As Final Four fever grips basketball fans, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has laid out a strategy to tackle traffic congestion en route to Glendale for the NCAA tournament games scheduled for April 6 and 8. In anticipation of the influx of vehicles, the transportation authority has advised drivers to "Allow extra time, get there early and be prepared to bring an alternate route off the bench," ensuring everyone can reach State Farm Stadium without unnecessary delay, as they made clear in a release.
Working in concert with the local traffic authorities, ADOT has announced that there will be no freeway closures or lane restrictions around the West Valley and downtown Phoenix over the weekend. They're expecting to see a significant spike in traffic, especially on westbound I-10 and Loop 101, and urge fans not hastily to make risky maneuvers on the roads.
Focused on facilitating a smooth travel experience for the attendees, ADOT's team has coordinated with the city of Glendale to provide updated parking and traffic information via freeway message boards in the vicinity of the venue. According to ADOT's announcement, parking lots at the stadium will open at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, well ahead of the first game's 3:09 p.m. start. For drivers planning to attend, arriving early is recommended to avoid the worst of the traffic.
To further manage the heavy traffic expected on game days, exclusive road closures are set for Loop 101 off-ramps at Cardinals Way and Maryland Avenue near the stadium, from about 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to account for likely delays on Monday afternoon before the championship game, set to tip off at 6:20 p.m. In a move aimed at facilitating event preparations, the westbound I-10 HOV-lane exit ramp at Third Street will be closed from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, according to ADOT's statement.
For those seeking comprehensive traffic updates, ADOT recommends visiting their Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or using the AZ511 app, which is available for free download on both Apple and Android devices. Additionally, real-time traffic updates will be provided via their Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT, for those on the go.
