This weekend, Phoenix drivers should brace for a series of closures and restrictions due to freeway improvement projects. Construction is set to take place from September 27 to 30, impacting various segments of the area's freeways. Notably, northbound Interstate 17 is on the docket to be slimmed down to one lane near Loop 303 for pavement improvements, and the stretch of westbound Interstate 10 between Loop 202 and US 60 is scheduled for complete closure to facilitate paving and a traffic shift, as reported by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Motorists are being urged to anticipate delays and consider alternate routes when possible.
ADOT's advisory specifies that the northbound I-17 will face restrictions between Loop 303 and State Route 74/Carefree Highway starting late Friday until the early hours of Monday; concurrently, eastbound Loop 101 in the northwest Valley will shut down between 75th and 51st avenues for the outset of a widening project. In addition to freeway alterations, local thoroughfares such as Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Arizona Avenue will also face weekend-long closures, adjustments made more challenging by the fact that most ramp closures are planned to kick off at 8 p.m. on Friday, which can exacerbate traffic conditions, especially around high-traffic events, like Sunday's Cardinals game.
The closures are a part of ongoing efforts to beef up the Valley's freeway infrastructure, with most of the projects being partly bankrolled by Proposition 400, a sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters back in 2004. For travelers hoping to bypass the construction, there are several detours suggested by ADOT. For example Westbound I-10 traffic can detour on eastbound Loop 202 to northbound Loop 101, then westbound on Loop 202, and for the closure along eastbound Loop 101, the eastbound Loop 101 Beardsley frontage road, along with alternative local routes, has been highlighted as an option.
In light of these closures, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds the public that these schedules are not set in stone and are subject to shifts due to weather conditions or other unforeseen events, hence the value in real-time updates found on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site, through their mobile app, or by calling 511 for those in search of the latest on the roads. With diversions and lane restrictions aplenty, preparation and patience will be key for those navigating the Phoenix roadways this coming weekend.
