The Arizona Department of Transportation and the city of Willcox are asking for the public’s feedback through the end of November on two potential traffic circulation changes to reduce the impact of freight traffic while improving safety in downtown Willcox.

The two options were identified as part of an ongoing traffic circulation study and public feedback from a community survey conducted in August 2021. The study looked at current and projected heavy truck traffic that flows between Interstate 10 and the industrial area on the southeast side of the city. Currently, the only way for heavy trucks to get between those areas is along State Route 186 through downtown Willcox, creating congestion and slowing the movement of freight.

After evaluating six possible alternatives to improve traffic flow and safety, ADOT identified two preferred alternatives for further evaluation and has begun a second community survey that runs through Tuesday, Nov. 30. Public input will help ADOT determine whether to move forward with either of the options or to make no changes. This analysis is in the study phase and no funding has been allocated for construction. This analysis is in the study phase and no funding has been allocated for construction.

The options are:

An interim, short-term project that would modify Haskell Avenue (Business 10) at the intersection with Maley Street (SR 186) to remove the left-turn lanes to provide more space for trucks to turn. Left turns would instead be made from one lane that is shared by through traffic, left turns and right turns. This option would also eliminate the existing traffic signal and convert the intersection into a four-way stop.

A longer-term solution that would construct a new bypass roadway east of downtown Willcox. The road would link Maley Street at 2nd Avenue to Haskell Avenue at Rex Allen Drive, including a new at-grade railroad crossing.

The public can find the community survey at /planning/transportation-studies/willcox-circulation-study. A paper version is available at the following locations during regular business hours:

Willcox City Hall, 101 S. Railroad Ave. B

Elsie S. Hogan Community Library, 100 N. Curtis Ave.

The survey is available in both English and Spanish. All comments must be received by Tuesday, Nov. 30.

TUCSON - All ramps and frontage roads linking Interstate 10 to Ruthrauff Road/El Camino del Cerro are now fully open to traffic as the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed a major interchange reconstruction project in northwest Tucson.

The larger, modern interchange provides more traffic lanes to reduce delays while improving safety by eliminating the need for drivers to wait up to 40 times a day for trains passing through this busy area of Tucson. 

ADOT began the $129 million project in January 2020 and completed work ahead of schedule. The project’s major improvements include:

• Widening I-10 from three to four lanes in each direction
• Switching the interchange configuration with new bridges that carry Ruthrauff Road/El Camino del Cerro over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, which eliminates an at-grade crossing and frequent delays
• Widening Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro at I-10. The new structure features two lanes in each direction for Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro and a pair of dual left-turn bays.
• Constructing an underpass to carry Davis Avenue/Highway Drive under Ruthrauff Road, with traffic using local roads and the newly-constructed Maryvale Avenue and Chester Way to connect with Ruthrauff Road

ADOT kept I-10 open through the entire reconstruction while maintaining access to businesses. Ruthrauff Road/El Camino del Cerro and the interchange ramps were closed for most of the project, with Ruthrauff Road reopening across I-10 in July. Since summer, ADOT has gradually reopened ramps and frontage road segments as crews have completed building those project elements.

While crews have completed all major construction, drivers may notice several weeks of minor work and occasional traffic restrictions.

The project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority’s roadway improvement plan, managed by the Pima Association of Governments. It is ADOT’s fourth recent major I-10 traffic interchange project in Pima County that allows drivers to cross I-10 without waiting for trains, following similar projects at Prince Road, Twin Peaks and Ina Road.

ADOT’s other current Tucson-area interchange project at I-10 and Houghton Road is also nearing completion. The $24.4 million project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2021.

For more information, go to azdot.gov/RuthrauffTI.

TUCSON  – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) invites the public to join a virtual information meeting to learn about the design for widening the section of Interstate 10 between the Ina Road Traffic Interchange and the Ruthrauff Road Traffic Interchange in Pima County.

The bilingual virtual public meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The meeting will include a presentation and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the ADOT team and offer comments.

ADOT is designing improvements to the nearly four-mile section of Interstate 10 between Ina and Ruthrauff roads, reconstructing and widening the highway to four lanes in each direction, including the traffic interchanges at Orange Grove Road and Sunset Road. Improvements also include adding additional lanes at exit and entrance ramps in the project area and creating new travel lanes using the inside shoulder near Ina Road.

Those interested can join the virtual public meeting in any of the following ways:

• Online: https://tinyurl.com/i10i2r
• Meeting ID: 893 9945 8336
• Phone: 669.900.6833 (English) 
• Phone: 866.730.7514, pin de participante 984619# (español)

Public input will be considered during the final design of the project. Comments provided by Nov. 21, 2021, will be included in the summary of this meeting; however, comments are welcome at any time. 

Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting or would like to comment further, may provide comments or ask questions in these ways: 

• Phone: 855.712.8530 (English and Spanish) 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Mail: ADOT Community Relations, 1221 S. Second Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85713 

For more information, visit azdot.gov/i10ina2ruthrauff.

PHOENIX – Sections of Interstate 10 will be closed in the downtown Phoenix area the next two weekends to allow for scheduled inspections at the Deck Park Tunnel.

The Arizona Department of Transportation recommends drivers plan ahead and use alternate routes, including Interstate 17 south of the downtown area, while the following I-10 closures are in place:

• Eastbound I-10 closed between the I-17 “Stack” interchange and Seventh Street from 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, to 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. Both ramps from I-17 to eastbound I-10 at the Stack will be closed. Detour: Eastbound I-10 traffic can detour to southbound I-17 and reconnect with I-10 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Drivers also can consider exiting ahead of the closure and using local routes to access the downtown Phoenix area. Note: State Fair traffic from the West Valley can exit ahead of the closure (including 35th or 27th avenues) and travel north before using eastbound Thomas Road to approach the fairgrounds.
• Westbound I-10 closed between the State Route 51/Loop 202 “Mini Stack” interchange and Seventh Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, to 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24. Southbound SR 51 and westbound Loop 202 ramps to westbound I-10 at the Mini Stack will be closed. Detour: Westbound I-10 traffic can detour to northbound I-17 starting near Sky Harbor Airport and reconnect with I-10 at the Stack interchange north of Van Buren Street. Westbound I-10 ramps to northbound SR 51 and eastbound Loop 202 will remain open. Traffic using the westbound Sky Harbor Boulevard ramp to westbound I-10 will be limited to access to northbound SR 51 or eastbound Loop 202. Note: State Fair traffic from the East Valley can use northbound I-17 starting near Sky Harbor Airport to reach northbound 19th Avenue or plan on exiting westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) ahead of the I-10 closure (32nd or 24th streets) and using westbound McDowell or Thomas roads to approach the fairgrounds.

Regularly scheduled inspections at the I-10 Deck Park Tunnel are conducted every two years. Engineers inspect the structure and other features, including ventilation, lighting, electrical and fire suppression systems. The tunnel opened to traffic in 1990 and allows I-10 traffic north of downtown to travel beneath the area that supports the city of Phoenix’s Hance Park.

Statewide highway conditions, including closures, are available via ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov or by calling 511. ADOT also provides updates on highway closures and other restrictions via its Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT. 

WILLCOX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Sept. 25-27 as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept, 25, to 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27.

Drivers should prepare to reduce their speed as they approach the work zone and exit I-10. Delays are possible.

Weather permitting, this is expected to be the final of several planned weekend closures required for the bridge deck replacement project. The bridge above I-10 will reopen later this fall, after crews complete paving and guardrail work.

For more information, go to the project website.

WILLCOX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Sept. 11-12 as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept, 11, to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.

Drivers should prepare to reduce their speed as they approach the work zone and exit I-10. Delays are possible.

The closure is one of several planned during the bridge deck replacement project, which is scheduled through late 2021.

For more information, go to the project website.

TUCSON - In an unprecedented push to remove roadside garbage and debris, 42 Arizona Department of Transportation employees from southern Arizona were recently able to pick up 11,000 pounds of trash and bulk items.

ADOT personnel from Casa Grande, Coolidge, Nogales, Oracle, Three Points, Tucson, and St. David cleaned up a stretch of Interstate 10 from Rita Rd. to Kino Blvd.; a distance of about 11 miles. This portion of the highway is a hot spot for roadside garbage and debris and the cleanup required approximately half of the available ADOT South Central District maintenance staff. 

“We did this because of an overwhelming amount of roadside garbage and debris on ADOT right-of-way,” said Highway Operations Supervisor Fernando Murrietta. “The problem isn’t just how much litter there is, but how it gets there. People throw trash from their vehicle and it’s ADOT crews who live and work in southern Arizona who pick it up. We are part of the solution because we’re cleaning up other peoples’ messes.  Things would be much better if people would be more respectful of the environment.”

Maintenance personnel are available to perform cleanup duties as part of their ongoing work, but their primary responsibility is safety-related work such as guardrail repair, pavement maintenance, right-of-way fence repair to keep livestock off roadways and other similar jobs. 

In addition to ADOT employees, trash cleanups are conducted by volunteer groups as well as state prison inmate crews. Inmate crews have not been available due to COVID-19 restrictions in prison complexes, but are now beginning to return to roadside duties. 

For more information about the ADOT Adopt a Highway program: azdot.gov

WILLCOX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Aug. 27-30 while work crews pour a new concrete surface as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30.

Drivers should prepare to reduce their speed as they approach the work zone and exit I-10. Delays are possible.

The closure is one of several planned during the bridge deck replacement project, which is scheduled through late 2021.

For more information, go to the project website.

PHOENIX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Aug. 20-23 while work crews pour a new concrete surface as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23.

Drivers should prepare to reduce their speed as they approach the work zone and exit I-10. Delays are possible.

The closure is one of several planned during the bridge deck replacement project, which is scheduled through late 2021.

For more information, go to the project website.

Late Thursday, motorists began using the new bridges that carry traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Drivers should expect ongoing temporary lane restrictions as crews continue work on the reestablished connection across I-10.

The ramps connecting I-10 to Ruthrauff Road and El Camino del Cerro remain closed and are expected to open in the next several months. Later this summer, westbound I-10 traffic will shift from its temporary configuration to the newly reconstructed westbound lanes.

The $129 million project also means drivers will no longer have to wait for trains to pass along the east side of I-10. With Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro now traveling above I-10, traffic can move through the area more smoothly and safely.

When the project is completed late fall, drivers will benefit from other improvements that include:

Expanding I-10 from three to four lanes in each direction.

Widening Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro to two lanes in each direction crossing I-10.

Reconstructing the ramps and frontage roads so all traffic flows above the railroad tracks.

Constructing an underpass to carry Davis Avenue/Highway Drive under Ruthrauff Road, with traffic using local roads and Maryvale Avenue to connect with Ruthrauff Road.

Drivers should expect occasional lane restrictions in the next several months, including when I-10 lanes are shifted to their permanent configuration.

The project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority’s roadway improvement plan, managed by the Pima Association of Governments. It is ADOT’s fourth recent major I-10 traffic interchange project in Pima County that allows drivers to cross I-10 without waiting for trains, following similar projects at Prince Road, Twin Peaks and Ina Road.

For more information, go to azdot.gov/RuthrauffTI.