Commuters in Chandler are in for a change of pace as the eastbound Loop 202 off-ramp at McQueen Road shuts down for about two months, starting late tonight, June 12, at 11:30 p.m. This closure, necessary for a reconstruction of the ramp, is a segment of the wider Loop 202 widening project spearheaded by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
During this period, the official detour will route drivers to exit the eastbound Loop 202 at either Arizona Avenue or Cooper Road in lieu of the McQueen Road off-ramp. The shutdown is a planned phase of the $200 million Loop 202 Improvement Project, which aims to enhance and widen an 8-mile stretch of Loop 202 from Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to Val Vista Drive, traversing both Chandler and Gilbert.
A complete reopening of the ramp facilities is scheduled for mid-August, with hope that the project will alleviate some of the traffic congestion in the Southeast Valley. Funded through several avenues, the core financial backing comes from Proposition 400. This initiative, which was passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004, comprises a dedicated half-cent sales tax devoted to regional infrastructure enhancements.
As part of the Regional Transportation Plan, which is managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments—the metropolitan planning organization for the Phoenix area—the project is set to usher in a range of benefits for the community. According to an Arizona Department of Transportation announcement, "The project is scheduled under the Regional Transportation Plan," signaling significant interagency collaboration.
