Drivers in the Phoenix area are in for a weekend of detours and delays, thanks to several major road closures from yesterday to Monday, as part of ongoing freeway expansion and improvement projects. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) will be shut down between Princess Drive/Pima Road and Shea Boulevard to facilitate freeway widening efforts. Additionally, southbound State Route 143 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will also be closed for work related to the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project.
The closures are set to begin at 10 p.m. yesterday, with the Loop 101 expected to reopen by tomorrow evening and SR 143 by early Monday morning. ADOT advises drivers to expect to detour and allow additional travel time to navigate around the obstructions. For those traveling the Loop 101, alternative routes include southbound State Route 51 to eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway), which will then reconnect travelers with Loop 101 in Tempe. For those near the airport, westbound Loop 202 can be utilized to then take eastbound I-10 to reach northbound SR 143, as suggested by Arizona Department of Transportation's Weekend Freeway Travel Advisory.
On top of these closures, the eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) on-ramp at Gilbert Road will remain closed for about two months for reconstruction. Commuters should expect this closure to last until mid-June and be prepared to use alternate on-ramps located at Cooper or Lindsay roads during this period. This long-term closure is another part of the series of improvements aimed at widening the freeway.
Comprehensive information on these closures, along with real-time highway conditions, are available through ADOT's Arizona Traveler Information site, az511.gov, or their mobile app, which can be downloaded for both Apple or Android devices. This effort to keep the public informed and to manage traffic effectively comes as the Phoenix region continues to see substantial transportation infrastructure developments, which was made possible by Maricopa County voters approving Proposition 479 last November, extending the existing half-cent tax to fund future transportation projects. According to Arizona Department of Transportation, changes to the weekend schedule might occur due to unforeseen weather conditions or other factors, so it's important to check regularly for the latest travel updates.
