Drivers in Phoenix should brace themselves for a significant change in their weekend travel plans as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced a postponement in the removal of the traffic split on westbound Interstate 10, originally scheduled for Monday, August 19. Instead, travelers will face a full closure of the westbound I-10 from Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway) to Interstate 17, starting from 10 p.m. Friday, August 16, through to 4 a.m. Monday, August 19, which is a necessary step for the progression of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, according to the news release.
The postponement will affect not only the main stretch of the westbound I-10, but also the connected ramps, including the ramps from Loop 202 to westbound I-10 the ramps from westbound US 60 to westbound I-10, and the southbound State Route 143 ramp to westbound I-10, these closures are expected to cause considerable delays. Further, additional ramps leading to the westbound lanes—including ones at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard/Sundust Road, Chandler Boulevard, Ray, Warner, Elliot, Baseline and Broadway roads, and 40th and 32nd streets—along with the westbound US 60 at McClintock Drive, Rural Road, and Mill Avenue, will be inaccessible from 8 p.m. Friday, August 16 to 4 a.m. Monday, August 19. These concerted closures mark a significant milestone in the ongoing project aimed to improve one of the most traveled, and consequently congested, stretches of highway in the state.
To navigate the closure, drivers can resort to using a detour that involves the eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to the northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway), then transitioning to the westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to rejoin the westbound I-10 past the affected area. As an alternative for those headed to the West Valley, the Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) can be utilized to connect with I-10 at 59th Avenue.
Moreover, those traveling towards Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have an alternate route too, ADOT recommends taking the northbound Loop 101 to the westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway), and then accessing the airport via Sky Harbor Boulevard, which should mitigate some of the expected traffic snarls this closure will assuredly create, and given that these roadworks stand at the confluence of commerce, commuting, and travel, the agency's efforts to communicate alternate routes is earnest.
For those seeking more information or wanting to stay updated on the state of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, ADOT maintains a website that offers the latest news and a subscription service for updates. Details concerning the project and closure can be found on their dedicated page at i10broadwaycurve.com/.
