D-backs’ home opener, I-10 closure among traffic snags to watch
Apr 5, 2019, 4:35 AM | Updated: 12:56 pm
(Arizona Diamondbacks Photo)
PHOENIX – Valley drivers will have plenty to contend with over the next few days, including congestion downtown for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ home opener and an Interstate 10 closure in west Phoenix.
To celebrate Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, the Diamondbacks are holding a street festival outside Chase Field starting at noon.
The festival will take place in front of the Gila River Hotels & Casinos Plaza along Fourth and Jackson streets.
Fans are encouraged to take Valley Metro light rail to the station at Third and Jefferson streets.
People driving to the game, which starts at 4:10 p.m., should consider purchasing parking tickets in advance.
Adding to the downtown quagmire, the Phoenix Suns tip off against the New Orleans Pelicans at Talking Stick Resort Arena at 7 p.m., when the baseball game next door is likely to be winding down.
A couple of hours later, motorists heading from the West Valley into Phoenix on I-10 will start running into trouble.
A 2-mile stretch from 67th to 51st avenues will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Sunday for work on the new Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The eastbound on-ramps at 91st, 83rd, 79th and 75th avenues will also be closed while crews do bridge work.
NEW: I-10 eastbound will close this weekend west of downtown Phoenix for L-202 South Mountain Freeway interchange construction. The closure between 67th to 51st avenues is scheduled from 9 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Sunday. More: https://t.co/bzDH4rcVdP#PhxTraffic pic.twitter.com/eKHfxngLeD
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 4, 2019
ADOT recommended northbound to eastbound Loop 101, McDowell Road or Van Buren Street as detours.
On the other side of the Valley, eastbound I-10 will be closed south of Chandler between Wild Horse Pass Boulevard and Riggs Road from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday for pavement work.
Traffic will be detoured at Wild Horse Pass to southbound Maricopa Road and State Route 347 before connecting to Riggs and back to I-10.
ADOT has three other restrictions planned for the weekend:
- Pecos Road will be closed in both directions between I-10 and 40th Street from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, along with all I-10 ramps to and from Pecos, for construction on the South Mountain Freeway, the 22-mile project that will provide a new connection between the East Valley and West Valley.
- The eastbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway off-ramp at Kyrene Road in Chandler will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for pavement improvements.
- State Route 587 south of Chandler will be limited to one lane for all traffic between Hunt Highway and I-10 from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. A pilot vehicle will escort traffic through the restricted section, so expect delays or avoid the area.
ADOT provides real-time highway conditions online, on Twitter or over the phone at 511.
Drivers can also get alerts and alternate route notifications via ADOT’s mobile app.
Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 411923.