Pavement treatment to close US 60 between Loop 101, Loop 202 for weekend

PHOENIX – An improvement project will shut down part of an East Valley freeway over the weekend, state transportation officials said.

U.S. 60 will be closed eastbound between Loop 101 Pima Freeway and Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway starting at 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in a press release.

Northbound and southbound ramps on Loop 101 to eastbound and westbound U.S. 60 will also be closed.

There will also be overnight weekday lanes restrictions along U.S. 60, ADOT said.

That’s just the start of a $34.3 million undertaking that includes replacement of beat-up top-layer rubberized asphalt across 14 miles.

Some asphalt has already been stripped on the freeway between Gilbert and Greenfield roads.

The asphalt will be swapped out for a concrete pavement treatment called diamond grinding.

Diamond grinding treatment requires specialized equipment. The road-preservation technique removes a thin layer of concrete pavement and adds narrow grooves that create a smoother surface and less noise, ADOT said.

Diamond grinding is in place on parts of Interstate 10, Loop 101 and Loop 202, the agency said.

The roadwork is expected to be complete in the summer.

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