Tag Archives: ADOT

ADOT: No highway closures over Labor Day Weekend

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Arizona drivers can look ahead to open highways and no scheduled construction closures over Labor Day weekend. The Arizona Department of Transportation and contractors will not schedule any construction or maintenance-related closures along state highways between Friday afternoon and late Monday, September 2.

Motorists should still plan ahead and expect heavy traffic during peak travel times on highways to and from popular destinations, including the state’s high country and California beaches.

ADOT also will work with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local first responders in clearing crashes, disabled vehicles or other incidents that can cause travel delays.

Drivers have the most important role in keeping highways safe at all times, including holiday weekends. Motorists should focus on safe driving behavior, including using seat belts, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions and not allowing impaired people to get behind the wheel. Being prepared for changing weather conditions, including blowing dust and potentially heavy rain, is another important safety measure as the summer travel season winds down.

Last year, nine people were killed in eight fatal crashes on Arizona roadways, including local streets, over Labor Day weekend. Four of those fatal crashes involved alcohol.

ADOT will position personnel and equipment in areas along heavily traveled highways during peak times this weekend, including I-17 and State Route 87 north of the Phoenix area. Those crews will be prepared to assist AZDPS troopers and local emergency responders in clearing travel lanes if crashes or other incidents occur.

While no weekend closures are scheduled along state highways during the Labor Day period, motorists should be prepared to slow down and merge safely in existing improvement project work zones.

Flagstaff area drivers should plan for overnight closures of McConnell Drive under Interstate 17

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises Flagstaff drivers who use McConnell Drive to plan for a full overnight road closure next week beginning tonight, while crews continue work to replace the McConnell Bridge on I-17/SR 89A.

McConnell Drive under I-17 will be closed in both directions nightly from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning Monday, August 19,through the morning of Friday, August 23.

Motorists should follow signed detour routes and plan for travel delays.

The project involves a full bridge deck replacement, bridge widening and sidewalk construction on the north side of McConnell Drive and is scheduled in three phases over two years with completion scheduled for fall 2020.

ADOT detectives nab man who purchased sports car with stolen identity

Posted on by

PHOENIX – A man who allegedly used a stolen identity to purchase a sports car and stick the victim with the bill was arrested on a felony warrant after detectives with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General brought the case before a grand jury.

In March of last year, Randall Cepi, 31, concocted a scheme to use the personal information of a customer at the dealership where he was employed in Winslow to purchase a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette from a dealership in Flagstaff.

The victim came into the Nissan dealership where Cepi worked and bought a new half-ton pickup. About a week later, Cepi used her personal information to obtain a loan to buy the Corvette. He arranged to have the victim’s signature forged on the dealership and loan documents.

A few weeks later, the victim became aware of the scheme when she received insurance and loan information for a vehicle she did not purchase. She filed a complaint with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, and detectives with the Dealer Investigation Unit opened an investigation.

The dealership in Flagstaff was made aware of the situation and called Cepi, demanding that he return the Corvette. Instead, he abandoned the sports car at the dealership in Winslow where he worked and disappeared. While searching for Cepi, ADOT detectives brought the case before a grand jury where the felony warrant was issued.

Cepi was found working at a dealership in Gallup, New Mexico where he was arrested by local authorities on July 29. He will be extradited to Arizona to face charges of fraud schemes and forgery, theft of means of transportation and taking the identity of another.

Checking your credit report after a major purchase, such as a vehicle, is a good way to make sure no one is using your information without your knowledge. Each of the major credit bureaus will provide you one free credit report each year.

In addition to identity theft, detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General also investigate fraud involving vehicle title and registration, licensed and unlicensed dealers, and support investigations by state, local and federal law enforcement.

Plan for daytime lane and ramp closures on Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 in Flagstaff August 6 – 9

Posted on by
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers to allow extra travel time and plan for daytime lane and ramp restrictions on Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 where the two freeways meet in Flagstaff Aug. 6 through Aug. 9 for painting and paving work.

Drivers should prepare for delays while the following restrictions are in place between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.:

  • Tuesday, Aug. 6 through Friday, Aug. 9:
    • I-40 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction at the junction of I-17 (milepost 195).
    • The southbound I-17 to westbound I-40 ramp will be closed. DETOUR: Southbound I-17 traffic will continue to John Wesley Powell Boulevard and re-enter northbound I-17 to eastbound I-40 to exit at Butler Road and re-enter westbound I-40.
    • The southbound I-17 to eastbound I-40 ramp will be closed. DETOUR: Southbound I-17 traffic will continue to John Wesley Powell Boulevard and re-enter northbound I-17 to enter eastbound I-40.
    • The northbound I-17 to westbound I-40 ramp will be closed. DETOUR: Northbound I-17 traffic will enter eastbound I-40 to exit at Butler Road and re-enter westbound I-40.

These closures are necessary for crews to complete final paving work after replacing four bridge decks at the I-17 and I-40 junction last year.

Motorists should allow extra travel time and use caution around construction personnel and equipment while paving is underway.

Traffic Alert: Lane closures on Interstate 40 and Beulah Boulevard in Flagstaff scheduled to begin this week

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers in Flagstaff to allow extra travel time and plan for lane closures on east- and westbound I-40 at I-17 and north- and southbound Beulah Boulevard under I-40 while crews complete bridge deck replacement work on four bridges.

Drivers should prepare for delays while the following restrictions are in place weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.:

  • Beulah Boulevard will be narrowed to one lane in each direction Monday, June 3, through Friday, June 21.
  • I-40 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 28.

No weekend work is scheduled.

These closures are necessary for crews to finalize work including paving, seeding for natural vegetation, pavement marking and striping.

Drivers should allow extra travel time, proceed through the work zone with caution and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Ramp closures on Interstate 40 in Williams set for next week

Posted on by

WILLIAMS – Northern Arizona drivers on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff should plan for travel delays due to construction work between Parks and Williams. Crews have scheduled ramp closures and lane closures while a new layer of asphalt pavement is placed on 17 miles of east- and westbound I-40 between Parks and Williams this summer. The project also includes a final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, to further improve the roadway surface, and installation of guardrail, striping and signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for travel delays while these ramp closures are in place:

  • The westbound I-40 on-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) will be closed Monday, June 3, through Tuesday, June 11. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Boulevard (Exit 161) and enter eastbound I-40 to exit at Grand Canyon Boulevard.
  • The westbound I-40 on-ramp at Parks (Exit 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. DETOUR: Traffic from Parks accessing westbound I-40 will take eastbound I-40 to Bellemont (Exit 185) and re-enter westbound I-40 toward their destination.
  • The eastbound I-40 on-ramp at Parks (Exit 178) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6. DETOUR: Traffic from Parks accessing eastbound I-40 will travel westbound I-40 to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter eastbound I-40 toward their destination.
  • The westbound I-40 off-ramp at Parks (Exit 178) will also be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Parks will continue to Pittman Valley Road (Exit 171) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to Parks.
  • The westbound off-ramp at SR 64 (Exit 165) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 7. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing SR 64 will continue to Grand Canyon Boulevard (Exit 163) and re-enter eastbound I-40 to SR 64.

Plan for SR 89A-Fain Road lane closures beginning Monday, June 3

Posted on by

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for pavement repair along State Route 89A-Fain Road next week. The work will occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 4, on north- and southbound State Route 89A-Fain Road between the junction with SR 69 (milepost 331) and the junction with SR 89A-Robert Road (milepost 324).

Paving scheduled Monday, June 3, will require the following closures:

  • Northbound Fain Road will be narrowed to one lane (right lane closed)
  • Southbound Fain Road will be narrowed to one lane (left lane closed)

Paving scheduled Tuesday, June 4, will require the following closures:

  • Northbound Fain Road will be narrowed to one lane (left lane closed)
  • Southbound Fain Road will be narrowed to one lane (right lane closed)

The restrictions are necessary so ADOT crews can do fog-seal work, which helps to protect and extend the life of the highway pavement.

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

Daytime lane closures on State Route 89A near Jerome scheduled to begin June 5

Posted on by

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89A between the town of Jerome (milepost 344) and Old Fain Road (milepost 330) while a pavement-repair project is underway. Drivers could experience delays up to 30 minutes while SR 89A is reduced to one lane only.

Work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

Flaggers and a pilot car will direct drivers through the work zone.

The restrictions are necessary so ADOT crews can do fog-seal work, which helps to protect and extend the life of the highway pavement.

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

ADOT: No highway closures over Memorial Day weekend

Posted on by

If you’re planning a road trip in the state over the Memorial Day weekend, the Arizona Department of Transportation has good news about construction-related closures.

ADOT and its contractors will not schedule weekend closures along state-maintained highways, including Phoenix-area freeways, from Friday afternoon through late Monday night, May 27.

Drivers should allow extra time, especially during peak travel periods, and be prepared to slow down and use caution in existing work zones. Focus on safe driving, including buckling up and not speeding.

There were seven fatal crashes with a total of eight deaths on Arizona roadways, including local streets, over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Two of those fatal crashes were alcohol-related.

ADOT’s highway safety recommendations include:

  • Never drive while impaired – arrange for a designated driver in advance
  • Buckle up and obey speed limits
  • Check your vehicle, including tire pressure
  • Get some rest before traveling – fatigue is a serious safety risk
  • Allow extra travel time and be prepared for unscheduled closures
  • Avoid distractions – don’t text while driving
  • Pack extra supplies, including drinking water and snack foods
  • Don’t park in areas with grasses or brush – hot vehicle components could start a fire

Work on Interstate 40 in Williams rescheduled because of wintry weather

Posted on by

WILLIAMS – Unseasonably cold weather has temporarily delayed work on Interstate 40 between Parks and Williams in northern Arizona. Crews had been scheduled to complete work at the Grand Canyon Boulevard westbound off-ramp prior to Memorial Day weekend. Because of inclement weather, the work is now scheduled to progress through next week.

The following I-40 ramp closures and detours have been rescheduled so crews can reconstruct the westbound on- and off- ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard. The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for travel delays while these closures are in place:

  • Crews will keep the westbound I-40 off-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard closed through Friday, May 31. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Boulevard (Exit 161) and enter eastbound I-40 to exit at Grand Canyon Boulevard.
  • Crews will close the westbound I-40 on-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard from 6 a.m. Monday, June 3, through Monday, June 10, at 6 p.m. DETOUR: Southbound Grand Canyon Boulevard traffic that needs to access westbound I-40 should use eastbound I-40 to State Route 64 (Exit 165) and use the interchange to turn around.

The eastbound and westbound I-40 ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard will NOT be closed at the same time.

No work is scheduled over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The project schedule still calls for a new layer of asphalt pavement on 17 miles of east- and westbound I-40 between Parks and Williams this summer. The project also includes a final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, to further improve the roadway surface, and installation of guardrail, striping and signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.