TUCSON – After starting a two-year project this spring to improve a 10-mile section of State Route 77/Oracle Road in the Tucson area, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin the first pavement replacement work the week of July 18.

The paving will begin on the northern section of the project, between Magee Road and Calle Concordia, with most of the work occurring overnight to minimize construction impacts of the $34 million project.

The pavement work is scheduled Sundays through Thursdays, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The work is expected to continue for several weeks beginning the night of Sunday, July 18.

During the overnight work, motorists can expect large vehicles and equipment on the roadway to remove the existing pavement and then install new asphalt. Crews will work on one lane for nearly 1.5 miles per night. One lane of travel will remain open during pavement operations.

The new pavement is one of many improvements planned for the highway between Interstate 10 and Oracle Road, as well as on Oracle Road from Miracle Mile to Calle Concordia. While the entire length of the project will involve replacing worn pavement, the section between Ina and Magee roads will see significant improvements. The upgrades include curb and gutter, sidewalks and LED lighting between River and Ina Roads, with curb and gutter between Ina and Magee roads. 

Other activity in progress includes sidewalk and curb work in several areas, including:

• The south side of Miracle Mile between I-10 and Oracle Road.
• The east side of Oracle Road between Miracle Mile and River Road.
• The north side of Miracle Mile from Oracle Road to I-10.
• The west side of Oracle Road between River Road and Miracle Mile, starting the week of July 26.

Drivers should expect some daytime lane restrictions and delays through the project. During all times, ADOT will maintain access to the roughly 1,100 businesses in the corridor.

For more information about the project, please visit azdot.gov/SR77.

PHOENIX – Both lanes of traffic are now open on the State Route 77 bridge in Winkelman as the Arizona Department of Transportation nears completion on a $12.6 million project to replace the structure over the Gila River.

Work crews have removed temporary signals that had restricted traffic to a single lane since the bridge replacement project began in late 2019. That traffic configuration allowed ADOT to reconstruct half the bridge at a time without any extended full closures.

Motorists should continue to watch for construction personnel and equipment as work crews clean up the work site. Additionally, drivers should expect intermittent lane restrictions in May as crews install final lane striping.

The new 761-foot-long bridge carries two lanes of traffic over the Gila River, along with a wider pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists.

For more information, go to the project website.

PHOENIX – A two-year project will begin in April to repave and make other improvements to a 10-mile section of State Route 77/Oracle Road between Tucson and Oracle Valley, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The improvements will span the highway from Interstate 10 to Oracle Road, and Oracle Road from Miracle Mile to Calle Concordia. While the entire length of the project will involve replacing worn pavement, drivers will see significant improvements between Ina Road and Magee Road that include turn lanes, new traffic signals, new sidewalks, LED lighting and drainage upgrades.

The $34 million project will occur on a corridor that carries nearly 50,000 vehicles a day through portions of Tucson, Oro Valley and Pinal County.

While ADOT will minimize construction impacts by having crews work at night when possible, drivers should expect some daytime lane restrictions and delays. Throughout the project, ADOT will maintain access to the 1,100 businesses in the corridor.

The first construction and lane restrictions are expected in late April along the Miracle Mile segment of the project.

In addition to pavement, motorists can look forward to other features that will improve safety and traffic flow that include:

• Reconstructing and repaving the roadway from River Road to Calle Concordia.
• Adding new dual left turn lanes to the intersection of Magee and Oracle Roads
• Lighting improvements, including new LED street lights, between River and Ina Roads
• Constructing new ADA approved ramps, sidewalks, driveways between River and Magee Roads to improve pedestrian safety
• Installing a storm drain system from River to Orange Grove Roads
• Reconstructing driveways, sidewalks and sidewalk ramps between I-10/Miracle Mile and River Road
• Signal and intersection improvement between River and Ina Roads
• Roadway drainage improvements
• Utilities relocation

For more information about the project, please visit azdot.gov/SR77.

PHOENIX – As the widening project along US 60 between State Route 77 and 40th Street in Show Low wraps up for the winter, drivers should budget extra time early next week as crews stripe the road and put the traffic signal at US 60 and SR 77 in its final configuration.

Beginning Monday, Dec. 18, crews will put down final striping along US 60 in the project area. This must be done during the day, as overnight temperatures are too cold to apply the striping material. Striping work is expected to last a few days.

On Tuesday, Dec. 19, the traffic signals at the intersection of US 60 and SR 77, known locally as Penrod Road, will be shut off as crews work to program the new signal timing to accommodate the new road configuration. The signal will be shut down at 8 a.m. A uniformed officer will direct traffic through the intersection. Drivers should budget extra time and be prepared for delays.

The signal work is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Crews will return next summer to lay the final layer of asphalt and complete some sidewalk and landscaping work.

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project to improve the pavement along SR 77 in Snowflake will begin Monday, Aug. 21. Drivers should allow up to 20 extra minutes of travel time on weekdays with the work scheduled to end by this fall.

SR 77 will be narrowed to one lane in areas between mileposts 361 and 373 during daylight hours Mondays through Fridays. Flag crews will be in place to direct traffic one direction at a time through the work zone.

No work will take place from Friday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 4 for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Drivers can also consider using SR 277 and SR 377 to get around the restriction.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit the ADOT Traveler Information site at az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

PHOENIX – With overhanging rock removed from a mountainside along State Route 77 south of Globe, the Arizona Department of Transportation is lifting all restrictions on a seven-mile stretch after six months of blasting and follow-up work.

The safety project, which began last fall, removed boulders and other rock formations from a limestone cliff near Dripping Springs, between mileposts 154 and 161 about 10 miles south of Globe.

Drivers experienced regularly scheduled weekday closures and lane restrictions to allow for this work, which ended Friday, June 2.