Weekend travel alert as construction closes stretches of Loop 101, Loop 202 and SR 51

Multiple freeway closures and lane restrictions will slow traffic across the Valley this weekend as crews push forward on widening, paving and bridge projects on Loop 101, Loop 202, Loop 303, State Route 51 and State Route 347, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.

Most of the closures start Friday night and last through 5 a.m. Monday, according to ADOT’s weekly weekend travel advisory.

🚧WEEKEND FREEWAY TRAVEL ADVISORY🚧

There are several PHX-area freeway closures to be aware of, including:

🚗 NB SR 51 from Indian School Rd. to Colter St.
🚗 WB L-202 between Cooper and Alma School roads
🚗 WB L-303 at 43rd Ave.

Details and detours: https://t.co/BXXtQhrVB9 pic.twitter.com/Iq6hfNL3Pp

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) September 11, 2026

Northbound Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway closing for widening construction

Drivers in the West Valley will lose a stretch of the northbound Loop 101 this weekend, with the Agua Fria Freeway closed between Interstate 10 and Indian School Road from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

Crews are using the weekend shutdown to continue widening the freeway.

Drivers won’t be able to get onto the northbound Loop 101 from I-10 in either direction, so plan to get around the closure on surface streets. Heading north on 83rd, 91st or 99th avenues will get you back to the freeway past the work zone.

Westbound Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway also closing this weekend

The same widening project will take out a chunk of the westbound Loop 101 in the northwest Valley, with the freeway closed between 51st and 75th avenues from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

Drivers also won’t be able to hop on the westbound Loop 101 at 27th or 35th avenues, and starting at 3 a.m. Saturday, there’s no getting to the westbound Loop 101 from I-17 in either direction.

The easiest way around the closure is to head west on Bell Road or Union Hills Drive, then rejoin the freeway on the other side.

Northbound Loop 101 Freeway closing for pavement maintenance

East Valley drivers will need a workaround this weekend, with the northbound Loop 101 closed between University Drive and McKellips Road from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday while crews repair the pavement.

The northbound on-ramps at Southern Avenue and Broadway Road will be shut down as well.

Your best bet is to get off the freeway before the closure and take Rural or Alma School roads north to get past the work.

The weekend work also cuts off the connection from the westbound Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway to the southbound Loop 101.

To get around it, exit at Dobson Road, head south to University Drive and go west to pick up the southbound Loop 101 from there.

Westbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway closing for widening work

The westbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway shuts down between Cooper and Alma School roads in the east Valley starting at 10 p.m. Friday for a widening project.

On-ramps at Val Vista Drive, Lindsay Road and Gilbert Road will also close.

Pecos or Germann roads are available as detours to reconnect with westbound Loop 202 via Alma School or Price roads.

Westbound Loop 303 closing at 43rd Avenue for bridge construction

Crews building a bridge will close the westbound Loop 303 at 43rd Avenue near TSMC Arizona in north Phoenix from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

The workaround routes traffic off at the 43rd Avenue exit, then back onto the freeway via the on-ramp on the other side of the closure.

Northbound SR 51 closing between Indian School and Colter

Drivers heading north on State Route 51 in central Phoenix will hit a closure this weekend, with the freeway shut down from Indian School Road to Colter Street, just north of Camelback Road.

That closure starts 9 p.m. Friday and ends at 5 a.m. Monday while crews repave the roadway.

SR 347 narrowing to one lane near city of Maricopa

Drivers traveling between Maricopa and the Valley should plan for a slower trip this weekend, with State Route 347 squeezed down to a single lane in each direction between Casa Blanca Road and Mammoth Way starting at 8 p.m. Friday while crews lay fresh pavement.

Unlike the Valley freeway closures, there is no detour. Drivers are told to build in extra time and be ready to slow down and merge as they approach the work zone.

Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.

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