Interstate 10 reopens ahead of schedule in downtown Phoenix area

PHOENIX — There's good news for drivers using Interstate 10 in the downtown Phoenix area. The weekend closure of I-10 for an Arizona Public Service Co. power line project has been lifted ahead of schedule, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

APS officials notified ADOT that the installation of six new power lines above I-10 near Seventh Street was completed early this afternoon, allowing crews to reopen the freeway at about 1:30 p.m., beginning with the westbound lanes. The closure had been scheduled to be in place until late Sunday evening. The westbound 7^th Street exit ramp from I-10 will remain closed until this evening.

I-10 had been closed in both directions in areas between the I-17 Split interchange and the I-17 Stack interchange west of the Deck Park Tunnel since early Saturday morning for the APS power line project. Drivers detoured along I-17 or used other freeways and local streets as alternate routes. 

ADOT also completed important maintenance along I-10 in and near the tunnel this weekend, including the installation of new and improved overhead signs, new lane stripes and regular tunnel maintenance.

APS and ADOT selected this weekend for the highly-publicized closure in order for the work to be completed before hotter summer weather arrives and at a time when the Arizona Diamondbacks were on a road trip in Chicago.

For more on Arizona highway conditions visit ADOT's Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 5-1-1. Updates are also available on the ADOT Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) and on Facebook.