New access road adjacent to I-10 to open in West Valley
May 1, 2018, 4:45 AM | Updated: 11:25 am
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
PHOENIX – A newly-built roadway adjacent to Interstate 10 in the west Valley is set to open this week, allowing motorists to avoid a detour previously used during the South Mountain Freeway construction project.
The westbound off-ramp at 59th Avenue was closed and removed last month to make room for ramps connecting the interchange between I-10 and the new Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.
Motorists were forced to exit the highway at 51st Avenue and use a detour to connect with 59th Avenue.
Now, however, motorists will be able to use the new two-lane road starting early Wednesday morning, which runs from 51st and 59th avenues and restores direct access from I-10.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, westbound access to 67th Avenue will open following this weekend’s closure of westbound I-10 from 51st to 67th avenues for bridge construction.
ADOT and the developers of the South Mountain Freeway, Connect 202 Partners, said the new access road will be closed later this summer to construct a permanent ramp connector in place of the temporary one currently installed.
The work along I-10 in the west Valley began in late January, reconstructing several of the ramps to adjust to a wider roadway for connecting ramps to the South Mountain Freeway.
Set to open in 2019, the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway will provide a direct link from the east to the west Valley.
Once completed, the freeway will complete the Loop 101 and 202 freeway systems in the Valley.
