Estrella Drive west of 51st Ave. closing for South Mountain Freeway construction

PHOENIX – Estrella Drive west of 51st Avenue in Laveen will close Monday, May 21, for construction of a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange.

The closure, which runs through November, will allow crews to accelerate construction of one of 13 interchanges planned for the South Mountain Freeway.

A similar extended closure enabled crews to complete an Elliot Road overpass in Laveen two months ago.

The Estrella Drive interchange will have an innovative modern roundabout design that minimizes its footprint while moving traffic efficiently and safely. Based on projected traffic volumes and the freeway’s alignment through the area, ADOT determined roundabouts to be a better option than a conventional diamond interchange for this location.

In order to build the Estrella Drive traffic interchange, construction crews will complete the following work:

• Build 100-foot-long freeway bridge over Estrella Drive
• Construct two roundabouts to improve access to the freeway
• Install underground utilities and drainage structures
• Place foundations for traffic signals and lighting

Crews already have relocated utilities and constructed bridge columns that will support the bridge.

The South Mountain Freeway, which is slated to open late 2019, 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.