Starting April 1, DMV will allow customers to keep surrendered driver licenses, driver permits and identification cards when they receive an interim card or an applicant temporary permit at the DMV office.

The surrendered card will be hole punched to show invalidation, but people may carry the card as possible photo ID until the new card arrives in the mail.

The Oregon Transportation Commission approved the administrative rule change today in its March meeting, allowing DMV to begin the new procedure on April 1.

Since mid-2007, DMV produces and mails driver licenses, driver permits and ID cards from a central location, rather than issuing them at the field offices. This was the first step in enabling facial recognition checks of applicant's photos against the entire database of DMV photos to detect identity theft and fraud.

A customer who qualifies for Oregon driving privileges or an ID card receives a paper interim card to carry temporarily while waiting for the final card to arrive in the mail. It provides evidence of application and driving privileges, but is not intended to be a secure ID document.

"Nearly all of our customers receive their secure laminated cards within a few days," DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said. "However, DMV has been keeping the expiring or out-of-state card, leaving many people without photo ID for routine purposes such as banking, shopping, traveling, or otherwise proving their age or identity."

The paper interim card's primary purpose is to fulfill the state requirement that drivers carry their licenses at all times while driving. The interim cards are intentionally short-term documents that expire in 30 days and lack the security features of other Oregon cards. Some applicants do not pass the facial recognition check or are otherwise not eligible for driving privileges, so they aren't issued a secure plastic card from the central site.

Law enforcement agencies can verify the information on interim cards electronically, so the cards serve their intended purpose. But some financial institutions, taverns, stores, airport security, and other government agencies require more than the paper interim card to prove identity or age. This causes people to carry additional documents or to delay their business or travel plans until they receive their final cards from DMV.

Acceptance of the interim card also has been inconsistent, which has led to a few difficult situations for some people.

"Some people told us that they had no problem getting on a plane in Oregon, but when they tried to come back to Oregon the airport in the other state would not accept their interim card,"McClellan said.

In addition, Oregon has added proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S., proof of full legal name, and electronic verification of Social Security numbers and immigration documents to its requirements for obtaining driving privileges and ID cards.

Customers who need extra time to obtain documents to meet these new requirements often are eligible for temporary driving permits that are valid up to 90 days. These permits also use a short-term, paper format.

"Since July, we've had people going weeks with a temporary permit and no other form of photo ID," McClellan said. "After checking with other states, we've decided to punch a hole in the customer's old card and return it with the interim card or temporary permit."

Starting April 1, DMV will return each customer's prior card with an invalidating hole punched in it. This will provide them with another piece of photo ID to use with their interim card or temporary permit.

"It's not a guarantee that businesses and government agencies will accept the two cards together, but it should help," McClellan said. "We surveyed 16 other states that use interim cards and all but one return a hole-punched card."

The new policy will apply to expiring Oregon driver licenses and ID cards that residents turn in, and to cards from other states, U.S. territories and Canadian provinces that are given up by new Oregon residents. Driver licenses from outside the U.S., except for Canada, will be viewed by DMV and returned without invalidating them, as is done today.

Applicants will be instructed to destroy or shred both their old card and interim card when they receive their new secure Oregon card in the mail. This is important to keep invalid cards out of circulation, but also to reduce the risk of identity theft and to avoid violating the law with respect to possessing only one driver license or ID card.

For more news: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/nr09031801.shtml

The New York State Department of Transportation has announced that US Route 20A will be closed to thru traffic between Abbott Road in the Town of Orchard Park to McKinley Parkway in the Town of Hamburg, Erie County, beginning Monday, March 16, 2009. The closure is expected to be in effect for two months to facilitate road realignment.

The following posted detours will be in place during the closure of US Route 20A:

Intersection of Abbott Road and US Route 20A

Follow Abbott Road north to US Route 20 (Southwestern Boulevard). Turn left onto US Route 20 and proceed westward to the intersection of US Route 20, Big Tree Road and US Route 20A (Seven Corners).

Intersection of US Route 20, Big Tree Road and US Route 20A (Seven Corners)

Follow US Route 20 (Southwestern Boulevard) eastbound to Abbott Road. Turn right onto Abbott Road and proceed south to the intersection of Abbott Road and US Route 20A.

The Oregon Department of Transportation, through the Office of the State Treasurer, plans to sell $336.7 million in Highway User Tax Revenue Bonds beginning March 10. These funds will finance highway and bridge maintenance and repairs under the statewide Oregon Transportation Investment Act.

ODOT received high ratings of AAA, Aa2, and AA on its senior bonds from Standard & Poor's Moody's Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings, respectively. In ratings reports, S&P, Moody's and Fitch note that ODOT's high ratings reflect:

• strong legal provisions and debt service coverage ratios; and
• strong cash position, which helps meet unforeseen events.
  

"It's through the combined efforts of ODOT and the State Treasurer that we're able to provide the high quality bonds investors demand," said ODOT Chief Financial Officer Les Brodie.

In 2003, the Oregon legislature approved the OTIA III bill authorizing the state to issue $1.9 billion in highway user tax revenue bonds, an amount that nearly quadrupled prior authorizations. The OTIA III program has boosted Oregon's economy by employing thousands and improving travel times. In 2008, OTIA created or sustained just under 3,500 jobs. Overall, the annual average of jobs on the bridge program is approximately 2,300 for the 10-year duration of the program. ODOT has approximately $577 million in OTIA authorization remaining after the sale of the 2009 bonds and anticipates issuing the remaining balance over the next three fiscal years.

Bonds will be sold through retail and institutional marketing venues beginning March 10. ODOT bonds can only be purchased through a participating broker-dealer. Prospective buyers should review an Official Statement from the Office of the State Treasurer, Debt Management Division or through a broker-dealer.

For more news: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/nr09030902.shtml

Upcoming Restrictions

This week, construction progress continues with scheduled restrictions as part of the Interstate 10 Improvement Project. The current closure at 107th Avenue underneath I-10 continues through late March while the westbound I-10 bridge is rebuilt.

The eastbound I-10 Litchfield Road on-ramp and the eastbound I-10 Dysart Road off-ramp closures are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 14. The westbound Litchfield Road off-ramp and the westbound Dysart Road on-ramp at I-10 will continue for the next several weeks. During the ramp closures, Litchfield and Dysart roads will remain open underneath I-10 and business access will be maintained.

The I-10 Improvement Project will soon reach a major milestone as construction of the new median lanes between Sarival Avenue and Loop 101 (Aqua Fria Freeway) nears completion. During the next several months, traffic between Estrella/Pebble Creek Parkway and Dysart Road will be moved to the new median lanes as crews begin reconstruction of the existing I-10 lanes, which will require on- and off-ramp closures at times. Drivers are encouraged to use adjacent ramps. Crossroads underneath I-10 and business access will remain open during construction.

Project Information

The I-10 Improvement Project will provide additional lanes between Verrado Way and Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway). The freeway expansion includes widening the existing median and adding outside lanes to improve east/west traffic flow in the West Valley.

This project is one of the first elements of the Regional Transportation Plan and is funded through a voter-approved sales tax to improve and construct new transportation options in Maricopa County through 2025. More information on the Regional Transportation Plan is available at www.ValleyFreeways.com.

ADOT strives to inform the public about planned freeway restrictions. As with any complex construction project, there is a possibility that severe weather or other unforeseen difficulties may result in unscheduled closures or restrictions.

Please visit the ADOT Web site for the most current information about planned and ongoing I-10 restrictions.

Here's an overview of scheduled restrictions on I-10 in the West Valley:

107th Avenue
Monday, Jan. 12 - Monday, March 30
1 a.m. - 9 a.m.
107th Avenue underneath I-10 is closed for bridge work and is scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 30 at 9 a.m. On- and off-ramps and business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 interchanges.

99th Avenue
Monday, Jan. 12 - Friday, May 15
1 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The westbound I-10 on-ramp at 99th Avenue is closed for bridge work and is scheduled to reopen on Friday, May 15 at 4 p.m. Business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 interchanges.

Eastbound Litchfield Road On-Ramp
Friday, Feb. 6 - Saturday, March 14
11:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The I-10 eastbound Litchfield Road on-ramp is closed for lane reconstruction and is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. Business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 on-ramps.

Eastbound Dysart Road Off-Ramp
Friday, Feb. 6 - Saturday, March 14
11:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The I-10 eastbound Dysart Road off-ramp is closed for lane reconstruction and is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. Business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 off-ramps.

Westbound Litchfield Road Off-Ramp
Friday, Feb. 27 - Wednesday, April 15
11:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The I-10 westbound Litchfield Road off-ramp is closed for lane reconstruction and is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m. Business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 on-ramps.

Westbound Dysart Road On-Ramp
Friday, Feb. 27 - Tuesday, April 28
11:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The I-10 westbound Dysart Road on-ramp is closed for lane reconstruction and is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m. Business access will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to use adjacent I-10 off-ramps.

Interstate 10
Friday, March 13 - Saturday, March 14
11:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m.
I-10 eastbound between Litchfield and Dysart roads will be restricted to one lane overnight from 11:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 until 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14.

Interstate 10
Tuesday, March 17 - Wednesday, March 18
10 p.m. - 4 a.m.
I-10 westbound at Avondale Boulevard will be restricted to two lanes overnight from 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 until 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.

Westbound Avondale Boulevard Off-Ramp
Tuesday, March 17 - Wednesday, March 18
10 p.m. - 4 a.m.
The I-10 westbound Avondale off-ramp is closed for sign removal overnight from 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 until 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.

Work Zone Safety

Safety is a vital part of the ongoing construction process. It is important to plan ahead for restrictions and to slow down in the work zone. Drivers and pedestrians are responsible for staying alert and obeying traffic laws; including signage, traffic barricades and flaggers within construction work zones. Most importantly: slow down in the work zones. The speed limit on I-10 has been reduced to 55 mph in work zones for the project duration. The reduced speed limits are intended to protect drivers, passengers and workers in the work zone. For additional safety tips.

• For general information about I-10 improvements, contact the I-10 project hotline at 602.288.9919 or ADOT@policydevelopmentgroup.com.
• For information on construction activities, contact Lars Jacoby at 602.712.7176 or LJacoby@azdot.gov.
• For traffic updates across Arizona, visit ADOT's Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1

Construction, Maintenance Projects Will Start This Spring

AUSTIN - Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials recommended that transportation projects be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as the economic stimulus package. Stimulus fund spending was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission at a special meeting today.

Commission action on more than $1 billion in stimulus spending was delayed for a week so that commissioners and TxDOT staff could continue working with local, state and federal officials to identify and evaluate additional projects. As a result of those discussions, TxDOT staff added six projects to its February 25 draft recommendation for economic stimulus spending.

The commission approved allocating $1.2 billion in stimulus funds for 29 construction projects across the state. Most of the projects will be built with financial support from other agencies and resources. As a result of pooling other funds with ARRA money, stimulus-related construction will build more than $2.6 billion in new transportation projects for the state.

The commission also renewed its support for roadway and bridge maintenance and rehabilitation projects valued at more than $500 million. The list of maintenance projects advanced with economic stimulus funds was amended to include 10 additional projects in counties classified by the federal government as economically distressed. At the staff's recommendation, 22 projects previously identified for stimulus money will now be funded through TxDOT's maintenance program for Fiscal Year 2010 and will be let to contract by September 2009.

"Texas is making the most of our economic stimulus funds," said Deirdre Delisi, Texas Transportation Commission Chair. "We are working with local partners to build long-needed projects and to maintain a reliable and safe transportation system. Today's vote reflects four months of hard work by TxDOT staff and community leaders. Now, it's time to put Texans to work."

The projects recommended by TxDOT's staff were selected from billions of dollars of projects identified by local and state leaders as eligible for economic stimulus spending. The ARRA requires projects to be "ready-to-go" in the immediate future.

The Federal Highway Administration instructed state transportation officials to give priority to projects that can be completed quickly, projects that are in economically distressed areas, and projects that maximize job creation and economic benefit.

TxDOT staff and local officials agreed on six criteria for evaluating mobility projects that would receive stimulus funds: (1) projects that improve the safety of the transportation system; (2) projects on corridors of statewide significance or regional priority; (3) projects that leverage or pool resources; (4) projects that create long-term economic benefit to the communities and region that they serve; (5) projects in areas that are economically distressed; and (6) fair and equitable distribution of projects around the state. The priority and preference selection criteria described in the ARRA and the FHWA guidelines were subsequently used in the evaluation process to develop the lists of projects recommended for funding under the ARRA.

TxDOT staff estimates that it could let contracts in April 2009 that would spend more than $750 million of stimulus funds. By May of 2010, the department predicts that it will have let contracts for $1.7 billion in stimulus funds that, together with other investments, will generate $3.1 billion in maintenance and mobility projects for Texas. Based on FHWA estimates, $3.5 billion in transportation spending would support more than 90,000 jobs.

The commission previously approved TxDOT's support for 10 aviation projects valued at $49.7 million and voted for stimulus spending on 39 public transportation projects valued at $32.8 million for rural program operators.

The Texas Department of Transportation

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining nearly 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its 15,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state's transportation assets.

Freeway improvement work will require several closures in the Phoenix area this weekend (March 6-9), including restrictions along sections of Loop 101 in the East Valley. The Arizona Department of Transportation recommends drivers allow extra travel time and try to use alternate routes while the following freeway closures or lane restrictions are in place:

Southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Rio Salado Parkway and Guadalupe Road from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 9) for carpool lane construction. Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and US 60 ramps to southbound Loop 101 also closed. Southbound Loop 101 on-ramps between Thomas Road and McKellips Drive also closed. DETOUR: Traffic will use southbound Loop 101 frontage road. Drivers encouraged to avoid traffic backups by using alternate routes.

Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) and Warner Road from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 9) for carpool lane construction. DETOUR: Traffic will use northbound Loop 101 frontage road. Drivers encouraged to avoid traffic backups by using alternate routes.

Northbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) closed between Shea Boulevard and Cactus Road from 10 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday (March 8) for sign structure work. Northbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 90th Street closed. DETOUR: Northbound Loop 101 traffic will go west on Shea Boulevard, north on Hayden and east on Cactus Road to re-enter freeway. Consider alternate routes.

State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) closed in both directions between McDowell Road and Washington Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Sunday (March 8) for widening work. Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) also narrowed to two lanes near the SR 143 junction. DETOUR: SR 143 traffic should be prepared to use 44th Street as alternate route.

Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) right two lanes closed between McClintock Drive and Priest Drive from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 9) for freeway widening. Westbound ramps also closed in work zone. DETOUR: Please slow down and be prepared to merge safely in work zone.

Southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) off-ramp at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 9) for freeway technology work. Southbound frontage road also closed between Princess Drive and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. Northbound Loop 101 off-ramp at Raintree Drive closed from 11 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday (March 8) for widening work. DETOUR: Use ramps at adjacent interchanges.

Loop 303 closed in both directions between Grand Avenue and Happy Valley Parkway from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 9) for construction bypass set up at future Happy Valley Parkway interchange. DETOUR: Use Grand Avenue, Bell Road and 99th Avenue as primary detour routes.

Eastbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) closed between Tatum Boulevard and 56th Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (March 7) for overhead sign work. DETOUR: Traffic will detour to eastbound Mayo Boulevard and use 56th Street to return to freeway. For a complete list of highway and freeway restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT's Travel Information site at http://www.az511.gov/ or call 5-1-1.

ADOT plans and constructs new freeways, additional lanes and other major improvements as part of the 20-year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for the Maricopa County region. The primary funding source is a half-cent sales tax approved by county voters in 2004. More information about ADOT projects and the RTP is available at www.ValleyFreeways.com.

Upcoming Restrictions

Several restrictions are planned this week for construction of I-17 improvements. Please see below for information about restriction dates, times and alternate routes.

Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) between 23rd and 27th avenues
Saturday, March 7 - Sunday, March 8
9 p.m. - 9 a.m.

The westbound Loop 101 frontage road (Beardsley Road) will be closed overnight between 23rd and 27th avenues from Saturday night until Sunday morning for work related to construction of the I-17 overpass bridge. Traffic on the Loop 101 frontage road will be detoured north on 23rd Avenue to Rose Garden Lane, then west to 27th Avenue and south to reconnect with the frontage road. This closure will also require closing the 27th Avenue off-ramp from westbound Loop 101; drivers can use the 19th Avenue or 51st Avenue exits as alternates.

Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) between 23rd and 27th avenues
Thursday, March 12 - Friday, March 13
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.

Westbound Loop 101 will be closed overnight between 23rd and 27th avenues from the night of Thursday, March 12 until the morning of Friday, March 13 for work related to construction of the I-17 overpass bridge. Traffic will be detoured onto the 27th Avenue ramp.

While ADOT strives to inform the public about planned freeway restrictions, during any complex construction project, there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Please visit our Web site for the most current information about planned and ongoing I-17 restrictions.

Drivers should anticipate delays and allow extra time, or adjust travel to avoid closures and restrictions. ADOT appreciates your patience as we construct improvements on I-17.

• For general information about I-17 improvements, contact the I-17 project hotline at 480.890.3055 or projectupdate@lewin-associates.com.
• For information on construction activities, contact Lars Jacoby at 602.712.7176 or ljacoby@azdot.gov.
• For traffic updates across Arizona, visit ADOT's Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

Project Summary and benefits

As a component of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) soon will begin a roadway widening project on the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). This widening project will construct additional eastbound lanes on Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) between SR 51 (Piestewa Freeway) and Loop 101 (Price Freeway), and additional westbound lanes between Loop 101 and Scottsdale/Rural Road within the cities of Phoenix and Tempe. As a result of adding these new general-purpose lanes, motorists in this corridor will benefit from improved mobility and added roadway capacity. This widening project will utilize a construction method known as "design-build," which focuses on combining both the design phase and construction phase into a single effort to streamline the completion schedule.

Improvements will include:

Eastbound

• One general-purpose lane from the I-10/SR 51 Traffic Interchange (TI) to Scottsdale Road.
• Two general-purpose lanes from Scottsdale Road to Loop 101/Loop 202 TI (to develop six general-purpose lanes approaching the system interchange)

Westbound

• Two general-purpose lanes from the Loop 101/Loop 202 TI to McClintock Drive (to develop three general-purpose and one HOV lane through the system interchange)
• One general-purpose lane from McClintock Drive to Scottsdale Road
  

The Process and what to expect

The process of constructing additional general-purpose lanes on the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) will require traffic restrictions on freeway lanes, on-and off-ramps, as well as additional restrictions to surface streets that may impact motorists using the freeway as their preferred route of travel. Daytime and nighttime construction activities are expected throughout the project. The project team will provide regular project updates via email and on the project Web site www.ValleyFreeways.com

Project Schedule

Mid to Late February 2009 - Anticipated Start of Construction
Fall 2010 - Anticipated Completion of Construction

ADOT is committed to providing construction information to stakeholders and welcomes your comments and feedback. For further information, or to request weekly project updates, please call the 24-hour project hotline at (602) 787-3927 or send an email to: ADOT@hdrinc.com.

Driving while impaired involving a CMV, particularly one transporting hazardous material, is a catastrophic event seeking a time and place to happen. Officers need to be constantly alert, both day and night, for actions and indicators such as driving too slowly, failing to stay within a single lane, careless/reckless driving, or any other behavior that would indicate the possibility of an impaired CMV driver. CMV drivers are considered impaired at 0.04 percent BAC. Officers should observe the actions of the driver during the initial vehicle stop for additional indicators of impairment. Other indicators to watch for are:

• Driver's coordination when leaving the vehicle's cab.
• Open containers of alcoholic beverages in the cab. Containers may be brand name bottles or cans, or they can be plastic cups, thermos bottles, flasks, or plastic bottles with the labels removed. Agency policy should be followed to protect this type of evidence.
• Driver's appearance, including condition of clothes, breath odor, blood-shot or slow focusing eyes, confusion, and slurred speech.
• Manner and type of response to questions and directions.
  

Reaction to being stopped by a police officer. A normal reaction will involve some degree of apprehension or nervousness. However, a driver that appears unconcerned and inattentive to what is taking place, is hyperactive and talkative, or experiences sudden mood swings from passive to angry needs to be closely observed for evidence of substance abuse.

After the officer determines, based on the CMV driver's mental state, driving, physical appearance, and actions, that further investigation is necessary, standard field sobriety tests should be administered. Additionally, the officer needs to assess the possibility of a medical condition that may lead to reactions that mimic impairment (e.g., diabetic shock).

When the officer determines that there is sufficient probable cause to arrest a CMV driver for DWI, the procedures are the same as for any driver of any other type or class of motor vehicle. The statutes applicable to implied consent, chemical/breath testing, and the type and number of tests administered will determine the appropriate course of action the arresting officer should take.

In the event the officer cannot obtain sufficient evidence of DWI and the driver appears to act in a normal manner, a trained officer or certified CMV inspector should be summoned to the location. This officer can review the driver’s hours-of-service records and other related documents to determine if the erratic driving was the result of driver fatigue, perhaps caused by an hours-of-service infraction.

For more info: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/enforce/cvm/CMV_targeting.html#turning:

Eastbound Mill Ave. Ramp Open

Drivers on eastbound US 60 may now exit at Mill Avenue. The exit ramp had been temporarily closed since January 24, 2009 for reconstruction of the ramp area to accommodate the extra freeway lane.

Westbound US 60 Restrictions

Westbound US 60 will be narrowed to two lanes overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Mar. 2- 6) between Loop 101 and Rural Road. The McClintock Drive on-ramp and Rural Road off-ramp will be closed at this time. Please follow suggested detour routes.

Westbound Mill Avenue On-Ramp Closed

Beginning at 11p.m. Friday, Mar. 6 the westbound Mill Avenue On-Ramp will be closed.

ADOT is committed to providing construction information to stakeholders and welcomes your comments and feedback. For further information and to request weekly project updates, call the 24-hour project hotline at 602-787-3927 or send an e-mail to ADOT@hdrinc.com. Additional information is also available via the project website through www.ValleyFreeways.com.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid closures along Loop 101 in the Scottsdale and Tempe areas this weekend (Feb. 27 - March 2). The Arizona Department of Transportation recommends drivers allow extra travel time or use alternate routes while the following restrictions for freeway improvement projects are in place:

Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Broadway Road and Rio Salado Parkway from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 2) for overhead sign work. US 60 ramps to northbound Loop 101 also closed. DETOUR: Traffic will detour along northbound frontage road. Drivers also are encouraged to use alternate routes, including westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to westbound I-10, to avoid closure.

Southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Southern Avenue and Baseline Road from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 2) for overhead sign work. DETOUR: Traffic will detour along southbound frontage road. Consider alternate routes or allow extra travel time in the area.

Southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) closed between Cactus Road and Shea Boulevard from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 28) for overhead message board work. Southbound Loop 101 on-ramp at Cactus Rd. closed. DETOUR: Traffic will exit and go west on Cactus Road, south on Hayden Road and east on Shea Boulevard. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, including southbound State Route 51.

Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to two lanes near Mill Avenue from 6 a.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 2) for widening project. Please Note: The eastbound US 60 on-ramp at Mill Avenue, which has been closed since January 24, will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday. DETOUR: Allow extra travel time, slow down and be prepared to merge safely in work zone.

Westbound Interstate 10 narrowed to one lane between Dysart and Litchfield roads from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 28) for widening project. Please Note: The westbound I-10 on-ramp at Dysart Road and westbound off-ramp at Litchfield Road will close for approximately 60 days starting Friday night. DETOUR: Allow extra travel time, slow down and be prepared to merge safely in work zone.

For a complete list of highway and freeway restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1. Sign up for ADOT e-mail updates, including weekend freeway restrictions, at www.azdot.gov.