Interstate 17 will be fully closed in both directions at times during overnight hours beginning Nov. 30,2022, and continuing on weeknights for the next (approximately) eight months. The closures are necessary to keep motorists and project crews safe during controlled rock-blasting operations in conjunction with the I-17 Improvement Project between Anthem Way and Sunset Point. Travelers should plan for delays on weeknights and check travel conditions before heading out.

What to Expect

• Beginning Nov. 30, 2022, and continuing during overnight hours for the next (approximately) eight months, both directions of I-17 will be temporarily closed two to three times a week for controlled rock blasting work between Anthem Way and Sunset Point. Blasting work will be scheduled during overnight hours, Mondays through Thursdays, as these are the allowable nights for this type of work.
• Generally, blasting will occur between 10 and 11 p.m. However, the window of time for this work to occur is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The start and end times of each closure could vary based on blast-site, weather and traffic conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
• On weeknights when controlled rock blasting is scheduled, crews will begin narrowing I-17 to a single lane in both directions at 7 p.m. and then fully close the highway after 10 p.m. Drivers should expect delays while crews set up traffic control, and use caution around construction personnel and equipment.
• Motorists planning to travel on I-17 during the overnight hours should leave early or delay travel to avoid the closures entirely. Motorists who travel between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. should expect to be impacted by the closures on nights when blasting occurs.
• Safety is the number one priority when conducting controlled rock blasting operations. The roadway cannot be reopened until the operation is completed successfully and all debris is cleared from the roadway.
• If any potential safety issues are identified, crews would extend the full closure to ensure the matter is resolved. For example, if a “misfire” occurs, crews cannot allow traffic through the blasting area if there are undetonated explosives.
• Overhead message signs alerting drivers to the upcoming closures will be displayed ahead of the closure areas. These signs will also advise drivers to reduce speeds and prepare for stopped traffic.
• Schedules are subject to change because of weather or other unforeseen conditions.

Safety

• Safety is the number one priority for the I-17 Improvement Project. The full closures will not begin until all traffic control is set up in compliance with the approved Traffic Control Plan and all required personnel are in their designated locations. I-17 must be closed in both directions during blasting to keep the traveling public and work crews safe. In addition, workers must be able to complete the controlled rock blasting, then clear the roadway and reopen it to travelers, as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.
• Emergency vehicles will be able to get through the closure area on the shoulder, except when the blasting is occurring. The project team is coordinating with first responders ahead of controlled rock blasting operations.
• Crews will check to confirm no vehicles remain in the closure zone before the controlled rock blasting work begins.

Detours

• There are no viable detour options for a full closure of I-17. The state routes are not designed or constructed to handle interstate traffic.
• The project team will make a decision at the 30 or 45-minute mark to determine if the closure is proceeding as planned, or if it will be extended to last more than two hours due to unforeseen circumstances or safety concerns. If crews determine there will be an extended closure, the project team will make the decision to turn traffic around and detour traffic back north (north of Sunset Point) or back south (south of Bumble Bee Road) so drivers are not stopped indefinitely.
• On nights when blasting work is scheduled, traffic will be stopped before an off-ramp, so crews have the ability to detour traffic in the opposite direction in the event of a closure that lasts more than two hours. If a closure is determined to last that long, crews will guide traffic to use
  the off-ramps before Sunset Point and Bumble Bee Road to get off I-17, then use those surface roads to get back onto I-17 in the same direction from which they came, so they would head back either north or south

About Controlled Rock Blasting

• Controlled rock blasting is a technique used to loosen the rock along the highway, where construction requires large amounts of material to be moved to accommodate widening. This technique is a common practice for construction throughout the Southwest. Drilling and blasting experts working on the project have extensive experience with blasting operations in Arizona and are highly qualified to ensure that this work is carried out safely and in accordance with all state and federal regulations.
• Approximately 119 controlled rock blasts are necessary in the coming months. That means approximately 119 full closures of I-17 will be necessary between Anthem Way and Sunset Point during the next several months.
• Crews are removing 973,000 cubic yards of rock from alongside I-17 to create additional space for new travel lanes.

Stay Informed!

• Get real-time traffic conditions at AZ511.gov or by calling 511 (except while driving). You can also download the AZ511 app. Updates about the start of the closures and the reopening of the highway once the blasting and clearing operations are complete will be communicated in real time via AZ511 so drivers know what to expect. Field crews will be coordinating closely with ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center.
• To see the dates when controlled rock blasting is scheduled, visit the Traffic Alerts page on the project website improvingI17.com. Everyone is encouraged to sign up for emailed traffic alerts via the project website so they can plan their trips accordingly.
• Drivers can plan their trips ahead of time by finding information via ADOT social media, including Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook (Facebook.com/AZDOT); and by subscribing for traffic alerts at
  improvingI17.com. Work crews will also provide project information on work zone signage and overhead message boards.

Additional Background Information

• Due to weather, it’s possible that the blasting and the full closure could happen earlier in the night.
• Or, if bad weather is coming, the blasting operation could be canceled for the night. This is the reason for the back-up blasting days for each week. Blasting is scheduled to occur two to three nights per week, but the window for blasting is Mondays to Thursdays—those are the allowable nights for the operation to occur.
• The overhead message boards will communicate updates to drivers. The project team will communicate with the Traffic Operations Center during designated blasting nights so the message boards can be updated.
• Crews should know around 40 minutes after the blasting begins if the closure will be longer than one to one and a half hours.
• There is a chance the full closure will begin later in the night depending on conditions and the readiness of KFJV's team. The blasting and full closure will only occur once everything is set and ready, so the project team is anticipating the closure to begin sometime between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., with the goal of starting at 10 p.m.
• On any given night, field crews will be planning for a 10 p.m. closure. Weather and the afternoon drilling operation (which does not require closures) to prepare for overnight blasting are the biggest unknown factors that could push the blasting to later in the night. KFJV is planning to have drilling complete in the early afternoon, so the project team should have a reasonable idea by late afternoon if the blasting operation is going to move to a later start time. According to KFJV’s schedule, they plan to have everything ready to go by 7 p.m., which gives them a few hours of buffer time to troubleshoot issues and finalize any remaining items. The plan is to notify the Traffic Operations Center as soon as the project team is told the closure time is going to change, but everyone should plan for 10 p.m. closures each night.

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