Motorists in Arizona should expect disruptions this weekend due to closures on southbound State Route 143. The route will be closed between Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and Interstate 10 from 10 p.m. tonight until 4 a.m. on Monday, October 7, to facilitate a traffic shift. Several ramps will also be inaccessible during this period, including the Loop 202 ramps to southbound SR 143 and the I-10 ramps to northbound SR 143, as stated by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
The detour plans are in place, so drivers will need to adjust their routes accordingly. For those heading westbound on Loop 202, the detour involves using westbound Loop 202 to eastbound I-10 for reaching destinations south of the closure. Eastbound Loop 202 travelers should use the southbound Loop 101 to the westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to continue south. Access to the airport will not be impacted as severely, with southbound 44th Street or Buckeye Road being alternative routes for reaching the terminals.
Closures extend beyond just the main highways; on-ramps at Washington Street, Sky Harbor Boulevard, and University Drive, along with the westbound Loop 202 off-ramp at Sky Harbor Boulevard, will be locked down. According to ADOT, when the closures lift on Monday, southbound 48th Street will again be open to traffic. However, the eastbound I-10 off-ramp at 48th Street is slated to remain closed until later in the year, guiding drivers to use Broadway Road instead.
ADOT underscores the importance of using designated detours and encourages travelers to stay informed by checking the latest updates on the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project’s mobile app, TheCurve, or the project’s website, particularly the Alerts section for the most recent information. These measures are essential as schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen events.
