Prepare for a bit of a headache if you're planning to drive through parts of Arizona this weekend. Westbound Interstate 10 is going to be completely closed between Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway) and I-17 starting from 10 p.m. on tomorrow, until 4 a.m. Monday. The reason behind this disruption is to facilitate a traffic shift, which will hopefully make things smoother in the long term but is bound to cause quite the inconvenience over the weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The closures aren’t just confined to that stretch of I-10. Motorists will also need to find alternative routes as multiple ramps are going to be shut down. Those coming from Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway), westbound US 60, and the southbound State Route 143 ramp that all feed into westbound I-10 won't have access. Additionally, even more connecting ramps are set to quickly become off-limits starting at 8 p.m. this Friday as well, stretching out to 4 a.m. Monday. It's clear the goal is to enforce us to find other travel courses.
Detours will be necessary to navigate around this major closure. ADOT suggests using eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to then rejoin westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to re-access westbound I-10 past the closure. Meanwhile, for those heading out to the West Valley, ADOT points to Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) as a viable bypass, taking you west and north to reconnect with I-10 at 59th Avenue. Travelers planning to hit Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport should take northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to the westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and use the 44th Street entrance.
The inconveniences don't just stop there - numerous other lane and ramp closures are also expected to inflict additional delays throughout the weekend. ADOT suggests checking out i10broadwaycurve.com/alerts for a detailed breakdown of what's to come. The department also encourages drivers to use their designated detours when faced with state highway closures and to stay current with traffic updates. To make sure to always be in the loop, download "TheCurve," the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project's free mobile app, or keep an eye on the Alerts section of the project's website before hitting the road.
Funded by the half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400, the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project has been identified by the Maricopa Association of Governments' Regional Transportation Plan as a crucial initiative. Not only will it look to reduce travel times during peak hours, but it's designed to enhance airport access, encourage ridesharing and transit, as well as prep the region for expected growth. For more information on the broader implications of these roadworks and improvements, the public can learn more at the Arizona Department of Transportation's website.
