US 60

SURPRISE – Piece by piece, square foot by square foot, crews working on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $41.9 million Grand Avenue (US 60)/Bell Road interchange project are building the overpass that will carry Bell Road over Grand Avenue.

Concrete for one part of the Bell Road bridge deck was poured and allowed to set over the weekend of Aug. 13-14. To allow the next stage of that work, Grand Avenue is scheduled to be closed in both directions between Dysart and Litchfield roads from 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29.

PHOENIX – After removing enough dirt and rock to fill more than 38 Olympic-size swimming pools, Arizona Department of Transportation crews have completed scheduled blasting on US 60 east of Superior to clear the way for a quicker, safer route.

In all, about 100,000 pounds of explosives helped crews remove 125,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock to create a westbound passing lane between Oak Flat and Devil’s Canyon. That included removing overhanging rocks that have posed the danger of rockslides during heavy rain.

SURPRISE – Among all of the progress being made on a $41.9 million overpass and interchange under construction at Grand Avenue (US 60) and Bell Road, perhaps the most noticeable addition of late is the start of retaining walls that will help support the structure.

In addition to continuing to build mechanically stabilized earth walls over the next week, crews are pouring concrete for the bridge deck.

SURPRISE – A $41.9 million overpass and interchange under construction at Grand Avenue (US 60) and Bell Road will add concrete to the bridge deck in the coming week.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will close Grand Avenue in both directions from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, until 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, for the deck pour. During that time, traffic will detour at Dysart and Litchfield roads.

Switching traffic to newly constructed westbound lanes of Grand Avenue at Bell Road advances construction an overpass and upgraded eastbound lanes.

SURPRISE – Grand Avenue (US 60) traffic has been switched to newly constructed westbound lanes at Bell Road in the latest milestone for an Arizona Department of Transportation project connecting the roadways with an overpass and interchange.

SURPRISE ‒ The Arizona Department of Transportation’s project to construct an overpass and interchange at Bell Road and Grand Avenue (US 60) has reached another milestone with a new 134th Avenue connection at Bell open just west of Dysart Road.

This segment connects with businesses north of Bell Road. Fresh pavement markings are in place, and the last of the barricades have been pulled away.

The new 134th Avenue curves north of Bell Road to provide an east-west connection to 134th Drive, the road that previously served as the connection to area businesses.

SURPRISE – Work to install girders for a Bell Road overpass at Grand Avenue (US 60) resumed Tuesday.

The installation had been on hold since June 9, when a large, steel-reinforced concrete girder fell moments after it had been lifted into place by cranes. An employee of a contractor working on the project was seriously injured but is recovering.

PHOENIX – US 60 has reopened between Show Low and State Route 73 on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The highway had been closed between mileposts 318 and 337 because of the Cedar Creek Fire. Drivers should use extra caution in the area because of ongoing firefighting operations.

SURPRISE – As work proceeds on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $41.9 million project to build a new interchange connecting Bell Road and Grand Avenue (US 60), an overnight lane restriction has been scheduled on Monday, June 27.

Eastbound Grand Avenue will be narrowed to one lane between Towne Center and Bell Grande drives from 8 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, for concrete work near Bell Road. Westbound Bell Road traffic will not be affected.

SURPRISE – Work is proceeding on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $41.9 million project to build a new interchange connecting Bell Road and Grand Avenue (US 60) and reopen Bell Road to traffic by November.

Crews are focusing on paving the widened westbound portion of Grand Avenue near Bell Road. The work to pave the roadway and add temporary lane markings along that section of US 60 is scheduled for completion by July. Grand Avenue traffic currently is shifted to the eastbound section of the roadway between Bell Grande and Towne Center drives.

PHOENIX ‒ Steep, rugged terrain and high winds have added challenges for crews working to create room for an additional lane on US 60 between Globe and Superior. Because of that, the project will continue through the summer, including twice-weekly closures for blasting work.

PHOENIX ‒ A girder being installed for an overpass under construction at Grand Avenue (US 60) and Bell Road in Surprise fell Thursday just after 10 a.m. while being placed above the railroad line running parallel to Grand Avenue. Two employees of the contractor working on this project were injured.

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s first concern is for the injured and for ensuring the safety of those at this work site. We are grateful to Surprise police and fire personnel for their rapid response and care for the injured.

SURPRISE – Work on the future interchange to improve connections between Grand Avenue (US 60) and Bell Road in Surprise stayed on course following the Memorial Day weekend. Crews on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s $41.9 million project worked on the support piers to hold the future Bell Road overpass traveling over Grand Avenue and the parallel BNSF Railway tracks.

SURPRISE ‒ From adding curb to what will be the northwest-bound lanes of Grand Avenue (US 60) to capping columns that will carry Bell Road across the railroad tracks, work on a $41.9 million overpass and interchange is moving along steadily.

These aerial videos from April and the past week show how far the Arizona Department of Transportation has come toward reopening Bell Road by November. Closing Bell between 134th Drive and West Point Parkway is allowing faster completion.

PHOENIX – Those using US 60 to make an early start to, or a late return from, the eastern Arizona mountains over the holiday weekend can make travel plans without worrying about scheduled road closures.

Arizona Department of Transportation crews won’t close the roadway east of Superior for blasting on Thursday, May 26, or Tuesday, May 31.

Blasting to make room for a westbound passing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat and other improvements will resume on Thursday, June 2, and continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through June.

SURPRISE ‒ As a $41.9 million overpass and interchange rises at Bell Road and Grand Avenue (US 60), Bell Road  traffic on the east side of the project area is shifting to the south lanes as crews start work on a new intersection and road at 134th Avenue.

SURPRISE ‒ Things are coming together at Bell Road and Grand Avenue (US 60) as crews pour concrete platforms connecting columns for girders that will support a $41.9 million overpass and interchange.

Once rows of columns are completed on both sides of Grand Avenue, crews install wood forms for these concrete platforms, or caps. Later, girders will be placed on them to carry Bell Road over Grand Avenue and the BNSF Railway tracks.

SURPRISE ‒ While columns that will support a $41.9 million overpass and interchange at Grand Avenue (US 60) and Bell Road are the most obvious signs of steady progress, a great deal of work is occurring at and below ground level.

On tap for the coming week as the Arizona Department of Transportation moves forward on the project: preparing to pave and form the curb and gutters to build the east side of Grand Avenue, adding electrical conduit and foundations for Grand Avenue lighting and installing a storm drain and sewer main on Bell Road east of 134th Drive.