Dobbins Road reopens following South Mountain Freeway construction

PHOENIX – Dobbins Road has reopened to traffic west of 51st Avenue in Laveen with construction nearly complete on a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange.

An extended closure allowed crews to accelerate construction of the interchange, including building a two-span, 215-foot-long bridge over Dobbins Road. In all, the South Mountain Freeway will include 42 bridges, including 15 interchanges, along its 22 miles.

Since late October 2018, crews at Dobbins Road have:

• Moved more than 350,000 cubic yards of earth to create bridge approaches and ramps
• Installed underground utilities and drainage structures
• Applied aesthetic treatments that feature the “River Bank” pattern honoring the area’s agricultural heritage
• Placed foundations for traffic signals and lighting

Some overnight closures of Dobbins Road between 59th and 63rd avenues will be needed to complete remaining bridge work and painting.

This is the fourth interchange in the Salt River segment (Lower Buckeye Road to 51st Avenue) to be substantially completed, along with Southern Avenue, Elliot Road and Estrella Drive. The Broadway Road and Baseline Road interchanges remain under construction in the Salt River segment and are expected to be completed this summer.

The South Mountain Freeway is scheduled for full completion in 2020, although traffic is expected to be using the freeway earlier. It will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information on the South Mountain Freeway, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.