News

BISBEE – Drivers on State Route 80 northwest of Bisbee should plan for delays of up to 15 minutes starting in mid-August as the Arizona Department of Transportation begins a $3.5 million rockfall mitigation project.

The project will involve excavating rock from slopes along SR 80, which will create a wider “clear zone'' on both sides of the highway to decrease the risk of debris landing on the roadway. This safety improvement will take place near the intersection of SR 90 near Pintek Road, at milepost 334.

PHOENIX – With noticeable reductions in traffic volume during parts of 2020 due to the pandemic, the total number of crashes on all Arizona roadways fell sharply. Despite that, the number of traffic fatalities rose to their highest levels in 12 years, according to the most recent Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report published Thursday, July 29.

PHOENIX – A play on words from a Tom Cochrane song and a safety message written by a Phoenix area law enforcement officer are the winners in the 2021 ADOT Safety Message Contest.  

More than 6,000 people voted for the safety message they wanted to see on the overhead message boards. The top two safety messages will be displayed on overhead message boards July 29-30.

MISS YOUR EXIT?
IT'S OKAY
WE MADE MORE AHEAD

FLAGSTAFF – Progress on replacing the Interstate 40 bridges over Business 40 in west Flagstaff has reached a milestone as reconstruction of the inside lanes on each bridge is complete. 

Since the project’s start in March, drivers have been using the right lanes in each direction to pass through the work zone. Now, drivers on I-40 eastbound have been shifted to the left lanes so crews can begin the next phase of reconstructing the outside lanes. The traffic shift for westbound will occur Thursday night.

NOGALES – Motorists on Interstate 19 and Ruby Road in Rio Rico should expect a series of closures and restrictions in the area from the evening of Thursday, July 19, to Sunday evening, Aug. 1, as part of a project to replace the Ruby Road bridge deck.

The restrictions are needed so work crews can pour concrete on the south half of the Ruby Road bridge deck above I-19. While one lane of Ruby Road will remain open for most of the three-day event, drivers should prepare for a full closure one evening. The following restrictions are scheduled:

GLOBE – US 60 will close between Miami and Superior the night of Wednesday, July 28, as crews pour a portion of the concrete deck on the new Pinto Creek Bridge.

The highway will close to all traffic between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. as crews work in close proximity to the existing bridge. While US 60 is scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. Thursday, July 29, drivers should be prepared for lane restrictions and flaggers directing traffic if work is necessary past that time.

PHOENIX – As monsoon season brings needed rain across the state and Arizonans revel in the precipitation, prospective buyers of used cars should pay close attention to the condition of any vehicle that piques their interest.

TUCSON – A widespread power outage has forced the Green Valley Motor Vehicle Division office to be closed on Friday.

Customers who need to complete MVD services during the closure can go online at azmvdnow.gov or servicearizona.com; visit another MVD or Authorized Third Party office location; or call MVD at 602-255-0072.

Drivers in northern Arizona should prepare for traffic shifts and lane restrictions on Interstate 40 at Exit 191 in west Flagstaff as crews continue project work to replace a bridge, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. 

This location is approximately three miles west of the I-40 interchange with Interstate 17. 

GLOBE – Full overnight closures are scheduled on US 60 between Miami and Superior Wednesday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 28, as part of the Pinto Creek Bridge replacement project.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will close the highway between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on July 21-22 and July 28-29 while crews pour the concrete deck on the new bridge. While the highway is scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. the following Thursday mornings, drivers may encounter alternating lane restrictions and flaggers directing traffic if work extends past that hour.

The Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the 280-mile Interstate 11 study corridor – stretching from Nogales to Wickenburg – is now available for public review. 

After five years of study, technical analysis and input from communities and stakeholders, this publication of the I-11 Final Tier 1 EIS marks a milestone for the proposed corridor.

The Final Tier 1 EIS, including a Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation, is available at i11study.com/Arizona/index.asp.

Late Thursday, motorists began using the new bridges that carry traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Drivers should expect ongoing temporary lane restrictions as crews continue work on the reestablished connection across I-10.

The ramps connecting I-10 to Ruthrauff Road and El Camino del Cerro remain closed and are expected to open in the next several months. Later this summer, westbound I-10 traffic will shift from its temporary configuration to the newly reconstructed westbound lanes.

TUCSON – After starting a two-year project this spring to improve a 10-mile section of State Route 77/Oracle Road in the Tucson area, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin the first pavement replacement work the week of July 18.

The paving will begin on the northern section of the project, between Magee Road and Calle Concordia, with most of the work occurring overnight to minimize construction impacts of the $34 million project.

The “Valley Oop” slam by Deandre Ayton. The gritty leadership of Chris Paul. The single-minded focus of Devin Booker. The exceptional coaching. All are setting up great moments for Arizona sports fans right now. But even though the NBA Finals are still in progress, there already is a winner: the charitable causes supported by the club through the sale of Phoenix Suns specialty license plates. 

PHOENIX – Motorists who cross Interstate 10 on Houghton Road are now traveling on a newly completed bridge as the Arizona Department of Transportation reaches a significant milestone in reconstructing an interchange that serves a rapidly growing area of Tucson.

FLAGSTAFF – Drivers along Interstate 40 through Flagstaff should be aware of around-the-clock lane restrictions while the Arizona Department of Transportation continues projects to improve the much-traveled highway.

Crews continue to work on replacing pavement on 10 miles of I-40 from the I-17 interchange east to Walnut Canyon Road. Eastbound I-40 is currently narrowed to one lane between I-17 and Butler Avenue through the evening of Friday, July 16.

Next week, eastbound I-40 will be narrowed to one lane between Butler Avenue and Country Club Drive. 

PHOENIX – A section of US 191 south of Willcox reopened Wednesday morning following more than a week of work to repair soil erosion that damaged the highway.

ADOT crews completed repairs early today, allowing traffic to flow again on US 191 between Birch Road at milepost 53.1 and Dragoon Road at milepost 55.7. The highway closed Monday, July 5, when maintenance crews discovered cracks following heavy rainfall in the area. Traffic was detoured onto local roads during the closure.

PHOENIX – This monsoon season could prove to be especially disruptive to travel plans after a series of major wildfires has made burn areas susceptible to flooding. That can leave highways covered with mud and other hazardous debris.

Anytime drivers are traveling this summer, the Arizona Department of Transportation is urging drivers to expect the unexpected, including unscheduled closures, near recent burn areas and to take extra precautions.

PHOENIX – Motorists should plan for an extended closure of US 191 south of Willcox while crews with the Arizona Department of Transportation work to repair soil erosion under the roadway.

The closure requires drivers to use a clearly marked local detour between mileposts 53.1 and 55.7. Motorists will use Birch, Cochise Stronghold and Dragoon roads while the closure is in place

CHINO VALLEY, AZ – The Arizona Department of Transportation has started a project to improve traffic flow at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 1 North in Chino Valley.

The project will add a right-turn lane on northbound SR 89 to eastbound Road 1 North, add left turn lanes on Road 1 North, and install a new traffic signal and detection sensors.