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The summer monsoon is officially here, and that means the Arizona Department of Transportation is again reminding motorists about how to stay safe if they're caught in a dust storm.

ADOT's "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" campaign offers some tips on how to stay safe in dusty conditions. The best advice, of course, is not to drive into a dust storm, where visibility can be reduced to nearly zero. But if you're unable to get out of the way of one, you should do the following:

• Immediately check traffic around your vehicle and begin slowing down.
• Don't wait until visibility is too poor to safety pull off the roadway; pull off as soon as possible, and completely exit the highway if you can.
• Don't stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Find a safe place to pull completely off the paved part of the roadway.
• Turn off all vehicle lights. This is important to keep vehicles behind you from using your lights as a guide and crashing into you.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake, then stay in your vehicle, with your seat belt buckled, and wait for the storm to pass.

Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of conditions and travel at reduced speeds, ADOT says.

For more information about dust storm safety, visit pullasidestayalive.org.

For eight days this month, the night sky takes center stage at the Grand Canyon Star Party, taking place from Saturday, June 22, to Saturday, June 29. 

The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will be leading the activities on the South Rim. Amateur astronomers will host a nightly slide show at 8 p.m., followed by a telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Park rangers will then offer constellation tours starting at 9 p.m.

On the North Rim, the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix will assist with telescope viewing at Grand Canyon Lodge. 

While the entire week of events is free with park admission, visitors are encouraged to make lodging or camping reservations. Attendees should also dress warmly, as the temperatures will drop quickly at night. 

Grand Canyon National Park just received an official designation from the International Dark-Sky Association. This means the park has put in extra efforts to ensure light pollution is limited, making it easy to view the night sky and enjoy the natural beauty. 

For a full list of events during the Star Party, visit the event website.

From the issue: "'Invitation to Roam' by Allen C. Reed. Here is a road typical of the many country-style back roads to be found winding through the forests of Arizona's White Mountains."

From our friends at the Arizona Department of Transportation:

With planned Interstate 17 flex lanes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point set for construction starting by 2021, the state budget approved by state lawmakers and signed by Governor Doug Ducey provides the additional funding needed to also complete widening I-17 south of where the flex system will be built.

This $130 million investment to complete new third lanes in both directions of I-17 between Anthem and Black Canyon City is one of many in the budget that will expand and preserve transportation infrastructure across Arizona. Appropriations from the State General Fund include $10 million for an ADOT study on adding lanes to Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson and $10.5 million for preserving state highways to extend the life of existing pavement.

“As Governor Ducey and members of the legislature recognize, investing in critical transportation infrastructure will drive Arizona’s 21st century economy. Our leaders are investing today to support Arizona’s future prosperity,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “As we expand critical commerce corridors and safeguard our state’s $22.6 billion investment in our transportation system, it’s equally important to keep roads in our rural communities safe and reliable.”

In addition to baseline funding for transportation and infrastructure, the budget includes more than $95 million in appropriations from the State General Fund for targeted transportation projects that will improve safety and spur economic development in Greater Arizona. This includes $28 million for expanding US 95 between Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground, that region’s largest employer. There is $20 million to help build two Interstate 40 interchanges needed to accommodate growth in Kingman, with the city providing the remainder of the funding required.

ADOT has been working to advance projects to improve traffic flow and safety along 23 miles of I-17 between Anthem and Sunset Point north of Phoenix. More than $190 million was already committed to building flex lanes north of Black Canyon City as well as adding 7 miles of a third southbound lane directly south of that project.

Investing an additional $130 million over three years will allow ADOT to complete all sections of new third lanes between Anthem and Black Canyon City. Combined with the flex lanes, this increased capacity will enhance safety and help address traffic flow challenges and backups that occur due to crashes and when many drivers are traveling to or from Arizona’s high country on summer weekends.

The Maricopa Association of Governments is providing $50 million in regional funds to help fund the widening of I-17 between Black Canyon City and Anthem.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. With gates at each end and separated by concrete barrier from the current southbound lanes, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavier northbound traffic on a Friday or southbound traffic on a Sunday. They also can keep traffic moving if there is a closure in that stretch.

Required environmental studies for the I-17 corridor are scheduled to be completed by this summer, with the projects scheduled for completion by 2023.

The budget commits $10 million from the State General Fund to an ADOT study, in collaboration with the Maricopa Association of Governments and Gila River Indian Community, on adding a lane in each direction and improving interchanges on I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Completing a design concept report and environmental study will determine needs and costs, and establish how the improvements will be phased. This process is on track to begin this year with an accelerated 18-month timeline.

The $51.1 million in funds, including $10.5 million in additional funding from the State General Fund, will allow ADOT to preserve the road surface along more miles of state highway through treatments known as fog seals and chip seals. These investments are critical to extend the life of existing pavement by sealing road surfaces against the ravages of weather, heavy use and time.

The budget’s other transportation infrastructure investments from the State General Fund include:

• $18 million for counties and cities and towns
• $10 million for local aviation projects
• $6.5 million for Mesa to construct a State Route 24 bridge over Ellsworth Road
• $2.8 million for Globe to repair or replace the Jesse Hayes Road over Pinal Creek