Bay Area weekend warriors heading to or through Phoenix, take note: Your travel times are about to get a bit longer due to extensive highway work. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has laid out plans for a series of freeway restrictions and closures from June 21 through June 24 to facilitate road improvements. The most notable of these is the full closure of eastbound Interstate 10 near Sky Harbor Airport, a move that's likely to disrupt many a travel itinerary.

ADOT urges travelers to allow extra time and consider detour routes. The eastbound I-10 will be completely shut down between State Route 51 and US 60 from late Friday evening until the early hours of Monday morning, according to an advisory from the agency. The closure is meant for work on the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, which means all on-ramps to eastbound I-10 between Third Street and Baseline Road will also be off-limits. This includes a connecting routes from southbound SR 51 and westbound Loop 202.

For those seeking alternative paths, ADOT offers a solution: eastbound I-10 drivers might use the eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway), and then westbound US 60 or westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to reconnect with I-10 past the closure. Another option suggested for I-10 drivers coming from the West Valley is the southbound/eastbound Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway), which skirts around the affected area.

Other weekend restrictions include westbound I-10's narrowing to just two lanes between Broadway Road and 40th Street for bridge work, plus the permanent closure of the southbound SR 143 loop ramp to eastbound I-10 starting Friday night. Detours and strategic ramp usage are recommended. It's also worth noting that real-time highway conditions can be accessed via ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, or through their mobile app.

These infrastructure enhancements are part of the larger Regional Transportation Plan for the Maricopa County region, which is supported, in part, by Proposition 400—a sales tax initiative given the nod by county voters in 2004. Always keep in mind that these schedules are fluid and subject to shifts due to weather conditions or other unforeseen factors. So, if you're aiming for punctuality or have a flight to catch out of Sky Harbor this weekend, be sure to plan ahead and stay informed of the latest traffic updates.