PHOENIX – One of the most visible projects on Interstate 17 is moving onto the final phase of construction.

Since the January 2013 start of the $11.8 million safety improvement project south of Camp Verde, the Arizona Department of Transportation has moved approximately 350,000 tons of dirt and boulders from Copper Canyon to clear a path for the construction of the first-ever climbing lane (and third travel lane) on southbound I-17.

When complete, the additional southbound lane through the final two miles to the top of Copper Canyon will make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway (mileposts 280-282), which is the primary travel route linking Phoenix and Flagstaff.

Since early 2013, motorists traveling late at night on I-17 (primarily between 11:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.) have had to plan ahead to avoid more than 70 planned one-hour closures required to safely remove the rock material from the mountainside of Copper Canyon. Those restrictions ended with the final overnight blasting closure on Feb. 18, but additional lane restrictions are anticipated in the future as crews move to pave the new lane.

With the blasting phase of the project completed on Copper Canyon and the project 80 percent finished, crews have already begun building the subgrade for the new pavement on the climbing lane, which will add a third travel lane for motorists to climb to the top of the steep Copper Canyon.

ADOT will start final paving operations for the project in early summer when temperatures are ideal for this type of work.

In addition to the climbing lane, ADOT is also building a two-mile-long merging lane between the State Route 260 junction and General Crook Trail traffic interchange (mileposts 285-287), which is located just before the approach to Copper Canyon. The merging lane will allow larger vehicles to gain speed before merging onto I-17 while also providing more room for passenger vehicles traveling past slower traffic.

ADOT expects to complete the entire project in early summer. Visit facebook.com/azdot or azdot.gov for more information about ADOT. For more information about ADOT projects and programs across Arizona, see the agency's latest blog posts at azdot.gov/adot-blog.

PHOENIX – Three highway projects by the Arizona Department of Transportation, including two major northern Arizona projects, won Engineering Excellence Grand Awards presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona earlier this year. Two other projects received Honor Awards.

The winning projects were the Interstate 17/State Route 69 Cordes Junction Traffic Interchange, the US 89T Interim US 89 Detour and a topographical survey on the State Route 89A improvement project through Oak Creek Canyon.

HDR Engineering, Inc., won a Grand Award for the I-17/SR 69 Cordes Junction traffic interchange project. This project was ADOT’s first federally funded highway project to be built under the construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) method in Arizona. The CMAR concept is an innovative contracting method that involves pairing a design team with a construction team to create one, coordinated entity that delivers a freeway project from beginning to end. This method can save time and money by overlapping the design and construction phases.

The US 89T project, built to serve as a detour to the landslide-damaged US 89, received the award for AZTEC Engineering Group’s coordinated effort to produce roadway plans and get environmental clearance in less than two months. This process normally takes one to two years to complete.

ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration, the Navajo Nation, Navajo Division of Transportation and Bureau of Indian Affairs worked together to accelerate the process in order to open the temporary route as soon as possible. US 89T cuts the original detour route via US 160 and SR 98 nearly in half, saving time and mileage.

The SR 89A improvement project, which will include repaving the roadway, replacing guardrail, repairing the bridge deck at Pumphouse Wash and mitigating rock falls in the area, received the award for David Evans and Associates’ innovative use of laser imaging technologies to conduct a topographical survey. The use of laser imaging resulted in fewer lane closures and significant savings in time and cost. Topographical surveys are a part of the design phase of a roadway project.

Honor Awards were received by URS Corporation for the redesign of the Interstate 10/State Route 90 interchange to solve safety and traffic capacity issues, and by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Avenue 3E widening project from Gila Ridge Road to 24th Street in Yuma to provide better connectivity through the community.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona Engineering Excellence Awards competition recognizes engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value.

American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona is a member organization under the American Council of Engineering Companies, and is devoted exclusively to the business interests of engineers in private practice.

PHOENIX – The McGuireville rest area along Interstate 17 at milepost 298 near State Route 179 reopened to travelers yesterday after renovations to the rest area were completed, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both facilities on either side of I-17 received upgraded restrooms and sewer lines as well as a new well and water pumps.

This renovation will help ensure the McGuireville rest area will remain operational for travelers in the years to come. The revamped water system will be able to deliver water, a critical component of rest areas, to the restrooms, water fountains and even the caretakers who live onsite.

The project, which was to reopen in September, was delayed in reopening due to electrical equipment delays for the new water pump.

PHOENIX – Pumps along Valley freeways have been working hard to clear a tremendous amount of rainfall that fell during a short amount of time this afternoon, after a major storm hit many parts of the Valley and other parts of the state.

Overall, the drainage system and pump stations worked well to clear all the water quickly, while maintenance crews responded to areas of concern. As drivers head into rush hour this afternoon, there are still a few areas that motorists need to look out for.

Interstate 17 in the north Valley received a tremendous amount of rain. At this hour, portions of Deer Valley Road, Bell Road and Greenway Road are closed under the freeway due to flooding. The exits at Greenway Road are also closed. I-17 is open to drivers.

Other areas of the state have also seen flooding, including:

• State Route 71 is closed in both directions approximately one mile south of US 93.
• State Route 386 is closed in both directions between SR 86 and Kitt Peak Observatory.
• Salome Road is closed near Interstate 10, approximately 80 miles east of the California border.
• Eastbound State Route 88 is closed at milepost 200, northeast of Apache Junction.

Conditions are subject to change as floodwaters recede.

More rain is expected throughout the state tonight and into tomorrow. It’s important that drivers take it slow and drive safely in heavy rain and low visibility conditions:

• First and foremost SLOW DOWN. The posted speed limit may not be a safe speed to travel in bad weather. On wet roads your vehicle will have less traction than on a dry road. Slower travel speeds allow for safer braking and stopping distances.
• Be sure to leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you and be aware of the vehicles around you in other travel lanes. Braking and shorter stopping distances will be affected by wet and slippery roadway surfaces.
• Do not enter an area where the roadway has been closed by barricades due to flooding. You risk your life and face being cited under the state’s stupid motorist law.
• Storm runoff can loosen boulders and rocks on slopes above highways. Stay alert in rockfall-prone areas.
• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling. One to two feet of water will float most vehicles and can cause them to be swept away.

Drivers can get the latest travel information by calling 5-1-1 or by logging on to www.az511.gov.

PRESCOTT – The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a maintenance and paving project on northbound I-17 starting at Coldwater Canyon Road to the Crown King exit (mileposts 245 to 250) Sunday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m.

The project consists of removal of rock and debris behind the concrete barrier along and the removal of a layer of existing asphalt and replaced with new rubberized asphalt through the work zone.

Drivers can expect an overnight single lane restriction northbound Sunday through Thursday nights for three months. Work hours are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. Minimal delays are expected.

This $2.3 million project is expected to be complete by early spring 2014.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

For more information, email [email protected] or call the ADOT project hotline at 855.712.8530. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov or call 511.

PHOENIX – Interstate 17 north of the Phoenix area, one of the busiest highways at the start and end of the Labor Day weekend, will be the focus of a safe-driving campaign starting Friday (Aug. 30), as part of a taskforce lead by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

DPS will assign six highway patrol officers, two commercial vehicle enforcement officers and several freeway service patrol members to work along I-17 between Black Canyon City and the State Route 69 interchange at Cordes Junction on Friday and Monday (Sept. 2) as part of the state’s Labor Day Traffic Safety Taskforce.

ADOT will use its overhead message boards in the area to display the words “Safety Corridor – Stay Alert, Stay Alive,” heading into and during the holiday weekend. In addition, portable message boards also will display safety messages such as “Buckle up” and be available to advise drivers of incidents ahead.

“The Arizona Department of Public Safety is dedicated to eliminating crashes on Interstate 17 this weekend,” said DPS Director Robert Halliday. “Our ultimate goal at DPS is zero fatalities statewide. With the help of our partners at the ADOT we will be focused on preventing crashes by enforcing speed limits, safety belt usage and driver attention.”

DPS, ADOT, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Arizona Department of Health Services also have teamed up with the Daisy Mountain Fire Department, John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Medical Center and the Yavapai County Citizens Corps’ Community Emergency Response Team to provide traffic safety information to drivers at two locations on Friday and Monday.

Drivers can stop by the “Labor Day Safe Driving Fairs” at the Outlets at Anthem, I-17 and Anthem Way, as well as the Sunset Point Rest Area from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. Personnel will hand out bottled water and, if necessary, be prepared to provide basic first aid for holiday weekend travelers.

According to ADOT statistics, Labor Day weekend was the deadliest holiday weekend in Arizona last year. Seventeen people were killed in 14 fatal crashes on highway and local roads across the state over the extended Labor Day weekend in 2012.

“Obviously it will be a much safer and enjoyable weekend if we can avoid serious incidents or traffic tie-ups along I-17,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “State agencies are teaming up to promote public safety and to be ready to respond quickly if accidents or other incidents happen. Drivers can do their part by buckling up, avoiding distractions and not tailgating.”

ADOT will have equipment ready, including a front loader, dump truck and roadway sweeper, to allow crews to respond to help DPS officers along I-17.

Law enforcement officers around the state will be working to take impaired drivers off the road, according to Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Alberto Gutier.

“Alcohol was involved in more than a third of the fatal crashes across the state over last year’s Labor Day weekend,” said Gutier. “This I-17 safety campaign is part of a statewide effort where officers will target impaired drivers who put innocent lives at risk. If you drive hammered, be prepared to get nailed.”

Drivers also are urged to get a good night’s rest before heading out on a holiday weekend trip and to check their vehicles, especially their tire pressure, oil and fluid levels and engine belts and hoses.

PHOENIX — A regular destination for drivers headed to the Flagstaff or Prescott areas, the junction of Interstate 17 and State Route 69 has been described as the “gateway to northern Arizona,” but in recent years the outdated Cordes Junction traffic interchange had started to show its age.

Built in the early 1960s, the Cordes Junction traffic interchange carried far more traffic than it was designed to accommodate. With traffic volumes expected to double in the coming decades, the Arizona Department of Transportation began a task in the summer of 2011 to redesign and rebuild the busy interchange, which is located approximately 65 miles north of downtown Phoenix, with minimal disruption to traffic.

The solution was a $50.9 million project that would transform the outdated intersection design that forced slower local traffic to mix with high-speed highway traffic, causing congestion and safety concerns. Two years after construction started, ADOT has completed the project on budget and on time. The final piece of the project will include permanent lane striping, which will be completed in the weeks ahead.

“There was a huge need for this project and it was eagerly anticipated by members of the community,” said ADOT Prescott District Engineer Alvin Stump. “Thousands of visitors, truck drivers and business travelers use I-17 and SR 69 en route to other destinations in Arizona and neighboring states.

“Plus, the Cordes Junction interchange provides access for numerous tourist attractions and recreational areas locally, not to mention that many travelers use services at the Cordes Junction interchange because of its central location between Flagstaff and Phoenix,” Stump said.

The new diamond-shaped interchange was designed to improve traffic flow and safety, while separating local and highway traffic.

“The new Cordes Junction traffic interchange has greatly enhanced the ability of our school bus drivers to safely move children through the Cordes Lakes area. Safety is our No. 1 priority,” said Mayer Unified School District Superintendent Dean Slaga. “In addition to improving safety and allowing for easier access to Cordes Lakes, the project should be a boon for the local community and will allow for future business growth for decades to come.”

The largest project (in terms of cost) in northern Arizona the last two years, the Cordes Junction traffic interchange was completed in four phases and included:

• Construction of a new traffic interchange approximately one-half mile north of the existing interchange
• Removal of the outdated on- and off-ramps
• Construction of new ramps to separate Prescott-bound traffic from local traffic traveling at slower speeds
• Replacement of the existing bridges carrying I-17 over Big Bug Creek
• Construction of seven new bridges and three local roads (Copper Star Road, Arcosanti Road, Stagecoach Trail), installation of two roundabouts and improvements to local stormwater drainage.

With the communities of Cordes Lakes, Spring Valley and Mayer located only a few miles from the intersection, ADOT wanted to incorporate key elements of the area adjacent to the project. To do that, ADOT sought out famed Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri, who established Arcosanti, an artists' community and a popular tourist attraction that is located approximately two miles northeast of the traffic interchange.

Soleri’s artistic vision is on display on some of the retaining walls and abutments on the bridges at the interchange. Soleri, who worked as a project consultant for ADOT, died April 9 at age 93. Most of his artwork was completed prior to his death and his designs will be on display for drivers who pass through the area.

“Cordes Junction is often described as the gateway to northern Arizona,” said Arcosanti General Manager Mary Hoadley. “Working on the designs for the artwork displayed at the interchange was a rewarding experience for Paolo Soleri. In the three years of design development and construction it was eye opening for him to see all the problem solving and teamwork that took place to get his abstract artwork to come to life.”

Project Milestones

August 2011 – Construction begins.

November 2011 – Work begins on new Arcosanti Bridge abutments; Copper Star Road opens to traffic.

March 2012 – Girders placed on the new Cordes Lakes Road Bridge.

June 2012 – New northbound Big Bug Bridge on I-17 opens to traffic; work begins on new west roundabout.

July 2012 – Work on southbound Big Bug Bridge on I-17 begins.

September 2012 – Newly paved Stagecoach Drive opens to traffic (the local road was previously unpaved).

October 2012 – I-17 on- and off-ramps open at Arcosanti traffic interchange; new west roundabout opens to traffic; old northbound loop on-ramp and old southbound loop off-ramp close; new Cordes Lakes Bridge opens to traffic and old northbound SR 69 ramp closes; girders placed on southbound Big Bug Bridge on I-17; SR 69 bridges are painted.

November 2012 – Arcosanti Bridge opens to traffic. Work begins on new east roundabout; demolition of old Cordes Lakes Bridge.

December 2012 – New northbound I-17 to northbound SR 69 flyover bridge opens.

January 2013 – Southbound Big Bug Bridge on I-17 opens to traffic; northbound and southbound I-17 open to normal lane configuration; completion of east roundabout.

June 28, 2013 – Project completion.

August 2013 – Final lane striping.