Motorists traveling to the West Valley this weekend should allow extra travel time and plan ahead to avoid a closure of westbound Interstate 10 (Papago Freeway) between 51st and 67th avenues for construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Westbound I-10 will be closed between 51st and 67th avenues from 10 p.m. Friday, June 8, to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 10.
With heavy traffic and delays expected, ADOT recommends drivers consider alternate routes such as Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) west of Interstate 17.
During the closure, westbound I-10 traffic can exit the freeway at 51st Avenue, detour either north to McDowell Road or south to Van Buren Street and return to westbound I-10 at 67th Avenue. The newly built westbound I-10 access road between 51st and 67th avenues will also remain open during construction.
The westbound I-10 on-ramps at 35th and 43rd avenues (currently closed for reconstruction) will be closed to help prevent backups. In addition, the 59th Avenue overpass will be closed in both directions and southbound 59th Avenue will be restricted from McDowell Road to I-10.
The closure will allow crews to remove temporary structures on a concrete pier structure, known as a straddle bent, that will support one of the flyover bridges connecting I-10 with the South Mountain Freeway.
The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. The South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.
ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions will occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.
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