Those planning to travel through Phoenix this weekend will need to find an alternative route. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the eastbound lanes of Loop 101, also known as the Agua Fria Freeway, are scheduled for closure between 59th Avenue and Interstate 17 from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, May 19. This temporary shutdown is necessary to facilitate ongoing work on a widening project designed to alleviate traffic congestion in the region.
Additionally, eastbound on-ramps at Union Hills Drive, 75th Avenue, and 67th Avenue will remain inaccessible this weekend. ADOT recommends that drivers plan to exit before the closure and utilize eastbound Union Hills Drive or Bell Road to circumvent the construction area. The advice comes as no surprise, as this part of the Loop 101 widening project has been in the works since last September, with a hefty price tag of $140 million.
Meanwhile, multiple ramps along Loop 101 are facing closures that extend beyond the weekend. Beginning late Monday night, May 19, both the westbound off-ramp at 51st Avenue and the eastbound on-ramp at 59th Avenue will shut down for two months, requiring drivers to seek out nearby alternatives. Already, the westbound on-ramp at 35th Avenue has been closed since May 12 as part of the same project scope. ADOT has offered more information for those interested in the project specifics or seeking to better understand the expected impacts on traffic.
