Phoenix motorists, brace yourselves for another weekend of roadwork detours as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) shuts down parts of major freeways for much-needed improvements. Beginning Friday night, drivers traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 and southbound on State Route 143 will face closures and restrictions, with ADOT urging the use of alternate routes.
As reported by the agency, the eastbound section of I-10 will be closed from Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) to I-17 (Stack Interchange) starting 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. The closure comes in light of pavement improvement work that's part of ongoing efforts to enhance roadway conditions. Detours will direct traffic to the Loop 202, and other local routes like Van Buren Street or Buckeye Road are also viable options for reaching the southbound I-17, according to ADOT's announcement.
For those heading to the airport, take note: southbound SR 143, also known as the Hohokam Expressway, will be inaccessible between Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and I-10 from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. This is part of the larger I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, which aims to improve one of the valley's busiest traffic corridors. Travelers will need to find alternate paths, with westbound Loop 202 and southbound 44th Street as recommended options. On top of that, the westbound Loop 202 exit to Sky Harbor Airport is closing, and no northbound travel will be possible from the eastbound I-10 off-ramp at 48th Street.
Adding to the weekend's traffic shake-up, eastbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) is set for a lane reduction between Seventh and 16th streets from 9 p.m. Friday till 5 a.m. Monday due to a freeway wall construction project. With 16th Street closed off in both directions, drivers are urged to plan for extra travel time and use Cave Creek Road or Seventh Street as detour routes around the construction.
ADOT reminds the public that these schedules are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen factors. The construction and improvements are backed by Proposition 400 funds, a sales tax initiative approved by Maricopa County voters to support the Regional Transportation Plan. For up-to-the-minute highway conditions, travelers can check ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, download the az511 app, or dial 511 for more details.
