The Arizona Department of Transportation has issued a heads-up to motorists planning to navigate the Valley this weekend: southbound Interstate 17 is getting a facelift, and you'll need to find an alternate path. The southbound section between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road will be shut down from late Friday, May 31, until dawn on Monday, June 3, for pavement improvements.
This closure isn't a gentle suggestion — it's the law of the land, and ADOT is not beating around the bush. Drivers best allow themselves some extra wiggle room time-wise and stick to the posted detour, which loops 'em over to Loop 303 West, down Lake Pleasant Parkway, and then back east on Happy Valley Road to re-enter I-17. In a statement obtained by the Arizona Department of Transportation, ADOT advised drivers not to get cute with local streets for a shortcut. That’s just asking for a longer headache, says the agency.
For those whose compass points further afield — California, Tucson, or downtown Phoenix — consider taking Loop 303 to I-10 in the West Valley, especially if you're hauling a big rig or just prefer a smoother ride. It may be a roundabout way, but it beats getting stuck in the inevitable snarl-up that this weekend's closure is sure to cause. ADOT's alert suggests traveling outside of peak times to dodge the worst of the congestion.
To keep rubberneckers at bay and deter a navigation app-led exodus to local streets, ADOT is planting 'local-only' closures peach side of I-17 and stationing police officers to shepherd traffic flow. They're even pulling some strings with tech companies to steer those trusty GPS apps away from suggesting local roads as detours. "Staying on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others," ADOT recommended.
This weekend's surgery on I-17 involves stripping the old, worn asphalt down to its knickers before getting started on a little thing called diamond grinding, a technique that's no stranger to the Phoenix-area freeways. It leaves the roads smoother and set to last longer. This is the third weekend out of four slated for this sort of operation, with one more round of closures flagged for later in June. For updates straight from the horse's mouth, ADOT nudges drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at their website's Central District projects section.
Meanwhile, if you need to know what's happening on the fly, you can check out ADOT's Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, grab the az511 app or dial 511 to get the latest on road conditions. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for the signs and keep it slow and steady through the work zones — the speed limit is posted at 65 mph for everyone's safety.
