Arizona DPS expects large volume of travelers this holiday weekend

Highway Patrol officers will focus their efforts on preventing collisions

Throughout this long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which will be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be focusing their efforts on driving behaviors that can lead to crashes.

In 2011, 10 people were killed in 9 separate crashes during the Thanksgiving weekend on state and federal highways in Arizona. Two of those crashes involved impaired drivers.

The Highway Patrol will be vigilant in trying to prevent these types of crashes from happening but ask the public for help. Taking steps to ensure you and your family are safe while driving starts before you hit the road.

· Do not consume alcohol or other drugs that can cause impairment
· Get plenty of rest
· Check your tires for proper inflation and sufficient tread
· Avoid distracted driving; texting, checking emails, etc.
· Always wear your seatbelt
· Do not drive aggressively or become impatient with other motorists

Should you suspect that someone is impaired while driving, please call 911.

Helping ensure that your family makes it to their destination safely is the main goal of the Highway Patrol and we will take that responsibility seriously.

Memorial Day alert: allow extra time for work zone 40 miles w. of Phoenix

I-10 Memorial Day weekend alert: Allow extra travel time for bridge work zone

40 miles west of Phoenix

PHOENIX – If you’re using Interstate 10 between Phoenix and California over the Memorial Day weekend, be sure to plan ahead and allow extra travel time, especially before and at the end of the weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

While no construction work is scheduled over the weekend, heavy holiday traffic is expected to back up along I-10 at the Hassayampa River bridges work zone 40 miles west of downtown Phoenix. I-10 is narrowed to one lane in each direction in the area (milepost 105), with traffic sharing one bridge while the second bridge is undergoing upgrades.

ADOT has the following recommendations for drivers planning to use I-10 between Phoenix and California just before and during the holiday weekend:

•Travel through the area during non-peak hours, including early morning or late night. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during the afternoon and early evening hours on Thursday and Friday (May 26-27) and again on Monday (May 30).
•Allow extra travel time. Delays of approximately 90 minutes may occur during the busiest hours before and at the end of the weekend.
•Consider alternate routes, including US 60 through Wickenburg or Interstate 8 (via State Route 85 in the Phoenix area and US 95 north of Yuma).

ADOT will provide updates about heavier I-10 traffic conditions on its Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1 from within the state.

The $3.9 million I-10 Hassayampa Bridges Improvement Project started in fall 2010. It is scheduled for completion this summer.

For the latest news on major existing highway work zones, visit the ADOT website at www.azdot.gov. Information about Memorial Day travel plus ADOT projects and programs is available via the ADOT Blog at http://adotblog.blogspot.com.

ADOT Summer Travel Driving Tips

ADOT offers Memorial Day weekend and

summer travel driving tips

PHOENIX – As many Arizonans look ahead to Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer travel season, the Arizona Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead and follow important safety tips.

As summer temperatures soar each year, drivers should make sure they’ve had their vehicle’s condition checked before they head out on a trip. Weather conditions can change and monsoon storms can arrive suddenly, creating dust-filled winds and cutting visibility along the highway up ahead.

Allowing extra travel time is a good idea, too. Unscheduled closures due to crashes or other incidents, including wildfires, can affect highway travel. Existing work zones for highway improvement projects, even when work is not taking place over holiday weekends, can add time spent on the road.

A couple of existing highway work zones to be aware of – especially at the start and end of the Memorial Day weekend – are located along Interstate 10 at the Hassayampa River bridges 40 miles west of downtown Phoenix and at the Interstate 17 bridges at Munds Park 20 miles south of Flagstaff. The highways are narrowed to one lane in each direction at those locations.

ADOT reminds motorists to drive with caution and offers the following summer driving tips:

•Check your vehicle (Examples: check tire condition and pressure, oil and other fluid levels and inspect belts and hoses)
•Expect the unexpected when out on the road – pay attention. And buckle up
•Get plenty of rest before traveling and take regular rest breaks
•Be patient and alert to changing road conditions
•Plan your travel route and check alternate routes. Have a map
•If your vehicle breaks down or you need to change a flat tire, pull completely off the roadway. Please be cautious in areas with taller grass or brush – hot vehicle components can spark a fire.
•Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (even prescription drugs can limit your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle)
•Cell phones or satellite devices help in an emergency – make sure they are fully charged
•Obey the posted speed limit, check for changing speed limit conditions
•Signal in advance for lane changes and turning maneuvers
•Take plenty of food and water
•Slow down in areas known for high winds and dust storms and be prepared to exit the roadway if extreme weather conditions occur


Before heading out on the road, drivers are encouraged to call 5-1-1 or log on to ADOT’s Traveler Information site at www.az511.gov to check on updated highway conditions around the state. You also can get additional ADOT updates via Twitter at www.twitter.com/ArizonaDOT or Facebook at www.facebook.com/AZDOT.

Drivers encouraged to allow extra travel time for trips home at end of holiday weekend

PHOENIX — Travelers heading home on state highways to wrap up the holiday weekend are encouraged to allow extra travel time and get an earlier start due to anticipated heavy traffic Sunday afternoon and evening (November 28). The Arizona Department of Transportation says traffic backups can be expected approaching some existing work zones, although construction work will not resume until next week. Among the safety improvement locations where delays should be anticipated:

Interstate 10 approximately 11 miles west of the State Route 85 junction west of the Phoenix area: A major bridge repair project at the Hassayampa River has required the closure of the westbound I-10 bridge. I-10 is limited to one lane in each direction on the eastbound bridge. Drivers are encouraged to allow at least 90 minutes of extra travel time in the area Sunday afternoon and evening due to busy traffic conditions. Travelers also can consider alternate routes, including US 60 through Wickenburg and Salome to travel beyond the bridge repair site. The US 60 junction with I-10 is east of Quartzsite in western Arizona.

State Route 87 between the Phoenix area and Payson: A highway widening and shoulder improvement project five miles north of the Bush Highway/Saguaro Lake turnoff (south of Sunflower) limits travel to one lane in each direction. Heavier traffic, especially in the southbound direction, should be expected.

Grand Avenue (US 60) in the Phoenix region: New lanes were opened Wednesday (November 24) between 83rd Avenue and Loop 101. However, an existing work zone with limited lanes remains in place between Loop 101 and Loop 303.

Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix: Although no major lane restrictions are in place this weekend, drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time Sunday due to anticipated heavier traffic.

ADOT reminds drivers to remember the following safe driving tips: Be patient, do not follow other vehicles too closely; obey speed limits; buckle up and never drive while impaired. Information about highway conditions is available on ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.