Getting over that hill can slow down larger vehicles and lead to delays, which is why ADOT, in an effort to improve safety and ease congestion in the area, has started construction of a new auxiliary lane and a new climbing lane…
This safety improvement project, which is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, will help facilitate the passing of trucks and slow moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway – this location carries approximately 28,000 vehicles per day, including significant truck traffic.
Construction Details
Climbing lanes, as we learned yesterday, can help ease congestion up steep hills by providing more room for vehicles traveling past slower traffic. The two-mile climbing lane on this project will be built at the top of Copper Canyon (mileposts 280-282).
As part of the project, ADOT will also add an auxiliary lane between the SR 260 and General Crook Trail traffic interchanges (mileposts 285-287).
Construction on the project started last week and, for the next several days, drivers can expect shoulder closures in both directions between SR 260 and General Crook Trail. In addition to the shoulder closures, the truck pull-out at the top of Copper Canyon will be closed for the next six months.
Drivers also should expect intermittent lane closures with minimal delays. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (find traffic alerts HERE).
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 project is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
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ReplyDeleteA map of where this is would have been nice, even though there is a description.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon,
ReplyDeleteWe'll update this blog post if we get a good map of the project to share with you. In the meantime this milepost map might be helpful for seeing the general project area.
The climbing lane will be built on southbound I-17 between mileposts 280 and 282. The auxiliary lane is going between mileposts 285 and 287.
Hope this helps and thanks for reading!