No highway closures over Thanksgiving weekend

PHOENIX – If your Thanksgiving plans include a trip on the state’s highways, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants you to know that no construction closures will be scheduled over the holiday weekend, beginning Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 23).

ADOT still encourages drivers to allow extra travel time during peak holiday travel periods and to use extra caution in existing work zones along state highways.

Driving behavior will be a key factor in efforts to reduce tragic crashes during the holiday travel season. Thirteen people were killed in a total of 12 fatal crashes on Arizona’s highways and local roads during Thanksgiving weekend last year.

Drivers are urged to make sure they buckle up, along with their passengers. ADOT and other safety agencies also ask drivers to obey speed limits, get adequate rest before traveling, avoid distractions and never drink and drive.

Although no construction closures are scheduled over the holiday weekend, existing state highway work zones include:

■ Yuma, San Diego, Rocky Point Travel: State Route 85 is narrowed to one lane in both directions for an existing B-8 (Butterfield Trail Road) bridge work zone in Gila Bend. Drivers traveling to or from Yuma or San Diego can consider alternate routes during peak travel times, including Interstate 10 and US 95 north of Yuma. Drivers traveling to or from the Phoenix area also can consider using I-8 and I-10 through the Casa Grande area. For more visit www.azdot.gov/HolidayTravel.

■ Flagstaff, Northern Arizona Travel: Interstate 17 narrowed to one lane in each direction approximately 20 miles south of Flagstaff for an existing bridge reconstruction work zone at Munds Park. Allow extra time during peak travel periods.

■ Kingman, Las Vegas Travel: US 93 open with no passing zone and reduced 55 mph speed limit along a seven-mile-long stretch for a widening project north of Wikieup. Use caution and allow extra travel time.

■ Phoenix – Tucson Travel: Interstate 10 widening work zones are in place in the Casa Grande area and between Ruthrauff and Prince Roads in Tucson. Use caution and obey reduced speed limits in existing work zones.

Drivers also are urged to be prepared for unscheduled highway closures due to accidents, disabled vehicles or other events. Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions while traveling.