Travelers who frequent the westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) are in for some adjustments to their routes, as the off-ramp at Alma School Road in Chandler is set to close for a substantial two-month period starting at 11:30 p.m. today, September 3. This closure, announced by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), is due to reconstruction work tied to the broader Loop 202 widening project aimed at enhancing the flow of traffic in the Southeast Valley.
The construction efforts are part of a $200 million investment for upscaling an 8-mile stretch of Loop 202 between Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Val Vista Drive in the cities of Chandler and Gilbert. Drivers, meanwhile, can exit westbound Loop 202 at Dobson Road in lieu of the closed off-ramp for the duration of the construction. The ADOT assures commuters that the inconvenience is a step toward long-term infrastructure improvement, the ramp is expected to reopen in the early days of November.
Another anticipated impact of the construction slated for the same freeway includes, the temporary shutdown of the eastbound Loop 202 on-ramp at Price Road. The closure will start from 10 p.m. Friday, September 5, through 10 a.m. Sunday, September 7. Motorists are advised to plan their trips accordingly and expect some delays due to detours.
The significant improvements to the freeway system, powered by funds from Proposition 400—a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004—are meticulously scheduled under the Regional Transportation Plan. This initiative is orchestrated by the Maricopa Association of Governments, which operates as the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Phoenix region.
