Dust Storms

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

Monsoon’s arrival a reminder to Pull Aside, Stay Alive

June 15, 2023

ADOT urges drivers to be ready for dust storms, rain as monsoon season begins

PHOENIX – It can seemingly happen in an instant: A wall of dust blows across a highway and blinds drivers. Heavy rain then covers the roadway in water. It’s nearly impossible to drive – and surely unsafe.

In a panic, overwhelmed drivers may be unpared to safely navigate the powerful forces of a monsoon storm.

The solution is simple: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

With Thursday, June 15, marking the official start of the monsoon season, the Arizona Department of Transportation has simple tips to help drivers stay safe when summer storms pack dust and heavy rain.

The surest defense when dust storms are brewing is to not drive into one. Yet because storms can form and move quickly, motorists need to know how to act quickly if they find themselves in the thick of a blinding dust. ADOT’s Pull Aside, Stay Alive safety campaign offers these additional tips:

  • If in a dust storm, check for traffic around your vehicle and begin slowing down.
  • Pull off the roadway as soon as possible – completely, if you can – without waiting for visibility to worsen.
  • Turn off your engine.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights. Vehicles approaching from behind could use your headlights as a guide and potentially crash into you.
  • Take your foot off the brake and set the emergency brake.
  • Stay in your vehicle and remain buckled up until the storm passes.

Those who travel Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson should also be aware of ADOT’s dust detection and warning system. Active along a 10-mile corridor between Eloy and Picacho Peak, this automated system can lower the speed limit from the normal 75 mph to as low as 35 mph depending on visibility. The reduced speed limits are enforceable.

The clearly marked corridor includes overhead message boards that feature safety warnings when the system is activated. While the system was designed to help drivers move through the area more safely during dust storms, it does not replace common sense. As is the case anywhere in Arizona where dust storms pop up, drivers should be prepared to pull over even with the additional safety features in the area. 

ADOT routinely services the equipment in the corridor for reliability, just as the agency works year-round to maintain more than 55 pump stations along Phoenix-area freeways. Those stations can include up to four pumps driven by powerful engines capable of lifting more than 12,000 gallons of stormwater per minute.

Still, localized storms that drop more than 2 inches of rain per hour can tax any drainage system, and ADOT focuses on having technicians ready to respond if issues occur with any pump stations. If freeway flooding does occur in a low-lying area, avoid driving into the water and wait for emergency responders to provide assistance. 

Motorists should also be prepared to slow down any time rain has fallen on freeways or local roadways. Allow extra room between vehicles to provide a safe stopping distance.

More information on dust storm safety is available at PullAsideStayAlive.org, and safety tips for driving in rain storms are posted at azdot.gov/monsoon.

 

Dust detection system ready for action this monsoon season

Dust detection system ready for action this monsoon season

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Dust detection system ready for action this monsoon season

Dust detection system ready for action this monsoon season

By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications
June 11, 2021

ADOT’s high-tech dust detection system is poised and ready for action when the first monsoons of 2021 roll into the Valley.

The first-of-its kind system was fine-tuned and activated in time for the official June 15 start of the 2020 monsoon season.

Only, except for a few cameo appearances, the star of that show failed to appear. By meteorological standards, monsoon season 2020 was pretty much a dud.

“It was a ‘nonsoon’,” said Larry Hopper, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It was the hottest and driest monsoon on record.”

Will monsoon season 2021 be any wetter? Maybe, maybe not, according to recent climate reports. Chances are equal for a similar, slightly wetter or slighty drier season than last year.

But hold onto your hats and remember your safe driving rules. Forecasts call for a "greater potential" for dust storms, blowing dust and wildfires in 2021, especially in the earlier part of the monsoon season.

ADOT expects the dust detection system installed along 10 miles of Interstate 10 to be in high gear this season.

May 2020 to April 2021 saw the driest 12 months since 1895. Last year's no-show brought little to saturate the ground. This leaves an above normal amount of dry earth that, if the wind blows sufficiently, become dust storms.

Kevin Duby, ADOT’s statewide road weather manager, said the system was deployed successfully during a few storms last year, but he is eager to put it to the test during what is anticipated to be a dustier season.

“It worked well,” Duby said. “The variable speed limits signs worked as intended and did reduce speeds.”  

The speed limits are only one part of the system, which stretches between Eloy and Picacho Peak, from mileposts 209 to 219. Severe storms can create hazardous driving conditions across the Valley, but this stretch gets more than its share.

The most dangerous aspect of monsoon storms is the lack of visibility that thick walls of dust create. It can be extremely difficult to see during a big dust storm, which is one reason ADOT has longed urged motorists to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” during a monsoon storm.

X-band Radar 3 Long Range Dust Detection Sensor_051220_40
On this 10-mile stretch, 13 visibility sensors use light beams to determine dust particle density, and once they hit certain levels, the system activates overhead message boards and variable speed limit signs.

Programmable speed limit signs every 1,000 feet can change the legal speed limit from 75 mph to 35 mph.

A weather tower – that's the big ball pictured on the right – can detect storms more than 40 miles away and send the data to ADOT and the National Weather Service.

Duby said ADOT is looking forward to receiving information from the system to help make roadways safer.

“We feel confident the system is working as intended and hopeful we’ll see more data coming in and see how the motoring public responds to conditions.”

Read how the system tracked the "nonsoon" season and some of the top awards it earned in the "Dust detection and warning system tracks its first season" article.

ADOT’s dust detection system named as a ‘Gamechanger’

ADOT’s dust detection system named as a ‘Gamechanger’

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT’s dust detection system named as a ‘Gamechanger’

ADOT’s dust detection system named as a ‘Gamechanger’

March 24, 2021

The first-of-its-kind dust detection and warning system installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation has been named one of the “Infrastructure Gamechangers” by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The detection system, which was completed by ADOT on a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson in 2020, is among only four highway-related projects recognized nationally this year by the ASCE. The organization recognizes groundbreaking projects that represent the latest advancements in the way engineers plan, build and adapt to infrastructure needs. 

In announcing the national “Gamechangers,” ASCE President Jean-Louis Briaud said, “With resources stretched thin, finding solutions that can make the most of the tools afforded us can driver safety, variable speed corridor, be a challenge, but is an essential component of improving the built environment. ADOT’s dust-monitoring system will keep drivers safe and I-10 drivers moving efficiently. This project highlights the innovative nature of civil engineers, adapting to unique challenges to ensure our systems better serve the public.”

ADOT State Engineer Dallas Hammit added, “This recognition by our engineering peers is gratifying because it acknowledges the tremendous innovation and creativity that has gone into developing a system that will greatly enhance safety for drivers travelling through what can sometimes be a very challenging environment.”

Driving on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson during summer monsoon months can be hazardous when windblown dust reduces visibility, causing dangerous driving conditions. This technology has created an unprecedented innovation that helps increase driver safety. 

“Safety is our first priority and this first-of-its-kind technology answers a real need to make a very busy portion of highway much safer for motorists. It has already proven its effectiveness in recent dust storm events,” said Brent Cain, the director of ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division “Being chosen as an ASCE Gamechanger is a great honor.”

Drivers passing through the detection and warning zone encounter signs saying “Caution: Variable Speed Limit Corridor.” Soon after, a series of programmable speed limit signs every 1,000 feet can change the legal speed limit from 75 mph to as low as 35 mph. Additional variable speed limit signs are placed every 2 miles.

Overhead electronic message boards in and near the corridor alert drivers to blowing dust and warn them to slow down. Speed feedback signs inform drivers of their actual speeds.

Thirteen visibility sensors mounted on posts along the freeway use light beams to determine the density of dust particles in the air. Once visibility drops to certain levels, the system activates overhead message boards and the variable speed limit signs.

The sensors are complemented by a weather radar on a 20-foot tower at I-10 and State Route 87. It can detect storms more than 40 miles away, providing additional warning of incoming storms to ADOT and forecasters at the National Weather Service.

This technology is monitored by ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center in Phoenix, where staff can see real-time information on conditions such as the speed and flow of traffic. Closed-circuit cameras provide visual confirmation of conditions along the roadway and in the distance.

For additional information on dust storms and safety: www.pullasidestayalive.org

Dust detection and warning system tracks its first season

Dust detection and warning system tracks its first season

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Dust detection and warning system tracks its first season

Dust detection and warning system tracks its first season

By Kim Larson / ADOT Communications
November 4, 2020

With its first monsoon season under its belt, data shows that ADOT’s innovative dust detection and warning system works as designed.

Monsoon 2020, however, was not the most robust weather event, jokingly dubbed a ‘nonsoon.’

“It was a mixed blessing,” said David Locher, resident engineer for the project. “Less dust storms is obviously a good thing when it comes to driving conditions; however, we didn't have the normal weather events that would have been ideal for data gathering in our first season.”

There was one 20-minute event that provided measurable data. At one point during that storm, visibility dropped to less than 300 feet, triggering the speed limit to drop to 35 mph, which happens incrementally. How did drivers react to the warning system? The loop detectors showed that the average vehicle was driving about 45 mph, a big drop from the normal 75 mph limit.

“We do know that the system is working — it is doing what it’s supposed to,” said Kevin Duby, statewide road weather manager. “Our next step is to take the data we have to evaluate and determine the efficiencies of the system to improve performance.”

Often debilitating, dust storms in the area between Tucson and Phoenix have been a safety concern for several years. A study from 2010 and 2015 detailed how traffic was impacted along that Interstate 10 corridor, showing 83 dust-related crashes with more than half of them occurring within about a half-mile of each other.

The 10-mile area between mileposts 209 and 219 was identified as the focus of safety efforts. In 2016, ADOT, Arizona Department of Public Safety and National Weather Service staff, as well as vendors and contractors, began creating a system to help Arizona drivers be better equipped to deal with dust storms. Nothing of this nature existed so it was a momentous undertaking and would require substantial funding. A Federal Highway Administration grant was secured to help fund the $72 million project, which also included widening I-10 and improvements to the State Route 87 traffic interchange.

The dust-detection technology employed includes overhead message boards, variable speed limit signs, closed-circuit cameras and short-range detectors for blowing dust. In addition, a long-range weather X-Band radar dish is part of the system, sitting atop a 22-foot-tall pole at the SR 87 interchange that can detect storms more than 40 miles away. X-Band is frequency range from 8 to 12 gigahertz, which is most often used for civil, military and government radar applications such as weather monitoring, air traffic control, maritime vessel traffic control, defense tracking and vehicle speed detection for law enforcement. Its lower frequencies make this band suitable for the harshest weather conditions, providing exceptionally high link availability for weather-monitoring radar solutions.

Despite the literally dry run this year, the first-of-its-kind dust-detection and warning system has already received some impressive kudos. It received regional recognition in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards contest in the Operational Excellence category. Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AAA. The National Weather Service (NWS) also named ADOT as a 2020 Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence, for upholding the shared mission of protecting life and property through proactive public outreach and hazard mitigation efforts, and specificially cited the dust detection system.

This perfect storm of technology was assembled for this project, and its impact will be measured more in depth as time goes on.

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

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Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

Contest names ADOT's dust storm ditty

By John Tucker / ADOT Communications
June 29, 2020

It’s a tale as old as dust. Two down-on-their-luck songwriters team up and, against all odds, finagle a meeting with producers of a wildly successful website. At the meeting, the duo pitches co-writing a theme song. The producers are not impressed and summon security to toss the pair out. But one producer speaks out. She proposes giving the duo a chance, but with a catch. They must produce a song about dust storm safety and turn it around in one day. If they succeed, it might lead to future opportunities.

The songwriters take the challenge, write a catchy song and recruit gifted musicians to record it. The resulting recording takes the land by storm, becoming No. 1 Solid Gold on the Billboard Hot 100 and significantly boosting the website’s profile.

Time out for a reality check!

The account above is based on a true story, but I’ve taken artistic license with the facts for dramatic effect.

Now, it’s time to reveal the true back story of this "Behind the Music" tall tale.

John Walradt and I both work at ADOT – John as a graphic designer and I as a community relations project manager. We’ve played music together in the past and both enjoy songwriting. We decided to approach our co-workers in charge of the ADOT Kids program about adding some music to the interactive website.

The ADOT Kids producers warmed to the idea after hearing recordings of some of our individual songs. Our first thought was to co-write a theme song for the website, but the producers saw an opportunity to try something different to promote ADOT’s annual Pull Aside, Stay Alive campaign, which focuses on dust-storm safety. They asked us to compose a song for young people that emphasizes how to stay safe in a dust storm.   

John composed the verses and I wrote the chorus. We split up the lyric writing, each penning a verse and collaborating on the chorus. We recorded a rough cut of the song and shared it with the ADOT Kids producers who approved the project.

Next, we recruited in-house talent to help us record the song. In keeping with safety guidelines due to the current public health situation, we recorded the song parts individually. With help from ADOT’s Video Services team, I laid down a guitar track and lead vocal track in the recording booth at ADOT. That me in the booth in the top photo. Next, Gaby Kemp, another community relations project manager, and her talented daughters Naomi, 7, and Raquel, 6, added enthusiastic background vocals.

Doug Nick, assistant communications director for customer outreach and an accomplished drummer, recorded a drum track at home and emailed it to John, who added a keyboard part and vocal harmony in his home studio. As this photo shows, John mixed all the tracks and, voilà, the yet-unnamed dust storm song was brought to life.

Although the “true” story pales in comparison to the hyped "Behind the Music" version, I still feel like we turned dust into gold, gold forged through teamwork and a spirit of fun.

There's just one little catch: This future hit still needs a name! And that's where you come in. Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, we need your help coming up with a fun title for our song.

So here's how you help. First off, give our song a listen, then email your idea for a title to [email protected] by close of business Monday, July 6, and we'll pick our favorite. We'll announce the winners next week on the ADOT Blog and on ADOT's social media channels. 

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

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QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

QUIZ: Are you prepared for dust storms?

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications
June 19, 2020

You are driving down the highway when, straight ahead, you see a wall of swirling dust in front of you. It's a dust storm on the move, and it's crossing the highway. What do you do?

Planning for changing weather conditions is a must for all drivers. We talk a lot about how you should "Know Snow," but making the right choices when encountering a dust storm is equally important. That's why we put together this quiz to see if you know how to keep yourself safe. Whether you are learning for the first time or just need a refresher, test your knowledge of dust storm safety tips in the quiz below!

You can also find more information at FocusOnDriving.com and PullAsideStayAlive.org.

Monsoon Awareness Week brings reminder to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”

Monsoon Awareness Week brings reminder to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Monsoon Awareness Week brings reminder to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”

Monsoon Awareness Week brings reminder to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”

June 15, 2020

PHOENIX – The official start of monsoon season is here and Arizonans know what to expect in the coming months: occasional dust storms and torrential rain.

As the Arizona Department of Transportation marks Monsoon Awareness Week (June 14-20) with reminders to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” when drivers encounter blowing dust, ADOT is also providing information about the first-of-its-kind dust detection system on a stretch of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.

Motorists traveling through this 10-mile stretch of I-10 near Picacho Peak (between mileposts 209-219), an area prone to sudden blowing dust, will see weather radar, overhead message boards and variable speed limit signs. Here’s what travelers should know:

  • As drivers enter the detection zone they will see signs alerting them that they’ve entered a variable speed corridor.
  • When the system detects reduced visibility because of dust, variable speed limit signs, which are placed every 1,000 feet near the entrance of the corridor, can change the legal speed limit from 75 mph to as low as 35 mph. Additional variable speed limit signs are placed every 2 miles.
  • The system will also automatically activate overhead message boards with a warning for drivers to slow down when visibility drops because of windblown dust.
  • If visibility is clear, drivers will notice no change.

It’s important to note that this pilot-project technology exists only at this location -- dust storms can occur anywhere in Arizona – and doesn’t replace common sense. When you see a dust storm, do not drive into it. If you get caught in a fast-moving dust channel, follow the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” tips to help survive a blowing dust event.

  • If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights. You do not want other vehicles, approaching from behind, to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and reduce speeds.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org, and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon.

 

 

 

Driving Safety Home: Agency has long history of dust storm safety efforts

Driving Safety Home: Agency has long history of dust storm safety efforts

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Driving Safety Home: Agency has long history of dust storm safety efforts

Driving Safety Home: Agency has long history of dust storm safety efforts

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer
July 8, 2019

Over the decades, technology sure has changed but the weather-related issues facing Arizona drivers haven’t.

Back in 1973, the Arizona Highway Department launched a dust warning system that included 40 changeable message signs along 81 miles of Interstates 8 and 10 near Casa Grande. The signs were designed to display two different messages warning drivers of wind or dust. According to agency bulletins from that time, the messages were changed by DPS dispatchers in Phoenix using radio signals. Later, in 1976, ADOT modified the signs to refer motorists to specific AM radio stations for current advisories.

Today, we’re working on a dust detection and warning system on I-10 near the community of Picacho that will alert drivers to dangerous conditions. It is a little more advanced than what we had in the 1970s but the goal of our efforts remains the same – we want motorists to be aware of the situation ahead so they can make good decisions.

The new system will combine a number of technologies that you can read about on the project’s webpage. But no matter what type of warning system is in place, all drivers need to know that the most important thing they can do is to not drive into a dust storm. Visibility can very quickly drop to zero, putting everyone in a dangerous situation.

If you do encounter a dust storm and you don’t have time to exit the highway, remember these tips:

  • Immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers. You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Find more information online at pullasidestayalive.org and focusondriving.com/dust-storms.

From the Director: Don’t let dust get in your eyes

From the Director: Don’t let dust get in your eyes

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From the Director: Don’t let dust get in your eyes

From the Director: Don’t let dust get in your eyes

June 11, 2019

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

To paraphrase a popular song from 1973 by The Platters, don’t let dust get in your eyes. It is that time of year when we Arizonans brace for our monsoon storms. These storms bring awesome lightning shows, but also winds that can kick up dust from the desert floor and blanket an area so thick, you can’t see in front of you. I would like to remind everyone, residents and visitors, that it is incredibly dangerous to drive into a dust storm.

At ADOT, we have photos and videos showing the gritty and grisly aftermath of collisions that occurred in dust storms. Our award-winning safety campaign, “Pull Aside, Stay Alive,” reminds motorists how they can stay safe if they get caught in a dust storm. The most important thing: Never drive into a dust storm.

I would also encourage you to share these important safety tips with family and friends who are planning to visit our great state this summer. You can also share our FocusOnDriving.com website for other helpful driving tips that will ensure your family and friends stay safe on our roadways.

Whether you like listening to “Dust in the Wind” by the band Kansas or “Sandstorm” by Darude, it’s important to be prepared and to drive safely this summer and avoid driving through dust storms. You can even stream the Dust Storm Playlist we created on Spotify as you travel this summer.

 


 

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

Drivers: Do you know what to do when confronted with a dust storm?

June 10, 2019

PHOENIX – Are you ready, Arizona? Monsoon season is back.

While the exact moment of when the first massive wall of dust will rise up from the desert floor isn’t known, we do know this: It’s coming.

With June 9-14 officially proclaimed Monsoon Awareness Week by Governor Doug Ducey, now is the perfect time to brush up on the actions drivers can take to stay safest when confronted with blowing dust.

The No. 1 thing motorists can do to stay out of harm’s way? Do. Not. Drive. Into. A. Dust. Storm.

That’s a really bad idea. Visibility can drop to zero and turn pitch black, meaning you’re driving blind and so is anyone else on the road with you. But maybe you’re curious and wonder, “Just how dark and dangerous could it be?” Well, we’ve got the answers. This video shows how quickly visibility is reduced to nearly nothing after driving into a dust storm. And this video shows the aftermath of a 19-vehicle collision that occurred in 2013 in dust storm on Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak that resulted in three fatalities and a dozen injured people.

OK, so now you’re convinced to not make the decision to drive into the towering wall of dust. But what if a dust channel whips across the highway in front of you, engulfing your vehicle in a swirling sandstorm? Remember these words: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

ADOT has developed the following “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm safety driving tips, which can help motorists survive a blowing dust event.

  • If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights. You do not want other vehicles, approaching from behind, to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon.