The holiday travel season is officially here and it’s sure to be a busy one.

According to AAA, the number of holiday travelers nationwide is expected to top 100 million for the first time ever and guess what? Most of them will be driving.

Here at ADOT, we know that now is the time when many people take to the road to visit family and friends. That’s why we offer up a number of resources to help you plan your trip and make it safe…

Know Snow: Drivers need to plan ahead if their travels could include snow or ice. Our Know Snow page contains a lot of good information, including safety recommendations and tips to prepare your vehicle for a trip up north.

az511: Before heading out on the road, you’ll want to visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov. The site provides the latest highway conditions around the state and features real-time images along highways that provide a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions. You can also call 511 – outside of Arizona dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623) – for updates on highway conditions.

Twitter: For updates nearly round the clock (4 a.m. to midnight) directly from ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center, ADOT's Twitter feed is the one to follow @ArizonaDOT.

ServiceArizona: All ADOT and MVD offices will be closed in recognition of the holidays on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, but you can always visit ServiceArizona.com to complete a number of MVD transactions online.

Finally, we encourage you to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, avoid distractions and be patient when traveling during the holidays. Please obey speed limits, buckle up and never drive while impaired. Here are some additional driving tips to help make sure you and your family have a happy and safe holiday season:

• Get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip.
• Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, fluid levels and the condition of engine belts.
• Buckle up and double-check child safety seats.
• Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver ahead of time.
• Obey speed limits, be patient and avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
• Have an emergency preparedness kit that includes extra clothes, blankets, flashlights, snack foods and drinking water.

Planning on hitting the road this holiday?

You’re not alone!

Traveling to be with friends and family for Thanksgiving is a tradition that’s right up there with turkey and pumpkin pie. We know the state’s highways will be busy, which is why we’d like to share some details to help make your trip a safe one.

First, some good news…

To help holiday travelers and promote safety, ADOT won’t allow any construction-related closures along state highways over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The agency will be working to help DPS, local fire and medical emergency agencies and towing companies respond to incidents along state highways as quickly as possible.

Drivers should be prepared for unscheduled closures due to disabled vehicles or crashes. Motorists are also urged to stay alert and obey speed limits, especially in areas where existing work zones are in place.

Teaming up for highway safety
ADOT will position heavy equipment, trucks and crews at locations along several of the state’s busier travel highways starting Wednesday, Nov. 25. For example, equipment such as front loaders and incident-response trucks will be positioned along Interstate 17 in the Anthem area south of Black Canyon City, Interstate 10 near Queen Creek Road southeast of Phoenix and along State Route 87 at the Saguaro Lake turnoff north of Fountain Hills.

On ADOT’s electronic signs along highways, travelers will see messages about slowing down and driving sober.

Pack some patience and play it safe
Last year’s was the deadliest Thanksgiving weekend on Arizona roads in the past decade. The toll a year ago: 18 people killed, six of them in crashes involving impaired drivers.

ADOT and other safety agencies, including the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, are urging drivers to keep their speed in check, buckle up and avoid distractions, especially texting while driving. Here are some additional safe-driving tips you’ll want to remember:

• Get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip.
• Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, fluid levels and the condition of engine belts.
• Buckle up and double-check child safety seats.
• Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver ahead of time.
• Obey speed limits, be patient and avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
• Have an emergency preparedness kit that includes extra clothes, blankets, flashlights, snack foods and drinking water.

For the latest highway conditions across Arizona, travelers can visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 (outside Arizona call 1-888-411-ROAD). ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) also provides information about closures and highway conditions.

Additional information about winter driving, ADOT’s snowplows and items to include in an emergency kit can be found at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

As 2014 winds down, we want to say that we’ve really enjoyed sharing ADOT’s story with you this year! We can’t wait to bring even more videos and blog posts your way in 2015...

Before that new year rolls around, the ADOT Blog will be taking a brief hiatus. We’ll be back in January, but until then, here are a few items we want to make sure you know about:

• Good news! To help with holiday travel, drivers will not encounter any state highway closures for construction work Dec. 22 - Jan. 2. While work on highway projects will continue over the next two weeks, no full closures will be scheduled! Motorists are still urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, avoid distractions and be patient if traveling during the holidays. Please obey speed limits, buckle up and never drive while impaired. Don’t forget to #KnowSnow.
• Only the blog is taking a vacation. All ADOT and MVD offices will be open EXCEPT for Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, when they’ll close in recognition of the holidays (you can always visit ServiceArizona to complete a number of MVD transactions online).
• Finally, we want to point you to a few different spots where you can find ADOT information all year. Check for ADOT news and info on Twitter and Facebook. We also encourage you to visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 for the latest highway conditions around the state.

Stay safe and have a happy holiday season!

Happy Halloween, ADOT Blog readers!

While it’s hard to focus on anything but costumes, candy and fun times, we want to make sure you’re planning for something else this holiday serves up: heavy traffic.

That’s right. As the following ADOT news release explains, Halloween commutes are often “scary” due to heavier-than-usual traffic…

When Halloween falls on a weekday, many commuters change their regular routine, fleeing toward local freeways at nearly the same time in order to get home for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties. The result can be a fiendish commute.

ADOT recommends the following for surviving a mummy’s curse of a Halloween drive home:

• If possible, try to get an earlier start to your destination in order to avoid the scariest traffic conditions. Freeway traffic tends to build between 4-6 p.m., what has come to be known as the “witching hour.”
• Remember to be patient and recognize that it may take longer to get home during this particular commute. Take your time.
• Don’t let down your guard when you’re nearing home. Remember: Disney princesses, Minecraft characters and too-cool-to-be-costumed teenagers could be crossing streets in your neighborhood and might not be paying attention.

As always, you can find current traffic information, including highway restrictions and closures statewide, on ADOT’s Travel Information Site at az511.gov. You can also follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511 for the very latest.

We are sure many of you are looking forward to the upcoming three-day weekend (!!!) and we’re betting that your plans might include some travel.

Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer and often is a good time for families to hit the road and take a trip, but you know what that means – more cars on the highways!

You’ll be happy to know that motorists will get a break from any construction closures this long weekend. That’s right – no construction closures will be scheduled along state highways, including Phoenix-area freeways, over Labor Day weekend.

Meanwhile, ADOT is teaming up with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and other agencies on a campaign to limit and respond quickly to crashes or disabled vehicles along I-17 north of Phoenix. Visit our website to learn more about the “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” safety campaign.

Since our hope is that your drive goes as smoothly as possible, we wanted to share some information on a couple of ADOT projects that will help you map out your trip...

Heavy traffic expected on I-15 during Labor Day holiday

ADOT is urging motorists traveling on Interstate 15 in the far northwest corner of Arizona to allow for extra travel time due to expected heavy traffic during the upcoming Labor Day weekend and be aware of an existing work zone through the Virgin River Gorge.

Delays of up to two hours have been reported on previous holiday travel weekends through the Virgin River Gorge, which is nearly 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

ADOT is currently working on a major reconstruction project on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16), located about 20 miles south of St. George, Utah.

While no active construction will be taking place during the holiday weekend, the highway is currently narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in 2016. With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Traffic delays expected on SR 89A due to the Coconino County Fair

If you’re lucky enough to be headed to the annual Coconino County Fair this Labor Day weekend, ADOT urges you to allow some extra travel time as traffic delays are expected.

The main entrance to the Fort Tuthill County Park along State Route 89A remains closed due to an ongoing improvement project and traffic is routinely backed up onto I-17 and SR 89A during special events at the park.

The park’s main entrance at Fairgrounds Road, which intersects with JW Powell Boulevard and SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard, has been closed since early June while ADOT continues construction of the realignment of SR 89A and two new roundabouts at this location.

Coconino County Fair Access Routes

During the fair, attendees will enter and exit the fairground at two alternate locations north of Fairgrounds Road. The first location is Fort Tuthill Loop, approximately 300 yards north of the main entrance. The second location is at West Purple Sage Trail, which is slightly more than one-half mile north of the main entrance on SR 89A (see map at left).

ADOT is reconstructing the SR 89A/JW Powell Boulevard intersection and southbound I-17 ramp/JW Powell Boulevard intersection in an effort to improve traffic flow and enhance safety. You can read more about the project (and see a great video) by revisiting this blog post from June.

Find more travel information from ADOT

No matter where you’re going this weekend (and even if you’re staying home), we want you to know that you can stay-up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state by visiting ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov. You can also call 511 (outside of Arizona, dial 1-888-411-ROAD) for traffic details. And, as always, follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) for updates.

Have a safe holiday!

"Scary" traffic conditions can occur during Halloween afternoon rush hour...

That's why drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time after work today due to the heavier traffic conditions that can occur on this holiday.

When Halloween falls on a weekday, more commuters tend to change their routine and wind up on local freeways at nearly the same time in order to get home in time for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties.

ADOT is recommending the following tips for Halloween afternoon commuters:

• If possible, try to get an earlier start home in order to avoid the heaviest traffic conditions. Freeway traffic tends to build between 4 and 6 p.m.
• Remember to be patient and recognize that it may take longer to get home in this particular commute.
• Don't be in a hurry when you're almost home. Remember, children could be crossing streets in your neighborhood and may not be paying attention.

As always, you can check freeway conditions on ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.gov.

2011 is quickly wrapping up and what a year it has been! Here at the ADOT Blog, we’ve enjoyed being able to showcase some of the interesting and exciting things that have happened at the Arizona Department of Transportation this year.

We’ll keep on posting in 2012 but the blog is going on a break for the rest of 2011. We’re going to be back the first week of the new year armed with fresh topics, fun facts and some more of those great videos! 

But before the holiday hiatus, there are a few things we want to let you know about...

• It’s just the blog that’s taking a week-long vacation! All ADOT and MVD offices will be open EXCEPT for Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 when they’ll close in recognition of the Christmas and New Year holidays.  
• There are plenty of places to find ADOT information online. Be sure to check out the ADOT Twitter feed and Facebook page. If you’re looking for detailed traffic conditions head over to az511.gov.
• Some good news for anyone with Arizona holiday travel plans. There will be NO state highway construction closures over Christmas and New Year’s weekends! Although no major restrictions are scheduled, drivers should be prepared for existing work zones and for some ongoing projects and possible increased traffic before and at the end of each holiday weekend over the next two weeks.

We hope you all stay safe and have a very happy holiday season … and, if you happen to be looking for some winter reading material you can always scroll through our blog archives!