Travelers in Phoenix should prepare for a significant disruption this weekend, as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced a major closure on one of the city's key freeways. According to an ADOT release, westbound Interstate 10 will be completely shut down between US 60 and I-17 starting from 10 p.m. Friday, July 19, through to 4 a.m. Monday, July 22, to facilitate a traffic shift, with several ramps also being closed during this period.
Motorists accustomed to taking the westbound US 60 to the closed stretch of I-10, the southbound State Route 143 ramp to westbound I-10, as well as the I-10 westbound on-ramps at several major cross streets such as Elliot, Baseline, and Broadway will need to find alternative routes, ADOT warns, this closure is coinciding with bridge work that requires the westbound US 60 HOV ramp to westbound I-10 to remain closed through July 22; additionally, the eastbound I-10 HOV ramp to eastbound US 60 will be out of service starting from 10 p.m. Friday, July 19, and won't reopen until 4 a.m. Monday, July 29.
There are detours available to help manage the flow of vehicles affected by the closure. Drivers are advised to take eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway), then north on Loop 101 (Price Freeway), and finally west on Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to reconnect with westbound I-10. For those heading to the West Valley, the suggested bypass is the Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) in a west and then north direction, linking back to I-10 at 59th Avenue. Travelers aiming for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport from the impacted freeways should also use the northbound Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202, utilizing the Sky Harbor Boulevard entrance instead of their usual routes.
When westbound I-10 reopens on July 22, drivers will encounter a freshly configured roadway; in effect, the existing lanes between 32nd and 24th streets will be divided by a barrier creating a separate work zone which will see traffic flow in three lanes either side of this central obstruction and in order to exit onto I-17, drivers will need to ensure they are in the correct three lanes before reaching 32nd Street. ADOT emphasizes that in the case of any changes, particularly due to weather or unexpected circumstances, it's crucial for motorists to stay updated by downloading TheCurve mobile app or by visiting the project's website for the latest alerts before traveling.
