Utility work will require Bell Road restrictions near Grand Avenue

PHOENIX – Utility relocation work will require lane restrictions at times along Bell Road near Grand Avenue over the next several weeks, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The utility relocations are being done at the start of a $41.9 million project to construct a new interchange that will place Bell Road on a bridge traveling over Grand Avenue and the parallel BNSF Railway tracks.

Drivers may encounter daily lane closures starting this week along Bell Road between Dysart and Litchfield roads from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and also during the overnight hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Restrictions will be lifted during the majority of weekday morning and afternoon rush hours to lessen the impact on commuters.

The initial restrictions along Bell Road are expected to be needed through late February, ahead of a full closure of Bell Road near Grand Avenue that will last six to eight months starting April 1. ADOT encourages drivers to allow extra travel time in the area.

Crews also are scheduled to start setting temporary barrier walls for a work zone along Grand Avenue near Bell Road starting Friday, Jan. 29. Grand Avenue will be narrowed to two lanes in each direction while work begins to construct on- and off-ramps that will connect to the new Bell Road overpass via Grand Avenue’s median area.

The full closure of Bell Road starting April 1 will limit the amount of time needed to build the new Bell Road overpass at Grand Avenue. Bell Road will be closed between Dysart and Litchfield roads and will reopen as soon as possible before the start of the holiday shopping season. Greenway Road will serve as a primary east-west detour route while Bell Road is closed. The Bell Road closure will start after the Cactus League season at Surprise Stadium concludes.