PHOENIX – Motorists using Interstate 15 in far northwestern Arizona will need to budget extra travel time over the next year as the Arizona Department of Transportation improves the decks of three bridges through the Virgin River Gorge between St. George, Utah, and Mesquite, Nevada.

Starting in April, crews will resurface the decks of Bridge No. 2 and Bridge No. 5, while Bridge No. 4 will get a new deck. Crews will move all traffic to one side of the freeway while working on the other, allowing one travel lane in each direction.

Completing this $6.4 million project, which is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2020, will require reducing the width of travel lanes to 10 feet during construction. All vehicles and loads wider than 10 feet will be required to use a 224-mile detour, with signs directing wide-load traffic to US 93, Nevada State Route 319 and Utah State Route 56 between Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah.

Along with other improvements ADOT has made to I-15 bridges in recent years, this work will extend the lives of bridges along this busy corridor for commercial and passenger travel.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

PHOENIX – A modernized, mobile-friendly Arizona 511 Travel Information System website and phone line are now available from the Arizona Department of Transportation. The new system uses the latest technology to provide a customized experience with real-time updates from ADOT, the premier source of information on Arizona’s highway system.

The new AZ511.gov website allows users to save their favorite routes and most used traffic cameras. Before leaving for a destination, drivers can log onto AZ511.gov to view incidents along their route, get estimated travel times to their destination and receive alternate route suggestions. Travelers may set up text or email alerts for their routes. Users can also call the 511 phone line to hear personalized updates. The 511 phone line is now easier to navigate and voice recognition has been upgraded.

“Drivers have always turned to ADOT for the most accurate information on Arizona’s highways. The improved website and phone line make it even easier to access the information drivers need to make informed decisions when traveling throughout our state,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “As Governor Ducey has said, the principal job of state government is to protect and improve the quality of life for our citizens. Embracing new technology and offering better information to support motorist safety aligns with his charge to state agencies.”

The new site is easy to navigate and includes information not previously available. Speed maps for all of Arizona’s roadways are displayed. Motorists can see the weather forecast, radar, and National Weather Service watches and warnings. Border wait times have also been added. ADOT’s Twitter feed is visible on the home page, making it easy for travelers to get their questions answered by ADOT public information officers.

The 511 phone system includes the ability to transfer directly to state and national parks, airports, and other transportation-related contacts. Additionally, the phone system will allow callers to transfer to the Arizona Adopt a Highway system to report those who litter.

Soon to follow is an AZ511 mobile app for iOS and Android that will offer route planning, advanced monitoring of route conditions, and “drive mode” that will read off critical alerts to drivers.

“The new Arizona Traveler Information System was born out of demand from Arizona motorists for more information – especially during critical events like snowstorms or highway closures. With a 24/7 operations center, ADOT is the principal source of this information,” said Dr. Timothy Tait, ADOT’s director of communications. “While these new services have officially launched, we are still adding features, addressing issues and catching bugs. If you see something we can improve, be sure to look for ‘contact us’ under the ‘About’ link on the website.”

ADOT set up its statewide 511 phone line in 2002 and is part of the nationally-designated three-digit phone number for traveler information. Over the past year, AZ511.gov had more than 65 million hits and the 511 phone line received more than 430,000 calls.

The new AZ511 system is part of a range of tools used by ADOT to help drivers safely navigate the state. With the ADOT Alerts app – available at ADOTAlerts.com – more than 65,000 users are receiving alerts about crashes, serious weather or closures of highways to help them make informed driving decisions based on their location using geofencing technology.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is making it easier than ever to help keep state highways litter-free by introducing an interactive map showing which Adopt a Highway segments are waiting for volunteers.

The map, available at azdot.gov/AdoptaHighway, allows visitors to quickly zoom in on any part of the state. Once they see an adoptable stretch of highway, one click connects them with contact information for that segment’s Adopt a Highway coordinator.

More than 700 groups already volunteer across Arizona, including individuals, families, and church and civic groups.

Their reasons are varied. Some volunteers are seasonal residents who enjoy Arizona’s scenery so much they care for their roadway segments twice a week, while others take up the cause as a memorial for a loved one who has passed away.

“People like being a part of something larger than themselves,” said Mary Currie, who coordinates ADOT’s Adopt a Highway programs. “This is a way for people to get outdoors and help keep their state litter-free.”

Volunteers accepted for the program get their own blue Adopt a Highway sign featuring their group’s name. Participants are expected to clean their segments at least three times a year. ADOT provides safety vests, trash bags and safety training.

A sponsorship program is available for businesses to use ADOT-approved providers that clean urban highways or rural stretches that attract more litter.

For more information and to try out the interactive map, please visit azdot.gov/AdoptAHighway.

PHOENIX – Arizona motorists who have a standard driver license or ID card have about 400 business days remaining until Oct. 1, 2020, when the federal Transportation Security Administration imposes stricter identification criteria for travelers to pass through airport checkpoints. Access to other facilities such as federal buildings and nuclear power plants is also affected.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offers the Travel ID to meet the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. State law requires that Arizona motorists be given a choice between being issued a standard license or ID or getting the Travel ID. Arizona is among 37 states to offer this choice.

Customers who wish to get the Travel ID can make an appointment at www.servicearizona.com to visit an MVD office to obtain the credential. Many Authorized Third Party offices also provide license and ID services. The cost is $25.

In order to get the Travel ID, customers need to bring in a document such as a birth certificate or valid U.S. Passport to prove identity and a second document with their Social Security number. Finally, two pieces of documentation such as a utility bill, bank statement or something similar with a current address are also needed. Customers who have changed names or use nicknames should keep the documentation as consistent as possible.

For more information: www.azdot.gov/travelid.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies are taking an essential step toward widening and other improvements along 23 miles of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande.

In collaboration with the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Gila River Indian Community, where this stretch is located, ADOT has issued a request for proposals for a design concept report and environmental study on adding a lane in each direction and improving existing interchanges.

The study, required for projects that receive federal funding, will have an accelerated timeline of 18 months when it launches later this year.

“Through this partnership advanced by the Maricopa Association of Governments in conjunction with the Gila River Indian Community, we are developing a vision and strategy to provide the capacity that I-10 needs today and tomorrow in this corridor,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “As ADOT has made significant investments to increase capacity between the state’s two largest metropolitan areas, we must respectfully work with all governments and citizens affected by plans for I-10.”

The Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional transportation-planning agency, has allocated about $65.5 million toward I-10 improvements in Maricopa County, $5.9 million of which is in ADOT’s current Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program for study, coordination and design of additional lanes. These funds are from the voter-approved Proposition 400 program, the dedicated transportation sales tax in Maricopa County.

In late 2019, after ADOT completes two widening projects underway between Earley Road and Interstate 8 in Casa Grande and between Eloy and Picacho, I-10 will be three lanes in each direction between State Route 387 near Casa Grande and Tucson. That will leave I-10 across the Gila River Indian Community, between Queen Creek Road and State Route 387, as the only remaining stretch with two lanes in each direction. That is the area this study will assess.

Widening I-10 across the Gila River Indian Community has been a longer-term ADOT priority requiring an agreement with tribal leaders and significant funding. While funding for initial improvements is tentatively planned for fiscal year 2023, the study will determine when construction would begin and establish the time frame for improvements.

ADOT is committed to identifying additional funding for I-10 improvements elsewhere in this Key Commerce Corridor.

PHOENIX – Motorcycles and safety are two words that should be emphasized in tandem as much as possible, especially when you consider that there are approximately 320,000 motorcycles registered in Arizona.

With that in mind, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is lending its assistance to the “Riding for the Long Haul” motorcycle safety event being held Sunday, March 3 in Phoenix.

MVD employees will be on hand to discuss safety issues specific to motorcycle operation and provide information about taking courses at motorcycle safety schools throughout the state.

“Riding for the Long Haul” is a free event sponsored by the Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation. In addition to the safety presentations, the event features demonstrations, bike show, food and entertainment.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shrine Auditorium & Convention Center at 522 N. 40th Street in Phoenix.

For more information: www.amsaf.org

PHOENIX – A US 191 bridge about 7 miles north of the entrance to the Morenci Mine will close at noon Thursday, Feb. 28, for urgently needed repairs to a bridge abutment.

US 191 will remain open except for the area around the bridge, which is located north of Morenci near milepost 177. There is no estimated time for the bridge to reopen.

Drivers traveling between Morenci and Alpine will need to take US 191 south from Morenci to Three Way, follow SR 78 east into New Mexico to US 180, and follow US 180 north to Alpine.

The bridge was built by Freeport McMoRan, which operates the mine. A recent inspection identified the need to close it for repairs to address deterioration to an abutment that has occurred over time.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will host a public meeting to present final design plans for an upcoming project that will improve traffic flow on US 93 between SR 89 and Tegner Street in Wickenburg.

The public meeting, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at the Wickenburg Community Center on 160 N. Valentine St., will present project information and give the public opportunities to provide comments.

The project includes widening US 93 to two lanes in each direction, constructing raised center medians and constructing frontage roads and roundabouts at Rincon, Cope, Vulture Mine and Scenic Loop roads, and at State Route 89.

Construction is currently scheduled for fiscal year 2020.

Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the meeting, learn more about the project and submit comments. Representatives from the ADOT study team will be available to answer questions.

If you cannot attend the meeting, there are other ways to submit comments:

• Phone: 855.712.8530
• Online: Visit azdot.gov/contact and select Projects from the drop-down menu
• Mail written comments or questions to:
  ADOT Communications
  1109 Commerce Drive
  Prescott, AZ 86301
  Attn: Deborrah Miller

All comments must be received by April 5 to be included in the public record.

For more information on this and other US 93 projects, visit azdot.gov/US93corridor.

PHOENIX – Both directions of Interstate 10 will be narrowed to one lane overnight in west Phoenix this week for bridge work at the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange.

Drivers should allow extra travel time, use caution and consider alternate routes while I-10 is restricted, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The restrictions are scheduled as follows:

• Westbound I-10 narrowed to one lane overnight between 35th and 59th avenues from 9 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 26).
• Eastbound I-10 narrowed to one lane overnight three consecutive nights between 75th and 59th avenues from 8 p.m. Tuesday through 4 a.m. Friday (March 1).

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway is scheduled for full completion in 2020, although traffic is expected to be using the freeway earlier. It will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For information on the project, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

For a complete list of highway and freeway restrictions in the Phoenix area and around the state, visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511. Another great way to get more information about ADOT's projects and programs to improve Arizona’s transportation system is the ADOT Blog at azdot.gov/blog.

PHOENIX – As last week’s monster winter storm approached, leaders from the Arizona Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service watched conditions on traffic cameras along state highways and discussed how best to stage equipment and personnel while getting critical information to drivers.

A collaboration between the agencies that grew out of this storm will have a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center when significant storms threaten, sharing forecasts and helping inform decisions on where snowplows and other resources are needed most.

“This is a natural pairing of two agencies working together in the public’s interest,” said Brent Cain, director of ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management & Operations Division. “This will allow us to get information quickly about approaching weather so we can prepare to clear roads and advise the public even before the storms arrive.”

“We were talking about how we could work together to prepare for storms, and get the best information to drivers as quickly as possible, and the idea of collaborating just fell into place,” said Ken Waters, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS office in Phoenix.

The collaboration also will help ADOT public information officers provide critical information about how weather may affect travel along specific routes and what drivers can do about it, including delaying travel until the worst has passed.