Get ready to hit the brakes, Phoenix drivers: A major segment of westbound Interstate 10 is closing its asphalt gates for bridge construction, and you'll need to chart a new course. Starting from 10 p.m. this Friday, May 31, until the early hours of Monday, June 3, at 4 a.m., westbound travelers will need to find alternate paths as the I-10 shuts down between US 60 and Interstate 17, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
A heads-up to commuters: It won't just be the I-10 feeling the construction squeeze. Road warriors will also have to avoid the westbound US 60 ramps to I-10, and the southbound State Route 143 ramp to I-10, which are all set to close. To make matters a bit trickier, northbound SR 143 will be off-limits between Broadway Road and Loop 202 for pavement improvements across the same time span.
On top of those closures, several ramps are going to be shut down starting 8 p.m. Friday and won't reopen until 4 a.m. Monday. These include the westbound I-10 on-ramps at Baseline and Broadway roads, and at 40th and 32nd streets; the westbound US 60 on-ramps at McClintock Drive, Rural Road, and Mill Avenue; and the northbound SR 143 on-ramp at University Drive.
But surely there's a way around this roadblock, right? ADOT advises drivers to use eastbound US 60 to get onto northbound Loop 101 and then quickly make the switch to westbound Loop 202 to rejoin westbound I-10. Those bound for the West Valley should consider Loop 202 as their go-to detour, circling west and north to meet up with I-10 at 59th Avenue.
And let's not forget about airport access. East Valley dwellers flying out should take northbound Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202 and utilize the Sky Harbor Boulevard entrance. Meanwhile, those traversing southbound on I-17 can scoot over to westbound I-10 to hit the airport via Buckeye Road.
As always, ADOT encourages motorists to stay alert to changes that may arise due to weather or other unpredictable factors. By downloading TheCurve, the project's free mobile app, or checking the project website's Alerts section, you can keep updated on the latest traffic news.
The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is no small undertaking; it's a vision cast by the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan, fueled by the power of Proposition 400—a half-cent sales tax greenlit by Maricopa County voters back in 2004. The project's aim? To cut down on those grueling commute times, perk up access to the airport, and bolster ridesharing and transit options, all while preparing the region for the inevitable swell of future growth that awaits us. Learn more about what this major initiative has in store.
