Pecos Road reconfiguration will keep traffic moving during South Mountain Freeway work

PHOENIX – To help keep Ahwatukee Foothills traffic moving during construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin widening the eastbound lanes of Pecos Road on Monday, Jan. 16, to accommodate two-way traffic.

This work, which includes creating two additional travel lanes, will allow ADOT and Connect 202 Partners, the developer responsible for design and construction of the 22-mile-long freeway, to maintain two lanes of Pecos Road in each direction during most phases of the largest single highway project in state history.

As part of the process to complete the interim roadway configuration by March, when freeway construction is scheduled to begin in the Pecos Segment, those using Pecos Road should prepare for the following:

• Closing shoulders and bike lanes
• Relocating street lights and installing temporary traffic signals
• Closing the Pecos Road entrance to the 40th Street/Pecos Road Park-and-Ride (access will be maintained from 40th Street)
• Paving the existing median
• Widening the south side of the eastbound lanes

During construction of the interim roadway, Pecos Road may be narrowed to one lane in each direction on weekdays, and several weekend closures will be necessary to relocate utilities, install temporary traffic signals, restripe the roadway and place barricades.

The speed limit on the interim roadway will be reduced to 40 mph to accommodate two-way traffic, and there will be no shoulders. Lane restrictions and periodic closures of Pecos Road will be necessary at times during freeway construction.

Once freeway construction is complete in the Pecos Segment, traffic using the interim road will be moved to freeway lanes in the final stages of construction. The South Mountain Freeway will open to through traffic when work is complete on all segments in late 2019.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, it will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system.

ADOT encourages the public to stay informed on the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts to receive advance notifications of lane restrictions and street closures by visiting SouthMountainFreeway.com.