For those planning to visit or commute through Downtown Tempe next week, be prepared for a significant detour. Starting Monday, Mill Avenue will be closed in both directions between University Drive and Seventh Street, potentially causing a ripple of disruption for up to six days. This closure is part of a larger initiative, the Downtown Tempe Refresh project, which aims to bolster infrastructure and aesthetics in an area that has not seen major updates in four decades.
The City of Tempe announced on its official project page that the closure will make way for the foundations of a new gateway sign to be installed over Mill Avenue. Meant to be a welcoming arch for visitors, it is slated to become a defining landmark. If the construction gods favor the Arizona city, there's a chance traffic may flow northbound earlier, with streets reopening on the morning of July 27.
Traffic alterations include the detour of bus services and the truncation of the streetcar route, which will now end northbound service at Ninth Street and Mill Avenue. In an attempt to ease the challenge for visitors and locals alike, the TempeTRIP mobility tool has been suggested as a way to navigate parking options, transportation choices, and more strategic routes.
Local businesses near the hustle of construction won't be left in the dust. The city has arranged access through an existing alley on University Drive, ensuring that patrons can still swing by for their cravings, like the Jack-in-the-Box drive-thru slated to remain open for the entirety of the construction period. The crosswalks at the crucial intersection of Mill Avenue and University Drive are expected to remain unaffected, keeping pedestrians in the loop.
