Visiting a road construction site can be a learning experience for anyone, but for a transportation blog writer, it’s so much more...

Beyond being educational, for us, trips to the work zone are full of brand new terms, information and material that we can pass on and share with our readers!

We recently had the opportunity to take a tour of an I-10 improvement project and we’ve got lots of behind-the-scenes stuff to share, but first let us tell a little about the work that’s happening on the site right now.

The project stretches along I-10 from Wild Horse Pass Boulevard to Riggs Road, within the Gila River Indian Community and the city of Chandler. ADOT is making improvements along that segment of the freeway.

Work includes adding an auxiliary lane in each direction (between Wild Horse Pass Boulevard and Queen Creek Road). Crews also are milling and replacing pavement along the entire project corridor. Other improvements include new signing, striping and drainage improvements.

Once complete, the new auxiliary lane will serve as a dedicated exit lane for motorists heading off the freeway for Queen Creek Road. The new auxiliary lane will help to better accommodate traffic in the area.

Drivers should know that during construction, one lane will be open on I-10 at all times. To help eliminate traffic congestion, work is scheduled primarily at night and on weekends. However, daytime work may be necessary to ensure the project is completed on time and the work is done safely.

Interesting sights on the site

Now that you’ve got the project details, let’s focus on a couple of the things we saw during our tour…

Layers- It’s not often that you get a cross sectional view of a roadway, but in the photo above you can easily see the distinct layers that make up a pavement’s base.

Starting from the bottom, you’ve got the ground (we’ve blogged before about how dirt is prepared on some projects).

The next layer up is the subgrade course – this layer is built to specifications and helps to build up the base to a required height and strength (fun fact: the layer is black because crews are reusing millings from the pavement project. See this previous post to learn how crews mill and replace asphalt pavement).

Next, you have the aggregate base, which is gravel that goes down under the asphalt. This layer helps distribute the weight of the traffic that’s driving on the asphalt.

On top of all that, there’s the surface course (aka the road you drive on). According to ADOT’s Standard Specifications, this layer is made up of specified materials designed to accommodate the traffic load, the top layer of which resists skidding, traffic abrasion and the disintegrating effects of climate.

This post has gone on long enough, but we can’t wrap up before we tell you about that vehicle in the photo.

What you’re looking at is called a pneumatic tire roller. You can see that it is being used to compact the aggregate base. Vibratory rollers (often, incorrectly referred to as steamrollers) are sometimes used for this job, but with its air-filled tires, the pneumatic tire roller distributes the load a little differently and offers good compaction.

OK, that’s it for now but stay tuned! We’ll bring you project updates as work wraps up this winter and we still have more information to share with you from the site tour.

We’ve blogged about some pretty massive projects lately…

From the Loop 303/I-10 interchange and the Loop 101 widening project to the US 89 landslide repair, there have been quite a few major construction updates to tell you about.

While we know that big projects can mean big impacts, we’re also aware that smaller construction projects can have an effect on drivers, too.

That’s why we want to provide an update on the SR 260 bridge rehabilitation project (not to be confused with the SR 260/Doubtful Canyon widening project OR the SR 260 project through Little Green Valley – those are two totally separate projects).

The project we’re referring to today got started in April and is centered on a 10-mile stretch of SR 260, about 17 miles east of Payson.

The $2.9 million project includes reconstructing the existing bridge approaches of eight structures on the eastbound and westbound roadways. Work also includes milling and replacing the existing pavement at the bridge approaches, guardrail reconstruction and the replacement of existing pavement markings.

Currently, the eastbound lanes are closed at the Tonto Creek Bridge (mileposts 267-268) near Kohl’s Ranch Road through the Christopher Creek Campground (mileposts 272-277) and all traffic has been shifted to the westbound lanes. Right now, crews are working on five of the bridges on the eastbound side.

The project will shut down for winter at the end of this month (the work must be done in warmer temperatures for ideal compaction and materials establishment).

Restrictions will be lifted during the break and the road will be fully open with two lanes in each direction by the end of this month (good news!).

Crews will be coming back in the spring to complete work for the three bridges on the westbound side. When construction resumes in the spring, westbound lanes will be closed and traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes, but this time around the closure will only impact a three-mile stretch.

What drivers should know

This project is intended to create smooth transitions between the highway and bridge approaches/departures through this corridor. Once complete (by summer 2015), the project will give drivers a much smoother ride.

Please note that the work zone is clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, to comply with the reduced speed limit and to be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Know that delays are possible and allow extra travel time to reach your destination.

For more information, email [email protected] or call the ADOT Project Hotline at 855-712-8530.

If your commute includes the Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain), you’ve probably noticed the start of some construction work…

It’s all part of a project we told you about last month that will add one new lane in each direction. There’s also a new northbound Loop 101 lane that will be constructed between the Loop 202 interchange and McDowell Road to improve freeway-to-freeway traffic flow. Other features, including merge lanes, lighting, signs and rubberized asphalt are a part of the plans too.

Get all the project details in our previous post. You can also check out our latest video (the one at the top of this page!) to see what drivers should expect through the project’s duration.

A major project that will add new lanes in both directions of Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Scottsdale and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community area is scheduled to begin this weekend (August 9-10).

The $72.7 million project will widen 11 miles of Loop 101 south of Shea Boulevard with the addition of one new lane in each direction. A second new northbound Loop 101 lane also will be constructed between the Loop 202 interchange and McDowell Road.

The improvement project is scheduled for completion by late 2016.

Other features of the Loop 101 Improvement Project include:

• The addition of new merge lanes between the interchanges at Indian Bend Road and McDonald Drive.
• New lighting and signs.
• New landscaping, including the use of hundreds of salvaged cacti and other plants that will be kept in temporary nurseries.
• Wider freeway bridges and realigned on- and off-ramps.
• A new layer of smooth rubberized asphalt added across all lanes of the wider freeway.

Initial work requiring Loop 101 closures or lane restrictions will focus on the removal of some older sign structures, the placement of temporary barrier walls for crews to work behind and the relocation of fiber optic cables and other components that will be used for improvements to the freeway management system of traffic cameras, ramp meters, traffic-flow sensors and overhead message boards.

Drivers are urged to plan ahead for restrictions, including overnight and weekend closures, as well as a lower speed limit of 55 mph within the work zone.

The Loop 101 Improvement Project between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 is funded through the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

Stay tuned … we’ll blog more about this project as work progresses.

Today, we’ve got an update for you on a project we first blogged about at the end of last year…

The project, located about three miles south of Flagstaff, involves the realignment of SR 89A and reconstruction of the southbound I-17/JW Powell Boulevard intersection.

Work has begun

Crews began construction of new alignments of SR 89A, and southbound on- and off-ramps at JW Powell Boulevard near Fort Tuthill County Park and Flagstaff-Pulliam Airport on June 2.

The project will also include the construction of roundabouts at the entrance to the park and the southbound I-17 ramps. The roundabouts will help facilitate the safer flow of traffic through the area, and will be designed to meet current and future traffic demand. Drivers can expect restrictions and lane closures throughout construction.

Project prep work happened last fall

Preparations for this project began last September when ADOT worked closely with Coconino County, the city of Flagstaff and the local utility company to remove trees to allow space for project construction while saving as many trees as possible (see video above). The area will be re-seeded with native vegetation once the project is complete.

The project is anticipated to be complete by summer 2015.

For more information, please visit the project webpage, or check out our previous post.

The wait is over and now the new Loop 101 HOV-lane ramps are open at Maryland Avenue in Glendale...

Not that it was a particularly long wait – work only started about five months ago. This accelerated project was built using the Design-Build method of contracting, which can yield big results in a short amount of time by pairing the design team with the construction team from start to finish.

“We worked very closely with the city of Glendale and the Maricopa Association of Governments in making sure that the funding was lined up,” explains ADOT Public Information Officer Doug Nintzel in the video above. “Then we made sure we were on a fast track with construction because the goal was we were going to complete these ramps in time for the 2014 Cardinals season and certainly in time for Super Bowl 2015”.

What drivers will now experience

The new ramps were designed to improve access in and out of the Westgate Entertainment District and the area's sports facilities (that includes the University of Phoenix Stadium and Jobing.com Arena).

All four ramps connect to the center of the Maryland Avenue bridge via the Loop 101 HOV lanes.

HOV lane refresher

Like all HOV lanes, the new ramps are only open to vehicles carrying two or more people, as well as other approved vehicles during weekday rush hour periods of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The ramps (and all HOV lanes) are open to all vehicles at other times, including weekends.

If you’ve got any upcoming travel plans in the far northwest corner of Arizona, you’ll want to pay close attention to today’s post.

That’s because we have details on a reconstruction project set to start next week on I-15 and if you’re headed that way, there are some things you will want to know.

But first, some project info…

ADOT starts an extensive rehabilitation project next week on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (not to be confused with bridges 2, 3 or 7). Work will include the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the scenic Virgin River Gorge.

The $27 million project at milepost 16, located approximately 20 miles south of St. George, Utah, is expected to take up to two years to complete. ADOT will begin setting up traffic control on Tuesday, March 25.

What drivers need to know

With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor and a separate bridge deck surface project already underway on bridges No. 2, 3 and 7, ADOT urges drivers traveling between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone.

During construction, ADOT is committed to keeping at least one lane in each direction open during all phases of construction. I-15 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction at each of the bridge projects and delays are expected.

Motorists are encouraged to stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions by visiting az511.gov or calling 511 (outside of Arizona, dial 1-888-411-ROAD).

For more information about these projects, please visit azdot.gov/I15virginriver.

Remember when we first told you about the Loop 101 freeway ramp project that’s under construction out in the West Valley?

It was just back in November, but already work is now around 80 percent complete. Since this project is moving fast, we thought now would be a good time to share some recent photos from the site.

Of course, Loop 101 drivers in Glendale already know what this project looks like – they’ve got a front-row view of progress being made on the new freeway ramps that will connect with the Maryland Avenue Bridge near University of Phoenix Stadium.

More on the project

In one of the latest milestones, crews have attached all four of the ramps to the bridge. The ramps are connected to the bridge via the freeway's HOV lanes.

The project remains on schedule for completion by spring.

The project, designed to provide additional access points in the Westgate area, will be finished well ahead of the Arizona Cardinals' 2014 season and Super Bowl XLIX early next year. The work started last October.

ADOT is managing the construction of the $11.7 million project, which is supported by the city of Glendale and paid for with regional transportation funds from the Maricopa Association of Governments.

You can learn more about the project on our website or by checking out our previous blog post.

We have a fairly lengthy blog post for you today…

Though it might take a while to read it, you’ll be glad that you did. That’s because it includes details on many of the projects ADOT has planned across the state in 2014.

This year, ADOT will move forward with some long-anticipated projects to widen existing highways, replace outdated bridges and build new modern traffic interchanges.

All of the projects will be funded with federal and state highway funds, which are collected through gas taxes, vehicle license fees and auto registration fees. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, voters have approved supplemental tax revenue that enables more transportation projects to move forward in their respective regions.

Phoenix Area Projects for 2014

The New Year will see continued progress on the construction of the multilevel freeway-to-freeway interchange that will link Interstate 10 with Loop 303 in Goodyear. Drivers in the area have been able to watch crews build sections of elevated ramps that will carry traffic to and from Loop 303 north of I-10 by fall 2014. The $145 million I-10/Loop 303 interchange project also will slightly shift the alignment of I-10 to the north to allow the future connections between the two freeways. Other major projects include adding another lane on the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) in Scottsdale and a new connection for drivers in southeast Mesa — State Route 24 (Gateway Freeway).

Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) in the Scottsdale area

ADOT is due to start work by fall on a project to add one new lane in each direction along Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). The new lanes will help improve traffic flow along that busy stretch of the Pima Freeway. ADOT also will add a new layer of smooth rubberized asphalt along the project’s entire 10-mile stretch south of Shea to the Red Mountain Freeway.

Loop 303 between Interstate 10 and Grand Avenue (US 60)

The ongoing series of projects to modernize the older two-lane Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway south of Grand Avenue will be completed during 2014. Drivers already are using a dozen miles of new lanes opened by ADOT in the area stretching from Thomas Road north to near Grand Avenue. Improvements this year will concentrate on finishing the project between Camelback Road and Glendale Avenue by summer and completing the $145 million Loop 303/Interstate 10 interchange south of McDowell Road in Goodyear by fall.

Loop 303 between Grand Avenue and Happy Valley Parkway in northwest Valley

A project to widen the current four-lane Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway along a four-mile stretch between Grand Avenue and Happy Valley Parkway in the northwest Valley is expected to start by the fall. Crews also will start work on a new interchange linking Loop 303 and El Mirage Road. A separate project, also scheduled to start by fall, will reconstruct the interchange linking Loop 303 and Grand Avenue. That new interchange will feature ramps traveling below ground level to allow improved connections between the two roadways.

State Route 24 (Gateway Freeway) in southeast Mesa

By spring, ADOT will open the new "freeway-to-freeway interchange" linking the Loop 202 Santan Freeway with the first mile of State Route 24 (Gateway Freeway) in southeast Mesa. The new connections will allow drivers to travel between Loop 202 and Ellsworth Road, providing faster access to areas around Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The city of Mesa issued bonds to accelerate the construction schedule for the project by several years.

New Loop 101 HOV-Lane Ramps near Westgate in Glendale

A project that started last October will connect ramps via the Loop 101 HOV lanes to the center of the Maryland Avenue bridge near University of Phoenix Stadium. The new ramps will add access points for the Westgate area, Jobing.com Arena and the stadium. They will be completed this spring, well ahead of the Arizona Cardinals' 2014 season and Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

Interstate 10 Interchange at Perryville Road in West Valley

Crews will break ground this spring on a project to add on- and off-ramps to provide an I-10 interchange at Perryville Road at the boundary between Goodyear and Buckeye.

Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway

ADOT expects to release the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed South Mountain Freeway later this year, at which time a 60-day public review period will begin. The freeway would run east and west along Pecos Road and then turn north between 55th and 63rd avenues, connecting with I-10 on each end. The South Mountain Freeway is also part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400.

Tucson Area Projects for 2014

The state’s second-largest metropolitan area will see several highway projects move forward in 2014. In early 2014, ADOT will complete work on a major roadway widening project in Tucson that will expand Interstate 10 to four lanes in each direction, while building an overpass so freeway traffic can avoid a busy intersection that is often congested when trains from the Union Pacific Railroad are in use. New projects in the Tucson region include State Route 77 (Oracle Road) widening and the expansion of State Route 86 (Ajo Highway).

Interstate 10 Widening (Ruthrauff to Prince roads in Tucson)

ADOT is nearing completion of a $76.4 million project to widen more than two miles of I-10 between Ruthrauff and Prince roads in Tucson. Major improvements include widening the freeway to four lanes in each direction and reconstructing the Prince Road traffic interchange so Prince Road will pass over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and I-10. The project is slated to be completed this spring. This project comes on the heels of a six-mile-long reconstruction and widening project that was completed in 2009 through the downtown Tucson corridor between Prince Road and 29th Street. Once the latest I-10 project is complete, ADOT will have expanded an eight-mile segment of I-10 to four lanes in each direction through the Tucson metro area.

State Route 77 Widening (Tangerine Road to Pinal County Line)

In summer 2014, ADOT will upgrade a six-mile section of SR 77 (Oracle Road) between Tangerine Road and the Pinal County Line from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. Along with widening the roadway, planned improvements include raised medians, traffic signal and drainage improvements, wildlife crossings, sound walls and multiuse paths. The $44 million project is slated to take two years to complete.

State Route 86 (Valencia to Kinney roads)

In late 2014, ADOT is expected to begin construction on expanding SR 86 (Ajo Highway) to two lanes in each direction from Valencia Road to Kinney Road in Pima County, 10 miles west of downtown Tucson. This seven-mile-long, $45 million project in Pima County will enhance safety and improve traffic flow on the highway, which serves as a regional transportation route between Tucson and south-central Arizona. SR 86 provides access to the Tohono O'odham Nation and is widely used to reach the popular tourist destination in Mexico called Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point.

Interstate 10 Realignment/Cienega Creek Bridges (Marsh Station)

Approximately 25 miles east of downtown Tucson, ADOT is nearly completed with a safety improvement project on I-10 that began late in 2012. The $17.2 million project included last spring’s demolition of the old Pantano Union Pacific Railroad Bridge, which now allows most of today’s taller commercial trucks to travel on I-10 and avoid the current 67-mile detour to pass through the area. Other improvements include construction of two new bridges at Cienega Creek that will prevent flooding on the highway, and reconstructing and realigning I-10 to provide a divided median to enhance safety. The project is scheduled for completion this May.

Statewide Projects for 2014

In northern Arizona, ADOT will complete Interstate 17’s first climbing lane at the top of Copper Canyon south of Camp Verde. Drivers traveling between Phoenix and Las Vegas can also look forward to two new widening projects on US 93 that will transform another segment of this highly traveled route into a modern four-lane divided highway.

In southern Arizona, key projects include expanding a section of US 60 near and through Superior, a new bridge on State Route 90 over the San Pedro River in Cochise County and an improvement project on US 95 in downtown San Luis near the U.S./Mexico border.

Northern Arizona

US 93 Widening (Antelope Wash)

This three-mile segment of US 93, located approximately 20 miles north of Wikieup (mileposts 101-104), will be improved from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway. The $19.4 million project is one of a series of widening projects ADOT has scheduled or completed on this heavily traveled corridor between Phoenix and Las Vegas. ADOT’s long-term vision is to transform this route into a modern four-lane divided highway through the entire 200-mile stretch. Work is expected to start this summer and be completed in 2015.

US 93 Widening (State Route 71 to State Route 89)

A second US 93 widening project, just north of Wickenburg, is slated to expand a five-mile segment from a two-lane roadway into a four-lane divided highway between the SR 71 interchange and the SR 89 junction (mileposts 185-190). The $23 million project is expected to break ground later this year.

US 89 Emergency Repair (Landslide near Bitter Springs)

Following a Feb. 20, 2013 landslide that caused serious pavement damage to a section of US 89 near the Echo Cliffs, ADOT immediately closed the highway between Bitter Springs and Page, and established detours for motorists traveling to and from Page and southern Utah. Shortly thereafter, geotechnical experts and ADOT engineers conducted an investigation to determine the exact cause of the damage and establish the plan to rebuild the roadway. The agency’s long-term solution is a $25 million emergency repair project that will include shifting the roadway up slope and creating a gravity buttress at the base of the mountain. ADOT is working to rebuild the highway as soon as safely possible and if there are no right-of-way or environmental hurdles, construction could start as soon as this summer.

Interstate 17 Climbing Lane (Copper Canyon)

The first climbing lane built on I-17, located just south of Camp Verde, is scheduled to open this summer after breaking ground in early 2013. The project will improve safety, ease congestion and prevent delays on the main travel route between northern Arizona and Phoenix. The $11.9 million project, which includes adding an additional lane on southbound I-17 to the top of Copper Canyon, will allow large trucks to gain speed before merging into the travel lanes.

Interstate 15 (Virgin River Bridge No. 6)

In 2012, ADOT successfully secured a federal grant to rehabilitate one of the eight bridges on I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge in the northwest corner of the state near Littlefield. The $27 million project, which will begin this spring, includes replacing the bridge superstructure (girders, deck, railings) and increasing the width of the bridge roadway. The project is expected to be completed in 2015.

US 89 Widening (Cameron)

In 2014, ADOT is starting a project in Coconino County to expand US 89 from two lanes to four lanes through the community of Cameron, approximately 50 miles north of Flagstaff. The $36.7 million project between State Route 64 and the Little Colorado River (mileposts 464-467) will include the construction of a new bridge over the river and a new roundabout, installation of street lights through Cameron, and new sidewalks and pedestrian underpasses.

State Route 89 Widening (Chino Valley)

ADOT will improve a five-mile stretch of SR 89 between Road 4 South in Chino Valley and Deep Well Ranch Road in Prescott with a $25 million project beginning this spring. The highway will be upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane divided highway, while enhancing safety for drivers between Chino Valley and Prescott. The project is slated for completion in 2015.

US 191 (Sanders Bridges)

As part of a $13.6 million improvement project in Apache County, ADOT is replacing three existing bridges, which were built in 1949, at the junction of US 191/Interstate 40 west of Sanders and realign US 191 (mileposts 367-369). The project, which began in late 2012, is expected to be finished this spring.

Southern Arizona

US 95 San Luis Street Improvements

ADOT and the city of San Luis will begin work this spring on an improvement project on US 95 (Main Street) in the downtown San Luis area to improve traffic flow to and from the U.S./Mexico Port of Entry, enhance pedestrian safety and improve access to downtown business. The $8 million project is slated to be finished by the end of 2014.

US 60 Widening (Silver King/Superior Streets)

In late 2014, ADOT is expected to start a project to convert the last remaining two-lane roadway segment on US 60 between Phoenix and Superior into a modern, four-lane divided highway. The $45 million project (mileposts 222-227), which will also include improving the urban section of highway in Superior, is expected to take two years to complete.

State Route 90 (San Pedro Bridge)

Early this year, ADOT will complete work on replacing the San Pedro Bridge, which was built in 1954 and is located east of Sierra Vista on SR 90. After replacing the eastbound half of the bridge in 2013, the westbound bridge will be replaced this March. The $7 million project includes a new bridge structure that meets modern design standards and has wider lanes for drivers. The project, which began in late 2012, was limited to an October-March construction schedule to avoid disrupting the migratory bird nesting season in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.