Closures, restrictions of I-10 in Phoenix to continue this weekend
Jul 20, 2018, 4:20 AM | Updated: Jul 22, 2018, 4:36 pm
(ADOT photo)
(ADOT photo)
PHOENIX — If you thought the closures of the Interstate 10 in Phoenix would not continue into the weekend, think again.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said the I-10 will be closed or restricted overnight during the weekend of July 20 to allow crews to install large bridge girders at the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange.
The westbound portion of the highway will be closed between 51st and 67th avenues from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
Drivers can use the new westbound I-10 access road, Van Buren Street or McDowell Road before re-entering the highway at 67th Avenue.
(ADOT photo)
The eastbound portion of the freeway will be narrowed to two lanes and will close intermittently at 59th Avenue from 9 p.m. on Friday to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
In addition, 59th Avenue will be closed in both directions between McDowell Road and Van Buren Street during that time.
Drivers could use the Loop 101 west of Interstate 17 to avoid traffic in the area.
Both the north- and south-bound off-ramps for the State Route 51 at Indian School Road will be restricted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for a Phoenix waterline project.
The Arizona Department of Transportation was encouraging drivers to allow themselves extra travel time, plan ahead and consider alternate routes while these closures are in place this weekend.
Crews will be using two large cranes to safely hoist and place 168-foot-long, 165,000-pound girders that will support the flyover ramp from northbound Loop 202 to westbound I-10.
They will be the first girders to completely span over 59th Avenue and westbound Interstate 10 for the interchange.
The closures and restrictions of the I-10 in Phoenix came days after the freeway was restricted overnight near Sky Harbor to allow crews to conduct routine bridge inspections and freeway maintenance work.
The South Mountain Freeway interchange will be a 22-mile freeway that will provide a direct link between the West Valley and the East Valley.
It was approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan.
It was expected to be complete in 2019.
Editor’s note: The westbound I-10 between 51st and 67th avenues and the on-ramps at 27th, 35th and 43rd avenues have reopened, as of Sunday afternoon.
