US 60

US 60 east of Superior to close part of Feb. 18 for blasting operations

US 60 east of Superior to close part of Feb. 18 for blasting operations

I-17 101 traffic interchange

US 60 east of Superior to close part of Feb. 18 for blasting operations

US 60 east of Superior to close part of Feb. 18 for blasting operations

February 12, 2016

PHOENIX – Motorists using US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week should plan ahead and consider alternate routes as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work to build a passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior.

Construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require one full closure lasting four hours:

  • Thursday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

No closures are scheduled the following week, Feb. 22 through Feb. 26.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and traffic on westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235), until the blasting work is completed and debris is cleared.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barriers prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260. Drivers should use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time.

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 the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 511.

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

SR24-1

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

January 20, 2016

US 60 and Bell Road Project

With a contractor selected, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving forward with a $41.9 million project to relieve traffic congestion at US 60/Grand Avenue and Bell Road in Surprise.

Last week, the Arizona State Transportation Board approved Coffman Specialties Inc.’s proposal to design and build a Bell Road bridge, creating an interchange that will allow continuous traffic flow on Grand Avenue. The project is part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan.

Construction on Grand Avenue is scheduled to begin in late January and will continue through March. In April, Bell Road will be closed at Grand Avenue for six to eight months to accommodate construction of a bridge over Grand and the adjacent BNSF Railway tracks.

“A condensed schedule not only avoids having construction continue through the holiday shopping season and next year’s spring training but provides for the safety of workers and motorists,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation.

Grand Avenue will remain open during the project.

ADOT and Coffman Specialties will continue working with local leaders to minimize impacts by conducting business outreach, communicating with residents and implementing a comprehensive access plan that includes signage to assist motorists and businesses.

"This project is so very important to the city of Surprise, as it will provide much-needed traffic relief at the county's third-busiest intersection and enhance the aesthetics at a signature gateway into our beautiful city," City Manager Bob Wingenroth said. "I applaud our partners at ADOT in working in concert with city staff to ensure a construction plan that protects local business access throughout the work, and I encourage people to continue to support these businesses during the condensed construction schedule."

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

Contractor selected for project to relieve congestion at US 60 and Bell Road

January 15, 2016

PHOENIX ‒ With a contractor selected, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving forward with a $41.9 million project to relieve traffic congestion at US 60/Grand Avenue and Bell Road in Surprise.

On Friday, the Arizona State Transportation Board approved Coffman Specialties Inc.’s proposal to design and build a Bell Road bridge, creating an interchange that will allow continuous traffic flow on Grand Avenue. The project is part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan.

Construction on Grand Avenue is scheduled to begin in late January and will continue through March. In April, Bell Road will be closed at Grand Avenue for six to eight months to accommodate construction of a bridge over Grand and the adjacent BNSF Railway tracks.

“A condensed schedule not only avoids having construction continue through the holiday shopping season and next year’s spring training but provides for the safety of workers and motorists,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation.

Grand Avenue will remain open during the project.

ADOT and Coffman Specialties will continue working with local leaders to minimize impacts by conducting business outreach, communicating with residents and implementing a comprehensive access plan that includes signage to assist motorists and businesses.

"This project is so very important to the city of Surprise, as it will provide much-needed traffic relief at the county's third-busiest intersection and enhance the aesthetics at a signature gateway into our beautiful city," City Manager Bob Wingenroth said. "I applaud our partners at ADOT in working in concert with city staff to ensure a construction plan that protects local business access throughout the work, and I encourage people to continue to support these businesses during the condensed construction schedule."

US 60 Oak Flat project update

US 60 Oak Flat project update

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US 60 Oak Flat project update

US 60 Oak Flat project update

January 14, 2016

If you’ve been following ADOT on social media or here on this blog, you already know about the improvement projects happening along the US 60 corridor near Superior.

We blogged about them on 10/09/15 and 5/15/15 and have been posting updates to Facebook and Twitter when blasting occurs on the Oak Flat area of the corridor (just in case you missed it, check out this cool Facebook video that shows one of those blasts).

You can find the very latest update on all the projects in this news release on 01/14/16, but today we’re going to focus on the stretch of the highway in the Oak Flat area…

Located just east of Superior, this project includes the addition of a two-mile-long westbound passing lane (mileposts 231-233), shoulder widening in Devil’s Canyon (mileposts 233-234), bridge work at Waterfall Canyon (milepost 229) and drainage improvements (milepost 242).

Work started last summer and has required occasional closures, usually lasting up to 90 minutes, to allow for crews to safely complete blasting operations.

About those blasts…

Back when we wrote this blog post, we said the blasting was expected to continue through the end of 2015. But, as you can see in the video above, the blasting is still necessary.

As Senior Community Relations Officer Rodney Wigman explains, the contractor had a “better way to build this road” that requires the road to be built back into the embankment rather than out to a retaining wall. That means more blasting.

Crews have already cleared approximately 58,000 cubic yards of the rock embankment, but an estimated 50,000 cubic yards of earth still needs to be excavated. ADOT expects the blasting work to wrap up by the end of April.

“The state of Arizona and the Arizona Department of Transportation definitely appreciates the public’s patience while we build this important road,” Wigman says. “We just think it will be a better product, it will be a safer product and we’ll save money in doing it.”

You can find more project details, including upcoming closure/blasting notices on our website. You’ll also find those reminders on the ADOT website’s homepage and social media channels. For email updates, be sure to subscribe.

US 60 east of Superior to temporarily close for blasting operations Jan. 5-7

US 60 east of Superior to temporarily close for blasting operations Jan. 5-7

I-17 101 traffic interchange

US 60 east of Superior to temporarily close for blasting operations Jan. 5-7

US 60 east of Superior to temporarily close for blasting operations Jan. 5-7

December 29, 2015

PHOENIX – Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require four full closures of US 60:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (This will be a three-hour closure.)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and traffic on westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235), until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barriers prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative. ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel and allow extra time for your commute.

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 the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

ADOT opens new US 60 (Superstition Freeway) ramps at Meridian Road in East Valley

ADOT opens new US 60 (Superstition Freeway) ramps at Meridian Road in East Valley

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT opens new US 60 (Superstition Freeway) ramps at Meridian Road in East Valley

ADOT opens new US 60 (Superstition Freeway) ramps at Meridian Road in East Valley

October 19, 2015

PHOENIX - Drivers in the Apache Junction and East Mesa area have a new way to make connections between US 60 (Superstition Freeway) and Meridian Road. Construction crews have opened a new westbound US 60 on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp at Meridian Road, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The $8 million project to add the new ramps, as well as new US 60 merge lanes between Meridian and Signal Butte roads, began in October 2014.

ADOT says crews completed work on traffic signals at the end of last week in order to open the new ramps on Saturday morning (Oct. 17).

Improvements continue along US 60 corridor near Superior

Improvements continue along US 60 corridor near Superior

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Improvements continue along US 60 corridor near Superior

Improvements continue along US 60 corridor near Superior

October 9, 2015

US 60 corridor improvement projects.

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve likely seen the blasting notifications, warning drivers when closures are planned for US 60 near Superior.

We also post the reminders on the ADOT website, the project page and message boards around the construction area.

While the blasting is necessary to remove several areas of rock embankment, there’s a lot more to the project … so, we thought we’d take the opportunity to fill you in on all the details.

Oak Flat to Miami East
Once complete, this $8.8 million safety improvement project is going to give drivers a brand new passing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) that’ll make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway.

Besides the construction of that new westbound passing lane, work also includes widening the shoulders in the Devil’s Canyon area, improvements to the Waterfall Canyon Bridge (milepost 229) and box culvert drainage improvements (milepost 242, just west of Miami).

What drivers need to know
It is expected that the blasting closures will continue through the end of the year. There is some very hard rock material and narrow areas that prevent crews from completing large blasts during each closure. Because smaller blasts are necessary, it takes longer to clear particular areas. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

When blasts are scheduled, motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe need to plan ahead or allow extra time. Typically, traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after the debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers are stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures through the area as crews set the concrete barrier prior to each scheduled closure.

But wait, there’s more…
The Oak Flat to Miami portion of US 60 isn’t the only stretch of the highway that’s being improved. We’ll have more information on these projects as they progress, but for now here’s a quick rundown.

Work has started on a project that will convert the last remaining two-lane roadway segment on US 60 between Phoenix and Superior into a modern, four-lane divided highway. The US 60 Silver King/Superior Streets project just west of Superior (mileposts 222-227) is expected to take two years to complete and will include improving the urban section of highway in Superior. The five-mile-long widening improvements will improve traffic flow and enhance safety on US 60.

Crews have also begun work on a rock mitigation project along mileposts 228-229, that includes the removal of loose boulders along this very rocky and steep section of highway adjacent to the Queen Creek Tunnel.

And finally, there’s the upcoming lighting project that will replace the antiquated lighting in the US 60 Queen Creek Tunnel with a new light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system. This will be the first tunnel in Arizona to have this LED technology. The new lighting system will improve visibility within the tunnel, which was originally built in 1952, by using an adaptive control system that will adjust the lighting level based upon ambient light and weather conditions outside the tunnel.

For even more details, drivers can subscribe for project email updates.

ADOT to start US 60 widening improvements near Superior

ADOT to start US 60 widening improvements near Superior

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT to start US 60 widening improvements near Superior

ADOT to start US 60 widening improvements near Superior

September 8, 2015

PHOENIX — After decades of improvements to the US 60 corridor, the Arizona Department of Transportation will start a new project beginning Monday, Sept. 14, to widen the Silver King and Superior Streets sections of US 60, the last two remaining sections of the highway between the Phoenix metropolitan area and Superior that have not yet been converted into a modern, four-lane divided highway.

The $32.9 million project, which will improve traffic flow and enhance safety along the corridor, will continue the improvement of US 60 from the East Valley through Superior and the State Route 177 junction. In 2008, ADOT finished expanding the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway from Florence Junction through Gonzales Pass near the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

The divided highway will be extended to the western boundary of Superior near Silver King Road (mileposts 222-227), which is located approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix in Pinal County.

In addition, the urban section through Superior will be converted to a four-lane roadway with a raised median and will include separate left-hand turn lanes.

Work will start on the west side of the project by the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, where crews will start constructing two additional lanes. The new divided highway will be constructed north of the current highway and will tie back into the highway near the Superior Municipal Airport. Work will be focused mostly north of the existing highway until spring 2016 when work will transition to the Superior Streets section.

Initially, there will be minimal traffic impact initially because most of the work will occur north of the current alignment.

Motorists should be aware that there is currently another construction project east of Superior (US 60 Oak Flat Passing Lane) and delays are possible due to blasting. ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts by scheduling work hours on overlapping projects at different times of the day as much as possible.

The US 60 Silver King/Superior Streets project is expected to be completed by early 2018.

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 the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

Overnight delays expected on US 60 between Superior and Globe/Miami on July 14

Overnight delays expected on US 60 between Superior and Globe/Miami on July 14

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Overnight delays expected on US 60 between Superior and Globe/Miami on July 14

Overnight delays expected on US 60 between Superior and Globe/Miami on July 14

July 10, 2015

Motorists traveling on US 60 between Superior and Globe/Miami should allow extra travel time and plan for short delays overnight on Tuesday, July 14 while the Arizona Department of Transportation starts work on the new passing lane construction project (mileposts 231-233).

Crews will start work on July 14 from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday, July 15.

A pilot car will be used to guide traffic through the construction zone as intermittent closures will be necessary. The speed limit will be reduced through the construction zone and drivers are asked to use caution and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

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 visit the construction website, ADOT’s Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 5-1-1. 

US 60 passing lane project east of Superior starts this week

US 60 passing lane project east of Superior starts this week

I-17 101 traffic interchange

US 60 passing lane project east of Superior starts this week

US 60 passing lane project east of Superior starts this week

June 16, 2015

PHOENIX — The first of a series of planned improvement projects along US 60 between Superior and Globe will start Wednesday, June 17, when the Arizona Department of Transportation begins work to construct a new passing lane from Devils Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233), along with other improvements.

When completed, this $8.8 million safety improvement project will make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway from Devil’s Canyon to the Oak Flat area.

There will be minimal impacts to the traveling public during this initial phase of the project prior to Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Construction of the passing lane and some shoulder widening will require US 60 to be closed during blasting, which will start after the Independence Day holiday weekend.

The project will include the following:

  • Construction of a new westbound passing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233)
  • Widening shoulders in the Devil’s Canyon area (milepost 233-234)
  • Improvements to the Waterfall Canyon bridge (milepost 229)
  • Box culvert drainage improvements (milepost 242 just west of Miami)

Work hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Work crews may also be working at night during different phases of the construction. The project is anticipated to be completed by summer 2016.

Removing several areas of rock embankment will require blasting during the project. The first phase of blasting is being planned for the week after the Fourth of July holiday weekend during morning hours around 9 a.m. The exact day has not been determined. Blasting will occur about every five to seven days in a five-month period until it is completed. Closures during the initial blasts may be up to three hours. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project. Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

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 the ADOT Traveler Information System at az511.gov or call 5-1-1.