Travelers and commuters in the Phoenix area should brace for an active construction weekend, as several major freeways are set for closures from July 19 to July 22. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is advising drivers to plan for added travel time, or to consider taking different routes altogether due to the anticipated traffic disruptions.
According to an advisory posted by ADOT, the westbound Interstate 10 will be entirely closed between US 60 and I-17 near the Sky Harbor Airport starting 10 p.m. Friday till 4 a.m. Monday. This is part of the ongoing I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, causing also Broadway Road to shut down near I-10. Motorists can detour using eastbound Loop 202, or heading north on Loop 101 and then west on Loop 202 to get to downtown Phoenix or the airport. It's also worth noting, that on-ramps from Elliot Road to 32nd Street and from McClintock Drive, Rural Road, and Mill Avenue on the westbound US 60 will be off-limits, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday.
Further disruptions include southbound I-17, which will narrow down to one lane between SR 74/Carefree Highway and Dixileta Drive in north Phoenix for a pavement improvement project from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. ADOT alerts that the southbound I-17 on-ramp at Loop 303 will also be closed. Travelers could face lighter traffic early in the morning or late at night, hence, planning travel time accordingly could be beneficial. Moreover, the southbound I-17 on-ramp from SR 74 will be closed between 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. across Friday and Saturday nights.
Loop 101 is not spared from the weekend's operations, with southbound lanes shut down between Loop 202 and US 60 in Tempe for striping and pavement marking work. This will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and end at 5 a.m. Monday, meanwhile on-ramps at Thomas, McDowell, and McKellips roads will be blocked. Detour options include exiting before the closure and using alternative paths such as southbound Hayden Road or McClintock Drive. Conversely, the northbound Loop 101 will close from Raintree Drive to Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard in north Scottsdale for bridge work, starting 10 p.m. Friday and concluding at 5 a.m. Monday. Detours will redirect traffic exiting at Raintree Drive via the frontage road, re-entering northbound/westbound Loop 101 at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard.
All detailed route alterations and closures are contingent on the fluid variables of weather and other unpredictable factors. The improvement endeavors are carried out under the scope of the Regional Transportation Plan for the Maricopa County region, with most projects supported by Proposition 400, a sales tax sanctioned by voters. For those seeking live updates on highway conditions, ADOT provides resources via the Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app, or the direct helpline at 511.
