PHOENIX – Several major milestones on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project will require some extended closures of roadways in Ahwatukee during the month of July, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. 

Following the Fourth of July holiday, the first girders will be set on the new bridges over 17th Avenue and 40th Street. In mid-July, crews will shift Pecos Road traffic between 24th Street and 17th Avenue to an interim roadway following a similar reconfiguration that took place between 40th and 24th streets in April.

Motorists who travel regularly on Pecos Road need to plan ahead to avoid the following closures of these local routes:

• 17th Avenue between Liberty Lane and Pecos Road will close overnight to set bridge girders for the new 17th Avenue traffic interchange from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on July 5 and 6 (and July 7, if needed).
• 40th Street between Briarwood Terrace and Pecos Road will close overnight to place bridge girders for the new 40th Street traffic interchange from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on July 9 and 10 (and July 11, if needed).
• Pecos Road between 24th Street and 17th Avenue will close in both directions from 10 p.m. Friday, July 14 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 17, to allow crews to widen eastbound Pecos Road for an interim roadway to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction.

During the closures, motorists may also want to consider alternate routes, such as Ray Road or Chandler Boulevard.

The South Mountain Freeway, which is scheduled to open in late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, it will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system.

You can stay informed about the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts at SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – A new agreement between Arizona and the Republic of Korea allows Arizonans staying longer than a year to obtain driver licenses in that country without having to take written and road tests.

Licensed drivers from South Korea will receive the same courtesy for stays in Arizona lasting more than a year.

On Tuesday, Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski and Key Cheol Lee, the Republic of Korea consul general in Los Angeles, signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing a reciprocity agreement.

“The Republic of Korea is a valued trading and cultural partner for our state,” Halikowski said. “We’re pleased to make it even easier to do business and study in Arizona while minimizing time spent at a Motor Vehicle Division office.”

Arizona has similar reciprocity with Germany and Taiwan, while reciprocity between Arizona and Canada exempts drivers from road tests but still requires the written test.

Long-term visitors from the Republic of Korea who are at least 18 years old can now exchange South Korean driver licenses for Arizona driver licenses. They must have documentation showing they will be here for at least a year and that they have at least six months remaining on their stays. ADOT will coordinate with South Korean officials to verify an applicant’s driving status. 

Note: An ongoing Federal Highway Administration project will close State Route 89A south of Flagstaff between the Vista Point Overlook and JW Powell Boulevard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning. No daytime restrictions are planned July 1-4.

PHOENIX – During the Independence Day weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur.

Motorists will play key roles in keeping traffic moving, too, by making smart driving decisions that won’t result in serious crashes that ruin road trips and create travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Transportation urges drivers to use caution over the holiday weekend in existing work zones and in three “holiday travel corridors” that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays.

In an effort to reduce crashes and delays that result from speeding and driver inattention, speed limits will be lowered during peak holiday travel periods on a winding stretch of Interstate 17 north of Phoenix.

ADOT will reduce speed limits by 10 mph Friday, June 30, on northbound I-17 between New River and Sunset Point Rest Area. Speed limits on the same stretch of southbound I-17 will be reduced by 10 mph on Tuesday, July 4.

Temporary signs will advise drivers of the lower speed limits. For example, areas where the speed limit is ordinarily 65 mph will have a speed limit of 55 mph. Throughout the long weekend, temporary electronic signs will remind drivers how fast they are going.

By obeying speed limits, driving safely and not allowing impaired persons behind the wheel, travelers can reduce the chance of serious crashes that often create long travel delays and close highways. In 2016, 14 fatal crashes occurred during the holiday weekend – alcohol played a role in eight – that killed 16 people.

As they have during recent major holiday weekends, ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones: Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson. Along those routes, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, to minimize travel delays with faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles.

DPS will focus on preventing three leading causes of traffic deaths: speeding, impaired driving and lack of seat-belt use. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with state troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign.

Travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place. This includes a 30-mile stretch of I-40 east of Kingman and I-40 near Twin Arrows.

Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, drivers are encouraged to:

• Pack extra drinking water and snacks.
• Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible.
• Get plenty of rest before driving.
• Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels.

As summer temperatures soar, so does the potential of brush fires and wildfires occurring. Travelers can minimize the risk of fires along Arizona roads by not parking or driving in dry, tall grass; making sure trailer chains are secured and not dragging and emitting sparks; and never throwing cigarettes out the window.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

YUMA ‒ One of the Yuma area’s largest road construction projects in recent years will begin in mid-July, but preparations for the work mean road closures and restrictions on Araby and Gila Ridge roads at Interstate 8 will begin as soon as the July 4 holiday ends.

Beginning Wednesday, July 5, drivers will want to allow extra time and consider alternate routes while utility crews begin relocating underground lines in the work zone. Restrictions and road closures will be in place 24 hours a day through July 16. Work on the $8 million project to build two modern roundabouts at the interchange is scheduled to begin July 17.

Here are the restrictions that will be in place beginning July 5:

• The westbound Interstate 8 on-ramp and the eastbound I-8 off-ramp at Araby Road will be closed, and a right-turn only restriction will be in place from westbound I-8 to northbound Araby Road. Drivers on Araby Road will be able to access the eastbound on-ramp from either direction. Consider using Avenue 3E or Avenue 8½ E instead.
• Araby Road will be narrowed to one 11-foot lane in each direction from the north side of I-8 (approximately 26th Street) to the south side of I-8 (30th Street), and the speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph.  Vehicles wider than 10 feet must use an alternate route. Drivers can use Avenue 3E or Avenue 8½ E.
• Gila Ridge Road will be closed in both directions just south of Araby Road at the Tanimura and Antle Produce building. Access to the building will remain open on the west side of the building. Plan for heavy traffic and allow extra time.

On July 17, Arizona Department of Transportation crews will begin work on the north side of I-8, constructing the first of two modern roundabouts that will move traffic through one of the busiest freeway interchanges in Yuma. Work is expected to continue until November and then stop to allow heavier winter commercial traffic to pass through the area without restrictions. Construction will resume in the spring and is expected to conclude by late 2018.

The second roundabout, on the south side of the freeway, also will connect with Gila Ridge Road, a busy commercial route.

Drivers should expect delays and detours, including lane restrictions and closures at Gila Ridge and Araby roads. Alternate routes will include Avenue 8 ½ E and Avenue 3E. ADOT will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on Araby Road while construction is underway, but drivers should plan for reduced speed limits and delays.

PRESCOTT VALLEY – While traffic has increased with growth, the Arizona Department of Transportation is smoothing the journey along State Route 69 through Prescott Valley using the latest in traffic-management technology.

New communication hardware installed in traffic signals along the three miles from Navajo Drive to Sundog Ranch Road allows engineers to monitor traffic conditions from afar, make adjustments to signal timing that improve traffic flow, and diagnose and correct problems. The signals automatically adjust timing at certain times of the day based on anticipated traffic.

The result: Travel time on this stretch of SR 69 has improved by as much as 40 percent.

“These new, coordinated signals move traffic more efficiently and give us more direct control than we’ve had before,” said Alvin Stump, district engineer for ADOT’s Northwest District. “This benefits local residents as well as visitors to the area.”

Later this year, ADOT plans to make these same improvements to SR 69 traffic signals from Sundog Ranch Road west to the SR 69/SR 89 interchange in Prescott.

These changes are being made through ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSMO) division. While many of ADOT’s signals in the Phoenix metro area currently have remote access, the agency is bringing that technology to other regions of the state.

“As traffic demands increase due to growth, ADOT will continue to respond with different solutions to help drivers get where they need to go,” Stump said.

ADOT Transportation Systems Management & Operations brings together traffic-engineering resources around the state to maximize resources, technology and expertise. This includes collaborating with other transportation and public safety agencies.

PHOENIX – Traffic fatalities on Arizona’s local roads and state highways climbed higher for the second straight year and driver behavior continues to be a leading factor in motor vehicle collisions, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report.

In 2016, 962 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes, 65 more than the year before, representing a 7.3 percent increase. The number of collisions also went up, rising 8.6 percent to 126,845. The increases in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities in Arizona follow national trends.

The Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report is a compilation of traffic crash reports provided to ADOT by law enforcement agencies around the state. A glance at the report reveals how better decisions made by motorists can save lives. Seat belts, speeding and reckless driving, and impairment are among the leading factors in traffic fatalities:

• Buckle up – 250 of those killed last year weren’t using a seat belt.
• Pay attention and obey speed limits – Speeding too fast for conditions is the most common driver violation and rear end is the most common manner of collision.
• Don’t drive impaired – Annually, impaired driving crashes account for about 4 percent of all collisions and one-third of fatal collisions. Crashes involving impairment related to alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medication killed 406 people and injured 4,089 in 2016.

“Making travel safer begins before drivers turn the ignition,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Too many people make the deadly decision to drive impaired, whether by alcohol, prescription pills or other drugs, and put all of us at risk. None of us should accept this selfish behavior and it’s everyone's business to stop impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel.”

For the second year in a row, 406 people were killed in impaired driving-related collisions. However, alcohol-related fatalities decreased – falling from 329 people killed in 2015 to 307 in 2016 – while fatalities related to illegal drugs or prescription medication increased – rising from 77 in 2015 to 99 people killed in 2016.

“The gains made in reducing alcohol-related crashes and fatalities are steps in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Driving impaired is a choice and people need to be aware that it’s a choice they don’t have to make – there are many other ways to get home safely.”

The highest annual number of motor vehicle crash fatalities in Arizona – 1,301 – occurred in 2006. While collisions and fatalities have risen in recent years, 2016 totals are below where they were a decade ago, despite having nearly one million more licensed drivers and registered vehicles traveling today on Arizona’s roadways than in 2007.

“Impaired drivers continue to take the lives of our love ones and it is time for the community to spread the message that impaired driving is unacceptable,” said Col. Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “I call on every driver to call 911 if impaired driving is suspected. Friends and family members must make every effort to take the keys away from impaired individuals or to call 911 for help when intervening.”

Pedestrian-involved crashes and fatalities spiked in 2016. The number of pedestrians killed rose to 197 in 2016 from 163 the year before and crashes increased by 16 percent, from 1,408 in 2015 to 1,637 last year.

The number of motorcycle operators and passengers killed in traffic crashes went up in 2016 to 144 from 134 the year before.

Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, noted the decline in the number of fatalities involving people who weren’t using seat belts, which fell from 258 in 2015 to 250 last year.

“While we’re encouraged to see a decrease, one death is still too many,” said Dr. Christ. “Make sure everyone is buckled up every time, regardless of how far, fast or familiar your drive may be.”

Here are other figures from the 2016 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report:

• 574 fatal crashes occurred on other roadways, such as county roads or city streets, and 291 fatal crashes occurred on the state highway system.
• 525 fatalities occurred in urban areas and 437 deaths occurred in rural areas.
• Of all alcohol-related crashes, 78.8 percent occurred in urban areas and 21.2 percent in rural areas.
• Among fatal crashes related to alcohol, 67 percent occurred in urban areas and 33 percent occurred in rural areas.
• One person was killed in a motor vehicle crash every 9.11 hours.
• Seven in 10 crashes occurred during daylight hours.
• More crashes occurred in March than any other month with 11,391.
• Friday was the peak day of the week for all crashes during 2016 with 22,133, while the most fatal crashes – 150 – occurred on Saturdays.

The ADOT 2016 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report is available at azdot.gov/CrashFacts.

ADOT, other public safety agencies and partner organizations work to promote safety on all roadways through the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a framework for reducing motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries. Emphasis areas addressed in the report include speeding and reckless driving, impaired driving, occupant protection, motorcycle safety and distracted driving.

PHOENIX – Hate lining up in the morning to be the first person through the door at an MVD office? The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is doing something about it.

For the past few weeks, MVD has been opening the doors at its Phoenix-area offices at 7:30 a.m. to see if it would help continue reducing the amount of time people need to spend at an MVD location.

“It works,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “Because the doors open at 7:30 instead of 8 o’clock, our employees’ schedules can be more flexible, which means we have more people available to serve customers at the busiest times such as the lunch hour.  That flexibility also cuts down on the need for workers to catch up on other tasks at the end of the day, which significantly lowers overtime hours and saves taxpayer dollars.”

The expanded hours were first tested in Tucson beginning in mid-2016 and resulted in lower customer wait times and lower overtime costs.

The added daily hours also allow MVD to proceed with a program to continually train customer service representatives as the agency modernizes its services. On the second Wednesday of each month, beginning July 12, urban MVD offices will open at noon to allow time for employee continuing education programs.

“MVD is ahead of the curve in providing services that get our customers out of line and safely on the road,” Jorgensen added. “That’s why we’re adding continuing education and other staff training so our employees have all the tools and knowledge they need to implement these improvements.”

The expanded office hours combined with the modified schedule on the second Wednesday of each month provide an overall increase of six hours a month during which customers may receive services at an urban MVD office.

For more information: azdot.gov/mvd.  

PHOENIX ‒ With extreme heat in the forecast, it’s especially important for drivers to plan before taking to state highways, starting with having a fully charged cellphone as well as extra drinking water for all passengers, including pets.

Even though your vehicle has air conditioning, be ready in case you must spend extended time on the highway due to a breakdown or some other reason for delay. That starts with having sun protection, including sunscreen, an umbrella for shade, a wide-brimmed hat and loose-fitting, light-colored cotton clothing.

Keep your tank at three-quarters full. Running out of gas, especially in a remote location, is dangerous in extreme heat.

Take a cooler to keep extra drinking water cold, and consider adding several frozen bottles of water to use for cooling off or to thaw and drink if needed.

If your vehicle breaks down in extreme heat, call for assistance right away to reduce wait time, and run the AC. If the AC isn’t working, roll down all windows.

Other recommendations if you are stranded along the highway:

• DRINK WATER. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays hydrated.
• If temperatures inside the vehicle become too hot, everyone, including pets, should exit carefully and seek out or create a shaded area as far away from the travel lanes as possible.
• Be careful walking on the road surface, which can be hot enough to burn skin. Keep your shoes on and try to keep your pets’ paws off the pavement.
• Raise the front hood and turn on hazard lights.

You can help avoid breakdowns and blowouts by making sure your vehicle is in good operating condition. Check your air conditioner and coolant levels, top off any vital engine fluids and make sure your battery is up to par. Check your tire pressure, as the combination of underinflated tires and hot pavement can lead to a blowout.

More ADOT tips for traveling in extreme heat are available at azdot.gov/extreme-heat.

PHOENIX – Projects will increase capacity on key commerce corridors including Interstate 10, State Route 189, US 93 and Interstate 17 under the Arizona Department of Transportation’s construction program covering fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

On Friday, the State Transportation Board approved an annual update to ADOT’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, which includes projects in Greater Arizona and the Maricopa County and Pima County regions. This followed a three-month comment period allowing the public and agencies to provide feedback.

“Connectivity and reliability are crucial for an ever-expanding state highway system like Arizona’s, especially as the population continues to grow and businesses choose to relocate here,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Projects in ADOT’s Five-Year Construction Program will help move people, goods and services, generate commerce and economic activity through investments in major freight and travel corridors, and deliver on the agency’s commitment to not only maintain but improve the quality of pavement, bridges and other infrastructure.”

ADOT is able to accelerate some major expansion projects for Greater Arizona because of federal funding increases, grants and state budget appropriations. Key commerce corridors like Interstate 10, State Route 189, US 93 and Interstate 17 will all see capacity improvements over the next five years. In addition, construction of a dust-detection and warning system along I-10 near Picacho Peak will move forward as part of the newly adopted program.

ADOT is also committed to protecting Arizona’s nearly $21 billion investment in the state highway system through dedicated preservation funding. This Five-Year Program meets ADOT’s target of $260 million per year for preservation. Projects like repaving highways, repairing or reconstructing bridges and projects to extend the life of existing pavement all help to preserve the highway system and keep it functioning as it should.

The State Transportation Board’s approval of the Five-Year Program followed a call for public comment in March and three public hearings in Tucson, Flagstaff and Phoenix. In general, projects begin as part of the agency’s long-range visioning process, move into a 20-year plan and a six- to 10-year development program and then become part of the Five-Year Program, which is developed by working closely with local planning organizations and community leaders to identify projects that are ready to build or design.

Funding for the Five-Year Program is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and the vehicle license tax. Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases that allow for more expansion projects to take place.

The 2018-2022 Five-Year Program is now published and can be found at azdot.gov/fiveyearprogram.

YUMA – The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin construction of two new roundabouts at the interchange of Interstate 8 and Araby Road in Yuma this summer in order to help traffic flow in a busy area and accommodate future growth.

On Friday, the Arizona State Transportation Board awarded an $8 million contract to J. Banicki Construction Inc. with an expedited start date to begin the first phase of the project in mid-July.

ADOT required an expedited start date so phase one of construction, which will occur on the north side of the interchange, will be complete when the agricultural season begins in November. Phase two of construction on the south side of the interchange is scheduled for summer through fall 2018.

“It was critical for us to phase the work in such a way that we would not impact the busy agricultural season,” said Paul Patane, district engineer in ADOT’s Southwest District.

One roundabout will be located north of I-8 and serve Araby Road and the westbound ramps. The other roundabout will be south of I-8 and serve Araby Road, the eastbound ramps and Gila Ridge Road. Both roundabouts are designed to accommodate large commercial trucks, agricultural equipment and recreational vehicles. Several area trucking and agricultural businesses provided input on the design to ensure that even the largest trucks can navigate through the roundabouts.

Drivers should expect delays and detours during both phases of construction, as lane restrictions on I-8 and ramp closures at Gila Ridge and Araby roads will be necessary. Alternate routes will include Avenue 8 ½ E and Avenue 3E. ADOT will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on Araby Road, but drivers should plan for reduced speed limits and delays.

The project, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, also includes storm drains, a retention basin, concrete barriers and retaining walls, as well as lighting and landscaping.

The intersection of I-8 and Araby Road is among the busiest in Yuma and is used by approximately 22,000 vehicles per day. The new roundabouts will provide a high level of service beyond traffic projections for 2035 and fit into the existing ADOT right-of-way.