Chandler commuters, prepare for a detour: the eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) off-ramp at Alma School Road is slated for a two-month-long shutdown starting late on July 16, as the Arizona Department of Transportation embarks on a ramp reconstruction, part of the larger freeway expansion project. According to an announcement by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the closure will kick in at precisely 11:30 p.m., with the reopening penciled in for mid-September.
Alternate exits, such as Price Road or Arizona Avenue, beckon as viable options for those traveling eastbound, but traffic is expected to swell, be ready to add some cushion time to your commute while crews are digging in and with the area restricted by orange cones and work signs. The Loop 202 Improvement Project comes with a hefty $200 million tag, which is all about adding lanes and polishing interchanges over an 8-mile stretch of the freeway—specifically between Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Val Vista Drive in the cities of Chandler and Gilbert, as reported by the Arizona Department of Transportation.
This expansive upgrade isn't just about making things shiny and new—it's also about easing the lives of the Southeast Valley's travelers. Funded partially by Proposition 400—a dedicated sales tax given the thumbs up by Maricopa County voters back in 2004—the project aligns with the Regional Transportation Plan steered by the Maricopa Association of Governments, a planner for the Greater Phoenix region, as per the Arizona Department of Transportation.
So, as the bulldozers rumble and the pavement gets torn up, remember the endgame: A less congested, more fluid Loop 202 aimed at keeping Southeast Valley on the move, which in the long run means less time staring at taillights and more time where you need to be, we'll all need a bit of patience while Arizona Department of Transportation and its crews work their magic on our daily routes.
