on the way out, you can see new bridges over Jimmie Kerr Boulevard. On Jan. 9, we moved traffic to these bridges.

After the old bridges are removed, crews will add another lane and a full shoulder to each of the new structures.

The project is scheduled for completion in late summer at roughly the same time as another widening project just to the east between Eloy and Picacho.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

Last week, what remained of the old Hell Canyon Bridge on State Route 89 went out with a bang.

The 62-year-old bridge, which no longer met federal and state standards for truck traffic, came down in a blast of explosives that caused the structure to fall in on itself.

ADOT opened a new, $14.4 million bridge in June. It has wider lanes and shoulders that allow it to better accommodate truck traffic and oversized loads.

The new Hell Canyon Bridge, located about 18 miles north of Chino Valley between Prescott and Ash Fork, carries about 3,400 vehicles each day.

End your week with a bang by checking out our video of the demolition.

Late last month, work to demolish the I-10 bridges over Perryville Road got underway in the west Valley and, as you can see above, things went pretty quickly.

Well, it wasn’t exactly as fast as the video depicts. Instead of 30 seconds, it actually took crews about two days to remove roughly 15,670 tons of material.

To allow for the construction of the new bridges over Perryville Road, I-10 traffic was switched last month to newly constructed detour routes along the paths of the future off- and on-ramps for the interchange.

The $18.8 million I-10/Perryville Road interchange project, which is located west of the future I-10/Loop 303 interchange in Goodyear, is scheduled for completion this fall.

Check out our previous blog posts for a look at some other memorable demos we’ve covered.

After 56 years, it’s time for the old Gila River Bridge to retire…

Located on US 70 about a mile west of the Bylas community on the San Carlos Apache reservation, the bridge, which was built in 1957, is now being demolished.

But don’t worry. Motorists will still have a bridge to serve their needs. In fact, the new bridge sits right next to where the old bridge stood.

We told you about this project last summer, but here’s a little refresher:

The old 23-span steel girder bridge was in use until the new 15-span precast concrete girder bridge was constructed and opened to drivers. The $12.7 million replacement project not only gives drivers a new bridge with wider travel lanes and emergency shoulders, but the project includes intersection improvements and a pedestrian walkway, too.

You can see in the video above that the need for a new bridge stemmed from the condition of the old bridge – it was just inadequate for the needs of traffic in the area.

“We’ve had weight limitations for the last couple of years, so the big trucks can’t even cross the bridge,” Safford District Resident Engineer Brian Jevas says.

Safford District Engineer Bill Harmon explains further…

“The bridge that’s being demolished right now was constructed in 1957 and it was showing its age. It was what we call functionally obsolete – it was narrow,” says Harmon, adding that the new bridge has wider lanes, shoulders and a walkway.

Once demo on the old bridge is complete by the end of next week, crews will still need to come back to the site and finish up some paving work. That’s scheduled to start in mid-April and should be done by the end of May.

One more bit of information…
Demolition crews have taken steps to prevent pieces of the old bridge from falling into the water below.

Since the river is running very narrow right now, the water is only below one of the 23 spans of the deck. Beneath that deck is a chain-link net to catch large debris coming off the old bridge during demolition. Downstream from the bridge, a catchment fence has been placed in the river bed to capture any smaller debris so it can be removed from the river channel.

We posted a clip on YouTube last week that shows crews demolishing the old Pantano Union Pacific Railroad Bridge. Because it’s a time-lapse video, you can watch all the work being completed in under a minute…

In reality, the effort took a little more time. In fact, work began long before crews and equipment even got to the site. As you can see in the video above, planning started several months in advance of the I-10 closure and bridge demolition.

In addition to holding traffic safety management meetings, ADOT checked in with communities in the area to make everyone aware of the plans. ADOT also met with businesses, alerted the media and activated message signs in preparation of the big event. Communication and coordination were vital to this project’s success.

After all the work (both before and during the bridge demo), lanes on I-10 were opened to traffic as scheduled.

The new year officially is here, but before we dive into 2012 we’re going to take a quick look back.

ADOT’s Public Information/Media Relations team came up with a great list of the state’s major transportation accomplishments from 2011 and we thought we’d share it here on the blog!

From new freeway openings to the approval of ADOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan, here's a look at some of the highlights …

Phoenix Area Freeways:

Loop 303 Opens

ADOT widened major stretches of Phoenix area freeways in 2011 and opened the first new segment of freeway to be built under the Maricopa Association of Government’s 20-year Regional Transportation Plan. Fourteen miles of Loop 303 were opened in May between Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Parkway in Peoria, allowing drivers for the first time to use Loop 303 to make the 39-mile trip between I-17 and I-10.

HOV Lane Additions

Drivers benefited from two accelerated projects to add High Occupancy Vehicle lanes along Loops 101 and 202. The final 30 miles of HOV lanes along Loop 101 between State Route 51 in north Phoenix and I-10 in Tolleson were opened in stages during the year and completed in November. Meanwhile, in the Chandler area, 12 miles of carpool lanes were completed this fall along Loop 202 Santan Freeway between I-10 and Gilbert Road.

I-10 Widening in West Valley

Another significant milestone was marked in August with the completion of ADOT’s three-year initiative to reconstruct and widen I-10 between Loop 101 and Verrado Way. Those projects modernized I-10, transforming what had been a limited highway with two lanes in each direction into a modern freeway that now provides as many as five lanes in each direction – including carpool lanes.

State Highway System:

Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road Bridge

Just over six months after a fiery crash damaged the Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road bridge, ADOT swiftly rebuilt the bridge to reconnect the Cochise County communities of Mescal and J-Six Ranch, which were separated by I-10 and depend on the overpass for convenient access to goods, services and neighbors. While the bridge was out of service, residents and workers in the Benson-area communities were required to take lengthy detours around I-10 to reach the other side of the highway. Federal Highway Administration emergency relief funds, a shortened time frame for designing the replacement bridge and a quick construction bid process all helped put the project on the fast track. A typical bridge construction project can take up to two years.

State Route 260 Widening

Continuing a decade-long commitment to expand the capacity of SR 260, ADOT completed a project to widen the highway starting 15 miles east of Payson from Little Green Valley to Thompson Draw. The $20 million project is the fourth of six projects to construct a four-lane divided highway from Star Valley to the top of the Mogollon Rim.

State Route 87 Improvements

ADOT fulfilled its commitment to complete SR 87 improvements before the Memorial Day weekend and in time for the busy tourism season in the Rim Country. The $11.8 million reconstruction and widening project included the addition of a third southbound lane to enhance safety and traffic flow along the uphill stretch during drives between Payson and the Phoenix area. The improvements were the latest in a series of projects during the last two decades to enhance travel on SR 87, which is now a divided four-lane highway between Mesa and Payson.

US 93 Widening Project

Shortly after ADOT completed a $71.3 million widening project on the US 93 approach to the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge in 2010, the first Desert Bighorn Sheep were spotted in February using one of the three wildlife crossings that were constructed to protect motorists and provide a safe crossing for the native animals. The project earned ADOT several honors this year, including the Arizona Chapter American Public Works Association Award, 2011 Public Works Project of the Year and FHWA’s 2011 Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Award for the agency’s creative and innovative solution to balance motorists’ safety, while protecting wildlife and connecting ecosystems.

Hassayampa River Bridge Project

Just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, ADOT completed a $3.9 million bridge project over the Hassayampa River on I-10, approximately 40 miles west of downtown Phoenix. This area is a major route for travelers heading to and from California along I-10.

Overnight Bridge Demolition

On a late April night in southern Arizona, ADOT tore down two bridges in 10 hours – no small task. ADOT had already planned to remove the old Marsh Station bridge, which required a 67-mile overnight detour for motorists on I-10 east of Tucson. About three weeks before the demolition was set to occur, two semi trucks collided under the overpass at the Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road bridge. The bridge was badly damaged from the resulting fire and would have to be replaced.

Planning and Programming:

Long Range Transportation Plan

For more than two years, ADOT worked toward developing the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, a blueprint that looks 25 years into the future to determine how to plan for and fund transportation projects that keep up with Arizona’s needs. The State Transportation Board formally approved the Long Range Transportation Plan, also known as What Moves You Arizona, in November, allowing ADOT planners to move ahead with their work to develop a transportation system that will carry Arizona into the future. The award-winning program was nationally recognized for planning and involving the public.

Intercity Rail Study

In October, ADOT kicked off the public outreach phase of its intercity rail study. The study’s goal is to identify if there is a need for intercity rail along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Over the course of a month, ADOT gathered information, data and comments. The agency will provide its findings to the public and to policymakers, so they can make an informed decision about how to move forward. ADOT is looking at all options, which include rail, transit—and the option to build nothing at all. The study will be complete in 2013.

Bicycle Safety Action Plan

As part of our public safety plan, ADOT is developing a Bicycle Safety Action Plan to help keep cyclists safe on Arizona’s highways. The goal is to reduce the number of bicycle crashes with motor vehicles and improve safety for both cyclists and drivers.  The goal of the Bicycle Safety Action Plan is to reduce the total number of bicycle crashes on Arizona highways by 12 percent by 2018.

Safe Routes to School

This year, nearly $3.5 million in grant funding was distributed by ADOT for 21 Safe Routes to School projects for schools and communities statewide. Eight of these projects, totaling $2.8 million, were designated for infrastructure improvements, such as the construction of sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, signage and striping. An additional 13 projects, totaling $720,000, went toward non-infrastructure elements, such as providing bike helmets to students, safety education and law enforcement. All Safe Routes to School projects are designed to get kids walking or biking and adopt healthy habits.

Motor Vehicle Division and Enforcement and Compliance Division:

Motor Vehicle Division

MVD continued to improve the quality of customer service at MVD offices by shortening the wait times for the more common motor vehicle and driver license transactions, while serving over 3.5 million customers at MVD’s 54 offices or satellite/specialized offices in 2011 The average wait time per transaction was approximately 19 minutes, compared to over 45 minutes just five years ago. Throughout the year, MVD also provided transaction assistance to returning soldiers with the U.S. Army Intelligence Command at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona. ADOT also launched several new specialty license plates, including the long-awaited Arizona Centennial plate.

Enforcement and Compliance Division

ADOT officers conducted Operation Bullhead, joint-agency commercial vehicle enforcement operation in Mohave County at the request of Bullhead City officials. ADOT officers recovered stolen vehicles identified during inspections. The enforcement division also created a Single Trip Overweight International Border Permit program for produce transporters out of Mexico and assisted local law enforcement with scrap metal yard investigations.

Other Accomplishments:

Grand Canyon National Park Airport

In June, the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, owned and operated by ADOT, began daily 737 airline service from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Travelers can now book a flight on Vision Airlines out of Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The new service is the first step in a larger vision to make it easier for all tourists to visit the canyon. The Transportation Security Administration was also stationed at the airport this year, making it easier for airline companies to fly into the airport, since they no longer have to provide their own passenger screening.

If you’ve been following along in the blog, you know that we’ve been chronicling ADOT’s reconstruction of the Mescal/J-Six bridge in southern Arizona since it was severely damaged when two semi trucks collided underneath it back in March. Completion of the fast-tracked bridge reconstruction is slated for later this month.

Last week, crews installed 35,000-50,000 pound girders and our video team wanted to explore a creative way to take you behind the scenes of what goes into placing a 25-ton piece of concrete.

To get the perfect shot, they looked to a GoPro® Hero. GoPros are tiny (1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2”, 3.3 oz) HD cameras that let photographers get some incredible shots they never would have been able to otherwise.

Conditions weren’t exactly ideal (check out our Facebook page for pictures of the tarantula and other creepy crawlers that joined their shoot and the extreme weather that loomed in the distance), but they couldn’t miss a chance to secure a GoPro to one of those massive girders! (You might want to sit down before watching this one…it may make you a little dizzy.)