If you travel between these two major metropolitan areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants to hear from you!

Today ADOT launches a series of public involvement tools to help explore the different travel options that could exist between the two cities. Those options might include rail, transit, or even a no-action plan.

Together with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, ADOT hopes to use the public feedback to determine some potential corridors and narrow down the types of transportation options to explore. The feedback will also assist in completing an alternatives analysis and an environmental impact study.

So...how can you get involved?

Tonight is the first of 12 open house events being held over the next month in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties.

We've also launched a website where you can watch a quick video, read the project booklet and fill out a short comment form, all without heading out to a public meeting.

ADOT even offers a free “Do it Yourself” participation kit with informational materials and a DVD outlining the study. The kit can be ordered at the Intercity Rail website and will be mailed with a postage-paid return envelope for completed comment forms (comments must be received by Nov. 14). The kits are great for showing the video and encouraging comment form completion at your next HOA meeting, or book club event.

We encourage you to really explore the website, go to an open house, watch the video above and fill out the comment form! All your input will assist Arizona policymakers to prioritize the state’s transportation needs.

Here’s a list of the upcoming meetings:

When ADOT has a freeway to build, many steps must be taken long before any asphalt is paved.

One of those initial tasks involves pre-wetting the soil, which entails pretty much exactly what you think it does … crews put sprinkler systems into place and water the dirt!

Just how long crews need to water depends on the type of soil they’re dealing with, but usually this step takes a few days.

Pre-wetting the dirt makes it easier to move, helps the crews eliminate dust pollution and allows them to bring the soil’s moisture content up to a level that enhances compaction.

If you’ve ever built a sand castle, you know it’s much easier to work with sand that’s a little wet (but not too wet). Not only is it easier to build with compared to dry, loose grains of sand, but it also gives your castle a stronger foundation to build upon.

The same principal holds true out in the middle of a road construction site …

Once the soil’s moisture content is at the optimum level, the dirt can be excavated and moved to embankments or medians or off the site completely (depending on the project).

Then it’s time for compaction. This is done with different types of heavy-duty equipment like rollers, dozers, scrapers and front-end loaders. Compacting the soil creates a good solid base for the road (think of your castle’s foundation) and pre-wetting the dirt makes this step easier.

“Water serves a big purpose in compaction,” says Loop 303 Project Supervisor Mark Wheeler in the video above. “It gives you the foundation which you build on and that equates to longevity on your roadway.”

A new school year is in full swing and now is the time for Arizona educators to take advantage of the $5 million in grants available from Safe Routes to School!

Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program that’s administered in Arizona by ADOT. Grant money is annually distributed to schools, districts, tribal communities, municipalities and nonprofit agencies that successfully outline projects designed to help remove the barriers preventing students from safely and conveniently walking or biking to school (You can read more about the program in our June blog post).

Grants are awarded for things like bike racks, crossing signals and even traffic circles and speed humps. Non-infrastructure projects are eligible, too. Just take a look at the video above for some inspiration!

“The goals of the Arizona Safe Routes to School program are to get the funding in the hands of people who want to do good things like this, who care about their kids’ health, who want to get their kids out and give them extra opportunities for physical activity. Because nationwide health statistics are showing that children are obese,” said ADOT’s Safe Routes to School program coordinator Brian Fellows in the video above.

ADOT is currently accepting applications for its latest cycle of federal grants to implement Safe Routes to School programs in schools and communities around the state. The applications for this cycle must be submitted by Dec. 30.

In addition to the $5 million in federal grants that are available through ADOT’s Safe Routes to School program, the National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for 25 mini-grants of $1,000 each. Mini-grants fund activities that range from the nuts and bolts that help start or sustain a Safe Routes to School program to new ideas that enable and encourage children to safely walk and bike to school. Applications for the mini-grants are due Oct. 19.

It’s been just about six months, but today the residents of Mescal and J-Six Ranch got their bridge back and can finally say goodbye to one lengthy detour!

These two Cochise County communities had been linked together by an overpass that spanned Interstate-10. But back in March, two semi-trucks collided underneath that bridge and the resulting damage was so severe that the connection between Mescal and J-Six had to be closed for safety’s sake.

Fast-forward to today ... a brand new bridge is in place, ready to accommodate the motorists who have been forced to take the long way whenever they needed to drive between the two neighborhoods.

“For most motorists traveling I-10, this closure was an inconvenience,” says ADOT Director John Halikowski in the video above. “It meant they’d have to travel a little farther to stop for gas. But for the communities of Mescal and J-Six Ranch, the overpass closure created a heavy burden. You see, the bridge is the only road connecting Mescal and J-Six Ranch. Residents from both sides were cut off from the businesses and services they rely on.”

Normally a project like this would have taken up to two years to complete, but ADOT put this job on the fast track because of the hardship the closure caused to local residents (motorists were seeing about 14 miles added to their round trips just to get across the road, which really starts to add up after a while).

The accelerated project started with the demolition of the old, damaged bridge. ADOT was able to take advantage of a previously scheduled April 8 closure of I-10 for the demolition of the nearby Marsh Station Bridge and was able to take down the Mescal/J-Six Bridge the same night.

An expedited design timeline also helped speed things along. An abbreviated bid process that focused on contractors with a track record of building bridges under emergency circumstances kept things moving, too.

The project received $955,000 in emergency funds from the Federal Highway Administration and construction was able to get started right after Fourth of July weekend.

Work included the placement of 35 new concrete box girders atop the bridge piers. Outside support beams were also placed, but they featured attached, precast bridge barriers designed to help expedite the construction.

Amazingly, by Sept. 9, crews were already prepared to pour 150 cubic yards of concrete for the 216-foot-long bridge deck.

The concrete took 10 days to cure and you’d better believe crews didn’t let that time go to waste! They continued to work by filling gaps in the barrier wall between box girders and putting the finishing touches beneath the overpass.

The very final step taken before the bridge could open to the public included placing temporary markers along the lanes (permanent striping will be added to the roadway at a future date).

We’ve followed the progress of this project through videos and blog posts and now that the bridge is open, we hope you’ll take a look back at what it took to get here! As you can see in the video above, this bridge is important to the two communities it connects.

We at ADOT would like to thank all the residents, business operators, as well as Cochise County officials for their patience and support!

Note: This blog post was updated to reflect a revised open date for the bridge. It opened Monday afternoon, about 16 hours ahead of its Tuesday scheduled date.

When the editorial team at Roads & Bridges makes choices for the magazine’s annual Top 10 Roads list, many factors are considered.

But, according to Editorial Director Bill Wilson, it’s the challenges faced in building each nominated road and the project’s impact that get the closest looks.

Maybe that’s why the Loop 303 (Happy Valley Road to Lake Pleasant Parkway) made it to this year’s top 10!

There were plenty of challenges … the contractor’s “to do” list was huge and included:

• The installation of a 5.35-mile section of new freeway
  (including 18 bridges)
• Moving more than 1 million cubic yards of earth
• Placing about 40,000 linear feet of underground utilities
• Pouring roughly 340,000 square yards of concrete pavement.

And, the project certainly had an impact (check out this blog post detailing the how this portion of the Loop 303 has made a difference in the West Valley).

This section of the Loop 303 was also recognized for the significant excavation and blasting that took place during construction, along with ADOT’s commitment to replant the native plants and cacti that were moved during construction.

Wilson says the magazine has been publishing a Top 10 Roads list and a Top 10 Bridges list since 2001. This year’s list will be highlighted in the magazine’s October issue.

“I think it shows our readers what people can really do out there to successfully construct a project. People have different tactics … solutions that are out there allows our readers to learn essentially from the best,” he said.

The team responsible for this project includes contractors Austin Bridge & Road, ADOT and AZTEC Engineering. For a better understanding of what this project entailed, take a look at the blog entries we posted leading up to the May opening of the entire 14-mile stretch of the new freeway between Happy Valley Parkway and I-17. We explained how it was paved, landscaped, checked for smoothness and even what's in store for its future.

When the 2011 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation wrapped up late last month in Seattle, the very exciting announcement was made that ADOT had been selected to serve as host for the next conference in 2013!

Now, maybe you’re not too familiar with the ICOET, but this conference is kind of a big deal!

It’s held every two years and showcases research and best practices related to ecology and transportation planning. According to a letter from 2011 ICOET Conference Chair Paul Wagner, each conference brings the participation of hundreds of transportation and ecology professionals from the US and more than 21 countries.

Todd Williams, director of ADOT’s Office of Environmental Services, says the conference is a chance to really highlight the great efforts ADOT makes in incorporating ecological concerns into the way we plan, build and maintain our transportation infrastructure.

A couple examples of those efforts include wildlife crossings built on Arizona’s highways (more on this next week) and ADOT’s vegetation management program.

But, ecology is broader than just wildlife and plants.

“It’s about sustainability and long-range conservation transportation planning,” Williams said

That’s evidenced by just a few of the many presentations from this year’s conference: Safety First:

• Reducing Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
• New Approaches and GIS Tools for Transportation Planning and Design
• Sustainability in Bridges: The Art and Community of Celebrating our Landscape

To be considered as a host for this conference, departments of transportation submit letters and supporting documents telling ICOET officials why their state would be a good spot for the conference.

Williams says based on that application, the ICOET committee narrows down the field and sends out additional questions to transportation officials in just a few states they’re considering. From there, they select the host state DOT.

And, while ADOT is the host for the 2013 conference, there will be plenty of co-sponsors and a lot of collaboration from other agencies, like Arizona Game and Fish, Forest Service officials and universities, according to Williams.

Take a look at the video above … it was shown at the end of this year’s conference and gave participants a look at why Arizona is a great venue for the next ICOET!

Last week when we told you about National Preparedness Month, we briefly detailed the role ADOT plays when it comes to public safety. But, there’s a whole lot more to say on the subject, and who better to write about it than ADOT’s very own Emergency Manager…

Courtney Perrier-Bear has been with ADOT for 12 years and has been the department’s emergency manager since June 2010. That same year she received her master's degree in technology, with an emphasis in emergency management from Arizona State University. Courtney’s experience also includes time as an Arizona Firefighter II, work as an Arizona Division of Emergency Management adjunct instructor and 20 years in environmental, safety, hazardous materials and emergency management. Take a look at the video above to see Courtney in action on the scene of the Wallow Fire back in June.

By Courtney Perrier-Bear
ADOT Emergency Manager

Everything ADOT does supports public safety in some manner…

But, in order for us to be ready for any emergencies or disasters that might affect our highways and interstates, we’ve got to be prepared for anything.

To help the department stay ready and prepared, ADOT has an Emergency Preparedness and Management group that focuses on caring for the public as well as ADOT employees during such emergencies.

ADOT has several responsibilities for response and recovery that are spelled out in the Arizona State Emergency Response and Recovery Plan. We have to be prepared as an agency and as employees to be ready to meet those responsibilities.

Some examples of our activities include:

• Coordinating and participating in internal and external preparedness activities with all levels of government, private entities, and non-governmental agencies such as the Red Cross
• Representing ADOT at the State Emergency Operations Center in the Public Safety Branch
• Integrating items such as training and communication requirements found in the National Response Framework and National Incident Management System into ADOT operations
• Supporting ADOT employees and ADOT business area recovery during and after emergencies
• Responding as an assisting agency to emergencies affecting ADOT with other state agencies, counties, local jurisdictions and private entities during response operation.

These activities help ADOT prepare to assist the citizens of Arizona during an emergency affecting our transportation corridors … but there are plenty of things you can do to be prepared and help ADOT and other response agencies.

• Know the hazards of your area. Sign up for the Arizona Emergency Information Network at azein.gov. Check your local jurisdiction or county web pages for emergency management groups and see what they have to offer. Arizona demographics, climate, and hazard risk vary widely and local plans tailored to the area will aid in your preparedness.
• Create a family emergency plan such as the one found at ready.gov and focus on how you will get out of your area and community if evacuated. You may only have minutes to react as seen in the Texas wildfires over the last few days. Check a map of your area and pick several different routes of escape. You may find that during an emergency such as the Wallow Fire this summer, ADOT may have closed some routes due to dangerous conditions. Learn how to use az511.com before an emergency strikes.
• Decide on your method of evacuation (car, bus, friend’s car, etc) and then plan a second and a third method if the first fails.
• Plan options for where to go. Sure, there will probably be shelters, but what about your pets or family members with functional needs? What will you do if you can’t get to your destination right away?
• Have a communication (such as an out of state relative or friend) and rendezvous point backup plan. What if you are separated from family members and can’t reunite until you are out of danger? How will you make contact and where will you meet up? Will it be safe there based on the hazards in your area?
  Have emergency supplies ready in your car at all times. And don’t forget; keep your car serviced and your fuel topped off.

During emergencies that require evacuation, ADOT will work with other agencies to make sure appropriate evacuation decisions are taking place and that the public is being informed of response-specific actions you will need to take. Help us out by being prepared for such events!

If you’ve been following along in the blog, you know that we’ve been chronicling ADOT’s reconstruction of the Mescal/J-Six bridge in southern Arizona since it was severely damaged when two semi trucks collided underneath it back in March. Completion of the fast-tracked bridge reconstruction is slated for later this month.

Last week, crews installed 35,000-50,000 pound girders and our video team wanted to explore a creative way to take you behind the scenes of what goes into placing a 25-ton piece of concrete.

To get the perfect shot, they looked to a GoPro® Hero. GoPros are tiny (1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2”, 3.3 oz) HD cameras that let photographers get some incredible shots they never would have been able to otherwise.

Conditions weren’t exactly ideal (check out our Facebook page for pictures of the tarantula and other creepy crawlers that joined their shoot and the extreme weather that loomed in the distance), but they couldn’t miss a chance to secure a GoPro to one of those massive girders! (You might want to sit down before watching this one…it may make you a little dizzy.)

Now that you know a little about the ADOT permitting process involved with moving oversize loads, take a look at the latest heavy haul to cross Arizona’s highways.

The video above shows just a portion of the journey this 285-ton load took beginning the first week of August.

The giant anode, which is used in the electrical process for refining copper, traveled 380 miles from its start in Salt Lake City all the way to the mining town of Miami, east of Phoenix. At 225-feet long, 20-feet wide and about 19-feet high, this oversize load was the largest to cross the new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge ... so far!

The video shows the anode as it cautiously makes its way along SR 188 across the Theodore Roosevelt Lake Bridge. Just a few hours later and after a lot of coordination, careful planning and 14 days of slow travel (the top speed uphill was just 15 mph), the heavy load made it to its destination on schedule to the Freeport-McMohan mine in Miami!

Last week we gave you an update on how the new Mescal/J-Six bridge is coming along...

You might also remember that the night the damaged bridge was taken down, the old Marsh Station bridge was also demolished just a few miles away. It was a huge project that required completely shutting down I-10 for the night.

Check out the video above for a quick look at the work involved with tearing down two bridges in less than 10 hours.