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.

Among other progress on ADOT’s $41.9 million project, work to install concrete girders on support piers both east and west of Grand Avenue is scheduled to continue over the next week. Most of the girders used for the overpass will have been lifted into place by cranes by the end of the weekend of July 9-10.

Bell Road is scheduled to reopen to traffic by November, and the entire project, with ramps to and from Grand Avenue, is scheduled for completion next spring.

The overpass work will require Grand Avenue to be narrowed to one lane at times in either direction between Dysart and Litchfield roads, including overnight hours. Eastbound Grand Avenue is scheduled to be limited to one lane between Towne Center and Bell Grande drives from 10 p.m. Monday, July 11, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 12.

Crews continue preparing the future wider section of westbound Grand Avenue for paving. As work on the Bell Road overpass progresses, Grand Avenue traffic will be switched to the new westbound lanes.

During the week of July 11, crews also are scheduled to remove old pavement, as well as sections of curb and gutter, along the south side of Bell Road east of Grand Avenue.

While Bell Road is closed in both directions near Grand Avenue for bridge construction, access to local businesses will continue throughout. The primary detour route takes traffic along Dysart Road, Greenway Road and Litchfield Road.

Please note that local, county and state law enforcement officers are patrolling the area. Please obey all traffic signage and speed limits.

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.

While the Arizona Department of Transportation and the project contractor have investigated, a precise reason for the accident has not been determined.

The 29 girders in place as of June 9, as well as the remaining girders to be installed, have been found to be structurally sound. A replacement girder was manufactured. ADOT has found no evidence that materials used to manufacture the girder that fell contributed to the accident.

In all, the overpass will have 89 steel-reinforced concrete girders ranging from 67 to 158 feet in length and weighing up to 90,000 pounds each.

The Bell Road overpass construction is part of ADOT’s $41.9 million project to construct an interchange to relieve traffic congestion at the busy intersection connecting Bell Road and Grand Avenue. Work has continued on other elements of the project.

The project team plans to complete this stage of girder installation by Sunday, July 10. Grand Avenue will be narrowed to one lane in each direction between Dysart and Litchfield roads from 8 p.m. Thursday, July 7, to 5 a.m. Friday, July 8, and again from 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, to noon Sunday, July 10, when girder placement is taking place on the bridge span closest to the roadway.

Construction of the interchange began in early February. Bell Road was closed to traffic in an area between Dysart and Litchfield roads on April 1 to allow for the accelerated construction of the overpass and limit impacts on local traffic and area businesses. The Bell Road overpass, traveling over both Grand Avenue and the nearby BNSF Railway tracks, is scheduled to open to traffic by November.

The Bell/Grand interchange is being built as a partnership between ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration, the Maricopa Association of Governments and the city of Surprise. The entire project is scheduled for completion by spring 2017.

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.

For the most current information about highway closures and restrictions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511. 

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.

Recent work on the project has included the paving of the soon-to-be-opened 134th Avenue connection to Bell Road, east of the future Bell Road overpass. Plans call for opening the 134th Avenue connection by July 1, providing drivers with a new way to reach several businesses north of Bell Road and west of Dysart Road.

ADOT continues its review of the June 9 fall of a girder during placement on bridge pier caps at the Bell Road overpass worksite. Worksite safety is the agency’s priority as the contractor, consulting engineers and ADOT continue to review the incident. While a date for resuming the installation of girders as part of the Bell Road overpass construction hasn’t been set, crews are continuing other work to keep the project on track, including:

• Construction of bridge piers for the future overpass west of Grand Avenue.
• Paving the widened westbound side of Grand Avenue near Bell Road. The project team expects to complete paving the wider section and add temporary lane markings next month.
• Installation of a new 12-inch water line along Bell Road west of Grand Avenue.

The entire Bell Road/Grand Avenue interchange improvement project is scheduled for completion by spring 2017.

To lessen the overall impact of construction on area businesses and drivers, ADOT worked with the city of Surprise to schedule the ongoing closure of Bell Road in an area between Dysart and Litchfield roads. Bell Road was closed to traffic April 1 and remains scheduled to reopen to traffic by November.

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.

 

ADOT continues its review of the June 9 fall of a girder during placement on bridge pier caps at the Bell Road overpass worksite. Worksite safety is the agency’s priority as the contractor, consulting engineers and ADOT continue to review the incident. While a date for resuming the installation of girders as part of the Bell Road overpass construction hasn’t been set, crews are continuing other work to keep the project on track, including:

• Installation of new water lines along Bell Road, both west of Grand Avenue and east of 134th Drive, near Dysart Road.
• Paving of the upgraded 134th Avenue connection to Bell Road. Crews plan to open the 134th Avenue connection by early July, providing drivers with a new way to reach several businesses north of Bell and west of Dysart Road.
• Removal of the existing traffic signal at Bell Road and 134th Drive. Stop signs will continue to be used to regulate traffic until the 134th Avenue connection to Bell Road is opened.

 

The entire Bell Road/Grand Avenue interchange improvement project is scheduled for completion by spring 2017.

To lessen the overall impact of construction on area businesses and drivers, ADOT worked with the city of Surprise to schedule the ongoing closure of Bell Road in an area between Dysart and Litchfield roads. Bell Road was closed to traffic April 1 and remains scheduled to reopen to traffic by November.

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.

Crews have about 25,000 cubic yards of rocks and dirt – about 2,000 truckloads – to remove to complete the project between mileposts 227 east of Superior to milepost 235 west of Miami.  In addition to creating a passing lane, the Arizona Department of Transportation project is widening the shoulders in Devil’s Canyon (mileposts 233-234), making improvements to the bridge at Waterfall Canyon (milepost 229) and improving drainage (milepost 242) west of Miami.

Drivers who rely on US 60 should continue to plan ahead for closures from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will be no blasting-related closures in the area on June 30 or July 5 to accommodate holiday traffic.

After crews blast away rock in one area to make room for the climbing lane, they must maneuver heavy equipment up steep, narrow roads to prepare for the next blast. This spring, two periods of “red flag” conditions – high winds and low humidity that increase the danger of sparking a fire – have delayed work for about two weeks.

During the closures, drivers should consider taking state routes 77 and 177 between Superior and Globe, a route of about 68 miles. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260.

Meanwhile, US 60 will be restricted to one lane through the work zone from 9 p.m. Sunday, June 19, to 4 a.m. Monday, June 20, and also from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 20. A pilot car will lead vehicles the work zone, and motorists should budget extra travel time.

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.

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.

ADOT officials are investigating what occurred and why. We strive to improve safety both within the transportation system and within ADOT. This will guide our investigation.

ADOT is coordinating with the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health on reviewing the scene of the incident and with the BNSF Railway on resuming the flow of trains through the area, when it is appropriate to do so. Cleanup was underway Thursday afternoon.

After installing 24 girders on a span east of the railroad line, the contractor on Thursday morning was adding 150-foot girders to a span crossing the railroad line. Two cranes were used to lift the girders into place, aided by personnel atop the piers.

The girder that fell was the sixth that had been installed Thursday morning.

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.

Preparations also are underway to pave the new westbound Grand Avenue lanes near Bell Road. Crews have been finishing sections of curb and gutter for the improved westbound Grand Avenue lanes that will travel beneath the Bell Road overpass.

Construction of a new 134th Avenue connection to Bell Road has also advanced.

The project team remains on schedule to reopen the closed section of Bell Road between 134th Drive and West Point Parkway by November, in time for the traditional holiday shopping season.

Access to businesses in the area near the closure continues to be maintained.

Bell Road traffic can detour in the area by using Dysart, Greenway and Litchfield roads. Drivers should use caution in the area, obey traffic signs and posted speed limits. Law enforcement officers are monitoring traffic conditions and keeping an eye out for unsafe driving behavior.

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.

Access to businesses next to the project area will be maintained throughout the project.

After Memorial Day weekend, other work will include installing curb and gutters and performing grading on a new 134th Avenue that will connect with 134th Drive, maintaining access to businesses north of Bell Road. Crews also will continue preparing curb and gutters on the east side of Grand Avenue.

The primary detour route is along Dysart, Greenway and Litchfield roads. Please obey all traffic signs and posted speed limits, and also note that additional law enforcement is on patrol.

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.

When completed, this $8.8 million safety improvement project will make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles on the sustained grades along this stretch of US 60.

Other improvements include wider shoulders in the Devil’s Canyon area, improvements to the Waterfall Canyon bridge and drainage improvements just west of Miami.