Valley drivers face weekend of detours as major road closures hit freeways

PHOENIX — Arizona transportation officials are warning drivers to plan ahead for another weekend of freeway restrictions in central, north and southeast parts of the Valley.

Closures on State Route 51, Loop 101 and Loop 202 headline the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Weekend Freeway Travel Advisory for April 24-27.

Three closures are scheduled this weekend in metro Phoenix for pavement and widening projects:

• • Northbound SR 51 closed between Indian School Road and Glendale Avenue.
  • Westbound Loop 101 closed between Interstate 17 and 51st Avenue.
  • Eastbound Loop 202 closed between Arizona Avenue and Gilbert Road.

Three closures scheduled this weekend in metro Phoenix for pavement and widening projects:
-SR 51 NB closed between Indian School Road and Glendale Ave
-Loop 101 WB closed between I-17 and 51st Ave

Full Weekend Freeway Travel Advisory: https://t.co/DLuxLnWhzA pic.twitter.com/VpUTxjxhI5

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 23, 2026

Repaving continues on SR 51

In central Phoenix, northbound SR 51 will be closed between Indian School Road and Glendale Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for a pavement improvement project.

Northbound SR 51 on-ramps at McDowell and Thomas roads also will be closed.

Drivers can consider using northbound I-17 as an alternate freeway route.

Those traveling on northbound SR 51 also can exit before the closure and use northbound 16th Street to eastbound Glendale Avenue to reconnect with the freeway.

Loop 101 closure planned in north Phoenix

Meanwhile, sections of westbound Loop 101, or the Agua Fria Freeway, will be closed between I-17 and 51st Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for a widening project.

North- and southbound I-17 ramps to westbound Loop 101 will also be closed, along with westbound Loop 101 on-ramps at Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue.

Drivers can use westbound Bell Road or Union Hills Drive to 51st Avenue as alternate routes to reach westbound Loop 101.

Eastbound Loop 202 closed in Southeast Valley

In the Southeast Valley, eastbound Loop 202, also known as the Santan Freeway, will be closed between Arizona Avenue and Gilbert Road from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for a widening project.

Eastbound Loop 202 on-ramps at Price, Dobson and Alma School roads also will be closed.

Alternate routes include eastbound Pecos Road and Germann Road.

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