Daily Archives: November 2, 2018

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to interview 3 candidates

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Arizona Game and Fish commission building. – AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, to interview three candidates for the governor’s appointment to fill a 2019 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The meeting will be held at the Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. An agenda has been posted at www.azgfd.gov/board, and the public is invited to attend.

The following candidates will be interviewed: William N. Collins, James E. Goughnour, and Patrick W. Headington. They were chosen from a list of eight applicants considered by the board at its October 23 public meeting. After the interviews on November 13, the board will select at least two or possibly all three candidates to forward to Gov. Doug Ducey for consideration for the appointment.

Per Arizona Revised Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor. The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board.

For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

For more information on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

South Canyon Trail on North Kaibab Ranger District closed until spring

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FREDONIA — Fire officials are extending the South Canyon Trail closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest through at least spring 2019 for both public and firefighter safety.

The trail, which is located in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness, is in the area burned by the Cat Fire this summer, and fire managers are concerned about the hazards that fire-weakened trees would potentially pose to hikers. The trail will remain closed to allow for safe and efficient restoration work in the area by Forest Service crews.

“We simply need more time before we can consider the trail safe for hikers,” said North Zone Fire Management Officer Peter Goetzinger. “A good solid winter should give us that. We anticipate opening the trail back up in the spring.”

Once it is determined safe to do so, the trail will be reopened for public use.

Trail Closure: South Canyon Trail #6, Saddle Mountain Wilderness, North Kaibab Ranger District

There are no other closures in effect in the area.

To contact the North Kaibab Ranger District office, call (928) 643-7395.

Kaibab Forest

Kaibab National Forest information is also available through the following sources:

Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Flickr (photos): http://bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos

ADOT busy with freeway projects leading up to holiday season

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Phoenix-area freeway drivers may have noticed more construction and maintenance closures along interstates 10 and 17 last weekend. There’s some good news behind those restrictions.

A scheduled increase in freeway work and closures in October and November allows the Arizona Department of Transportation to make progress on important improvements before a decrease in restrictions sets in during the holiday travel season.

Crews have been busy in recent weeks on ADOT projects ranging from bridge construction at the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange at I-10 and 59th Avenue to I-17 pavement improvements south of downtown Phoenix.

ADOT is getting that work done now in order to limit weekend restrictions, including full freeway closures, during the holiday travel and shopping season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Scheduling weekend or overnight freeway restrictions in recent weeks in order to lighten the load during the holidays hasn’t been easy, especially with record-setting rainfall in the Phoenix area in October.

Project teams made substantial progress at the I-10/South Mountain Freeway interchange last weekend, including pouring the concrete deck for the elevated ramp that will provide a connection between northbound Loop 202 and westbound I-10 by late 2019.

Over the next few weeks and weekends, drivers in the Phoenix area can expect additional closures or lane restrictions along I-10 near 59th Avenue for work on the Loop 202 interchange. Bridge inspections also are planned at the I-10/I-17 “Stack” interchange near downtown. An ongoing I-10 project near Loop 303 in Goodyear is installing traffic-flow sensors in the pavement as well as electronic message signs above the interstate.

In addition to the holiday travel season, ADOT also will pull back from major freeway restrictions Nov. 8-11, during the NASCAR race weekend at ISM Raceway in the West Valley.

Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp from southbound Interstate 17 scheduled to close temporarily November 5

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers that the southbound I-17 Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp (exit 320) is scheduled to close Monday, November 5, from 8 a.m. to noon while crews repair guardrail.

During the closure, motorists should continue southbound on I-17 for 3 miles to Woods Canyon/Fox Ranch Road (exit 317) to exit and re-enter northbound I-17 to Schnebly Hill Road.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.