Arizona

[KeithE4Phx]

Lots of good articles out today summarizing projects that have been completed over the last year and more soon to come: https://azdot.gov/news/northern-az-2026-highlights-include-i-17-wildlife-overpass-completion

Those are good, especially the elimination of the Beale Street Bottleneck in Kingman.  But when are they finally going to four-lane the remaining two-lane sections of US 93 between Wickenburg and I-40?  That death-trap gets worse and worse by the day.

[The Ghostbuster]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

[KeithE4Phx]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you.  Since there's no political will or funding to create I-11 in Arizona, even just from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg, I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (I'm 70).

[splashflash]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you.  Since there's no political will or funding to create I-11 in Arizona, even just from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg, I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (I'm 70).

There is a project right now; Cane Springs realignment and widening occuring.  This 4 mile stretch between Wikieup and I-40 costs $80M, significant when in comparison the Kingman US 93 / I-40 interchange costs $104M.

https://azdot.gov/projects/northwest-district-projects/us-93-cane-springs-improvement-project

US 93 Cane Springs Improvement project north of Wikieup is underway

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists that construction is underway on the US 93 Cane Springs Improvement project located north of Wikieup.

Crews will be working during the next several weeks to clear the work zone in preparation of mobilizing construction equipment to the area. Most of the construction will take place off of US 93 and will have limited impact to motorists. The speed limit will be reduced to allow for heavy equipment to safely access the work zone.

Located approximately 13 miles north of Wikieup, the project will include the following elements:

- Widening a 4-mile segment of US 93 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a 4-lane divided highway between mileposts 106 and 110.
- Constructing two new bridges over Cane Springs Wash and removing the existing bridge (milepost 109).
- Improving and/or installing drainage and sediment-control facilities, including culverts, pipes and ditches.
Reconstructing the intersection turnout at Upper Trout Creek Road.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

[Plutonic Panda]

Lots of good articles out today summarizing projects that have been completed over the last year and more soon to come: https://azdot.gov/news/northern-az-2026-highlights-include-i-17-wildlife-overpass-completion

Those are good, especially the elimination of the Beale Street Bottleneck in Kingman.  But when are they finally going to four-lane the remaining two-lane sections of US 93 between Wickenburg and I-40?  That death-trap gets worse and worse by the day.

I make this drive a few times a year and maybe it's not during heavy traffic times, and I can't reiterate this enough I'm not defending the current road conditions. I would love to see I love built between Phoenix and Las Vegas, Vegas fully. But it seems to me that if people would drive safer and just be patient to pass other people during the four lane sections a lot of these deaths could be avoided.

[splashflash]

Lots of good articles out today summarizing projects that have been completed over the last year and more soon to come: https://azdot.gov/news/northern-az-2026-highlights-include-i-17-wildlife-overpass-completion

Those are good, especially the elimination of the Beale Street Bottleneck in Kingman.  But when are they finally going to four-lane the remaining two-lane sections of US 93 between Wickenburg and I-40?  That death-trap gets worse and worse by the day.

I make this drive a few times a year and maybe it's not during heavy traffic times, and I can't reiterate this enough I'm not defending the current road conditions. I would love to see I love built between Phoenix and Las Vegas, Vegas fully. But it seems to me that if people would drive safer and just be patient to pass other people during the four lane sections a lot of these deaths could be avoided.

But windy sections need improvement regardless, so those are being done next.  At Cane Springs the road dips too.



Two lane segments south of SR71 to Wikenburg are being done last.

[pderocco]

There is a project right now; Cane Springs realignment and widening occuring.  This 4 mile stretch between Wikieup and I-40 costs $80M, significant when in comparison the Kingman US 93 / I-40 interchange costs $104M.

https://azdot.gov/projects/northwest-district-projects/us-93-cane-springs-improvement-project

US 93 Cane Springs Improvement project north of Wikieup is underway

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists that construction is underway on the US 93 Cane Springs Improvement project located north of Wikieup.

Crews will be working during the next several weeks to clear the work zone in preparation of mobilizing construction equipment to the area. Most of the construction will take place off of US 93 and will have limited impact to motorists. The speed limit will be reduced to allow for heavy equipment to safely access the work zone.

Located approximately 13 miles north of Wikieup, the project will include the following elements:

- Widening a 4-mile segment of US 93 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a 4-lane divided highway between mileposts 106 and 110.
- Constructing two new bridges over Cane Springs Wash and removing the existing bridge (milepost 109).
- Improving and/or installing drainage and sediment-control facilities, including culverts, pipes and ditches.
Reconstructing the intersection turnout at Upper Trout Creek Road.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

And that's by far the easiest one. But it's better than nothing.

[splashflash]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you.  Since there's no political will or funding to create I-11 in Arizona, even just from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg, I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (I'm 70).

It is disconcerting that the twenty miles between Big Jim Wash, southern limit Mile 166 and SR 71 Interchange, southern limit Mile 185 isn't moving ahead.  Even more alarming is that it appears more passing lanes are scheduled within this segment in the near future.  "Another project scheduled to start in 2026 calls for adding passing lanes to US 93 between mileposts 171.5-173 and 175.5-177 in fiscal year 2026."

[pderocco]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you.  Since there's no political will or funding to create I-11 in Arizona, even just from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg, I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (I'm 70).

It is disconcerting that the twenty miles between Big Jim Wash, southern limit Mile 166 and SR 71 Interchange, southern limit Mile 185 isn't moving ahead.  Even more alarming is that it appears more passing lanes are scheduled within this segment in the near future.  "Another project scheduled to start in 2026 calls for adding passing lanes to US 93 between mileposts 171.5-173 and 175.5-177 in fiscal year 2026."

When they do stuff like that, I wish they'd build a couple miles of new roadbed, separated by a median, that can be part of the future widened road, and connect it with a couple of shoeflies. That way, they won't have to rip it all up and throw it away in the future. They probably know which side of the existing road the new roadbed will be on.

[Plutonic Panda]

One will probably have to wait until the conversion to Interstate 11 occurs, before all of US 93 between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg becomes completely four lanes.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with you.  Since there's no political will or funding to create I-11 in Arizona, even just from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg, I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (I'm 70).

That one really angers me. And I'm not sure why I guess cause it just seems like such an easy project and it shouldn't cost all that much. I mean how many interchanges need to be built. The roadway is already nearing the end of its useful life. Yeah, you're gonna have to add shoulders and modernize it to interstate standards.

I don't know. I'm a little bit more optimistic on this one. I think Arizona is going to upgrade it and they're gonna have some big announcement about it. I'm just not sure when. The question is will they sign it as I-11? That might be what gets the ball rolling on anything south of I-40.

[Plutonic Panda]

New 5 year program plan:

https://azdot.gov/news/may-15-public-hearing-adots-tentative-five-year-program?fbclid=IwdGRleARpBblleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEewbEdL4DG2Sj6016FWkvTiAP09AnRlMN0D2lhC4ABv0LmId4jl2VApacMSMg_aem__DFPv11-mgmjCet9XESMnA

[Pink Jazz]

About the SES America RGB retrofits in the Skyline dynamic message signs, I noticed those retrofit kits that ADOT installed in the Skyline housings seem to be very dim in bright sunlight. I think it was a mistake for ADOT to rush to install these retrofit kits instead of trying to resolve the issue with Skyline. I understand that ADOT dropped Skyline due to their firmware not playing nice with ADOT's Cameleon software, but couldn't ADOT have tried to resolve the issue instead of rushing to the SES retrofit kits? 

I actually noticed in the Loop 202 SanTan Freeway widening, the remaining non-retrofitted Skyline signs were replaced by new high resolution Daktronics full color signs. The Daktronics RGB panels are so much brighter than the SES. I wonder if this might give a hint that ADOT might not be satisfied with the SES retrofit kits, thus opting to replace the remaining Skyline signs with brand new Daktronics signs instead of going with the SES retrofit kits.

[Plutonic Panda]

Arizona Digital Wallet can now hold vehicle documents:

https://azdot.gov/news/arizona-wallet-can-now-hold-vehicle-documents

[KeithE4Phx]

Arizona Digital Wallet can now hold vehicle documents:

https://azdot.gov/news/arizona-wallet-can-now-hold-vehicle-documents

There was a story about that on the news tonight, but DPS made it clear that paper documents in the vehicle (registration, insurance) were still required by law.

[Plutonic Panda]

The remaining SR-260 widening project is set to begin construction next week:

https://azdot.gov/news/sr-260-widening-project-east-payson-starts-next-week

[Max Rockatansky]

Took long enough.  I still remember when Christopher Creek got bypassed.  I used to spend two days a week up in Show Low a week and usually took AZ 260.

[The Ghostbuster]

AZ 260 was originally supposed to be expanded to four lanes between Payson and Heber-Overgaard in 1995. Was it money, opposition, or merely being a low priority that prevented its completion three decades ago?

[Plutonic Panda]

Voters are gonna decide the fate of traffic enforcement cameras. Hopefully they end up being banned permanently.

https://www.azfamily.com/2026/06/16/arizona-voters-decide-future-traffic-cameras-statewide/

[Great Lakes Roads]

Be prepared for heavy I-10 traffic in Goodyear next week (June 22-28)

[Plutonic Panda]

New 5yr plan approved:

ADOT's 2027-2031 plan emphasizes pavement and bridge investments
PHOENIX – The State Transportation Board has approved the 2027-2031 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, which emphasizes pavement and bridge improvements and expanding several key highways.

Approved at the board's meeting Friday, June 19, in Nogales, the $11.3 billion 2027-2031 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Program is available for review at azdot.gov/FiveYearProgram.

For Greater Arizona, which encompasses areas beyond Maricopa and Pima counties, the construction program emphasizes improving highway pavement and bridge infrastructure. These projects will improve highway safety, efficiency and functionality, such as intersection improvements, updates to ports of entry and rest areas, smart technologies and new signals, signs and shoulders.

The five-year program features several projects that increase the capacity or expansion of highways throughout Greater Arizona, including:

Widening SR 260 east of Payson, known as the Lion Springs segment
Widening US 93 at Big Jim Wash between Wickenburg and Wikieup
Constructing the James Ranch Road between SR 80 and and the new Douglas Land Port of Entry
Improving I-17 from Dugas Road at milepost 269 to milepost 275
In Maricopa County, the five-year program lists projects planned in conjunction with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), including:

Beginning construction of the center segment of SR 30, which runs from Loop 303 to Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway)
Widening and making other improvements to the Mini-Stack Interchange east of downtown Phoenix at I-10/Loop 202/SR 51
Widening US 60 between Ellsworth and Meridian roads
In Pima County, the five-year program lists projects planned in conjunction with the Pima Association of Governments (PAG), including:

Widening I-10 from Alvernon Way to Valencia Road and building ramps for the connection of future SR 210 to I-10
Improving the I-10 interchanges at Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue
Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have dedicated, voter-approved sales taxes for transportation that fund projects. In Maricopa County, funding comes from Proposition 479, a half-cent sales tax for regional transportation projects that voters approved in 2024. In Pima County, funding comes from RTA Next, a ballot initiative voters approved in March to extend an existing half-cent sales tax for regional transportation projects.

The five-year program also includes $186.1 million for the Airport Capital Improvement Program, which provides funding in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration for projects to design and construct safety, security, and capacity enhancements, prepare various plans and studies, and fund improvements at the Grand Canyon Airport, which ADOT operates.

To more easily locate projects, ADOT has developed a searchable project dashboard that allows the public to look for projects by highway number, project name or other identifying features. The database is available at azdot.gov/5yeardashboard.

Federal and state sources provide the overall statewide Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program funding. State transportation funds are generated by users of transportation services in Arizona, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, the Arizona vehicle license tax and various aviation taxes. ADOT develops the five-year program by working closely with local governments, regional transportation planning organizations and tribal communities to prioritize projects that are ready to build or design.

- https://azdot.gov/news/transportation-board-oks-update-five-year-construction-program-0