The day Loop 101 opened in Phoenix’s West Valley

1988 was a memorable year with the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was the number one box office movie while “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses and Rick Astley’s hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up” were blasting from boomboxes.

In the Phoenix area, the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway officially opened on June 18,1988, when the “Outer Loop” was completed between Northern and Peoria avenues. 

The photo features a solar-powered car driving through the banner, while dignitaries like Arizona Governor Rose Mofford were on-hand for the festivities.

Construction of Loop 101 began in 1986. The entire 61-mile freeway – Agua Fria, Pima and Price segments – was completed in 17 different sections with the final project finishing in April 2002.

Loop 101 travels from I-10 in Tolleson, north through Glendale and Peoria, before it travels east through Phoenix and Scottsdale, where it turns south and eventually ends at the Loop 202 Santan Freeway in Chandler.

“So much has been accomplished with the construction of our freeways. It is now much easier to get across the Valley,” ADOT Director at the time Victor Mendez in April 2002. “You will be able to travel the Loop 101 from Interstate 10 in the West Valley to Chandler Boulevard in the East Valley on a 60-mile circuit that doesn't require any traffic lights. For a lot of you, the daily drive doesn't require that many miles, but the Loop 101 freeway gets you to your destination in much less time.”