Drivers in Scottsdale should brace for detours as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) shuts down the southbound Loop 101 off-ramp at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard starting on Monday, for a two-month-long reconstruction. ADOT announced the closure, which is a piece of a broader effort to widen the freeway in north Scottsdale, with off-ramps between Shea Boulevard and Pima Road/Princess Drive undergoing similar transformations to accommodate the expanded roadway.
With the off-ramp set to reopen in late May, motorists are advised to exit southbound Loop 101 at Princess Drive/Pima Road instead and then utilize the southbound Loop 101 frontage road to reach Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, according to ADOT's statement. Extra travel time should be anticipated as traffic patterns adjust to the closure and ongoing construction activities.
The extensive $108 million Pima Freeway Improvement Project kicked off in January 2024 and is part of a long-term plan to alleviate traffic congestion by adding lanes and updating infrastructure, including reconfiguring the interchange at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard into a diamond setup and enhancing roadway lighting, traffic signals, and signage. The comprehensive work is currently on track for an early 2026 completion.
Financial backing for the Loop 101 widening comes from Proposition 400, which Maricopa County voters passed, and is managed within the broader framework of the Regional Transportation Plan by the Maricopa Association of Governments. Up-to-the-minute highway conditions can be sourced from ADOT's Arizona Traveler Information available at az511.gov, through its az511 app, and by calling the 511 service.
