East Flagstaff interchange construction complete

<i>Courtesy Photo</i>

<i>Courtesy Photo</i>

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is proud to announce that the East Flagstaff Traffic Interchange reconstruction project is now complete. A ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Governor Janet Napolitano was held Nov. 18.

Governor Napolitano's visit signifies completion of the largest contracted project finished by the Flagstaff District to date. The governor broke ground on the East Flagstaff TI project on April 29, 2006 and ADOT officials were proud to have her return for the ceremonial opening of the East Flagstaff TI project.

This project addressed several previously identified transportation issues in east Flagstaff. Components of the improvement project included widening the roadway, creating a "T-intersection," which allows for more traffic volume to pass through the intersection, and elimination of potentially hazardous "gore points" or areas where traffic lanes merge.

ADOT awarded the East Flagstaff Traffic Interchange project in March of 2006 to Vascto, Inc., a northern Arizona-based bridge and traffic interchange construction firm. The East Flagstaff project reconstructed sections of US 89, Country Club Drive, historic Route 66, and Nestle-Purina Drive at the transportation hub of US 89 and Interstate 40 in the growing east Flagstaff community. This section of roadway sees heavy use by local residents, commuters from Flagstaff satellite communities, and tourists visiting local landmarks. This area also sees heavy commercial traffic, from retailers in the area and the trucking industry. Due to the projected future traffic counts for the area, the East Flagstaff TI project was a necessary undertaking.

The outmoded TI was operating "at capacity" at the beginning of construction and featured unprotected turning motions and gore points (merge points), which could be potentially hazardous if traffic capacity was exceeded.

In addition to increasing the traffic volume capacity of the interchange, improvements resulting from the project include better pedestrian and bicycle access to east Flagstaff retail outlets by the FUTS trail, improved drainage through a catch basin system, improvements to water and sewer utility capacity and improved access to Flagstaff Mall.

These multi-modal improvements will serve the growing Flagstaff community for years to come. ADOT would like to extend their appreciation to the Flagstaff community for their patience over the last three years, as the East Flagstaff Traffic Interchange has been under construction. The opening of the interchange to the public was part of ADOT's commitment to bring improvement to the transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of Arizona communities.

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