Sky Schaudt/KJZZ

A ramp closed for construction on Loop 101 near 27th Avenue in Phoenix on April 24, 2021.

Two listeners through KJZZ's Q&AZ reporting project asked how various road projects are scheduled.

Problems on Arizona's public roads, like fallen signs or potholes, can usually be reported to a transportation department. But Maricopa County Department of Transportation’s Zoe Richmond says knowing which agency is responsible for each road can be tricky. 

“Transportation is not a bubble. You can move from one county roadway directly into a city’s roadway, into a ADOT highway,” Richmond said.

There are also county islands, which Richmond says can cause neighbors to call different agencies. If there is an issue on a Maricopa County road, it can be reported on MCDOT’s website. For critical signs such as a stop sign or traffic signal, Richmond says call 602-506-6063 immediately. For after hours, call the Sheriff's Office at 602-876-1000. Critical signs are given first priority.

“If it happens to be something that is not a critical sign they should still go ahead and report it, things like road names or other signage that’s out there that’s not considered critical. It gets put in the queue and it will get fixed,” Richmond said. 

Richmond says inspectors are also on the job.

“MCDOT is constantly out there inspecting the road infrastructure, the signage infrastructure, the bridge infrastructure that we have. We have inspectors that are out in the field making sure that again everything is safe and reliable for the traveling public,” Richmond said. 

She also says there are other tools out there for residents in the Phoenix area. 

“MCDOT and other transportation agencies in the Valley use social media to provide updates,” Richmond said. “So please follow us on social media, Facebook and Twitter as well as AZ511.gov, which is an area where anybody in the public can get general traffic conditions for the county as a whole.”

Separately, the Arizona Department of Transportation recently released its Tentative Five-Year Construction Program, which has two more public hearings on May 21 and June 3.