Border-hopping drivers looking to bounce between Arizona and Rocky Point for Thanksgiving have some news that might just ease their trek. Starting this holiday travel weekend, Arizona's AZ511 system will expand to include traffic updates for the stretch of highway down to Puerto Peñasco, a move that will marry information from both sides of the border. This pilot program will broadcast details of highway restrictions and traffic events along Mexican Federal Highway 8, helping travelers plot a smoother course.
The updates were scheduled to begin flowing over Thanksgiving weekend, Arizona's Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced, in a handy set-up designed to take accounts directly from Sonora officials and pipe them into the AZ511 system; it's a promising bid to keep those en route informed, this according to a statement obtained by ADOT’s announcement. ADOT's Director Jennifer Toth was quoted saying, “ADOT’s vision is safely connecting people and empowering the economy, and this joint effort with our partners in Sonora is helping us expand that to peak times for travel to and from Puerto Peñasco.”
Given that Mexico stands as Arizona's top international visitor source, it's no shock that such a program sees the light of day; Puerto Peñasco, or Rocky Point, pulls a hefty crowd from Arizona, drawing them in with its clear skies and sandy beaches. The importance of this relationship was echoed by Arizona Office of Tourism Director Lisa Urias, who told ADOT, “This is a perfect time to expand the critical traveler services offered by AZ511, as we always welcome increased drive visitation from Mexico during this time of year.”
Curious travelers caught up in the hustle can hop online to visit az511.gov, call 511 from within the state, or download the AZ511 app on their Apple or Android devices – no need to juggle multiple sources to eye up local street restrictions and highway conditions. It's a collaboration between ADOT, the Arizona-Mexico Commission, the Arizona Office of Tourism, and, of course, the State of Sonora’s own Comisión Sonora-Estados Unidos – it was announced at an Arizona-Mexico Commission conference back on the 25th of October in Hermosillo and brings a new layer of interconnectedness set against the backdrop of holiday travel and economic synergy.
