Last week, when we shared with you the long-term repair solution that has been proposed for US 89, we explained how experts studied the area for months and put together a comprehensive report that includes a major amount of geological data (seriously, the report is 463 pages).

Completing that geotechnical investigation has been a VERY crucial step toward eventually being able to restore the route, but we cannot forget to mention an equally important effort that has nothing to do with mapping, subsurface exploration, lab tests or slope stability analysis.

Community Outreach

Since the landslide occurred and forced the closure of a 23-mile-long stretch of US 89 just south of Page, ADOT has been working with residents, businesses and community leaders. The goal is not only to learn how the closure affects drivers in the area, but also to find ways to lessen those impacts.

“Our role is getting out there and getting engaged with the citizens,” says ADOT Assistant Communications Director Brock Barnhart in the video above. “We had to look at the business community, we had to look at the tourism side of it and then we also had to look at the Navajo Nation. We had meetings directly with the communities through Chapter House meetings.”

The communication outreach continues and it’s definitely not a one-way effort. ADOT wants to hear from you…

ADOT has office hours within Page City Hall, allowing members of the public to drop in, ask questions and get the details they need.

There is a project hotline (855-712-8530) and of course, you can always reach out to us through Twitter, Facebook and the blog comments. We’ll work hard to keep you updated and we’re here to listen to your comments and concerns.

If you are a Phoenix-area commuter who travels daily through the Deck Park Tunnel, you’re probably already aware that a produce truck spilled its contents yesterday afternoon as it headed westbound on I-10.

You might have heard about it, even if you don’t take that route. Rotten produce spilling all over the road isn’t something that happens everyday, so it’s only normal that this got a little more attention than your average traffic incident.

Even if we can’t predict what’s going to happen out on the roads (who could have guessed our crews would be cleaning rotten fruit salad on a Thursday evening?), ADOT is ready to deal with whatever it is, as evidenced in the video above.

With the assistance of local emergency service departments, ADOT was out there to clear the road and assess the situation. Within hours, lanes were reopened and traffic was flowing again.

Luckily, no structural damage was caused by the crash, however the shoulder will remain closed until repairs can be made.

We like to check in, from time to time, on the Loop 303 project…

Over the past two years we’ve been able to see a 14-mile stretch of the freeway open to traffic, witness the start of construction on new segments and mark many, many milestones along the way.

West Valley commuters already know this, but the once two-lane roadway really is transforming into a modern freeway right in front of our eyes.

And, that transformation continues still, as you can see in the video above.

Work is in the final stages on the segment between Mountain View Boulevard and Peoria Avenue –construction should be complete in fall of this year. But before that, drivers will notice a big difference in mid-July. Traffic, which is presently traveling on the completed northbound lanes while crews work on the southbound side, will begin using both north- and southbound lanes on July 15.

Construction also is well underway on the Peoria Avenue-Thomas Road stretch. Work on that portion of the Loop 303 is expected to be complete in fall 2014.

Then, there’s the big Loop 303/I-10 traffic interchange. It’s more than 60 percent complete and should be open to drivers by fall 2014. A traffic switch is planned along I-10 in mid-July and late-August.

When complete, the Loop 303 will stretch 39 miles from I-17 to I-10. Not only is it expected to provide both commercial and residential growth in the West Valley, it’s also going to provide a fast and convenient travel option for motorists.

“It’s going to be really great for commuters,” says ADOT Senior Community Relations Officer Michelle Thompson. “If you work or live in the West Valley, this is really going to cut down on your drive time.”

Check out some of our previous blog posts.

Transportation planners and engineers have a lot to consider when designing or improving a roadway in Arizona.

It’s not just about getting people from one place to the next – safety, planning priorities, community concerns, fiscal constraints all get taken into account (along with so many other factors).

There’s also a big relationship between transportation planning and the environment. In fact, that connection is so important that it’s the focus of a pretty big conference being held in Arizona this week…

The International Conference on Ecology and Transportation focuses on that correlation while showcasing research and best practices from the field. Held every two years, ICOET brings the participation of hundreds of transportation and ecology professionals from the U.S. and countries worldwide.

You might remember that we blogged about the conference nearly two years ago when it was first announced ADOT, along with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, would host this year’s event.

Hosting the conference gives our state some really good exposure and the chance to show how ADOT and its partners not only build and maintain Arizona’s transportation system, but do so in a way that is sensitive to the surrounding environment.

Arizona’s wide range of ecology makes it an ideal state to host the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. State transportation planners must take into account diverse wildlife populations and varied topography in the low and high desert plateaus as well as rocky and tree-covered mountain terrain when planning Arizona’s highway system.

During ICOET, ADOT and Game and Fish will have the opportunity to showcase joint efforts that consider the environment during the planning and building stages of transportation infrastructure. One such effort was the construction of wildlife crossing bridges and culverts as part of improvements along US 93 near the Nevada state line to reduce the number of collisions between vehicles and desert bighorn sheep. Conference participants will also learn more about wildlife crossings along SR 260, context-sensitive highway improvements in Sedona and sustainability and preservation efforts for transportation solutions at Grand Canyon National Park.

To learn more about ADOT’s efforts, check out our previous blog posts. For additional information on this year’s conference, visit icoet.net.

Yes, paving on N20 has begun, but drivers shouldn’t plan on using the route as a detour until construction is completed later this summer.

In fact, right now (unless you live in the area), you are NOT permitted to use the road because of the conditions … several vehicles have become stuck in the sand and there is limited cell phone coverage in the area.

More about the project

Crews started on the N20 paving project late last month. Since that time, work has focused on clearing debris and brush off the roadway, grading and installing water lines in preparation for paving work.

Once the paving project is finished, travel time for motorists heading to and from Page and the Lake Powell area will be significantly reduced (we’re just as eager for this as you are!).

Currently, the primary detour is to take US 160 to SR 98, which is about 45 miles longer than the direct route. The new detour route (N20) will shave half the distance and time to get to Page.

We’re loving all the Haboob Haikus that have been rolling in this week…

Like last year, this poetry challenge with the funny name has helped us accomplish an important goal, which is to get people talking about the danger of driving in dust storms. Because we cannot forget that dust storms can pose very real risks to motorists in this state – just take a look at the video above for proof.

Need more proof? According to the most recent Crash Facts report, in 2012 there were 98 crashes that occurred during “blowing sand, soil, dirt.”

It’s too many, but at least that number is down from 2011 when there were 193 crashes.

While we’re not taking credit for the reduction (the statistic really varies year to year), we do hope that making people aware of dust storm safety means more drivers will continue to pull aside and stay alive.

So, here’s where we’re going to (once again) remind you of what to do if you encounter a dust storm. We hope you remember these tips – and share them with people you know – as we head into Arizona’s monsoon season (you can even head over to PullAsideStayAlive.org and print a few copies to post at work and keep in your glove box!).

• Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
• If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
• Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway — do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
• Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
• Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
• Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.
• A driver’s alertness and safe driving ability are always the top factors in preventing crashes.

For even more on dust storm safety, please visit PullAsideStayAlive.org.

Last year, ADOT launched its very first “Haboob Haiku” challenge in an effort to spread the word about dust storm safety and the response was pretty amazing.

That’s actually a huge understatement ... Not only did we receive over 600 original haikus (some even by phone and snail mail), but #HaboobHaiku yielded stories in media outlets all over the world (they even wrote about it in New Zealand!).

New York Daily News Books may have put it best…@NYNDNews: “This is sorta awesome: Arizona fighting dust storms with haiku.” Or maybe it was @BlazingLily: “#HaboobHaiku just might be the best hashtag ever!”

We agree, @BlazingLily, so we’re bringing it back!

Haboob Haiku: Year Two

Today, as part of ADOT’s ongoing efforts to share the important messages related to dust storm safety, we are once again asking you to channel your inner poet by writing a haboob haiku and sharing it over on Twitter (don’t forget to #haboobhaiku and mention @ArizonaDOT) or on our Facebook page or even here in the comments.

Be sure to visit PullAsideStayAlive.org for a look at our videos and driving tips – while you’re there, you might just find some ideas for your own haiku.

After all, safety is the point of #HaboobHaiku. The haikus are designed to reinforce ADOT’s public safety message urging drivers to avoid driving into or through a dust storm at all costs. Drivers are instead encouraged to pull off the roadway and wait out a dust storm rather than trying to drive with reduced or zero visibility.

How to Haiku

Haiku is a type of poetry that conforms to a certain syllable structure. They’re traditionally written in three lines – the first line consists of five syllables, the second line has seven and the third ends with five.

Usually these poems can be on any subject, but for #HaboobHaiku, we want you to focus on monsoons, dust storms and our safety message: Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

Some inspiration to get things started

Before you rush off to Tweet us your latest haiku, take a look at some of the favorites from last year...

• You’re not a Jedi / This is not Tatooine, Luke / Pull over now, man
• Dust blows, swirls and grows / Roadways become danger zones / Pull over, lights off
• Wham, bam, dust storm jam / Can’t see? Don’t drive, pull over / Lights out ‘til all clear

We can’t wait to see what you come up with for Haboob Haiku: Year Two!

As you can see in the video above, ADOT and the Navajo Division of Transportation officially broke ground on the Navajo Route 20 paving project yesterday morning.

The ceremony marks the start of a project that we’ve blogged about before…

We’ve told you about N20, but we’re not sure if we really emphasized the scope of the project. So, we thought we’d share some facts and figures with you today that should help paint a better picture and put the project into perspective.

First, a quick overview…

ADOT closed a portion of US 89 on Feb. 20 after a landslide occurred and damaged the roadway near Bitter Springs. Engineers and geotechnical experts have been working since then to determine the best and safest way to rebuild.

In the meantime, a shorter detour is necessary – currently, motorists are traveling a 115-mile detour, driving east on US 160 to SR 98 north for access to and from Page. The decision was made to pave Navajo Route 20 to cut the detour travel time and mileage by half.

Upon completion of paving, N20 will be designated as US 89T and will serve as a temporary detour route for traffic from the closed portion of US 89. After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, the newly paved US 89T will be returned to the control of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

N20 by the numbers

28 miles is the length of roadway that ADOT is paving. The mostly dirt road that stretches from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee is roughly 44 miles. Crews have already started initial work including clearing debris and brush from the roadway and grading.

$35 million is the cost to improve the road. The project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures. ADOT has already been awarded $35 million in federal aid, including $2 million in quick release funds to assess the damage and the stability of the mountain slope, and conduct emergency operations on US 89.

300,000 cubic yards is the amount of soil that needs to be moved on the roadway before the gravel and asphalt can go down. This estimate means that about 25,000 loads of dirt will be hauled (by big trucks) around the project site.

120,000 feet of water line is being installed to provide water for construction. Water is an important part of construction.

5,000 truck loads of gravel and 5,000 truck loads of asphalt are the estimated amounts needed for this project.

3 months is the timeline – ADOT expects construction on US 89T to be completed in mid-August. A project this size might normally take anywhere from nine months to a year to complete, but this work has been put on the fast track due to the emergency situation and the impact US 89’s closure has had on the nearby communities.

Stay tuned

We’ll keep you updated on this project’s progress and will be very happy to inform you when the newly paved road is ready for traffic!

Just as construction to upgrade N20 begins, ADOT is wrapping up its geotechnical investigation at the US 89 landslide site…

As we’ve mentioned before, the geotechnical investigation is the first phase of the solution – the ultimate repair of US 89 will be based on the results of the geotechnical work happening right now.

And, you can see in the video above, that work has come a long way.

“I think we have a much better feel for what’s going on now than we did on February 20,” says Keith Dahlen, geo tech engineer with Kleinfelder. “We’re mapping, we’re drilling, we’re doing test pits, we’re just basically creating an underground map of what’s happening.”

We hope you recognize some of the geotechnical terms used in the video (inclinometers and TDR), but there might also be a few new ones that you don’t know.

If you stay tuned to the blog, we’ll shed a little light on those words and we’ll, of course, continue to keep you updated on the progress of US 89 and N20.

Drivers who have been impacted by the closure on US 89 might be happy to know that work is beginning on Navajo Route 20…

That means crews soon will start paving the mostly dirt road so it can (in a few months) serve as an interim detour route until repairs are finished on US 89.

Once complete, the N20 detour will reduce travel time for motorists heading to and from Page. And, yes, it will be able to accommodate the anticipated traffic volumes, including commercial truck traffic.

However, we’re not there yet, and we’re asking motorists to avoid using N20 until the upgrades are finished (likely by later this summer). Because, not only is it still a mostly dirt road, but very soon it will become an active work zone and delays are expected to take up to an hour

After the reconstruction of US89 is finished, N20 (which will be dubbed Temporary US 89, or US 89T, once it’s paved) will be relinquished to the Navajo Nation.

There is no timetable yet for reopening the portion of US 89 damaged by a February landslide, but we’ll definitely keep you posted. ADOT is committed to restoring this important travel route as soon as safely as possible. In the meantime, drivers can look forward to the shorter and more direct N20 detour.