Heads up, Phoenix drivers: brace yourselves for a weekend of detours and delays. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced several closures along key freeways for improvement projects from Feb. 21-24. According to ADOT, these disruptions are part of the ongoing efforts to enhance and maintain our roadway infrastructure.
Starting Friday at 9 p.m. and continuing until Monday at 5 a.m., westbound Interstate 10 will be completely shut down between the I-17 "Split" near Sky Harbor Airport and the "Stack" interchange close to McDowell Road. The closure, imploring patience and planning, includes the southbound State Route 51 ramp to westbound I-10. ADOT advises the main detour route via northbound I-17 to reconnect with I-10 at the Stack interchange, while secondary options involve westbound McDowell Road or Van Buren Street around the affected area.
Another significant closure hits northbound Interstate 17 from Happy Valley Road to Loop 303 in north Phoenix. The freeway will be inaccessible from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday as teams work on a pavement improvement project, as reported by ADOT's announcement. Commuters are encouraged to use Lake Pleasant Parkway and Loop 303 as an alternative route during this period.
Further restrictions include the narrowing of westbound I-10 to two lanes between 48th and 24th streets starting 7 p.m. Saturday until 4 a.m. Monday due to maintenance tied to the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. Road users should also note the closure of the southbound SR 143 off-ramp at University Drive for guardrail repair during the same period. Additional information is provided on the dedicated project website, I10BroadwayCurve.com.
The eastbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) on-ramp at 59th Avenue and off-ramp at 51st Avenue will be out of commission from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday. The detour plans suggest using, ADOT recommends nearby ramps at 59th Avenue for exiting and 51st Avenue for entry onto the freeway. Looking ahead, prepare for the northbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) off-ramp at Raintree Drive to shut down for about two months starting early Monday for reconstruction.
With so many closures and modifications, traffic is expected to be more congested than usual. ADOT urges drivers to check the most current highway conditions before heading out via their Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or the az511 app, which can be downloaded for both Apple and Android devices. While inconvenient, these closures signify a long-term investment in the region's mobility, with many projects funded by voter-approved sales tax initiatives like Proposition 400 and the recently passed Proposition 479, ensuring that our commutes will ultimately be smoother and more reliable.
