Work begins on Loop 202 improvement project

Attention East Valley motorists: ADOT’s newest freeway widening project in the Phoenix area has started this week along Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway*) in Mesa.

Scheduled for completion by spring 2016, the $109-million project will add one regular traffic lane in each direction along Loop 202 between Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Gilbert Road. Crews will also be extending the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes between Gilbert and Broadway roads.

In all, this project will add lanes along nearly 20 miles of the Red Mountain Freeway.

Besides the addition of new lanes, this project also includes bridge widening, construction of retaining walls and sound walls, drainage improvements and installation of updated signs, freeway lighting and landscaping. A new layer of rubberized asphalt is in the plans, too.

Here’s what drivers will need to know

The current existing number of travel lanes will be maintained during weekday rush hours, with most restrictions limited to nighttime hours and weekends.

Full closures of sections of Loop 202 are scheduled over the next two weekends to allow crews to set up work zones by shifting traffic lanes and placing temporary concrete barrier walls:

• Westbound Loop 202 will be closed between McDowell Road and Country Club Drive from 10 p.m. Friday (Oct. 24) to 5 a.m. Monday (Oct. 27) for work zone setup. Westbound freeway traffic will detour along McKellips Road. Drivers are encouraged to consider other alternate routes, including westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway).
• The following weekend, eastbound Loop 202 is scheduled to be closed between Country Club Drive and Power Road from 10 p.m. Friday (Oct. 31) to 5 a.m. Monday (Nov. 3) for work zone setup. Eastbound freeway traffic will detour along McKellips Road. Drivers also should consider other alternate routes, including eastbound US 60.

Crews have also been performing preliminary work during overnight hours this week (Oct. 20-23) along Loop 202 between Broadway and Brown roads in east Mesa. The freeway remains open with lane restrictions during the overnight work.

* Having a hard time knowing your Red Mountain from your Santan or your Price from your Pima?? Check out this blog post and map for some help understanding all the Valley freeway names.