The Arizona Department of Transportation has signed an agreement with the developer team that will design, build, operate and maintain the Interstate 17 Improvement Project from Anthem Way to Sunset Point. 

The total project cost is $445,940,000, which includes the construction cost by the developer team, along with ADOT’s cost to administer the project. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022 and is expected to take approximately three years. Now that the contract is signed, work can begin on this highly anticipated project that will include 15 miles of widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City and eight miles of flex lanes from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point.

The developer team is Kiewit-Fann Joint Venture. Key members of the team include Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.; Fann Contracting Inc.; Kiewit Engineering Group Inc.; DBI Services LLC; CONSOR Engineers LLC dba Apex Design; T.Y. Lin International; Lee Engineering; Terracon Consultants Inc.; Wheat Design Group, Inc.; Y2K Engineering; and Pinyon Environmental Inc.

The KFJV developer team was selected over two other finalists after an extensive review by ADOT with oversight from representatives from the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments. All three developer team finalists were encouraged to use innovation and develop alternative concepts to reduce project time and impacts to the traveling public and community while construction is underway.

Interstate 17 between Anthem Way and Sunset Point is a major stretch of highway that sees more than one million travelers every year. Because much of that travel and congestion occur on weekends, ADOT and the KFJV developer team will limit most of the lane closures to weeknights from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. All motorists still need to be cautious and alert in the construction zone, which will be active seven days a week. 

Once complete, the I-17 Improvement Project will help alleviate congestion and improve safety and traffic flow north of the metro-Phoenix region. This project will improve 23 miles of I-17, including 15 miles of roadway widening, two bridge replacements, one bridge deck replacement, 10 bridge widenings, and the installation of an eight-mile flex lane system—a new feature  for Arizona’s highway system. Flex lanes are proven technology to help reduce congestion on I-17 during peak travel times and allow for traffic movement during emergency situations. 

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate, two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep, winding eight miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday. Similarly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays. The flex lanes will be next to, but physically separated from southbound I-17 using concrete barriers. Access to the flex-lane entrances will be controlled by gates.   

In February, Governor Ducey announced $40 million in funding for the I-17 Improvement Project from higher-than-anticipated revenue amid Arizona’s strong economic recovery and federal COVID-relief funds. Additional project funding sources include:

$130 million of state highway funds appropriated by the state legislature in 2019

$90 million from an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant

$50 million programmed by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for the Maricopa County portion of this project

$135.9 million from federal aid with matching state highway funds. That includes $83.6 million approved by the Arizona State Transportation Board on Oct. 15, clearing the way for construction to begin in 2022. 

For more information about the I-17 Improvement Project, visit azdot.gov/i17-anthem-way-to-sunset-point. 

US 60 has reopened to traffic between Superior and Miami after this morning's full closure.

ADOT and the project team would like to thank the public for their patience during the unexpected delay to remove a section of the old Pinto Creek Bridge.

No additional full closures are anticipated for the Pinto Creek project. However, motorists will encounter minor intermittent delays through autumn as crews haul material and debris out of the project site.

Motorists should proceed with caution, slow down, watch for equipment, and follow the directions of flaggers and law enforcement.

More information about the project is available at azdot.gov/PintoCreekBridge.

PHOENIX – More than 2.5 million Arizonans have discovered that the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to do business with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division is to go online at azmvdnow.gov.

azmvdnow.gov is the MVD’s primary self-serve online website and recently surpassed 2.5 million account activations. That means the MVD is able to get millions of Arizonans out of the line and safely on the road.

While some MVD services, like the road test, a first-time driver license application and first-time vehicle registration, can’t be completed online, azmvdnow.gov offers convenient, contactless transactions for more than 30 services. Customers can complete more than two-thirds of all services on their own time and from the comfort of their own home, including:

• Renewing vehicle registration
• Renewing a driver license
• Ordering a replacement driver license
• Requesting a registration refund
• Submitting a vehicle sold notice
• Ordering a specialty or personalized license plate
• Scheduling an in-office appointment
• And many more

A robust selection of “how to” videos are available at azmvdnow.gov, which guide users through account activation, applying and renewing a driver license, requesting a registration refund and other services.

Anyone who already does business with MVD, like those with an Arizona driver license, state-issued ID card or vehicle registered in the state, already has a free account at azmvdnow.gov. To activate an account, visit azmvdnow.gov and follow the prompts.

CAMP VERDE – An Arizona Department of Transportation project to improve the Verde River bridges on I-17 near Camp Verde is underway to add capping to the bridge footings in the river bed to prevent erosion, protecting vital infrastructure on the primary route between Phoenix and Flagstaff. 

The work utilizes a method to channel river flow through the work zone by constructing a temporary “earthen bypass channel” to contain the river flow so crews can safely work outside of the area placing concrete caps over the footings of the Verde River bridges.

The channel is 60 feet wide and designed to handle the normal river flow of the Verde River. The channeling of the Verde River will occur in two phases as crews work on the 12 total bridge footings.

In order to protect wildlife, ADOT has teamed up with biologists from Northern Arizona University who are onsite anytime crews are working. One biologist recently found a northern Mexican gartersnake, an endangered species, and safely relocated the reptile. In addition all project personnel onsite had to take a training class on the endangered species in the area.

There will be no impacts to traffic on I-17 while work is occurring. River users, however, will be required to exit the river and go around the project site.

The project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2022.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the Northcentral District.

PHOENIX – Beginning Feb. 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will require new commercial driver license (CDL) applicants and those seeking to upgrade their CDL to receive training from a certified organization on the national registry of Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) providers.

ELDT training includes curriculum in three areas: theory, range and road. To process and issue a CDL, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division will need to validate that an applicant has completed these training requirements.

This requirement impacts drivers attempting to:

• Obtain a Class A or Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL.
• Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

The ELDT regulations are not retroactive and do not apply to individuals holding a valid CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement issued prior to Feb. 7, 2022.

If an organization or business currently trains its drivers and is interested in becoming a certified training provider on the national registry, visit tpr.fmcas.dot.gov to learn how to register as a provider.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/CDL.

GLOBE  – US 60 will close between Superior and Miami between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, while crews continue work to remove the old Pinto Creek Bridge.

During the closure, US 60 traffic will be detoured to SR 177 in Superior and SR 77 in Globe. The detour includes a 10% grade and will significantly increase travel time. Traffic will not be allowed to queue at the closure locations.

Motorists on US 60 with a destination between SR 177 and Top-of-the-World west of Pinto Creek or between Miami and Pinto Valley Mine Road east of Pinto Creek will be allowed to pass. However, no vehicles will be allowed between Top-of-the-World and Pinto Valley Mine Road.

Traffic shifted to the newly constructed bridge over Pinto Creek on Sept. 17. The old bridge, opened in 1949 with an estimated lifespan of 50 years, remained safe for traffic but had reached the end of its useful life.

Drivers should expect periodic lane restrictions and delays in the area through the rest of 2021 as crews continue to remove the bridge and restore the project site to its natural state.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/PintoCreekBridge.

TUCSON  – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) invites the public to join a virtual information meeting to learn about the design for widening the section of Interstate 10 between the Ina Road Traffic Interchange and the Ruthrauff Road Traffic Interchange in Pima County.

The bilingual virtual public meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The meeting will include a presentation and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the ADOT team and offer comments.

ADOT is designing improvements to the nearly four-mile section of Interstate 10 between Ina and Ruthrauff roads, reconstructing and widening the highway to four lanes in each direction, including the traffic interchanges at Orange Grove Road and Sunset Road. Improvements also include adding additional lanes at exit and entrance ramps in the project area and creating new travel lanes using the inside shoulder near Ina Road.

Those interested can join the virtual public meeting in any of the following ways:

• Online: https://tinyurl.com/i10i2r
• Meeting ID: 893 9945 8336
• Phone: 669.900.6833 (English) 
• Phone: 866.730.7514, pin de participante 984619# (español)

Public input will be considered during the final design of the project. Comments provided by Nov. 21, 2021, will be included in the summary of this meeting; however, comments are welcome at any time. 

Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting or would like to comment further, may provide comments or ask questions in these ways: 

• Phone: 855.712.8530 (English and Spanish) 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Mail: ADOT Community Relations, 1221 S. Second Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85713 

For more information, visit azdot.gov/i10ina2ruthrauff.

PHOENIX – Is there a teen driver in your household? Maybe your teen plans to take the road test soon or is studying for the written test?

Across the country, traffic safety stakeholders, including the Arizona Department of Transportation, are marking National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 17-23) and encouraging teens to make safe choices when driving. Nationally, car crashes are among the leading causes of death for teens. In 2020 in Arizona, 35 teen drivers died in vehicle collisions and 2,324 others suffered injuries, according to statewide crash reports.

Four simple actions can help teen drivers – and drivers of any age – be safer on the roads:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Don’t speed or drive recklessly.
• Don’t drive distracted – put down the phone.
• Don’t drive impaired or let impaired people get behind the wheel.

Teens preparing to apply for their instruction permit and the written test can study by reviewing the Arizona Driver License Manual and find practice tests on ADOT’s website. Pro tip: Save a trip and take your instruction permit test online via Permit Test @ Home. ADOT makes available the study materials for free.

For those teens further along in their quest for their driver license, information about driving schools and road test tips are also available online.

The accolades keep rolling in for Arizona Highways. The magazine published by the Arizona Department of Transportation has earned more recognition for its excellence in design, visuals, outstanding writing and production.

In its annual awards program, the International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA) awarded Arizona Highways a total of 22 honors in categories including excellence in feature writing, photography, art direction, Writer of the Year, Photographer of the Year, among others. 

This is the seventh straight year that Arizona Highways has received at least 16 IRMA awards. 

“Arizona is known for its unique beauty, robust and diverse mixture of colorful personalities and incredible stories that we are privileged to bring to the world every month,” said Kelly Mero, Publisher of Arizona Highways. 

“The real stars are the state and its people, and they make it possible for us to receive awards like these. They deserve this recognition as do the talented people inside and outside of ADOT who collaborate to make Arizona Highways come alive every month.”

IRMA is a nonprofit association of 25 regional magazines from across North America. This is the 41st annual awards competition, and entries are judged by a panel of magazine industry experts from outside of IRMA. 

Arizona Highways received the following awards:

Gold award winners:

Profiles: Meet the Master | September 2020 | Kelly Vaughn

Column: August 2020, December 2020, March 2021 | Robert Stieve

Single Photo: Navajo Dancer | May 2020 | Mylo Fowler

Portrait Photo: Greg Wildman | January 2021 | Joel Grimes

Portrait Series: I Just Want to Go Home | May 2020 | David Zickl

Magazine Photographer of the Year: Jack Dykinga

Silver award winners: 

Public Issues: At the End of Their Ropes | January 2021 | Noah Austin

Historic Feature: The Exodus Trail | May 2020 | Annette McGivney

Nature and Environment Feature: Ho, Ho, Ho … Green Giants | March 2021 | Tyler Williams

Essay: Breathing Space | July 2020 | Craig Childs

Photo Series: The Evolution of Landscape Photography | April  2020 | Edited by Jess Kida 

Illustration: The Exodus Trail | May 2020 | Davide Bonazzi

Special Focus: The Great Escapes | July 2020

Cover: May 2020

Bronze award winners: 

Travel Feature: A Trip to Remember | August  2020 | Willis Peterson

General Feature: Salvage Operation | March 2021 | Annette McGivney

Headline and Dek: Beadlemania | November  2020 | Robert Stieve

Art Direction SIngle Story: There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills | October 2020 | Keith Whitney

Magazine Writer of the Year: Kelly Vaughn

Travel Package: The Great Escapes | July 2020 | Edited by Robert Stieve

Award of Merit:

Art and Culture Feature: The Fruits of Her Labor | May 2020  | Kelly Vaughn

Recreation: In for a Bumpy Ride | June 2020 | Chel Knorr

Founded in 1925, Arizona Highways is dedicated to promoting travel to and through the state of Arizona. In addition to the world-renowned magazine known for spectacular landscape photography, Arizona Highways publishes travel guide books, calendars and other products to promote travel in Arizona. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

Learn more at arizonahighways.com and irmamagazines.com

PHOENIX – “Move Over,” Arizona, and help create a safer work environment on the state’s highways for incident responders assisting motorists in need.

National Move Over Day is Saturday, Oct. 16, and the Arizona Department of Transportation is joining with incident response stakeholders statewide to increase awareness about Arizona’s “Move Over” law. These awareness efforts include placing “Move Over” messages on overhead message boards and the Arizona Professional Towing and Recovery Association has organized a number of events for Move Over Day, including a parade of more than 100 tow trucks and other incident response vehicles.

Arizona’s “Move Over” law requires motorists to move over one lane – or slow down if it isn’t safe to change lanes – when driving by any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of a road or highway. This applies to any vehicle, even a regular passenger car, and also tow trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and maintenance vehicles, like ADOT’s red-and-white Incident Response Unit trucks.

The “Move Over” law has been on the books since 2005, but was amended in 2021. Among the changes made by the state legislature were increasing the fine for a first violation and the addition of increased fines for subsequent violations.

While drivers who don’t give space to responders working on road shoulders may face penalties, the drivers who do “move over” are engaging in the priceless act of giving responders a safe place to do their jobs so they can return home to their families at the end of the day.

“Responding to an incident and working in or near a travel lane already has an elevated level of risk,” said David Blue, ADOT Traffic Incident Management/Incident Response Unit Manager. “When drivers don’t ‘Move Over’ and give us space to do our jobs, which often is helping a stranded or injured motorist, they’re actively putting our lives at risk, as well as their own because of the potential for a secondary crash.”

For more information about “Move Over,” visit MoveOverAZ.org.