There is still time to add your voice to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s 2014-2018 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. The public comment period is open until the end of the business day on Friday, May 17 to provide community members with a chance to submit their feedback online or by phone.

The program is available for public review and comment at www.azdot.gov. ADOT has developed a “how to read it” guide that is posted on the website and welcomes feedback at FiveYearProgram@azdot.gov. A phone line is also available for callers to leave their comments and ask questions. That number is 1.855.712.8530. 

The Tentative Five-Year Program has generated a lot of interest in how the agency will move forward during the next five years with a $350 million reduction to the program. Three scenarios have been proposed for funding projects in Greater Arizona. Since the public comment period began on March 8, ADOT has received more than 800 comments from community members statewide. Three public hearings were held in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff to capture comments and concerns.

The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 17. The board is expected to adopt the final 2014-2018 Five-Year Program at its June 14 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.

The Five-Year Program is updated every year and serves as a blueprint that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve our state’s transportation infrastructure.

However, some tough decisions are ahead. For the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program (which is still a tentative program right now), ADOT has determined that $350 million must be cut due to stagnant revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding.

As a result, the next Five-Year Program reflects a major focus on preserving our existing state highway system while moving some programmed projects forward. Other programmed projects in the Five-Year Program will need to be delayed to future years due to significantly less funding. Preserving our system means protecting our investment of $18.4 billion; this is the value of the state highway system through monies spent on expansion, modernization and preservation projects.

Over the next five years, there will be less focus on expansion of the system statewide. This is the first Five-Year Program that will reflect this dramatic change for the agency. This issue will be present in 2013, but will become much more pronounced by 2016, when $250 million will be cut from the program, and in 2017, when an additional $100 million will be cut from the program.

As ADOT moves toward a preservation-based system, there are three scenarios that are being considered for implementation. All three scenarios are available for public comment:

• Scenario A – Focus on Preservation: This scenario focuses the most investment on keeping the existing highway system in good repair with the least investment in programmed major projects in greater Arizona. There would be 81 preservation projects from 2014 to 2016, 39 bridge projects, one major project and 690 miles of pavement projects. An average of $184 million per year in preservation from 2014 through 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2031 with this scenario. 
• Scenario B – Focus on Programmed Major Projects: This scenario focuses the most investment on major projects that are programmed in greater Arizona with the lowest investment in keeping existing highways in good repair through preservation. There would be nine major projects from 2014 to 2017. From 2014 to 2016, there would be 25 bridge projects and 458 miles of pavement projects. An average of $142 million per year in preservation from 2014 to 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2017 with this scenario.
• Scenario C – Combination of Preservation and Major Projects: This scenario focuses on some investment in major projects that are programmed in greater Arizona with less investment in keeping existing highways in good repair. There would be four major projects from 2014 to 2017, 39 bridge projects from 2014 to 2018 and 524 miles of pavement projects. An average of $149 million per year in preservation from 2014 to 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2021 with this scenario.

Final paving on a widening project on State Route 69 near Frontier Village in Prescott (mileposts 295-296) will begin next week as crews apply the final layer of rubberized asphalt on the highway, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Crews will pave the roadway starting Monday, May 20 through Thursday, May 23 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Minimal delays and periodic left-turn restrictions are expected. Two lanes in each direction will remain open at all times. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes during work hours.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

Motorists traveling on State Route 89 between Chino Valley and Ash Fork need to be aware of traffic restrictions next week on Hell Canyon Bridge (milepost 346), as the Arizona Department of Transportation completes additional repairs on the bridge surface.

Following a major deck repair project in March, crews will repair a damaged steel plate on the pavement surface of the 600-foot-long bridge, which is located approximately eight miles north of Paulden.

Traffic will be narrowed to one lane beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, May 19 until 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 as crews work a 24-hour work schedule in an effort to expedite the project and minimize the impact to drivers.

A temporary signal will be in place at both ends of the bridge and the speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph to allow drivers to safely travel through the work zone. Drivers can expect possible delays of up to 30 minutes. Drivers should use extreme caution when workers are present on the bridge.

A nine-foot width restriction will be in place and oversized vehicles will not be permitted to travel through the work zone until the bridge is reopened. Alternate routes for oversized vehicles include Interstate 17 and US 93.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

 Work will resume when temperatures become conducive for pavement work in July.

The Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program is updated each year and serves as a blueprint that details where, when and how funding will be spent over the next five years to improve our state’s transportation infrastructure. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) continues to gather public comments on the tentative 2014-2018 Program. There are three scenarios that are being considered for implementation, and all three scenarios are available for public comment.

 A final Public Hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. this Friday, May 10 at the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers: 211 W. Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Please note, motorists traveling on Interstate 17 south of Camp Verde late Thursday night into early Friday morning, May 9-10, need to plan ahead and allow extra travel time due to a construction closure.

If you can’t make it to the public hearing, don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to comment, including:

• Email: FiveYearProgram@azdot.gov
• Online comment form
• Telephone: 855.712.8530
• Print and mail the comment form: ADOT 5 Year Program, 1655 West Jackson, MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

It’s important that you do provide feedback because the State Transportation Board will consider all public comments that are received by May 17. The final 2014-2018 Five-Year Program will be approved at the State Transportation Board Meeting on June 14 in Pinetop-Lakeside.

 Motorists traveling on Interstate 17 south of Camp Verde late Thursday night into early Friday morning, May 9-10, need to plan ahead and allow extra travel time due to overnight construction on a climbing lane project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

 Overnight work will require two, one-hour closures in both directions of I-17 as crews prepare for blasting rock cuts along the highway.

 The first closure will be from midnight to 1 a.m. and the second closure between 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. Traffic on northbound I-17 will be stopped at State Route 169 and southbound I-17 will be stopped at General Crook Trail until the area is reopened.

 In addition to the full closures, drivers can expect single-lane restrictions on southbound I-17 through the work zone between mileposts 280-287 for the next three months overnight between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Friday.

 Also, a site in the median of I-17 south of State Route 169 has been designated to use for excess materials removed from the project, which will require I-17 to be narrowed overnight to one lane in each direction at mileposts 276-277 as crews enter and exit the highway between 8 p.m. and noon Monday through Friday.    

 The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

 The $11.8 million project will add a third traffic lane in two different areas along southbound I-17 to help move traffic climbing along Copper Canyon Hill near Camp Verde (mileposts 280-287). One lane is being built between the State Route 260 and General Crook Trail traffic interchanges to help allow larger vehicles gain speed before merging while also providing more room for passenger vehicles traveling past slower traffic.

 ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

As summer approaches in northern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation will reopen State Route 67 between Jacob Lake and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Wednesday, May 15.

SR 67, which is the lone road that links US 89A at Jacob Lake to the North Rim, is regularly closed in the winter season, usually starting in late November, due to heavy snowfall.

The North Rim lies at the southern end of the Kaibab Plateau at approximately 8,500 feet in elevation and offers spectacular canyon views. It is approximately a 215-mile drive from the South Rim. From the South Rim to the North Rim, motorists can take SR 64 east to US 89, US 89 north to US 89A, US 89A west to SR 67, and finally south on SR 67.

Despite the current closure of US 89 south of Page due to a landslide-damaged roadway, travel to the North Rim from the Flagstaff area via US 89A is not impacted.

To reach the North Rim, it’s approximately 207 miles from Flagstaff, 351 miles from Phoenix, and 468 miles from Tucson. Traveling to the North Rim from Flagstaff, drivers

  The Arizona Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin a 12-mile pavement preservation project on the Interstate 40 westbound travel lanes from  Weigh Station to Ashfork (mileposts 132-144) on Monday, May 6.

 Work is scheduled Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Construction will require brief delays and lane closures through the work zone. A 12-foot lane restriction will also be in place for wide-load vehicles.

 The $4.6 million project is scheduled for completion in late summer.

 ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

PRESCOTT – A pavement improvement project will begin on Monday, May 6 on State Route 169 near Interstate 17 (mileposts 9-15), according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

 SR 169 will be narrowed to one lane from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. next week as crews perform pavement maintenance on the roadway. The work will be completed in three-mile segments.

 Traffic will be directed through each work zone by pilot cars and drivers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes. The project is scheduled for completion by May 17.

 ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. The speed limit through the work zone will be 45 mph until the project is complete.

 ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

In an effort to aid recovery efforts from the Wallow Fire, weight limit restrictions on several state highways in forest areas have been temporarily removed effective immediately, due to immediate action taken by the Governor’s Office and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

By suspending certain commercial motor vehicle weight limits up to 80,000 pounds or length restrictions on select highways over the next 180 days, the forest industry can gain access to areas where immediate timber clearing and thinning are required to reduce the fire hazard to the forests and local communities. This will also limit the economic hardship to timber industry-related businesses.

ADOT recently became aware that prescribed weight limits and length restrictions on certain state highways were presenting problems for counties that contain forest areas that have been subject to wildfires.

“While these weight limits have been in place for a very long time to protect state infrastructure, ADOT understands the urgency from the logging industry,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The leadership of Governor Brewer brought ADOT together with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Secretary of State to get an emergency rule approved.”

Prior to the rulemaking, existing state rules placed restrictions on certain commercial motor vehicles on state highways, including state routes 261 (35,000 pounds) and 273 (20,000 pounds) in the White Mountains. By increasing the weight limits, the timber industry can more effectively manage the recovery efforts by carrying heavier loads.

SR 261 is the primary access to an existing 11,000 acre timber clearing and thinning project and a 96,000 acre project is set to begin soon, according to Apache County.

The Wallow Fire burned more than 500,000 acres in Apache County and resulted in millions of dollars of economic loss, countless hours of firefighter service and loss of animal habitat.