If you're driving in Phoenix this weekend, you might want to steer clear of several freeway closures due to ongoing construction projects. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has issued advisory alerts for drivers to exercise caution and to expect to take detours, especially if your route includes the Interstate 10 (I-10) Broadway Curve.
Starting 10 p.m. Friday and stretching until the wee hours of Monday, westbound I-10 will be narrowed down to two lanes near the US 60 junction. In a not-so-welcome addition, the westbound I-10 ramp to eastbound US 60 and the on-ramp at Baseline Road will be no-go zones. To avoid getting snared in traffic, ADOT suggests drivers to "consider exiting westbound I-10 at Broadway Road (and turn left) to enter eastbound I-10 to reach eastbound US 60," as reported by ABC 15.
The construction isn't confined to I-10—one of Phoenix’s arteries—drivers also need to brace for full closure of southbound State Route 143 (SR 143) between Loop 202 and I-10 for a traffic shift. To get around, detours have been set up, including using southbound 44th Street to reach the East Valley airport. The ADOT also points out that "schedules can quickly change because of weather and other unforeseen situations," urging drivers to stay updated via the project’s mobile app or website, as detailed on ADOT's I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project page.
Furthermore, northbound drivers on Interstate 17 (I-17) will need to prepare to merge within the left two lanes from Dunlap to Peoria avenues starting from 9 p.m. Friday till Saturday morning. The northbound on-ramp at Dunlap Avenue will be off-limits during this period. ADOT advises drivers "to use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through all work zones," according to ABC 15.
The flurry of construction works is a segment of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, a plan laid out by the Maricopa Association of Governments and funded through Proposition 400, with aims to reduce travel times and prepare for the region's future growth. With the promise of improved infrastructure on the horizon, Phoenicians will have to navigate the tangle of closures and detours, which includes closures at Colter Street and several off-ramps in the vicinity this weekend. Travelers would do well to plot their course ahead of time to bypass any potential commuter gridlock. For the latest developments on these and other closures, motorists are encouraged to check into the project’s app or visit the site for the freshest alerts.
