Labor Day Weekend travel: No freeway closures planned in Arizona
As Labor Day weekend travel kicks off in Arizona, there's some good news for motorists: the Arizona Department of Transportation will be pausing their usual freeway improvement projects.
The notice comes as part of the tradition of no scheduled closures over holiday weekends, as well as a forecast calling for monsoon weather ramping up on Friday.
"ADOT and its contractors will not schedule any full construction closures along state highways from Friday afternoon, Sept. 1, to early Tuesday morning, Sept. 5. Highways that lead to the high country, beaches and destinations such as Las Vegas are expected to be busy on both Friday and Monday afternoons," ADOT said in a news release.
The department urges that those headed in any direction to stay focused on the road ahead, allow for extra travel time and "expect the unexpected" in addition to being alert to highway conditions. The weather and upticks in travel will likely spell for heavier traffic conditions.
Some stretches already have existing work zones in place, which drivers need to be aware of, such as southbound Interstate 17 being narrowed to one lane in areas along the 30-mile stretch south of Flagstaff.
I-17 DRIVERS:
Be aware of lane restrictions in 2 construction zones.
The I-17 Improvement Project has restrictions between MPs 229-252.
ADOT is also making critical pavement repairs with restrictions north of Sunset Point (MPs 252-274) until mid-September.
Plan for delays. pic.twitter.com/tK8Sq17OYW— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 31, 2023
Up-to-date roadway conditions or status updates can always be checked at az511.gov.
To help mitigate unforeseen problems along the way, the ADOT 15-member Incident Response Unit vehicles, sponsored by GEICO, will be monitoring Phoenix-area highways throughout the course of the holiday weekend.
"The trained IRU members can assist stranded motorists, help clear travel lanes when crashes or lost loads occur and perform other safety-related functions," ADOT said.
Helpful driving tips from ADOT
ADOT recommends motorists abide by these helpful tips to stay safe while on the road this Labor Day weekend:
Never drive while impaired, arrange for a designated driver or ride service
Wear seatbelts and obey speed limits
Check your car, including tire pressure
Pack emergency kits containing extra water, blankets, first aid, a flashlight, extra batteries and chargers, a fully charged phone, snacks and a small tool kit
Be fully rested before getting behind the wheel
Avoid distractions
Do not park in areas with grass or brush and do not drag chains to avoid starting a fire
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Labor Day weekend travel in Arizona: No major closures from ADOT
