By Peter Corbett / ADOT Communications

A project underway on Interstate 40 just west of Williams offers a rare opportunity to see what lies beneath at least some of the seemingly endless miles of roadway in the state highway system.

Rather than milling off the top layer of pavement and installing a new surface, work occurring in eastbound lanes between mileposts 156 and 161 is rebuilding the roadway from the ground up.

This stretch, at an elevation of about 6,700 feet, has taken a beating from truck traffic and frequent freezing and thawing in winter. That led to cracking, potholes and, now, a $33.9 million improvement project.

So what lies under that road surface other than the ground?

In this case, it begins with bits of what’s being replaced. A rock crusher breaks concrete that was part of the old roadway into small pieces that serve as a base layer of aggregate 8 inches deep.

Next up is a 4-inch base of asphalt the full width of the roadway, topped by 14 inches of grooved concrete for the travel lanes. Asphalt 18 inches deep goes down for the shoulders.

The video above has much more information on the work and its benefits, as does our news release on this project and others improving I-40 west of Flagstaff.

To accommodate construction in the eastbound lanes, both directions of travel are using the westbound lanes, separated by a concrete barrier.

With the eastbound work scheduled to end by winter, crews will return in the spring to rebuild westbound lanes. While a portion of the westbound stretch will be rebuilt from the ground up, the majority will be topped with 14 inches of concrete in the travel lanes and 14 inches of asphalt on the shoulders.

“ADOT is making a huge investment to improve the roadways to make sure travel is safe and efficient, to maintain the commerce corridors and get people where they need to be,” said Brenden Foley, ADOT’s senior resident engineer in charge of the project.

What makes up a particular stretch of highway depends on local conditions. In this case, the clay soil and remote location have a lot to do with the aggregate base topped by asphalt topped in turn by concrete.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

Take a look at a slideshow with crews repaving Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff between milepost 179 and 191. With the project more than halfway done, crews continue to move closer to Flagstaff laying a fresh layer of asphalt over older pavement damaged by yearly winter storms.

Crews are on track to complete this project before the weather cools off. Drivers should budget extra travel time through the area. The project also includes new guardrails and minor bridge repairs.

Next year, ADOT will pick up where this project left off at Parks and continue west for 17 miles toward Cataract Lake near Williams. Together these two projects, along with work occurring just west of William to reconstruction eastbound lanes of I-40, will repair damage done to the highway from winter storms and prolong the life of the road surface.

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

It was a short work week for most, but at ADOT we’re working 24/7 to keep drivers moving across the state. In our Friday Five, we’ll show you what we’ve been up to this week. Remember to follow the #FridayFive hashtag on social media to see what others are sharing today.

1. The Yuma area’s first modern roundabout opened to traffic at Giss Parkway and Interstate 8! Check out the photo above showing the roundabout. The final touches are still being put on the $2.5 million project and the work is expected to be completed this fall. Modern roundabouts have many benefits including a dramatic reduction in fatal crashes and a marked increase in traffic capacity. This ADOT video has tips on navigating a roundabout.

2. East Valley drivers and Maricopa residents can get a good look at their commutes from new traffic camera views recently added to az511.gov. Cameras at nine intersections along SR 347 are now online. On the Loop 202 Santan Freeway, the new camera views are between Chandler and Gilbert. ADOT maintains more than 300 traffic cameras across the state and is constantly adding more and upgrading old cameras to high-definition cameras.

3. The photos above show crews paving I-40 west of Flagstaff between Parks and Riordan. Drivers should expect delays because the road is down to one lane in each direction. The good news is base paving should be complete before winter, with the final surface paving done by spring 2018.

4. We shared this webcam photo from the Hualapai Valley Observatory on Monday. You may have heard we're always looking for good webcams. Not only can you see cool shots from the comfort of your home, but you can get a good idea of weather conditions before you leave the house. The Hualapai Valley Observatory is a private dark sky site for astronomical observations and has several online webcams.

Bell/Grand

5. Last, but definitely not least, is a notable closure. The Bell Road/Grand Avenue ramps will be closed to all traffic Sept. 18-24 for roadway improvements. The ramps will close from 1 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Motorists may use detour routes along Dysart and Litchfield roads.

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

With a nearly perfect weather day in Williams – beautiful blue skies, temperatures in the 70s, a gentle breeze blowing out of the west – you’re likely not the only one thinking of enjoying the beauty of northern Arizona.

Not us. We’re thinking about winter.

You remember winter. It’s the time when constant freezing and thawing creates potholes on Interstate 40, one of the West’s most-popular routes for cross-country truckers and fun-seeking travelers.

That’s why we’ve closed a five-mile section of eastbound I-40 west of Williams and have traffic in both directions sharing the westbound lanes, separated for safety by concrete barriers.

Starting this week, we’re rebuilding this stretch of I-40 starting with a new foundation. It’s a long-term fix for the damage winter wants to cause the roadway every year. The work will take us through much of the fall, so those restrictions on I-40 will be with us for a few months. We’re also putting a new surface on the Devil Dog Wash bridge deck.

Slow down, allow a little extra time and you should get through the area just fine. Keep an eye out for our crews.

Next spring we’ll do the same thing for the westbound lanes.

You’ll also want to allow a little extra time between Williams and Flagstaff while we repave 12 miles of roadway from milepost 179 to 191, just four miles west of Flagstaff. We’ll complete base paving before winter and come back in the spring to finish the job.

So go ahead and enjoy another beautiful August day in northern Arizona. Our crews will keep working so that when winter comes a better I-40 will be ready and waiting for you.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

After getting beat up by years of freezes, thaws and heavy weather, Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff is getting a much-needed upgrade in the form of two projects.

First, crews are grinding down several inches of damaged pavement between mileposts 179 and 191 in both directions and replacing it with fresh asphalt. They're about halfway through and hope to have both directions repaved between mileposts 179 and 185 in the next couple of weeks.

Bridge deck repairs at the Bellemont overpass are underway, with similar repairs starting at the Riordan bridge this week. Those heading westbound on I-40 will need to watch for a lane closure at milepost 191 for the next several weeks so crews can make necessary repairs.

Also halfway completed is the guardrail replacement portion of this project. Guardrail on the eastbound side of this stretch of I-40 is complete, and crews have started on the westbound side.

The goal is to have the majority of paving, the bridge repairs and guardrail replacement done before cooler weather strikes the northern region this fall. Crews will then return next spring when the weather warms up to add the final top layer of asphalt to the highway as well as rebuild the on- and off-ramps at the Bellemont interchange.

Starting on Monday, July 24, ADOT is starting more extensive pavement repair project along I-40 west of Williams. Crews will be rebuilding the highway from the ground up, including a new foundation, between mileposts 156 and 161.

We worked to push this much-needed project though the approval stages so it could begin this summer and address the beating this section of I-40 has taken over the years due to weather. This project will provide the best possible fix for that damage.

Drivers heading east on I-40 toward Williams and Flagstaff will cross the median on a temporary road and share lanes with westbound I-40 traffic through the project area, with one lane of travel in each direction. Be sure to slow down and budget for extra travel time.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

Triple-digits in the Valley and warmer temperatures up north mean summer is here! And summer, of course, means traveling and going on vacation.

For ADOT, summer means getting paving projects done on highways that we can’t do at other times of the year due to cooler temps. So, while you’re out there traveling and seeing our beautiful state, keep in mind that you may encounter restrictions on some highways due to paving projects.

Most of the work takes place during the week, and ADOT endeavors to avoid work on weekends and holidays during the summer. We still recommend travelers do their homework and be prepared for restrictions.

Here are a few significant paving projects happening this summer in the high country:

• Starting on the evening of June 11, ADOT will begin replacing pavement on 12 miles of Interstate 40 in both directions between Parks and A-1 Mountain. This project will help address the winter damage this segment of I-40 takes each year. You can expect lane restrictions through this area over the rest of the summer.
• On June 12, ADOT will begin a pavement preservation project on State Route 87 approximately 20 miles north of Strawberry. Work will occur on a 26-mile stretch between Lake Mary Road and milepost 317 during the day Monday through Friday. One lane will be open through the project area with flaggers letting vehicles through. Plan extra travel time if you’re driving between Payson and Winslow for the next several weeks.
• Already underway is a pavement preservation project on State Route 389 up north between Colorado City and Fredonia. The 27-mile project stretches between Colorado City and milepost 28. Flaggers are also letting vehicles through the work zone.

For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511. In addition, ADOT’s Twitter account (ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information and interaction.