Attention Phoenix drivers: get ready for a weekend of detours and potential traffic snarls. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), northbound State Route 143 will be entirely out of commission between Broadway Road and the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway from March 16 to March 18. ADOT has issued an advisory encouraging motorists in the Phoenix area to plan for these closures, which are part of the ongoing I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, and to prepare for delays emanating from the paving operations and traffic realignments.
The shutdown, set to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday and last till the early hours of Monday, will also see the northbound SR 143 on-ramp at University Drive and the westbound Interstate 10 ramp to northbound SR 143 closed, the agency stated. For those needing an alternate route, officials have advised taking westbound I-10 to eastbound Loop 202 to reach southbound SR 143. ADOT has warned that schedules are subject to change, possibly due to weather or other unforeseen situations, and recommends downloading TheCurve mobile app or checking the project website for the latest updates.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport travelers, in particular, should brace for changes in their usual routes. The ADOT strategy advises using westbound I-10 to 24th Street or Buckeye Road for airport access. Alternatively, the Sky Harbor Boulevard entrance from Loop 202 is another viable option. For eastbound I-10 travelers aiming to head north on SR 143, the proposed detour involves an eastbound I-10 to US 60 to Loop 101 and then westbound on Loop 202.
This effort is more than just a temporary inconvenience; it's part of a transportation vision shaped by Maricopa County voters who, back in 2004, approved a half-cent sales tax for the Maricopa Association of Governments' Regional Transportation Plan. The broad purpose of this project, as outlined on ADOT's website, stretches from reducing travel times in peak hours to preparing the region for forecasted growth. Information about the specific improvements and objectives of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project can also be found on the website.
