FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona State Transportation Board awarded a construction contract on Friday, Feb. 18, for safety-related and other improvements along SR 89A in Oak Creek Canyon. The improvements include rockfall mitigation, erosion control and bridge rehabilitation.

Beginning this spring, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractor, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., who was awarded the $11.1 million contract, will begin construction to improve safety along the highway.

With the exception of limited daytime and overnight closures, SR 89A will remain open to traffic. Traffic restrictions using a combination of temporary traffic signals and flagging operations will be in place while the improvements are under construction. The roadway will be narrowed to one lane only through the work zones with alternating north- and southbound travel. ADOT is committed to completing the improvements as quickly as possible, while balancing the transportation and needs of local and nearby communities.

Rockfall mitigation work will be performed at two locations along SR 89A at milepost 375 just north of the Sedona city limits and at milepost 389 just north of Pumphouse Wash Bridge in the switchbacks. The work consists of improvements to mitigate rockfall at those locations, pavement improvements, pavement markings and other related work.

Sediment and erosion control work will take place in the switchbacks near the Pumphouse Wash Bridge. The work will improve drainage systems along the highway reducing erosion and includes installing concrete barriers, pipes, a retaining wall and catch basin, and other related work.

Finally, the Pumphouse Wash Bridge itself will receive a new bridge deck and railing, along with other related work. This will help extend the life of the bridge keeping it in service for decades to come. 

These items were originally listed as three separate projects to be completed at different times under two contractors. However, in order to better address the complexity of the work and better coordinate traffic impacts, the projects were combined into one under one contractor.

Roadway message boards will notify the traveling public a minimum of seven calendar days in advance of full closures.

No closures or traffic restrictions will be allowed during weekends (outside of the allowable closure periods for SR 89A) and state holidays. Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors.

The work is anticipated to be completed by fall 2023 with a possible winter hiatus at the end of this year.

For more information about the project, visit azdot.gov/SR89A.

PHOENIX – With warm weather returning, the Arizona Department of Transportation is resuming projects to repair and preserve the surfaces of state highways in Arizona’s high country.

While ADOT works to minimize delays for those traveling to and from northern Arizona, including not scheduling work over weekends and holidays, highways at higher elevations can only be paved during warmer months. Drivers heading north this summer should prepare by checking the Arizona Traveler Information site az511.gov, calling 511 and following ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) to get the latest information on highway restrictions.

“Summer is the best time to do work on northern Arizona highways because the overnight temperatures need to be high enough for new pavement to cure properly,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “These projects help repair long-term damage to pavement from multiple winters.”

Work has resumed along Interstate 40 between Cataract Lake and Parks west of Flagstaff, with crews first repairing the Grand Canyon Boulevard traffic interchange in Williams. There will be ramp closures at this interchange through early June as crews repair the ramps and guardrail. Crews will finish the project by laying fresh pavement along 17 miles of I-40.

Last summer, crews 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.

In June, ADOT will resume paving northbound Interstate 17 from the Coconino County line to the I-40 interchange in Flagstaff. Last year, crews rebuilt the highway between mileposts 312 and 315 and installed new bridges at Willard Springs Road.

A project scheduled to begin in mid-August will address pavement damage along State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon. The project, covering nearly 12 miles between uptown Sedona and the Pumphouse Wash bridge, will mill down the damaged roadway and install new pavement and guardrail.

For more information on these and other projects in Arizona’s high country, and to sign up to receive project updates, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

ADOT’s free AZ 511 app, available for iOS and Android devices, allows you to save your favorite routes and destinations, learn about incidents or road work that may affect a trip, get estimated travel times and learn about alternate routes. It complements the free ADOT Alerts app, available at ADOTAlerts.com, which uses geofencing technology to alert motorists in an area about major, unplanned incidents such as closures and direct them to alternate routes.

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 – Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews remain busy with pavement repairs along northern Arizona highways following an active winter storm season.

During the week of April 3-7, crews are scheduled to add a new layer of asphalt to smooth rough sections I-40 in the Parks area between Flagstaff and Williams.

Asphalt overlays also will continue on State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon.

Potholes in the pavement can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt. In northern Arizona, the situation is often exasperated by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Under the pounding of heavy traffic, the stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT also has two projects scheduled later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams to add a new layer of pavement in both directions.

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews are continuing pavement repairs along northern Arizona highways after winter storms.

Next week, crews will lay asphalt over existing pavement to smooth sections of Interstate 40 at milepost 156 westbound and continue this work between mileposts 169 and 172 eastbound, about 10 miles east of Williams.

Patch work and asphalt overlays also will continue on State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions. 

PHOENIX – With warmer weather in the high country, Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews are catching up with pavement repair along Interstates 17 and 40 and State Route 89A after an active winter season.

Next week, crews will lay asphalt over existing pavement to smooth rough sections of road along I-40 between mileposts 169 and 172 eastbound, about 10 miles east of Williams. Work will also occur on I-40 eastbound at mileposts 92, 96 and 102-104, in between the US 93 junction and Seligman.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions.