Southbound Interstate 17 closes near Bumble Bee due to crash

PHOENIX — Both lanes of the southbound Interstate 17 were closed Monday due to a crash just south of the town of Bumble Bee, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.

I-17 southbound at Bumble Bee (mph 248) is CLOSED due to a crash. Backup is now two-miles long. pic.twitter.com/6aUvNvyrt9

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 4, 2017

The closure lasted for about an hour before one lane opened up.

Six-mile backup. One lane open on I-17 SB near Bumble Bee due to earlier crash. If you're headed this way, allow plenty of extra time. pic.twitter.com/KFOfeJTpy4

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 4, 2017

Eventually, both lanes were open.

REOPENED: I-17 SB at Bumble Bee: All lanes have reopened. Backup is eight miles long.

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 4, 2017

The closure came at an inconvenient time, as the days on (and around) July 4 weekend were sure to see thousands of travelers in the state of Arizona. Triple-A Arizona had estimated that nearly 900,000 people across the state would travel for the Fourth of July.

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