Prepare for a slow ride if you're taking northbound Interstate 17 this weekend. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, I-17 will be narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and State Route 74 in north Phoenix, starting from 9 p.m. Friday until up to 5 a.m. Monday for pavement improvement work. The official recommendation is for drivers to plan ahead and possibly choose early morning or nighttime travel to avoid delays. The northbound I-17 off- and on-ramps at Dove Valley Road will be inaccessible during this period.
Detours will be in place, with motorists needing to exit at Loop 303 to reach Dove Valley Road via the frontage road. Furthermore, the northbound I-17 circular ramp to westbound SR 74 will also be closed during nighttime hours. Traffic is expected to be impacted significantly, so patience and planning are strongly advised. To stay clear from congestion, avoid using local streets east of I-17 as they were not designed to handle heavy freeway traffic volumes.
More closures will follow as the project progresses. In a statement obtained by AZDOT, it's noted that "Northbound I-17 also narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and SR 74/Carefree Highway from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30." Furthermore, significant southbound closures and detours are set for the weekends starting October 4 and October 11, with detours running along the off- and on-ramps at Loop 303.
The ongoing project focuses on improving a six-mile stretch of I-17, to ultimately provide a smoother and more durable driving surface. During the closure, crews are set to continue the process known as diamond grinding on the freeway's remaining concrete surface. This is a technique according to AZDOT, to have been previously used to enhance the road surface on other Phoenix-area freeways including I-10, I-17, Loop 101, and Loop 202. For updated traffic conditions, drivers can visit the Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, download the AZ511 app, or call 511 directly.
