East Valley motorists will need to watch out for freeway closure this weekend

Motorists in the East Valley may need to adjust travel plans over the weekend due to a closure on the Loop 202 San Tan Freeway.

BY JEFF VINTON

Jan 16, 2026, 3:28 PM Updated: 7:25 pm

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PHOENIX — East Valley drivers may need to adjust their travel plans due to a planned freeway closure over the weekend.

In its Weekend Freeway Travel Advisory for Jan. 16-19, the Arizona Department of Transportation announced that a stretch of the Loop 202 Santan Freeway is scheduled to shut down from Friday night to Monday morning.

The department added that plans could change due to weather or other factors.

🚧 Just ONE major Valley-area freeway closure this weekend:

Eastbound Loop 202 (Santan) between Williams Field and Higley roads from 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19 for pavement maintenance.

Details and detours: https://t.co/60kVbMwlVc pic.twitter.com/wfpia3bcLU

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) January 16, 2026

Where will Loop 202 Santan Freeway be closed this weekend?

The closure on the Loop 202 will affect the eastbound lanes between Williams Field and Higley roads in Gilbert and is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and go until 5 a.m. Monday.

The closure is due to maintenance that is necessary on the pavement in the area.

During this closure, the on-ramps at Gilbert Road, Lindsey Road and Val Vista Drive will also be closed.

Motorists are advised to take eastbound Williams Field Road or Germann Road to Higley Road to get back on Loop 202.

Alternatively, motorists can use the US 60 Superstition Freeway to reach their destinations.

Other restrictions to note this weekend

While no other freeways are scheduled for this weekend, a couple of other areas are scheduled to see lane closures.

The westbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway will be restricted to two lanes between Arizona Avenue and Alma School Road in Chandler overnight from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. This is due to work on the ongoing freeway widening project in that area.

Additionally, both directions of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway will be narrowed to two lanes between 19th and 31st avenues in north Phoenix from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday. This is also due to a freeway widening project.

As for surface streets, several roads will be closed in Tempe on Saturday due to the Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon. More information on those closures and impacts to public transit can be found on the city of Tempe’s website.

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