I-8 ramp from Araby Road closed

Roundabout work continues as lane restrictions begin

The westbound ramp onto Interstate 8 from Araby Road (State Route 195) closed on Friday as part of the $8 million roundabout construction project which began earlier this month.

The ramp’s closure is expected to last at least through most of August, as construction of the circular interchange which will control traffic heading west on the freeway gets underway, Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Tom Herrmann said last week.

“People are going to know their best alternate route; we’re recommending using 3E and 8 1/2E as your exit,” he said.

Plans call for keeping at least one lane in each direction open on Araby throughout the project, but there will be lane restrictions, so drivers may want to avoid it, even though both directions still have the option of using those offramps.

“If you don’t need to use Araby, you’ll probably save time by not using Araby, to get off the freeway,” Herrmann said.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Construction crews will work on building one roundabout circle on the north side of I-8 this summer and fall, shutting down around Nov. 1 for the winter, then picking it up next spring to build the other circle south of the interstate. They are currently on track to finish the northern one this year, while the other will be a little more complex to construct because it has to account for Gila Ridge Road, as well as Araby and I-8 traffic.

“For now what we’re trying to do is get the work done that we can get done, and then stop it. With all the winter produce coming through, the last thing we want to do is disrupt traffic that time of the year,” Herrmann said.

ADOT has been meeting with police and fire departments, school districts and other local entities which will need to know how to handle any obstructions to their normal routes.

Herrman said, “We’ve been meeting with community organizations so that everybody knows what’s going on. For example, seven days a week during the project, we’re working with the agriculture community, so that tractors, farm equipment, anybody who needs to (can) get through there; we’re focusing on between 4 and 5 in the afternoon every day. So you might have a little bit more of a delay at that hour.”

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at (855) 712-8530 or email gaby@gordleygroup.com. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

Staff writer Blake Herzog can be reached at 539-6856 or bherzog@yumasun.com.