News

TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation has completed the first pavement replacement work on State Route 77/Oracle Road in the Tucson area, giving drivers a smoother driving surface on 1.5 miles of the highway.

The new pavement between Magee Road and Calle Concordia was installed one lane at a time during overnight hours to minimize daytime work and delays during the project. The work represents the most visible progress to date on the 2-year, $34 million project to improve 10 miles of SR 77.

GLOBE – Motorists who travel on US 60 between Superior and Miami need to begin planning for a full closure of the highway from Sept. 12-17 while crews with the Arizona Department of Transportation realign the roadway to meet with the new Pinto Creek bridge.

During the 5-day closure, motorists should expect an extra hour of travel and a 10 percent grade as traffic is detoured onto state routes 77 and 177 through Winkleman. Eastbound traffic in Superior will be directed onto SR 177, and westbound traffic will be redirected at the west end of Miami.

LITTLEFIELD – With lane restrictions and oversize truck detours beginning next week on the I-15 Virgin River Bridge No. 1 project in Littlefield, a new app designed to communicate traffic information and project updates is now available for free download on Apple and Android devices.

The smartphone app, called Virgin River Bridge, was designed by the contractor for the I-15 bridge replacement project, and it will provide updates of construction activities that will likely impact traffic flow on I-15.

PHOENIX – As the National Weather Service forecasts another round of monsoon storms in Arizona this week, drivers should use extreme caution and make plans to avoid hazardous conditions that heavy rainfall could trigger on roadways across the state.

GLOBE – Motorists who travel on US 60 between Superior and Miami need to begin planning for a full closure of the highway from Sept. 12-17 while crews with the Arizona Department of Transportation realign the roadway to meet with the new Pinto Creek bridge.

During the 5-day closure, motorists should expect an extra hour of travel and a 10 percent grade as traffic is detoured onto state routes 77 and 177 through Winkleman. Eastbound traffic in Superior will be directed onto SR 177, and westbound traffic will be redirected at the west end of Miami.

LAKE HAVASU CITY – Earlier this summer, while the Arizona Department of Transportation installed new remote technology to 20 traffic signals along SR 95 in Lake Havasu City to improve traffic flow, crews also installed six new cameras that can be accessed on AZ511.gov and the AZ 511 app.

Starting from the southernmost camera in Lake Havasu City and heading north along SR 95, the new cameras are located at Acoma Boulevard, Smoketree Avenue, Palo Verde Boulevard, Kiowa Boulevard, Chenoweth Road and The Shops Boulevard.

CHINO VALLEY – Traffic along SR 89 in Chino Valley has been shifted at the intersection with Road 1 North as the Arizona Department of Transportation makes progress to improve traffic flow.

Since early July, crews have been working installing a new right turn lane on northbound SR 89 to eastbound Road 1 North, laying detection sensors for a new traffic signal, and adding left turn lanes in each direction on Road 1 North. 

TUCSON - In an unprecedented push to remove roadside garbage and debris, 42 Arizona Department of Transportation employees from southern Arizona were recently able to pick up 11,000 pounds of trash and bulk items.

WILLCOX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Aug. 27-30 while work crews pour a new concrete surface as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30.

PHOENIX – Changes to state law mean that drivers who purchase alternative fuel vehicles will pay the same vehicle license tax (VLT) rate as other drivers by 2023. The change in VLT rates is phased-in, starting Jan. 1, 2022. 

The VLT is paid during vehicle registration and is assessed in place of a personal property tax often charged in other states. The VLT funds transportation infrastructure in Arizona, including highways, bridges and local roads, and contributes to the general funds of cities/towns and counties.

PHOENIX – While all-terrain vehicles are a popular way to explore off-road areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds ATV riders it is illegal and unsafe to drive these vehicles along state roadways.

The shoulders of state highways are only to be used only for emergencies, not for joyrides.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has selected a final 55-mile North-South Corridor through Pinal County as part of the Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD), which was released today. The Tier 1 EIS identifies the selected corridor, which stretches from US 60 in Apache Junction to Interstate 10 in Eloy.

PHOENIX – Motorists on both directions of Interstate 10 to the west of Willcox should expect a short detour the weekend of Aug. 20-23 while work crews pour a new concrete surface as part of a bridge deck replacement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Both directions of I-10 will close at Exit 336, which will require drivers to detour onto the exit and entrance ramps, from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23.

PHOENIX – As the Arizona Department of Transportation fosters an environment of continuous improvement and waste reduction, one idea has created savings in trips to equipment shops and the cost of tire repairs: the pokey picker upper.

What is a “pokey picker upper?” Simply put, it’s a magnet that is attached to the front of an ADOT maintenance truck that hovers just above the ground collecting metal pieces and shards along the highway shoulders.

PRESCOTT – A new traffic signal along State Route 69 near Cordes Junction will be activated this week after the Arizona Department of Transportation finishes up a project to improve safety at the intersection with Spring Lane.

Those finishing touches require lane restrictions on SR 69 between mileposts 264 and 265 Tuesday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drivers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

The new traffic signal is set to be activated by the morning of Friday, Aug. 20.

FLAGSTAFF – As the Arizona Department of Transportation continues to repave 10 miles of I-40 from I-17 to Walnut Canyon Road, drivers should plan for lane restrictions through the fall.

Beginning Friday, Aug. 13, I-40 will be narrowed to one lane in both directions around the clock between Country Club Drive and Walnut Canyon Road until late October.

I-40 will also be narrowed to one lane in both directions overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Country Club Drive and I-17 beginning Friday, Aug. 13, through late October.

US 60 has reopened between Superior and Miami after maintenance crews with the Arizona Department of Transportation repaired extensive flood damage that forced the highway to close early Wednesday.

KINGMAN – In order to improve safety along State Route 68 in Golden Valley near Kingman, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a project to install a raised median with eight new access points between Verde and Bacobi roads beginning Monday, Aug. 16.

Work will occur overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday evenings through Friday mornings. At least one lane of travel will remain open in each direction; however, drivers should prepare for delays of up to 15 minutes. Business access will be maintained at all times during construction.

PHOENIX – Drivers should plan for an extended closure of US 60 between Superior and Miami as the Arizona Department of Transportation works to repair flood damage along the highway.

The closure is between mileposts 226 at State Route 177 in Superior and milepost 243 at the west side of Miami, with motorists detoured onto SR 77 and SR 177 through Winkelman. The roughly 70-mile detour includes a 10 percent grade and will significantly increase travel time.

PHOENIX – For the first time, three Arizona specialty license plates each generated more than $1 million in annual revenue.

That’s great news as Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division specialty license plates raise money for charities in Arizona. In Fiscal Year 2021, which ran July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, specialty plates for Veterans, First Responders and the Arizona Cardinals each topped more than $1 million in revenue.