Category Archives: Arizona Department of Transportation

Prepare for next storm, traffic if heading to play in the snow Sunday

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PHOENIX ‒ Planning a trip to play in the snow Sunday? Leave prepared for heavy traffic around popular snow-play sites and the potential for more winter weather to arrive as early as Sunday afternoon.

Highway conditions can deteriorate quickly during severe weather as snow accumulates and drivers struggle, and closures can happen suddenly and be prolonged.

Your trip preparations should begin with packing a fully charged cellphone, drinking water, and winter coats, warm blankets or both. Among other winter driving tips at azdot.gov/KnowSnow, you should take: healthy snacks; gloves, scarves, caps and extra socks; necessary medications; an ice scraper; a flashlight with extra batteries; a small folding shovel for snow removal; and a small bag of sand or cat litter for wheel traction.

Plan your route and let someone know where you are going.

If you plan to visit snow-play areas along US 180 near Flagstaff, prepare to spend extended time in winter weather – and to face heavy traffic and delays getting back to Flagstaff that increase as the day goes on. The Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau lists the locations of all Flagstaff-area snow-play locations at FlagstaffArizona.org (follow the Winter Snowplay link) and offers a hotline at 844-256-SNOW with the latest snow conditions.

If you’re heading south from US 180 at day’s end, you can save time getting to Interstate 17 once you reach Flagstaff by taking a marked alternate route to Interstate 40 at Butler Avenue, via Switzer Canyon Drive and Route 66, then heading west to I-17.

Wherever you go, don’t park along highways or interstates or on freeway interchange ramps to play in the snow (the photo above shows vehicles parked on a ramp at the Interstate 17/Stoneman Lake Road interchange). That’s dangerous for you, other drivers and first responders. It exacerbates traffic congestion and makes it more difficult for the Arizona Department of Transportation’s snowplows to clear snow and ice. Park in designated areas away from highways.

The latest National Weather Service forecast for Arizona’s high country says the next winter storm is expected to enter the region as early as Sunday afternoon. It has the potential to produce significant snow and rain by late Sunday, though the exact timing remains uncertain.

Even if it isn’t snowing on your trip uphill, drive for conditions, slow down and avoid accelerating suddenly. Melting snow can turn into ice overnight, particularly around bridges. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the one ahead to avoid sudden braking.

Give snowplows a wide berth, staying at least four car lengths behind. Never pass a snowplow that’s clearing a road. Remember: The safest place on the road when it’s snowing is behind a plow.

ADOT’s Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook (facebook.com/AZDOT) accounts are excellent sources of information on traffic conditions, as is the ADOT Traveler Information site available at az511.gov or by calling 511.

Respect the plow! Help ADOT help you by giving snowplows space

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PHOENIX ‒ With the worst of back-to-back winter storms yet to come, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s snowplow operators are working 12-hour shifts to keep highways open.

In some cases, other drivers are making that difficult job even tougher.

On Thursday afternoon, an SUV struck a snowplow working on State Route 89A between Prescott Valley and Jerome (shown in the photo). Everyone was OK – though the SUV was severely damaged – but ADOT lost precious time clearing that route.

Meanwhile, snowplow drivers are encountering difficulty clearing Ash Fork Hill on eastbound Interstate 40 because large trucks aren’t, as signs instruct them, staying in the right lanes.

ADOT’s 400 certified snowplow drivers, operating the agency’s nearly 200 snowplows, need room to work. Give them space, starting with staying at least four vehicle lengths behind and never passing a working plow until the driver pulls over to let traffic pass.

Here are other tips straight from ADOT’s snowplow drivers:

· To avoid interfering with snowplows, drivers of large trucks need to heed signs on steep uphill grades telling them to stay in the right lane or right lanes.
· Never assume a snowplow operator knows you are nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.
· Plowed snow can create a cloud that reduces visibility, and spreaders on trucks throw de-icing agents or sand that can damage vehicles, so stay back.
· Leave space when stopping behind a snowplow. The driver might need to back up.
· If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.
· Just because a plow has been through the area, drivers shouldn’t assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice.
· Nighttime plowing is far more difficult than daytime plowing, so use extra caution around snowplows after dark.

For more tips on respecting the plow and other winter-driving essentials, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

No services available for part of Wednesday, January 18, at I-10 Burnt Well Rest Area

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PHOENIX – Restrooms, drinking fountains and vending machines won’t be available at the Interstate 10 Burnt Well Rest Area west of Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, due to utility work in the area.

Motorists will still be able to stop at the rest area, which has locations in both directions at milepost 86 near Tonopah, while the power is out and services aren’t available.

Other ADOT rest areas along I-10 between Phoenix and the California state line are Bouse Wash at milepost 53 and Ehrenberg at milepost 4.7.

Need a driver license? More Authorized Third Party offices now do that

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PHOENIX – One of the most common Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division transactions just got a bit easier with the addition of more Authorized Third Party providers permitted to offer driver license services including road testing, written testing and photos.

There are now 22 third-party providers, operating at 33 locations, authorized to offer these transactions. To do so, they must meet stringent qualifications set by MVD.

These services are provided at all MVD offices and require an in-person visit. Customers looking for convenience may wish to consider an Authorized Third Party.

“Partnering with Authorized Third Party providers is a very successful example of government and the private sector cooperating to offer outstanding customer service,” Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen said. “These offices are a convenient and popular supplement to MVD locations. Having more of them offering driver licenses is another great example of MVD getting people out of line and safely on the road.”

All Authorized Third Party providers must follow MVD guidelines and are monitored for compliance. Operators that offer driver license services have additional requirements, including having been a third-party provider for at least three years, conducting at least 1,000 transactions per month for one year, having an appropriate facility and meeting certain financial requirements.

With several more Authorized Third Party locations expected to open before the end of the year, information about which offices provide driver license services can be found at ServiceArizona.com or azdot.gov/mvd.

Prepare for traffic, do your research if heading to play in the snow

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PHOENIX – With light snow in the forecast heading into a long weekend, winter recreation areas along US 180 near Flagstaff are likely to attract heavy traffic that leads to delays.

Those planning to visit snow-play areas along US 180 over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend should leave prepared to spend extended time in winter weather – and to face traffic backlogs getting back to Flagstaff that increase as the day goes on.

They also should prepare for the trip by researching the locations of snow-play areas and whether those areas have enough snow to be open. The Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau lists snow-play locations at FlagstaffArizona.org (follow the Winter Snowplay link) and offers a hotline at 844-256-SNOW with the latest snow conditions.

Don’t park along highways or interstates to play in the snow. That’s dangerous for you, other drivers and first responders. It also can exacerbate traffic congestion on US 180.

Once they get to Flagstaff on their trips home, those heading to points south at day’s end can save time getting to Interstate 17 by taking a marked alternate route to Interstate 40 at Butler Avenue, via Switzer Canyon Drive and Route 66, then heading west to I-17.

Motorists traveling to Arizona’s high country should allow extra travel time with snow in the forecast and prepare as they would for any extended period in cold weather. That includes taking winter coats, blankets, a fully charged cellphone and portable charger, plenty of fuel, drinking water, snacks and medications. ADOT offers more tips at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Give snowplows a wide berth, staying four car lengths behind. Never pass a snowplow that’s clearing a road.

Overnight paving resumes on I-17 between New River and Black Canyon City

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will resume repaving of Interstate 17 this week between New River and Coldwater Canyon roads in Black Canyon City (mileposts 232 to 245). Crews have completed repaving the southbound lanes and have shifted work to the northbound lanes for the next two months. Drivers can expect alternating northbound lane restrictions during overnight work hours.

Crews will also close the on- and off-ramps at Table Mesa Road (Exit 236) for repaving between 6:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The $10.8 million project includes the removal of a layer of the existing pavement and application of a new layer of smooth, quiet rubberized asphalt. The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2017.

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

Eastbound Interstate 40 narrowed to one lane at Audley Bridge

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SELIGMAN – Eastbound Interstate 40 will be narrowed to one lane at the Audley Bridge through Thursday, January 12, as crews repair potholes on the bridge deck. The bridge is located west of Seligman at milepost 112. Only minimal delays to eastbound travel are expected. Westbound I-40 is not affected.

A $4.3 million project to repair the east- and westbound decks at Audley Bridge is expected to begin in early spring. The Arizona Department of Transportation will provide project information as it becomes available.

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

Arizona driver licenses, IDs are valid for air travel until October 1, 2020

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PHOENIX – Arizona driver licenses and state identification cards are valid for air travel until Oct. 1, 2020. Period.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is sharing that message with travelers who may be confused by new Transportation Security Administration placards posted at airports. These notices say that beginning on Jan. 28, 2018, travelers using a driver license or state ID for travel will need one from a state compliant with the federal REAL ID Act or a state with an extension for compliance.

Arizona is among states granted federal extensions allowing valid driver licenses and state IDs to be used for travel until Oct. 1, 2020. That’s because Arizona has started offering a voluntary ID that meets REAL ID Act requirements.

Arizonans have the option now to obtain a Voluntary Travel ID. It’s available by appointment at Motor Vehicle Division offices or without an appointment at an Authorized Third Party provider offering driver license services. It costs $25 and in most cases is valid for eight years.

Please visit azdot.gov/TravelID for more information on the Voluntary Travel ID and the documents required to get one, to schedule an appointment to get a Voluntary Travel ID at an MVD office or to locate an Authorized Third Party offering driver license services. You also can schedule an MVD appointment to get a Voluntary Travel ID via ServiceArizona.com.

ADOT hosting public meetings about transportation study on SR 89 between Chino Valley and Paulden

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is studying a 13-mile segment of State Route 89, between Road 3 North in Chino Valley and two miles north of Bramble Drive in Paulden. The purpose of this long-range planning study is to identify future roadway improvements as funding becomes available.

ADOT needs your input, and for your convenience the following public meetings have been scheduled:

  • Paulden Area Community Organization (PACO) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Paulden Christian Fellowship Church, 165 Aspen Road, Paulden
  • Chino Valley Town Council Meeting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10, at council chambers, 202 N. State Route 89, Chino Valley
  • Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Meeting at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 1015 Fair St., Prescott
  • Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO) Board Meeting, 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1015 Fair St., Prescott

(Note:  The same information will be covered at each meeting.)

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. Persons who require a reasonable accommodation based on language or disability should contact Tricia Lewis at 928.606.2420 or email tlewis@azdot.gov.  Requests should be made as early as possible to ensure the state has an opportunity to address the accommodation. 

De acuerdo con el título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA por sus siglas en inglés), el Departamento de Transporte de Arizona (ADOT por sus siglas en inglés) no discrimina por raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, género o discapacidad. Personas que requieren asistencia (dentro de lo razonable) ya sea por el idioma o por discapacidad deben ponerse en contacto con Tricia Lewis al 928.606.2420 o por correo electrónico al TLewis@azdot.gov. Las solicitudes deben hacerse lo más pronto posible para asegurar que el equipo encargado del proyecto tenga la oportunidad de hacer los arreglos necesarios. 

For more information about this study, please call Tricia Lewis, Senior Community Relations Officer, at 928.606.2420 or email tlewis@azdot.gov.

Rumour has it there’s a winner for favorite 2016 safety message

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PHOENIX – An Adele-inspired message struck a chord when ADOT Blog followers voted on their favorite safety slogans of 2016.

“Hello from the other side, buckle up & stay alive,” which appeared on electronic message boards in August, had received more than 3,300 votes as of Wednesday, Jan. 4.

The runner-up was “Gobble, gobble go easy on the throttle,” which got roughly 3,200 votes. “Mash potatoes not your head, buckle up,” another Thanksgiving weekend offering, was third with more than 3,000 votes.

The informal online poll launched Dec. 28 had participants give thumbs-up or thumbs-down to 10 safety slogans that appeared on ADOT message boards this past year.

ADOT posted more than 30 targeted safety messages during 2016.

ADOT’s Facebook page offered a chance for participants to sound off on messages that didn’t make the list of finalists. The most common complaint: not seeing Stars Wars-themed messages, including those timed with the release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” such as “Join the rebellion against distracted driving.”

Other top-rated messages were “Pokemon Go is a no-go when driving” and “Designated drivers make the best New Year’s dates,” both with around 2,800 votes, and “Dumb drivers and smartphones don’t mix,” with about 2,700 votes.

We’re leaving the poll up, and who knows what the future may bring. But since some people have asked us for a winner, here you go.