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Current and upcoming Loop 303/I-17 closures and restrictions

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Southbound Interstate 17 on-ramp at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive in north Phoenix scheduled to be closed March 21

Southbound I-17 to be narrowed to two lanes between Dove Valley Road and Dixileta Drive

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures and restrictions for work on the Loop 303, Lake Pleasant Parkway to Interstate 17 improvement project: 

  • The southbound I-17 on-ramp at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive will be closed from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21.
    • Detour: Drivers may consider using eastbound Sonoran Desert Drive to North Valley Parkway and traveling south to westbound Jomax Road to access southbound I-17.
    • At the same time, southbound I-17 will be narrowed to two lanes between Dove Valley Road and Dixileta Drive.
 
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Loop 303, Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17 Improvements

Loop 303, Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17 Improvements

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Project Elements
  3. Project Area Map
  4. Project Schedule
  5. Northbound I-17 Off-Ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive Widening Project
  6. Previous Public Outreach
  7. 51st and 43rd avenues Traffic Interchanges
  8. Stay Informed

Overview

The Arizona Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Maricopa Association of Governments and the cities of Phoenix and Peoria, is improving Loop 303 between Lake Pleasant Parkway and Interstate 17 by adding one general purpose lane in each direction, bridges to accommodate a future interchange at 67th Avenue, and a new Loop 303/I-17 system interchange. The project seeks to address growing traffic demands on Loop 303.

Project Elements

  • Building direct connecting ramps at the I-17/Loop 303 system interchange
  • Add a third general-purpose lane on Loop 303 in each direction between Lake Pleasant Parkway and I-17
  • Construct new bridges to accommodate a future traffic interchange at 67th Ave
  • Widen northbound I-17 exit ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive
  • Install new lighting
  • Construct drainage improvements
  • Install new overhead signs

Project Area Map

Click map to enlarge.

Loop 303 Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17 Project Map

This project is funded in part through Proposition 479, a dedicated half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by Maricopa County voters in 2024.

Project Schedule

Construction started in January 2026 and will take approximately two and a half years to complete.

Northbound I-17 Off-Ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive Widening Project

Overview

The Arizona Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Maricopa Association of Governments, widened the northbound Interstate 17 off-ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive to increase capacity for the northbound I-17 off-ramp and relieve congestion on northbound I-17.

Project Elements

  • Added an additional lane to the northbound I-17 off-ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive
  • Constructed a storm drain
  • Installed new overhead signs
  • Restriped the outside lanes of northbound I-17 to accommodate the new ramp configuration

Click map to enlarge.

Northbound I-17 Off-Ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive Widening Project Area Map

Schedule

Construction started in September 2025 and was completed in January 2026.

Previous Public Outreach

ADOT held a virtual public meeting on April 17, 2024 to provide details the design of Loop 303 improvements to address growing traffic demands.

Meeting Recording and Presentation

51st and 43rd avenues Traffic Interchanges

Project Overview

In September 2022, the Arizona Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Federal Highway Administration and the city of Phoenix, began construction on new Loop 303 traffic interchanges at 51st and 43rd avenues. The new interchanges will address expected traffic growth prompted by current and planned development in the area. The interchanges were completed and opened in September 2023.

51st and 43rd Project Area Map

Loop 303 Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17 Project Map

In addition to the new traffic interchanges, the project also included:

  • New bridges on Loop 303 over 51st and 43rd avenues
  • The extension of the southbound frontage road from 43rd to 51st avenues
  • Drainage improvements at 51st and 43rd avenues
  • New signals at ramp and crossroad intersections
  • New signs, pavement markings and lighting
  • The 51st Avenue interchange was shifted slightly to the west to accommodate the realignment of 51st Avenue.

Note: While the city of Phoenix’s long-range transportation plan identifies the planned extension of 43rd, 51st and 67th Avenue/Pyramid Peak Parkway south of Loop 303 based on future development, the city has no immediate plans to extend these roadways

Stay Informed

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Submit questions or comments in any of the following ways:

  • Phone: ADOT Project Information Line: 855.712.8530
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mail: ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Project Elements
  3. Project Area Map
  4. Project Schedule
  5. Northbound I-17 Off-Ramp at Sonoran Desert Drive Widening Project
  6. Previous Public Outreach
  7. 51st and 43rd avenues Traffic Interchanges
  8. Stay Informed