Motorists in the Valley of the Sun are in for a bit of rerouting as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced the temporary closure of northbound State Route 143. The road will be closed between I-10 and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, and extending to 4 a.m. on Monday, March 3. This closure, dictated by the necessity of a traffic shift, will also coincide with the shuttering of the I-10 ramps to northbound SR 143, the northbound SR 143 on-ramp at University Drive, and northbound 48th Street between Broadway Road and I-10.
For those traversing westward on I-10, a detour is in place, driving motorists to use eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to reach southbound SR 143. Conversely, those going east on I-10 are advised to pivot to the eastbound US 60, then north on Loop 101 (Price Freeway), and finally west on Loop 202 to get on southbound SR 143. This closure, impacting the regular flow of traffic, is being put forth by ADOT with the hopes of minimizing disruption while completing necessary roadway enhancements.
Airport-bound travelers aren't left out of this advisory. With paths altered, those driving southbound I-17, westbound I-10, and westbound US 60 heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport should adjust their routes. The recommended roadways now point towards an approach via westbound I-10 for accessing the airport entrances at 24th Street or Buckeye Road. Alternatively, the Sky Harbor Boulevard entrance remains accessible from Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway).
Encouraging drivers to stick to prescribed detours during state highway closures, ADOT seamlessly pairs this guidance with a note on potential rapid changes to schedules that might arise from weather or other unforeseeable events. Curious drivers or those seeking the most current closure information are directed to the project website's Alerts section or to download "TheCurve," the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project’s free mobile app.
For regional commuters, this weekend promises detours and undoubtedly a bit more time added to their journeys. As drivers reroute their paths this coming March weekend, the ballet of brake lights and blinkers will play across the alternative arteries of asphalt.
