Work begins June 15 on Loop 303 southward expansion

A $613 million multiyear effort to extend the Loop 303 southward through the West Valley is officially getting underway this month, transportation officials announced.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is construction work to build a 4-mile stretch of new freeway in Goodyear. The four-year project will extend Loop 303 from Van Buren Street down to Maricopa County 85 (MC 85), eventually creating a connection with the planned State Route 30.

Initial work to clear the corridor is scheduled to begin Monday, June 15.

The expansion will largely follow the current alignment of Cotton Lane. Once complete, the freeway will feature three general-purpose lanes in each direction between Van Buren Street and Lower Buckeye Road. From Lower Buckeye Road down to MC 85, it will taper to two lanes in each direction.

Drivers can also expect a series of major infrastructure changes along the new stretch, including:

• Completing the southern half of the Van Buren interchange.
• A new full diamond interchange at Yuma Road.
• Half diamond interchanges at both Lower Buckeye Road and Elwood Street.
• Bridges to elevate the freeway over local cross streets and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

To keep traffic moving for local residents and businesses, ADOT plans to construct one-way frontage roads and install sound walls where necessary.

Construction on a new northbound frontage road will start this fall. Once it is built, crews will shift all north- and southbound Cotton Lane traffic onto it so major work on the actual freeway lanes can begin.

While ADOT officials said access to local businesses will be maintained throughout the entire four-year timeline, drivers can expect delays. Periodic lane restrictions and closures are expected on Loop 303, Cotton Lane, ramps and cross streets. Most of these restrictions will hit during overnight hours and weekends to ease the burden on daily rush-hour traffic, though some cross streets will face closures lasting up to 60 days.

When the extension wraps up, its southern end will feature a signalized intersection at MC 85.

The project lays the groundwork for the State Route 30 corridor, which will eventually connect the Loop 303 and the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

Work on the eastern end of the SR 30 project, between Loop 202 and 97th Avenue, is scheduled to begin in the 2027 fiscal year. However, the segment that actually links up with this new Loop 303 extension isn’t slated to start construction until the 2033 fiscal year.

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

Related

ADOT improves traffic flow to Loop 303/US 60 Grand Avenue interchange in SurpriseDelays expected on I-17 in north Phoenix as work starts on Loop 303 projectWestbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway in Gilbert reopens after deadly chain reaction crashWestbound Interstate 10 reopens after crash in ChandlerPhoenix stabbing victim dies at hospital, suspect chargedSR 87 reopens northeast of metro Phoenix after vehicle fire