Arizona

[Alps]

General, catch-all thread. Let's start with this.
http://www.truebluela.com/2015/2/18/8066995/dodgers-camelback-ranch-improvements
My friend who works for the Dodgers photographed the sign as installed, so it's for real.

[Henry]

That's one cool sign! Why they didn't think of this sooner is beyond me.

[swbrotha100]

It is a cool sign. Makes me wonder if any of the other teams will consider something similar in the future.

[myosh_tino]

As a San Francisco Giants fan, I am compelled to dislike that sign... 

[Kniwt]

Using "temporary signs," speed limits are being reduced on part of I-17 for the Memorial Day weekend from 75mph to 65mph due to expected heavy traffic.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-traffic/2018/05/25/adot-reduces-speed-limits-along-interstate-17-memorial-day-weekend-travel/644955002/

... all day Friday for people headed north, and all day Monday for people headed south. ... The restrictions will be in place for the 22-mile stretch between New River and Sunset Point.

[Max Rockatansky]

Using "temporary signs," speed limits are being reduced on part of I-17 for the Memorial Day weekend from 75mph to 65mph due to expected heavy traffic.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-traffic/2018/05/25/adot-reduces-speed-limits-along-interstate-17-memorial-day-weekend-travel/644955002/

... all day Friday for people headed north, and all day Monday for people headed south. ... The restrictions will be in place for the 22-mile stretch between New River and Sunset Point.

That isn't stopping the Sedona 500. 

[Pink Jazz]

Another one of the new color Daktronics DMS has been installed on I-8 at the California/Arizona border in Yuma.  This one has one of the new pedestal style mounts in the median.

[Pink Jazz]

ADOT has posted an updated map of dynamic message signs on their website.  This new map distinguishes between the SYLVIA signs still using their original fiber optic panels (which are indicated by FDS as the manufacturer) and those that were refurbished with the new LED panels (which are indicated by SES as the manufacturer).  Also, this new map distinguishes between the Daktronics amber character matrix signs (indicated by DAK) and the color full matrix signs (indicated by DKC).

[bing101]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r18LRbcqA8

A cool drive on I-19 by Forgotten Hwy

[bing101]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh_nKzIKykA

[bing101]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfNb9zVgcKw

[sparker]

According to an article forwarded by today's AASHTO DTU, apparently ADOT and the Gila tribe are finally sitting down to discuss I-10 capacity improvements through their lands.  It appears that they're concerned that AZ 347 upgrades may not occur until the I-10 situation is in some way resolved; the tribe is addressing the whole 10/347 complex as a single entity within the discussion format.  A brief synopsis can be found at:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona/articles/2018-10-18/study-to-identify-possible-improvements-for-i-10-corridor

Looks like there's finally some movement regarding a longstanding "standoff" between the Gila nation and ADOT regarding pushing I-10 out from its present 2+2 configuration.

[ztonyg]

According to an article forwarded by today's AASHTO DTU, apparently ADOT and the Gila tribe are finally sitting down to discuss I-10 capacity improvements through their lands.  It appears that they're concerned that AZ 347 upgrades may not occur until the I-10 situation is in some way resolved; the tribe is addressing the whole 10/347 complex as a single entity within the discussion format.  A brief synopsis can be found at:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona/articles/2018-10-18/study-to-identify-possible-improvements-for-i-10-corridor

Looks like there's finally some movement regarding a longstanding "standoff" between the Gila nation and ADOT regarding pushing I-10 out from its present 2+2 configuration.

I think it's more likely ADOT realized that the I-11 plan between Buckeye and Casa Grande will never happen and they now feel that this is the more feasible option.

[sparker]

^^^^^^^^^^
If that's the case, then something reasonable -- like heading straight down AZ 85 to Gila Bend -- might be offered as a substitute for the Casa Grande routing.  As I've always said, the purpose of the I-11 Casa Grande "loop" was to serve as an artery for additional housing development in Maricopa and other areas around the periphery of the Gila lands; if that isn't forthcoming, then the basic point of a new-terrain facility is effectively moot.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently the study is going to take 18 months.  If we're lucky we'd see a widening begin to be built sometime circa 2025.

[sparker]

Apparently the study is going to take 18 months.  If we're lucky we'd see a widening begin to be built sometime circa 2025.

After 50-odd years of 4-lane existence, I suppose we should all be grateful that something's at least on the horizon.  It's PHX-area congestion points -- including this one -- that made me, when based in SoCal, use CA 86/111 to I-8 and vice-versa rather than stay on I-10 for eastward trips.   

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently the study is going to take 18 months.  If we're lucky we'd see a widening begin to be built sometime circa 2025.

After 50-odd years of 4-lane existence, I suppose we should all be grateful that something's at least on the horizon.  It's PHX-area congestion points -- including this one -- that made me, when based in SoCal, use CA 86/111 to I-8 and vice-versa rather than stay on I-10 for eastward trips.

Traffic really hauls the mail through that stretch which can be a wild ride given how inadequate it is.  I lived in Phoenix for 13 years and used to visit the southern part of the state several times a month for work.  Fortunately living in the East Valley made AZ 87 and 79 somewhat reasonable alternates. 

[kdk]

Apparently there is a reason why all of the sudden the Gilas are open to allowing the widening all of the sudden. 
They are making a big push to land the new Diamondbacks stadium to land near Wild Horse Pass casino.  A big part of their proposal is promoting that their location is only an hour from the Tucson market versus other locations in the Phoenix area, which then brought attention to the inadequate stretch of I-10.

No guarantee they will land the stadium but it seems likely so far.  Even if they don't the area is developing into a major regional entertainment destination around the casino for both the Phx and Tucson markets so hopefully they realized they need to let this widening happen and won't backtrack if they don't land the stadium.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently there is a reason why all of the sudden the Gilas are open to allowing the widening all of the sudden. 
They are making a big push to land the new Diamondbacks stadium to land near Wild Horse Pass casino.  A big part of their proposal is promoting that their location is only an hour from the Tucson market versus other locations in the Phoenix area, which then brought attention to the inadequate stretch of I-10.

No guarantee they will land the stadium but it seems likely so far.  Even if they don't the area is developing into a major regional entertainment destination around the casino for both the Phx and Tucson markets so hopefully they realized they need to let this widening happen and won't backtrack if they don't land the stadium.

Why the hell do the Diamondbacks need a new stadium when the one in downtown isn't even 30 years old and is in a great location?...FAA gripes aside.  Hopefully that's private investments going into building something for the Diamondbacks, if it gets I-10 widened through the Gila Res I guess that's a good side benefit. 

[Zonie]

Apparently there is a reason why all of the sudden the Gilas are open to allowing the widening all of the sudden. 
They are making a big push to land the new Diamondbacks stadium to land near Wild Horse Pass casino.  A big part of their proposal is promoting that their location is only an hour from the Tucson market versus other locations in the Phoenix area, which then brought attention to the inadequate stretch of I-10.

No guarantee they will land the stadium but it seems likely so far.  Even if they don't the area is developing into a major regional entertainment destination around the casino for both the Phx and Tucson markets so hopefully they realized they need to let this widening happen and won't backtrack if they don't land the stadium.

This does make me laugh.  The PARC clowns in Ahwatukee used the Gila tribe as props in their quest to stop the South Mountain Freeway.

[bing101]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQdTgHgh64c


Interstate 411 does a segment on Historic US-66 in Arizona.

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like ADOT set up its first rural travel times display system in the state, displayed on DMS along the length of I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff.

[Max Rockatansky]

Put together a short retrospective on AZ 101 on Surewhynotnow.  I included a photo of a blue AZ 101 shield on Shea Boulevard and one from my sign collection:

https://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2019/01/arizona-loop-101.html

[Kniwt]

Another major project is about to begin on I-15, with work on Virgin River bridges 2, 4, and 5 beginning next month and continuing until 2020. Traffic will be shifted to one side of the freeway, with lane width reduced to 10 feet -- requiring a 224-mile detour for wider vehicles.

(This project apparently does not include the replacement of Bridge 1, which is a separate big deal entirely.)

https://www.azdot.gov/projects/northcentral-district-projects/i-15-virgin-river-bridge-rehabilitation/traffic-alerts

[Rover_0]

Another major project is about to begin on I-15, with work on Virgin River bridges 2, 4, and 5 beginning next month and continuing until 2020. Traffic will be shifted to one side of the freeway, with lane width reduced to 10 feet -- requiring a 224-mile detour for wider vehicles.

(This project apparently does not include the replacement of Bridge 1, which is a separate big deal entirely.)

https://www.azdot.gov/projects/northcentral-district-projects/i-15-virgin-river-bridge-rehabilitation/traffic-alerts

That *scrolls up* *squints* 224-mile detour is precisely why Old US-91 between the St. George area and Littlefield still needs to be state-maintained.