PHOENIX – Work requiring closures and detours will start next week on the $10 million upgrade to the I-40/I-17 interchange that serves as the gateway to Flagstaff, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Starting Monday, April 9, the I-17 northbound to I-40 westbound ramp will close for the duration of the project. Traffic heading north on I-17 looking to head west on I-40 should take the ramp for I-40 eastbound and then exit at the Butler Avenue traffic interchange. From there drivers can head back west on I-40.

One-direction closures on Beulah Boulevard are anticipated to occur at various times overnight between mid-April and May and again in October. Traffic should use the I-17 and the JW Powell Boulevard interchange to get around the closure both north- and southbound.

I-17 will also require one-direction closures overnight for bridge construction. Closures are anticipated to occur overnight on various dates in May. During northbound closures, traffic heading into Flagstaff will need to take the I-40 eastbound exit and then use the Butler Avenue interchange to come back and use the I-17 northbound exit to head into Flagstaff.

Traffic heading out of town during southbound closures should take I-40 westbound to the Flagstaff Ranch Road interchange and come back to use the I-40 east to I-17 south ramp.

Intermittent closures of the I-17 south to I-40 eastbound ramp will also be required. Those closures are anticipated to occur from mid- to late-June, late July and late October.  Traffic looking to head east on I-40 leaving Flagstaff should take I-17 south to the JW Powell interchange and then head back north to I-40 eastbound.

This project includes replacing the I-40 bridge decks in each direction over Beulah Boulevard, immediately west of I-17, as well as the westbound bridge deck over I-17. The eastbound I-40 bridge over I-17 will get a new concrete surface.

The project will also increase the cross slope of the roadway over the renovated bridges, helping drain water off of the road surface. It also includes guardrail and paving work.

PHOENIX – With multiple paving and improvement projects happening in the Flagstaff area this year, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants to keep the public informed on progress and traffic restrictions with open houses this spring and summer.

Throughout April, work will begin on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff with paving and road reconstruction between Parks and Cataract Lake in Williams and reconstructing the westbound lanes west of Williams between mileposts 156 and 161. Paving and reconstruction work will also begin on Interstate 17 northbound between mileposts 312 and 340.

Also, the I-40 bridges over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard at the I-40/I-17 interchange are being revamped, requiring ramp closures and detours around the interchange.

To keep the public up-to-date on these projects, ADOT will host open houses at its facility, 1901 S. Milton Road in Flagstaff, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  April 9, May 8, June 12 and July 10.

Project teams will present information and answer questions on the construction schedule and traffic impacts.

For more information on these projects, visit azdot.gov/projects.

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation projects starting in the coming weeks will improve pavement along 182 lane miles of Interstate 40 and Interstate 17 in the Flagstaff area, addressing deterioration caused by snow and snowplowing, the large number of freeze-thaw cycles the area sees each year and heavy use by commercial vehicles.

With projects planned along 34 miles of I-40 west of Flagstaff and on 28 miles of northbound I-17 just south of Flagstaff, motorists should budget extra travel time and get the latest project information before leaving by visiting az511.gov or calling 511.

Beginning Monday, April 2, crews will start rebuilding the westbound lanes of I-40 west of Williams between mileposts 156 and 161. Before the start of the winter season, crews rebuilt the eastbound lanes in this stretch.

Once work resumes on the $34 million project, westbound traffic on I-40 will cross over the median on a temporary road and share lanes with eastbound I-40 traffic through the project area, with one lane of travel in each direction separated by a concrete barrier.

In mid-April, ADOT will start a pavement-improvement project on I-40 between mileposts 179 and 162 from Parks to Cataract Lake near Williams.

This $35.3 million project includes areas between mileposts 167 and 172 where crews will fully reconstruct the roadway. Because of this, traffic will cross over and share lanes with opposite traffic, separated by a concrete barrier, between Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads. Work will begin in the westbound lanes.

Crews will work from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drivers can expect lane closures through the project area.

In the next several weeks, a project replacing pavement on the northbound lanes of I-17 approaching Flagstaff will get underway, with crews working from milepost 312 to milepost 340 near the I-17/ I-40 junction. The project will reconstruct northbound I-17 between mileposts 312 and 314.

This $24.4 million project includes replacing the bridge decks in each direction on the I-17 overpass at Willard Springs Road, near milepost 326.

The majority of the I-40 and I-17 work is expected to be completed this fall, with additional work happening the following spring.

Also in April, restrictions will begin for work on the I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff, revamping I-40 bridges over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard. This $10 million project is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year.

Later this year, crews will return to put down the final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, on I-40 between Parks and Riordan from milepost 179 to 191. This will complete a $13.9 million pavement-improvement project that began last summer.

More information on these projects can be found at azdot.gov/projects.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has scheduled an April 3 public meeting in Black Canyon City to provide an update about an ongoing study of potential improvements along Interstate 17 between Anthem and Cordes Junction.

ADOT, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, has been studying options for adding new travel lanes along I-17, with a focus on the 23-mile stretch between Anthem Way and Sunset Point Rest Area.

With the help of funds from the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Phoenix area’s metropolitan planning organization, projects to add new I-17 lanes in areas between Anthem and Black Canyon City are currently scheduled for construction in the years 2021-22.

An option also under consideration for the mountainous stretch of I-17 between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point is the construction of flex lanes, a separate pair of new lanes for use in the busiest direction of travel or in the event of a closure.

The meeting is scheduled as follows:

What: I-17 Improvements Study open-house meeting

When: Tuesday, April 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Cãnon Elementary School, 34630 S. School Loop Road, Black Canyon City 85324

ADOT will conduct a formal presentation about the I-17 improvement options at 6:30 p.m. Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about potential improvements and to submit comments.

Members of ADOT’s I-17 study team will be available to answer questions.

Those who cannot attend the meeting are invited to submit written comments by email to [email protected] or by mail to ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

The ADOT Project Information phone number is 1.855.712.8530.

PHOENIX – The Interstate 40/Interstate 17 interchange that for many is the gateway to Flagstaff is getting a $10 million update.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is starting a project that includes replacing the I-40 bridge decks in each direction over Beulah Boulevard, immediately west of I-17, as well as the westbound bridge deck over I-17. The eastbound I-40 bridge over I-17 will get a new concrete surface.

“This work is needed to keep the I-40 bridges in top shape for commercial traffic and passenger vehicles using this key northern Arizona corridor,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District.

Crews will spend the next several weeks doing preliminary work. Then construction will occur seven days a week during both day and night hours. Most of the work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Among the restrictions required for this work will be multiple overnight, one-direction closures of Beulah Boulevard as it passes under I-40. The I-17 northbound to I-40 westbound ramp will close from mid-April to December, and the I-17 southbound to I-40 eastbound ramp will close for a couple of weeks in mid-June. Other restrictions will be required as work progresses.

Once major work begins later this spring, those traveling to or through the Flagstaff area along I-40 will need to plan for extra travel time. Detour routes will be shared in advance of closures and clearly marked by signs.

The project will also increase the cross slope of the roadway over the renovated bridges, helping drain water off of the road surface. It also includes guardrail and paving work.

PHOENIX – Pavement improvement along Interstates 17 and 40 and a revamped I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff highlight Arizona Department of Transportation projects planned for northern Arizona in 2018.

This spring, crews will return to lay the final layer of asphalt along a 12-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between Parks and Riordan, completing that project. Repaving on I-40 west of Flagstaff will then pick up in Parks at milepost 179 and head 17 miles west to Cataract Lake in Williams.

Northbound Interstate 17 will also receive a facelift this year as crews replace pavement from milepost 312 to milepost 340 near the I-40 interchange. The work will address winter damage the highway has suffered over the years.

In addition to the repaving work, a separate project will continue completely rebuilding 5 miles of I-40 west of Williams between mileposts 156 and 161 in the westbound direction. Crews rebuilt the eastbound lanes last summer.

I-40 will have 34 miles of new pavement in each direction west of Flagstaff when these projects are complete. This new pavement will provide a longer term fix to deterioration resulting from the many freeze-thaw cycles the area sees each winter, along with snow, snowplowing and commercial truck traffic.

Another major project coming to the Flagstaff area this year will improve the I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff by replacing three bridge decks and replacing pavement on the ramps, among other work.

In the Verde Valley, crews are continuing to widen 9 miles of State Route 260 west of Interstate 17. The project, scheduled to finish before year’s end, is nearly halfway complete with the new eastbound lanes paved up to Coury Drive from I-17. Work is proceeding on seven roundabout intersections between I-17 and Thousand Trails Road.

The $62 million project will improve safety and traffic flow in the growing Verde Valley area.

Among other projects planned for northern Arizona in 2018, crews will return this summer to complete a project widening US 60 in Show Low between State Route 77 and 40th Street. In addition to laying the final layer of asphalt, the work includes completing sidewalks and landscaping.