PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be doing pavement preservation along a nearly 20-mile stretch of Interstate 17 near Cordes Junction early next week.

The project will require alternating lane closures in each direction along the interstate between Crown King and State Route 169. Work will take place on Monday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 31, between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Drivers heading through the area should budget extra travel time and expect delays while being guided through the alternating lane closures. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email [email protected]. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511.

PHOENIX – Northbound Seventh Avenue remains narrowed to one lane at the Interstate 17 interchange in Phoenix, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should consider using other northbound routes in the area approaching downtown Phoenix, including Central Avenue and Seventh Street.

The northbound Seventh Avenue left turning lanes to the northbound I-17 on-ramp are closed. The southbound I-17 off-ramp also is restricted with one of two left turn lanes to northbound Seventh Avenue closed.

The restrictions are in place while ADOT prepares for future bridge repairs at the interchange. One of the I-17 bridge girders over Seventh Avenue was damaged Oct. 9 when it was struck by an over-height vehicle.

The I-17 bridge was inspected by bridge engineers who determined it is safe for freeway travel while repairs are scheduled.

PHOENIX – Northbound Seventh Avenue is narrowed to one lane at the Interstate 17 interchange in Phoenix, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should consider using other northbound routes in the area approaching downtown Phoenix, including Central Avenue and Seventh Street.

The northbound Seventh Avenue left turning lanes to the northbound I-17 on-ramp are closed. The southbound I-17 off-ramp also is restricted with one of two left turn lanes to northbound Seventh Avenue closed.

The restrictions are in place while ADOT prepares for future bridge repairs at the interchange. At least one of the I-17 bridge girders over Seventh Avenue was damaged when the bridge was struck Monday morning by an over-height vehicle.

The I-17 bridge was inspected by bridge engineers and it is safe for travel while repairs are scheduled.

PHOENIX – The first traffic restrictions required for the installation of a first-in-the-nation pilot wrong-way vehicle detection and warning system are scheduled this weekend at the Interstate 17 interchange at Indian School Road in Phoenix.

Preliminary work started in the past week on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $3.7 million thermal-camera based project designed to immediately alert ADOT and the Department of Public Safety if a wrong-way vehicle is detected along a 15-mile stretch of I-17.

Indian School Road will be closed in both directions at I-17 from 9 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday (Aug. 19) for the mounting of thermal cameras, installation of fiber-optic cable and rewiring of control cabinets in the area. Both I-17 off-ramps at Indian School Road will be closed. Drivers should consider alternate routes, including Camelback or Thomas roads. Indian School Road traffic approaching I-17 will be required to make right turns onto the freeway’s frontage road or on-ramps.

Future restrictions will be scheduled at other I-17 interchanges between I-10 northwest of downtown and Loop 101 in north Phoenix as the installation project advances over the next few months. No restrictions will be scheduled over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Following installation and testing, the system will be fully operational by early next year.

Work on the I-17 wrong-way vehicle alert system started a month sooner than estimated because ADOT pre-ordered some of the materials, including thermal cameras and fiber-optic cable, earlier this summer rather than wait for a contractor to purchase those items.

The system will use thermal cameras to detect a wrong-way vehicle along an off-ramp, initially triggering an illuminated wrong-way sign with flashing lights aimed at getting the attention of the wrong-way driver.

The system also will immediately alert ADOT and DPS that a wrong-way vehicle is detected while warning other freeway drivers in the area through overhead message boards. On the freeway, additional cameras will signal when a wrong-way vehicle passes to help State Troopers plan their response. That response right now usually begins with 911 calls from other motorists.

The I-17 pilot system will speed notification, but it can’t prevent wrong-way driving, which in most cases involves impaired drivers. ADOT and its partner agencies, including DPS and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, continue to study other potential countermeasures to reduce the risk from wrong-way driving.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is proposing a diverging diamond interchange to replace roundabouts at the Interstate 17/Happy Valley Road interchange as a way to provide efficient and safe traffic flow for a growing area of north Phoenix.

A diverging diamond interchange has one major difference from standard diamond interchanges common around Arizona: Local street traffic makes a temporary shift to the left side while crossing the freeway, allowing for direct left turns onto entrance ramps without waiting at an additional traffic signal.

In examining options, ADOT determined that a diverging diamond interchange would be better able to manage the growing volume of traffic at Happy Valley Road and reduce the amount of time drivers spend waiting at traffic signals. It also enhances safety by reducing the number of points where directions of travel conflict.

More than 80 diverging diamond interchanges have been constructed in 29 states since 2009.

ADOT’s I-17 project also will include reconstructing the I-17 interchange at Pinnacle Peak Road, still as a traditional diamond interchange but with increased traffic capacity.

ADOT will host an informational meeting about the project the evening of Tuesday, July 25, with staff members available to answer questions:

• What: ADOT meeting on I-17 interchanges project
• When: Tuesday, July 25, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
• Where: Goelet A. Beuf Community Center, 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix

Building a diverging diamond interchange at Happy Valley Road also will have less of an impact on local businesses and commuters, since traffic will continue to use the existing interchange while most of the construction work is taking place. The project will replace the two roundabout intersections that have been in use at the Happy Valley Road interchange since 2001.

ADOT continuously seeks innovative approaches to enhance safety and improve traffic flow, and the diverging diamond configuration is one of the tools available as interchanges are built or upgraded. Diverging diamond interchanges also will be built at two locations along the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway: Desert Foothills Parkway and 17th Avenue.

The updated Regional Transportation Plan managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional transportation planning agency, provides funding for a project to reconstruct the I-17 interchanges at Happy Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads, scheduled to start as soon as fall 2018.

ADOT designs and constructs Phoenix-area freeway improvement projects based on the 20-year Regional Transportation Plan approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

 

Note: An ongoing Federal Highway Administration project will close State Route 89A south of Flagstaff between the Vista Point Overlook and JW Powell Boulevard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning. No daytime restrictions are planned July 1-4.

PHOENIX – During the Independence Day weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur.

Motorists will play key roles in keeping traffic moving, too, by making smart driving decisions that won’t result in serious crashes that ruin road trips and create travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Transportation urges drivers to use caution over the holiday weekend in existing work zones and in three “holiday travel corridors” that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays.

In an effort to reduce crashes and delays that result from speeding and driver inattention, speed limits will be lowered during peak holiday travel periods on a winding stretch of Interstate 17 north of Phoenix.

ADOT will reduce speed limits by 10 mph Friday, June 30, on northbound I-17 between New River and Sunset Point Rest Area. Speed limits on the same stretch of southbound I-17 will be reduced by 10 mph on Tuesday, July 4.

Temporary signs will advise drivers of the lower speed limits. For example, areas where the speed limit is ordinarily 65 mph will have a speed limit of 55 mph. Throughout the long weekend, temporary electronic signs will remind drivers how fast they are going.

By obeying speed limits, driving safely and not allowing impaired persons behind the wheel, travelers can reduce the chance of serious crashes that often create long travel delays and close highways. In 2016, 14 fatal crashes occurred during the holiday weekend – alcohol played a role in eight – that killed 16 people.

As they have during recent major holiday weekends, ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones: Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson. Along those routes, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, to minimize travel delays with faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles.

DPS will focus on preventing three leading causes of traffic deaths: speeding, impaired driving and lack of seat-belt use. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with state troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign.

Travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place. This includes a 30-mile stretch of I-40 east of Kingman and I-40 near Twin Arrows.

Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, drivers are encouraged to:

• Pack extra drinking water and snacks.
• Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible.
• Get plenty of rest before driving.
• Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels.

As summer temperatures soar, so does the potential of brush fires and wildfires occurring. Travelers can minimize the risk of fires along Arizona roads by not parking or driving in dry, tall grass; making sure trailer chains are secured and not dragging and emitting sparks; and never throwing cigarettes out the window.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

PHOENIX – A $3.7 million project to construct a first-in-the-nation thermal detection system, which will detect wrong-way vehicles and alert the other drivers and law enforcement of them on Interstate 17, was approved Friday afternoon by the State Transportation Board.

Last week, Governor Doug Ducey instructed the Arizona Department of Transportation to accelerate the construction of this system in light of recent wrong-way crashes, which resulted in Friday’s vote.

Construction of the thermal camera pilot system is expected to begin this fall on I-17 from I-10 to Loop 101. ADOT is exploring ways to begin construction even sooner. Full installation will take seven months, and the performance of this pilot will guide further expansion.

The system will take a three-phase approach when a wrong-way vehicle is detected: alerting wrong-way drivers so they can self-correct, warning right-way drivers and notifying law enforcement.

Once operational, the system will use thermal cameras, warning signs for wrong-way drivers and advisories for right-way drivers along a 15-mile stretch of I-17. In addition, the system will automatically focus highway cameras on the wrong-way vehicle and send automated alerts to the Highway Patrol, helping troopers intercept vehicles faster.

On freeway ramps, wrong-way vehicles will trigger alerts, including illuminated signs with flashing lights, aimed at getting drivers to stop. The system will immediately warn other drivers through overhead message boards as well as law enforcement. Cameras in the area will automatically turn to face the wrong-way vehicle so traffic operators can better track it. On the freeway, thermal cameras placed at one-mile intervals will signal when a wrong-way vehicle passes so State Troopers plan their response and get out in front of the wrong-way driver, providing a faster response.

While ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety respond quickly to reports of wrong-way drivers, most incidents begin with 911 calls from other motorists. The advantages of this system begin with automatically alerting ADOT and DPS to wrong-way drivers at the point of entry and getting State Troopers to wrong-way vehicles faster.

This system can reduce the risk, but it can’t prevent wrong-way driving.

Phoenix-area freeways safely move hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day. When crashes do occur, research demonstrates that more than 90 percent of the time, the collision is the result of driver behavior – like speeding, reckless or distracted driving, or driving while impaired. Wrong-way crashes fit this pattern.

Beyond a detection system, coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement is necessary to stop and intercept wrong-way drivers before they enter the highway system.

ADOT also continues to study new technologies that promote highway safety for all users, including tools for detection, tracking and notification of wrong-way drivers.

Following Friday’s action by the State Transportation Board, the project now requires approval from the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council.

CAMP VERDE – Visitors and residents can better navigate a busy commercial area in Camp Verde just east of Interstate 17 thanks to a new roundabout installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The revamped intersection of State Route 260 and Industrial Drive, an area where many travelers pull over for gasoline, a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, will keep traffic flowing smoothly in all directions, as well as in and out of businesses.

Prior to this project, the area was congested with limited traffic movements making it longer and more difficult for drivers to access businesses.

The $1.3 million project also included new sidewalks on the north side of SR 260 between Cliffs Parkway and Main Street, and on the south side of SR 260 between Seventh Street and Main Street for improved pedestrian mobility.

While the roundabout is open to traffic, crews will be finishing landscaping, electrical work and other minor work over the next few weeks. Crews will also return for final permanent striping later this summer.

For more information on roundabouts and how to use them, visit azdot.gov/roundabouts.

PHOENIX – Working overnight along stretches of Phoenix-area freeways, Arizona Department of Transportation crews are moving closer to completing installation of new in-pavement sensors that monitor traffic flow.

You can expect overnight closures along Interstate 17 over the next several weeks as crews work to complete the project by this summer.

In addition to helping ADOT track freeway conditions, these sensors provide the data used to estimate the travel times that drivers see on message boards above freeways. The data also helps ADOT and the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional transportation-planning agency, make decisions about future freeway improvements.

Using electronic wires embedded in the pavement, the sensors have been used along many Valley freeways for years. The current project is installing additional in-pavement sensors as a more reliable replacement for acoustic devices that are mounted on poles.

This project is one way ADOT is working toward the agency’s continuous improvement goal of reducing congestion on freeways in metro Phoenix.

After installing in-pavement sensors on Interstate 10, US 60 (Superstition Freeway) and State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) in recent months, ADOT will address Interstate 17 over the next several weeks, starting with the southbound lanes between Peoria Avenue in north Phoenix and 19th Avenue south of the downtown area.

This week, overnight closures of southbound I-17 stretches are scheduled through Thursday night, May 18, between Peoria Avenue and Bethany Home Road for sensor-installation work. Southbound I-17 also is scheduled to be closed this weekend between Indian School Road and Van Buren Street for rubberized asphalt paving.

When the sensor-installation project is completed, more than 85 locations on Phoenix-area freeways will have new traffic-flow sensors.

PHOENIX – Drivers are already noticing a smoother ride on Interstate 17, and there’s more on the way as crews work to resurface more than 10 miles of the freeway between the downtown area and north Phoenix with a fresh layer of rubberized asphalt.

As the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $9.8 million I-17 Improvement Project between Dunlap and 19th avenues approaches the halfway mark, crews have already paved six miles southbound and five miles northbound.

The paving, which started in March, requires sections of the freeway in one direction to be closed on most weekends until mid-June, including northbound I-17 between McDowell and Camelback roads from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (May 1). The Interstate 10 ramps connecting to northbound I-17 at the “Stack” interchange also will be closed.

The entire I-17 project, including final lane striping, will be completed this summer.

ADOT’s project team is working to limit the traffic impacts, including scheduling paving northbound this weekend with fans heading to Arizona Diamondbacks games and other events in and around downtown. In addition, there will no closure over Memorial Day weekend in late May.

ADOT’s overhead message boards will alert drivers to the closures and available alternate routes, including State Route 51.

Rubberized asphalt, which includes melted rubber from recycled tires blended into its mixture, is best applied to the freeway within a pavement temperature range that’s higher than 75 degrees. Such temperatures generally occur during spring and fall, when most rubberized asphalt resurfacing is done.

ADOT uses rubberized asphalt on many freeways and highways because it has proven to be a durable pavement that provides a smooth ride. It has also gained favor over time for reducing traffic noise in neighborhoods adjacent to freeways.

The I-17 Improvement Project actually started last fall with sidewalk and wheelchair ramp improvements at a number of cross street interchanges. Crews also are upgrading safety fences on overpasses above I-17.

Other work has included I-17 drainage improvements near Durango Street, new signs and concrete-barrier upgrades.

ADOT will provide updates on the I-17 resurfacing and scheduled closures on the agency’s website, azdot.gov, and Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT).