PHOENIX – Drivers heading along I-40 between Flagstaff and Winslow should slow down and expect delays while work is taking place. The ramp detour will remain in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph.

In addition to replacing the bridges, crews will also reconstruct the roadway approach to the bridges.

The current detour will last through mid-August while the project is anticipated to wrap up sometime in the fall.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511.

PHOENIX – The Haviland Rest Area along Interstate 40 west of Kingman has reopened after $3.6 million in improvements, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The popular rest stop, which is located at milepost 23 about 30 miles west of Kingman, has upgraded restrooms, ramadas, vendor kiosks and utility infrastructure. New well equipment and a water transmission line were also part of the upgrades. Septic tanks and sewer lines were also replaced. 

It is the most recent rest area to undergo renovations in recent years. ADOT has been investing in upgrades to older rest areas that have been in place for as long as 50 years. 

The Sacaton Rest Area on Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande was renovated and reopened late last year. The Mohawk Rest Area on Interstate 8 reopened in 2017 following renovations while the Texas Canyon and San Simon rest areas on I-10 between Tucson and New Mexico reopened with new facilities and infrastructure in 2016. 

More information on rest areas can be found at azdot.gov/RestAreas. 

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project beginning Monday, July 8, will improve the bridge deck and pavement and widen on- and off-ramps at the Interstate 40 Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange 13 miles west of Flagstaff.

Drivers on I-40 can expect lane closures and a reduced speed limit overnights during this work, which is scheduled to be complete by year’s end.

Two overnight closures of I-40 under the Bellemont/Transwestern Road bridge (Exit 185) will be scheduled for late July. During these closures, I-40 traffic will use the Bellemont/Transwestern Road off- and on-ramps and Transwestern Road will be closed at the bridge.

An eight-day closure of Transwestern Road at the interchange will be needed in early fall.

During closures, drivers who ordinarily would use the Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange can use the I-40 interchanges at Parks and A-1 Mountain Boulevard.

Advance notice will be given with the dates of closures.

To learn more about this project, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

PHOENIX – With planned Interstate 17 flex lanes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point set for construction starting by 2021, the state budget approved by state lawmakers and signed by Governor Doug Ducey provides the additional funding needed to also complete widening I-17 south of where the flex system will be built.

This $130 million investment to complete new third lanes in both directions of I-17 between Anthem and Black Canyon City is one of many in the budget that will expand and preserve transportation infrastructure across Arizona. Appropriations from the State General Fund include $10 million for an ADOT study on adding lanes to Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson and $10.5 million for preserving state highways to extend the life of existing pavement.

“As Governor Ducey and members of the legislature recognize, investing in critical transportation infrastructure will drive Arizona’s 21st century economy. Our leaders are investing today to support Arizona’s future prosperity,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “As we expand critical commerce corridors and safeguard our state’s $22.6 billion investment in our transportation system, it’s equally important to keep roads in our rural communities safe and reliable.”

In addition to baseline funding for transportation and infrastructure, the budget includes more than $95 million in appropriations from the State General Fund for targeted transportation projects that will improve safety and spur economic development in Greater Arizona. This includes $28 million for expanding US 95 between Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground, that region’s largest employer. There is $20 million to help build two Interstate 40 interchanges needed to accommodate growth in Kingman, with the city providing the remainder of the funding required.

ADOT has been working to advance projects to improve traffic flow and safety along 23 miles of I-17 between Anthem and Sunset Point north of Phoenix. More than $190 million was already committed to building flex lanes north of Black Canyon City as well as adding 7 miles of a third southbound lane directly south of that project.

Investing an additional $130 million over three years will allow ADOT to complete all sections of new third lanes between Anthem and Black Canyon City. Combined with the flex lanes, this increased capacity will enhance safety and help address traffic flow challenges and backups that occur due to crashes and when many drivers are traveling to or from Arizona’s high country on summer weekends.

The Maricopa Association of Governments is providing $50 million in regional funds to help fund the widening of I-17 between Black Canyon City and Anthem.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. With gates at each end and separated by concrete barrier from the current southbound lanes, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavier northbound traffic on a Friday or southbound traffic on a Sunday. They also can keep traffic moving if there is a closure in that stretch.

Required environmental studies for the I-17 corridor are scheduled to be completed by this summer, with the projects scheduled for completion by 2023.

The budget commits $10 million from the State General Fund to an ADOT study, in collaboration with the Maricopa Association of Governments and Gila River Indian Community, on adding a lane in each direction and improving interchanges on I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Completing a design concept report and environmental study will determine needs and costs, and establish how the improvements will be phased. This process is on track to begin this year with an accelerated 18-month timeline.

The $51.1 million in funds, including $10.5 million in additional funding from the State General Fund, will allow ADOT to preserve the road surface along more miles of state highway through treatments known as fog seals and chip seals. These investments are critical to extend the life of existing pavement by sealing road surfaces against the ravages of weather, heavy use and time.

The budget’s other transportation infrastructure investments from the State General Fund include:

• $18 million for counties and cities and towns
• $10 million for local aviation projects
• $6.5 million for Mesa to construct a State Route 24 bridge over Ellsworth Road
• $2.8 million for Globe to repair or replace the Jesse Hayes Road over Pinal Creek

PHOENIX – The Painted Cliffs Rest Area on Interstate 40 near the New Mexico state line in northeastern Arizona has closed for a $2.7 million renovation that’s expected to be completed by early next year.

Work planned for the rest area, located at I-40 milepost 358, includes upgrades to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, replacing a water line, replacing the septic tanks and sewer lines, upgrading the electrical and mechanical systems, and painting.

During the closure, the nearest traveler facilities will be in Sanders and Holbrook. There are also facilities in New Mexico. More information can be found at nmroads.com.

Improvements at the Meteor Crater Rest Area on I-40 are scheduled after work is completed at the Painted Cliffs Rest Area.

PHOENIX ‒ An Arizona Department of Transportation TowPlow helping remove snow and ice from Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff had to be taken out of service Thursday when a semitrailer clipped it while making an unsafe pass to the right.

The plow driver was unhurt in the crash, which occurred in the westbound lanes of I-40 near Parks, and ADOT lost the use of a rig that allows a single driver to clear two full lanes in one pass. The semi didn’t stop.

The TowPlow, a steerable trailer with a 26-foot blade that attaches to a regular snowplow truck, was taken to an ADOT repair shop, and crews were able to return it to service late Thursday afternoon. The TowPlow is based in Williams, an area that sees heavy snow during winter storms. View an ADOT video about the agency’s TowPlows.

It isn’t easy driving a snowplow on slippery roads with limited visibility, and other drivers make that job dangerous when they don’t give ADOT’s operators plenty of room to work. Respect the plow by staying at least four vehicle lengths behind and never passing a working snowplow until the operator pulls over to let traffic by.

"As I describe it, the weather's nicer behind the plow than it is in front of it," said Matt Bowles, who operates an ADOT snowplow on Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 in the Flagstaff area. 

Other tips from ADOT’s snowplow drivers:

• Never assume a snowplow operator knows you are nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.
• Plowed snow can create a cloud that reduces visibility, and spreaders on trucks throw de-icing agents or sand that can damage vehicles, so stay back.
• Leave space when stopping behind a snowplow. The driver might need to back up.
• If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.
• Just because a plow has been through the area, drivers shouldn’t assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice.

For more on snowplow safety and winter-driving essentials, please visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

PHOENIX – This year will be filled with highway system improvements for northern Arizona travelers, including the start of the latest Arizona Department of Transportation project expanding US 93 to four-lane divided highway between Wickenburg and Interstate 40.

Crews will soon launch a $35.5 million project on nearly 4 miles of US 93 just north of Wikieup, between Carrow and Stephens, connecting two sections of highway that have already been divided. That will provide a continuous stretch of divided four-lane highway from milepost 108, about 15 miles south of I-40, and milepost 121 near Wikieup.

With an eye toward an Interstate 11, ADOT has invested more than half a billion dollars over the past 20 years to turn the primary route between Phoenix and Las Vegas into modern four-lane divided highway. The upcoming project is part of $155 million in US 93 improvements planned over the next five years.

Currently all but 39 miles of the 200-mile drive from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line has been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area. The entire northern segment of US 93 from Kingman to the Nevada state line (mileposts 1 to 68) is now a four-lane divided highway following the completion of a $71 million project in 2010.

Meanwhile, paving projects to repair long-term winter weather damage will continue in the Flagstaff area, with crews finishing paving along northbound I-17 from milepost 312 to the I-40 interchange and along the 17-mile stretch of I-40 between Cataract Lake and Parks west of Flagstaff.

Last year, crews rebuilt about 20 miles of highway in northern Arizona, providing a long-term fix to damage from freeze-thaw cycles and heavy traffic. In all, ADOT has improved or is in the process of improving 62 miles of interstate freeway in the Flagstaff area.

This spring, ADOT will launch a project to repave 13 miles of State Route 89A from Sedona to the Pumphouse Wash bridge between mileposts 374 and 387. The project will also install new guardrail.

In far northwestern Arizona, the decks of three Virgin River bridges along Interstate 15 will get makeovers starting early this year. Bridge Nos. 2 and 5 will get newly resurfaced decks. Bridge No. 4 will received a brand new deck.

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

PHOENIX – With Arizona Department of Transportation projects improving Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 around Flagstaff approaching a winter hiatus, the area now has upgraded bridge decks, two new bridges and 20 total miles of rebuilt roadway. There are also many more miles of fresh pavement, with additional paving to come when warmer temperatures return.

“These much-needed projects keep the key northern Arizona corridors of I-40 and I-17 in top shape for commercial traffic and passenger vehicles,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “It’s even better that the major work was completed in time for the holidays.”

ADOT has replaced 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 received a new concrete surface.

The I-17 northbound to I-40 westbound ramp is set to reopen to traffic within the next week, and temporary concrete barrier has been removed. Intermediate lane closures will be required over the next few weeks as crews wrap up minor project items, and then crews will return next year to lay down the top layer of asphalt, known as friction course.

As part of a 17-mile I-40 paving project between Cataract Lake and Parks west of Flagstaff, crews have rebuilt 5 miles of I-40 in each direction between Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads as well as a 1-mile section in each direction near the Parks interchange. Paving will continue elsewhere in the project area for the next few weeks until weather no longer permits it. Crews will return next summer to finish.

For a project upgrading northbound I-17 from the Coconino County line at milepost 311 to milepost 339 near Flagstaff, crews have rebuilt both lanes between mileposts 312 and 315 and built new bridges at Willard Springs Road.

In the final weeks before the weather turns too cold for paving, crews will focus on completing paving of both lanes between mileposts 312 and 316 and the right lane up to milepost 331 at Kelly Canyon Road. Work will resume with warmer weather.

In all, ADOT projects over the past year have been improving a total of 62 miles of I-40 and I-17 west and south of Flagstaff, an area where the many freeze-thaw cycles seen annually, combined with heavy snow, snowplowing and use by a large number of commercial vehicles, lead to stressed pavement.

Other pavement-improvement projects completed include the rebuilding of 5 miles of I-40 in each direction west of Williams near Devil Dog Road and repaving 12 miles of I-40 in each direction between Parks and Riordan.

For more information on these projects, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project that’s rebuilding 5 miles of Interstate 40 near Williams has been ranked in the nation’s top 10 by Roads & Bridges, a construction industry publication.

The many freeze-thaw cycles seen annually in this area, combined with heavy snow, snowplowing and use by a large number of commercial vehicles, had stressed pavement considerably between Williams and Devil Dog Road.

A $34 million project completely removed the existing eastbound roadway and replaced the surface with new concrete pavement, and crews are nearly done with work overlaying the westbound roadway with new concrete pavement.

“We were patching potholes after every winter storm,” said Chad Auker, assistant district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “It was a big maintenance issue.”

To accelerate much-needed improvements, ADOT and Gannett Fleming, the design firm for the project, completed design work, which normally takes about a year, in less than three months. And construction has moved rapidly in part because crews are incorporating Portland Cement Concrete Pavement recycled from this stretch.

Using Portland Cement Concrete Pavement as the road surface increases pavement life by up to 60 percent and outlasts asphalt overlays by at least 10 years.

Gannett Fleming made the nomination to Roads & Bridges because of the project’s innovative and sustainable approach. Handling the construction is Fann Contracting Inc.

“It’s much-deserved,” Auker said. “The whole team, from the designers to the development team to the contractor and ADOT construction staff, worked hard. There were a lot of long days and long weeks, and the award is well-deserved for bringing new pavement to the road.”

The reconstruction between Williams and Devil Dog Road is among projects improving 34 miles of I-40 west Flagstaff. Crews also are improving 28 miles of northbound Interstate 17 just south of Flagstaff and reconstructing I-40 bridge decks at the interchange with I-17 in Flagstaff.