Heavy traffic expected on Interstate 15 during Labor Day holiday

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is urging motorists traveling on Interstate 15 in the far northwest corner of Arizona to allow for extra travel time due to expected heavy traffic during this upcoming Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) and be aware of an existing work zone through the Virgin River Gorge.

Delays of up to two hours have been reported on previous holiday travel weekends through the Virgin River Gorge, which is nearly 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

ADOT is currently working on a major reconstruction project on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16), located about 20 miles south of St. George, Utah.

While no active construction will be taking place during the holiday weekend, the highway is currently narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in 2016.

This $27 million project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.

With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Serious accident on I-40 west near Bellemont

Photo by Brenda Carter

Photo by Brenda Carter


[See Update at FLAGScanner]
BELLEMONT – A serious three-vehicle accident occurred on I-40 west early this afternoon. Details are unknown at this time.

The accident apparently involved a semi and two vehicles. Traffic was detoured off of the freeway at exit 185 to the next on-ramp in Bellemont.

Williams resident Brenda Carter took these photos as she was caught in the traffic at about 1:15 pm. She said that there were no ambulances on the scene and it appeared that the clean-up operation had started.

Northern Arizona Gazette reminds drivers that the Labor Day holiday is coming next weekend and there will be many travelers on the highways. If you plan to travel, please rest well before your trip and do not allow distractions in your vehicle to allow this to happen to you.

Photo by Brenda Carter

Photo by Brenda Carter

Updated: 8:48 pm

Election day expected to be full of thunder and lightning

300px-to-polls-az2WILLIAMS – Election day in the northland is expected to be full of thunder and lightning. And that is just the weather. The weather forecast for tomorrow is 90% chance of heavy rain with thunder. Winds will be from the south at 7- to 13-mph with gusts as high as 21-mph.

This could aid the already dismal prediction by the office of the Secretary of State of a voter turnout of about 25%. The prediction is based on statistics showing that voter turnout has fallen within that range for non-presidential elections.

In Williams, voters will decide two issues with Proposition 402. The first is that John Moore, running for re-election as Mayor, and the three councilmen running be declared winners in the primary without having to run in the general election in November. They are running unopposed for the first time in recent memory.

The second item is to decide to adopt the Home Rule option which will allow Williams to use alternate expenditure limits. Under this rule the city will be able to spend $20,524,880 in 2015-2016, $20,868,492 in 2016-2017, $21,220,580 in 2017-2018, and $21,581,371 in 2018-2019 based on the current budget process through April 24, 2014. The expenditure limitations are estimates which might be raised or lowered depending on available revenue.

There will be no surprises in the LD-6 race since all candidates are running unopposed. While the late Chester Crandell is still on the ballot and will win the election, former Senator Sylvia Allen was recently chosen to replace him on the ballot in November. The only surprises might be if someone decides to file as a write-in for November.

All eyes are currently on the race to see who will represent the Republican party for governor in November. Polls show Doug Ducey and Scott Smith in the lead for the nomination in the primary. Ducey is endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpio who also endorsed Janet Napalitano. Scott Smith is endorsed by the current governor.

The one candidate who actually seemed to have some encouraging plans for Arizona, however, is Frank Riggs. He is against Common Core in schools and amnesty by executive order. He was recently endorsed by rocker Ted Nuggent for his Second Amendment stance. He is also in favor of charter schools. He started and left an organization promoting and helping charter schools get started.

All of the candidates speak of securing the border with National Guard as the State of Texas recently did. This, however, must come out of the State budget.

The outcome for the Republican nomination for Congressional District 1 will also be interesting. Voters will decide if Gary Kiehne, Adam Kwasman or Andy Tobin will battle against Ann Kirkpatrick in November. This race is also said to be a dead heat.

The other races of interest are the two “embattled” Republican John Huppenthal and Tom Horne. Both ran into scandals earlier this year and while the Republicans clamored to have Tom Horne step down, very few went after John Huppenthal if media reports are to be believed.

Despite the pleas, Tom Horne is seeking re-election to the office of Attorney General. Mark Brnovich is seeking the nomination from Tom Horne to face Democrat Felecia Rotellini.

Diane Douglas seeks to win the nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction from John Huppenthal. Ironically, the communist element of Arizona revealed earlier this year that Huppenthal made posts on social media and various conservative web sites promoting himself for supporting Common Core—the communists answer to education. Diane Douglas is running on a platform to stop Common Core altogether.