SR 87

Placing bridge girders: Now that's a heavy lift

Placing bridge girders: Now that's a heavy lift

Placing bridge girders: Now that's a heavy lift

June 7, 2018

I-10/SR 87 Improvements: Girder Installation (June 2018)

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

The last time you went to the gym, how much weight did you lift? More than 100 pounds? 200?

More than 75 tons, anyone?

Those building a new bridge connecting Interstate 10 and State Route 87 in Eloy didn’t really lift 20 tons, of course. But 30 feet above the ground today, as two cranes lifted huge girders into place, these professionals, securely perched atop bridge piers, made sure these 145-foot girders landed in just the right spot.

And they repeated the process over and over, as shown in the slideshow above.

Precision may be difficult with a heavy girder, but it’s essential. There needs to be the right number of girders across each pier to support the bridge deck and traffic over decades. And each girder must allow room for the one that will connect to the next pier.

Today marks six months since crews began clearing ground for new lanes of I-10 and the new interchange with SR 87. Placing girders on the bridge is another visible sign that work is continuing on schedule.

The project is creating six new lanes of I-10 that will connect with the existing freeway just west and a few miles east of SR 87. Traffic will be moved to the new pavement as soon as this fall, with the entire project scheduled for completion by fall 2019. After this project and another in Casa Grande are complete, I-10 will be three lanes in each direction all the way between Casa Grande and the east side of Tucson.

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A bridge to the future

A bridge to the future

A bridge to the future

February 16, 2018

Temp Bridge 87

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

There’s a new bridge on State Route 87, but you may never notice it as you drive by just north of Interstate 10. You’ll never drive on it. And in the fall of 2019, when the work to widen I-10 and build a new interchange nearby is complete, the new bridge will come down for use somewhere else.

Because of this temporary bridge, the southernmost section of SR 87 will be safer for drivers, and the work will be done even faster.

The pit for this project – an area near the work site where crews take dirt for use in the construction – is located just east of SR 87, a short distance north of the work. Without the temporary bridge, construction vehicles would need to drive on SR 87 between the pit and the work site, causing delays for drivers and making that area potentially dangerous for drivers.

Enter Coffman Specialties, the contractor building new lanes of I-10, a new interchange at SR 87 and a new dust detection and warning zone on 10 miles of the interstate. Coffman is putting in an Acrow temporary bridge that not only will carry construction equipment but can handle much larger loads than the existing SR 87 bridge.

How much larger? Without the bridge, engineers were estimating trucks would carry 80,000 loads of dirt and other materials between the pit and the job site. With the new bridge, that number should be fewer than 20,000 loads.

The temporary bridge will remain in place until about the end of 2018. The impact on drivers – aside from having a safer environment – is that SR 87 will be reduced to one lane in each direction until the project is complete. Any delays will be brief.

The project is the first of two I-10 widening efforts that will make I-10 a six-lane freeway from the northern edge of Casa Grande to the east side of Tucson. A meeting to prepare for the second project, which includes widening I-10 between Earley Road and Interstate 8 in Casa Grande, will happen in less than a month.

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Restrictions continue on northbound SR 87 south of Payson

Restrictions continue on northbound SR 87 south of Payson

Restrictions continue on northbound SR 87 south of Payson

October 3, 2017

PHOENIX – While lane restrictions on southbound State Route 87 have been lifted, drivers headed to Payson and the Mogollon Rim area should continue to budget extra travel time as the northbound lane restriction continues near Slate Creek while crews continue to rebuild the right lane.

This critical Arizona Department of Transportation safety project is expected to be completed this fall.

In June, one lane was closed in each direction on SR 87 between mileposts 223 and 226 so ADOT could make repairs to the roadway and drainage systems and stabilize the terrain after sensors detected slight ground movement near Slate Creek, about 25 miles south of Payson.

The project also includes moving nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from the northbound side of the highway farther down the slope to help stabilize the terrain.

Restrictions lifted on southbound SR 87 south of Payson

Restrictions lifted on southbound SR 87 south of Payson

Restrictions lifted on southbound SR 87 south of Payson

September 27, 2017

PHOENIX – Crews will be removing concrete barriers on southbound State Route 87 tomorrow near Slate Creek after completing repairs, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The removal of the barriers will require the closure of the southbound lanes for 20-minute intervals between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Drivers headed to the Valley from the Mogollon Rim area should budget extra travel time and be prepared for delays.

Northbound restrictions will remain in place while crews finish rebuilding the right lane.

One lane has been closed in each direction on SR 87 between mileposts 223 and 226 so ADOT could make repairs to the roadway and drainage systems and stabilize the terrain after sensors detected slight ground movement near Slate Creek, about 25 miles south of Payson.

The project also includes moving nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from the northbound side of the highway farther down the slope to help stabilize the terrain.

This safety project is expected to be completed this fall.

Catching you up on our SR 87 safety improvements

Catching you up on our SR 87 safety improvements

Catching you up on our SR 87 safety improvements

September 22, 2017

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

Work continues on a critical safety project on State Route 87 south of Payson. With crews repairing the roadway and stabilizing the terrain after earth movement near Slate Creek, motorists are using new left lanes in each direction while we rebuild the right lanes.

A three-mile stretch of the roadway is reduced to one lane in each direction 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the work is completed later this year. So continue to plan some extra time if you're traveling between the Valley and Rim Country.

These photos show right lanes between mileposts 223 and 226 stripped down to the dirt road bed. Crews will be spending the next several weeks rebuilding those lanes through as well as finishing the drainage work and stabilizing the surrounding terrain.

We're making these repairs after detecting slight shifting in the slopes along SR 87 through this area. ADOT put a project together that started earlier this year with repairing drainage pipes in the slopes. Workers also cleaned out those pipes, which help move water away from the slopes.

The current phase of the project has crews repairing the roadway damage that resulted from the shift, as well as moving nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt further down slope to help stabilize the area.

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Rock removal project on State Route 87 north of Payson starts Sept. 25

Rock removal project on State Route 87 north of Payson starts Sept. 25

Rock removal project on State Route 87 north of Payson starts Sept. 25

September 22, 2017

PHOENIX – To improve safety and reduce the chance for rockfalls, the Arizona Department of Transportation will be starting a rock removal project on State Route 87 7 miles north of the State Route 260 junction on Monday, Sept. 25.

Drivers should budget extra travel time for moving through the 2-mile project area between mileposts 285 and 287. A pilot car will be in place to guide traffic through the work zone. Drivers should prepare for 20-minute delays.

This work, which will occur Mondays through Fridays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., will take several weeks to complete. There will be no work over the Columbus Day weekend.

Restrictions lifted on SR 87 south of Payson for Labor Day weekend

Restrictions lifted on SR 87 south of Payson for Labor Day weekend

Restrictions lifted on SR 87 south of Payson for Labor Day weekend

August 29, 2017

PHOENIX – Lane restrictions that have been in place for urgently needed repairs along State Route 87 south of Payson are being temporarily lifted for the busy Labor Day travel period.

One lane has been closed in each direction between mileposts 223 and 226 so the Arizona Department of Transportation can repair the roadway and drainage systems and stabilize the terrain after sensors detected slight ground movement near Slate Creek, about 25 miles south of Payson.

ADOT crews are scheduled remove barriers on the left northbound lane the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 29. Restrictions on the left southbound lane are scheduled to be removed by the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 30.

The break comes as crews have finished making repairs to the left lane in each direction. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 6, crews will put concrete barriers back in place to work on the right lane in each direction.

The project also includes moving nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from the northbound side of the highway further down the slope to help stabilize the terrain.

SR 87 repair project restrictions in place around the clock south of Payson

SR 87 repair project restrictions in place around the clock south of Payson

SR 87 repair project restrictions in place around the clock south of Payson

July 20, 2017

PHOENIX – Drivers should budget extra time and consider an alternate route between the Phoenix area and Rim Country, especially on the weekends, with State Route 87 reduced to one lane in each direction south of Payson for a critically needed project that is repairing a section of highway and stabilizing the terrain around it.

The Arizona Department of Transportation work zone is near Slate Creek, about 25 miles south of Payson between mileposts 223 and 226. The lane restrictions are in place around the clock through the fall, though ADOT plans to lift the lane closures over Labor Day weekend.

As an alternative, drivers may want to consider taking SR 260 between Interstate 17 at Camp Verde and Payson, especially on weekends.

The SR 87 project is part of a larger effort to repair infrastructure damage and stabilize the terrain after devices used to measure ground movement registered some movement in slopes next to the highway. Over the next several months, crews will move nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from along the northbound side of the highway to a location downhill.

A paving project on another main route to the White Mountains is now scheduled to start Monday, July 24. Crews will be paving US 60 through the Salt River Canyon area between Globe and Show Low. The work will take place Mondays through Fridays in segments through the 16-mile project area. The highway will be restricted to one lane with flagging operations guiding vehicles through the work zone, and drivers should be prepared for delays of up to 30 minutes.

The Salt River Canyon Rest Area will also temporarily close to the public for about two weeks beginning Sunday, July 23.

Next SR 87 repair project south of Payson set to start July 11

Next SR 87 repair project south of Payson set to start July 11

Next SR 87 repair project south of Payson set to start July 11

July 7, 2017

PHOENIX – Drivers who use State Route 87 between the Phoenix area and Payson should plan on extra travel time starting Tuesday, July 11, when the next phase of an improvement project focusing on roadway repair and erosion control gets underway.

When the SR 87 work zone is set up in the Slate Creek area about 25 miles south of Payson, the highway will be narrowed to one lane in each direction between mileposts 223 and 226, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The lane restrictions are scheduled to be in place through fall, including on weekends. ADOT plans to temporarily lift the lane closures over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Drivers heading to and from Payson and the White Mountains region should plan for extra travel time along SR 87. A 10-foot width restriction for vehicles also will be in effect while the project is taking place.

Crews began making repairs to the highway’s drainage system near Slate Creek earlier this year. Damage to some drainage pipes had occurred and devices used to measure ground movement, called inclinometers, had registered some slight movement in slopes next to the highway.

Over the next several months, crews will move nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from along the northbound side of the highway to a location further down a slope to help stabilize the area.

“We’re proactive when it comes to roadway and driver safety,” said Audra Merrick, ADOT’s North Central district engineer. “While this work at times will impact those looking to escape the heat in the Phoenix area, our goal is to keep travelers along SR 87 safe and prevent further damage to the highway.”

Happy new year, Pinal County!

Happy new year, Pinal County!

Happy new year, Pinal County!

June 30, 2017

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

There will be no Waterford crystal coming to rest as the clock approaches midnight on Friday. No all-night parties (as far as I know). No Auld Lang Syne.

But make no mistake: July 1 is New Year’s Day 2018. Arizona’s new fiscal year begins at the stroke of midnight.

And it’s going to be a very busy year in Pinal County, at least for the Arizona Department of Transportation. Four major projects will begin in the next few months, with a dramatic effect not only on Pinal County but on the motorists and commercial truckers who drive through the county on their way to, from and through Phoenix and Tucson.

In Maricopa, we’ll begin work this fall on a bridge (see the animation above) that will help drivers avoid waiting as dozens of trains cross State Route 347 every day. The two-year project will open up traffic in the area but will be built for at least the first year with little or no disruption to traffic on SR 347.

About 30 miles to the southeast, we’re now advertising for bids to build two important projects on Interstate 10 near Eloy. The first will widen a four-mile section of I-10 to six lanes and rebuild the interchange with State Route 87, an important route to Coolidge, Florence and the center of the county. At the same time, in almost the same place, ADOT crews will begin creating a first-of-its-kind dust detection and alert system that is designed to help protect drivers from dust storms in the spot where there are more dust-related crashes than anyplace in Arizona. Both projects will take about two years to complete.

And just as the rest of the world is celebrating that other New Year’s Eve, we’ll begin work to widen another I-10 stretch north of Interstate 8. That will mean every inch of I-10’s key commerce corridor between the Casa Grande and Tucson areas will be six lanes by 2021.

There are big highway projects all across Arizona, all of them important. But with these four projects alone, ADOT is providing an economic boost over the next few years in Arizona’s third most-populous county. It’s going to be a very good year.

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