I-10 paving set to begin for South Mountain Freeway project

PHOENIX – As part of the state’s largest single highway project ever, a stretch of Interstate 10 through the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway work zone in west Phoenix will receive a fresh layer of rubberized asphalt, requiring multiple traffic restrictions and closures this month.

The entire length of the I-10 work zone, 4.5 miles between 43rd and 75th avenues, will get a new final riding surface. That begins this month west of 63rd Avenue, and crews will complete work east of 63rd Avenue in the fall after bridge work is complete in the I-10 median.

This weekend, both directions of I-10 between 59th and 83rd avenues will be reduced to two lanes to allow crews to lay asphalt from the median barrier to the HOV lanes from 9 p.m. Friday, May 3, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 6. In addition, the eastbound HOV on-ramp and westbound off-ramp is closed at 79th Avenue.

The remainder of the I-10 travel lanes will be paved the following two weekends and will require full closures of I-10 as follows:

Westbound I-10 between 51st and 83rd avenues will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, May 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 13. The westbound I-10 on-ramps at 27th, 35th, 43rd, 67th and 75th avenues will be closed to help reduce traffic backups.

Eastbound I-10 between 83rd and 51st avenues will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday, May 17, to 4 a.m. Monday, May 20. The eastbound I-10 on-ramps at 99th, 91st, 83rd, 79th and 75th avenues will be closed to help reduce traffic backups, along with the eastbound on-ramp I-10 at Loop 101 (Agua Freeway) and Thomas Road.

Motorists should consider alternate routes, including the Loop 101 west of Interstate 17, or exiting I-10 sooner and taking local streets to re-enter past the closure point.

Crews will mill off the top inch of pavement that has reached the end of its service life and replace it with a new top layer of rubberized asphalt.

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 information on the project, please visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511.