Diamond Grinding

Southbound I-17 reopens early in north Valley after pavement work

Southbound I-17 reopens early in north Valley after pavement work

Southbound I-17 reopens early in north Valley after pavement work

June 2, 2024

Crews continued much-needed project to smooth the ride

PHOENIX – Southbound Interstate 17 has reopened early between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road following weekend pavement work.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is grateful to motorists who used the posted detour route, which moved traffic efficiently throughout the weekend.

Continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on I-17 between Happy Valley Road and SR 74, crews removed a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

While ADOT often can complete work without closing all lanes of a freeway, this weekend closure and two previous ones were needed for crews to safely and effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the stretch reopened to traffic.

A northbound I-17 closure is planned for next weekend between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 to complete this phase of the project. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects).

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.

ADOT Alert: Plan for northbound I-17 closure north of Loop 303

ADOT Alert: Plan for northbound I-17 closure north of Loop 303

ADOT Alert: Plan for northbound I-17 closure north of Loop 303

May 15, 2024

Stay on detour route, which follows two-lane frontage road

PHOENIX – A busy stretch of northbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix is scheduled to be closed this weekend (May 17-20) for pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should allow extra travel time and stay on the designated detour route, which uses the frontage road, while northbound I-17 is closed between Loop 303 and State Route 74 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Additionally, all traffic on eastbound Loop 303 will be directed to southbound I-17 to allow northbound detour traffic to freely flow through the intersection.

ADOT is advising drivers to not use local streets – including Sonoran Desert Drive and North Valley Parkway – as alternate routes, which is a recipe for longer delays and inconvenience for all. Using the frontage road, which offers two travel lanes (see detour map below), is safer for you and for those living nearby as well as being the most efficient route through the area.

Law enforcement officers will work throughout the area to assist with local-only closures at neighborhood entrances. ADOT also is taking steps to reduce the chances that navigation apps will direct drivers to local roads. Staying on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others.

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on I-17. They are removing a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement, before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. While ADOT often can complete work without closing all lanes of a freeway, these closures are needed for crews to safely and effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the stretch reopens to traffic.

Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

Lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during these closures, so drivers should plan ahead. Those with weekend plans to use northbound I-17 from Phoenix may want to consider avoiding delays by traveling before Friday night’s closure begins. Traffic on the northbound freeway also will be lighter during the early morning hours or later at night.

With additional weekend closures needed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 in June, ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects). No I-17 closures are scheduled over Memorial Day weekend.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.

Map of I-17 detour route

Smoothing Price Freeway's concrete surface part of regional pavement study

Smoothing Price Freeway's concrete surface part of regional pavement study

Smoothing Price Freeway's concrete surface part of regional pavement study

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

May 22, 2020

Those of you who use the section of Loop 101 south of US 60 (Superstition Freeway) in the East Valley have had to practice patience over the past year while the Price Freeway has been undergoing a widening project.

In the coming months, drivers will not only have new lanes between Baseline Road and Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) but a smooth concrete pavement surface created by a specialized process called diamond grinding.

ADOT's use of diamond grinding, which involves the use of specialized machines with diamond-tipped blades to smooth a freeway’s concrete pavement, is part of an analysis of pavement treatments supported by the Maricopa Association of Governments, which serves as the Valley’s regional freeway planning agency.

While smoothing the pavement, diamond grinding also creates grooves designed to limit vehicle tire noise.

It's the same process crews used earlier this year on the Loop 202 Santan in the Chandler area to improve stretches where rubberized asphalt surface pavement that was well beyond its planned surface life resulted rough surface conditions. Diamond grinding in that area had the desired effect of providing a smooth drive. You can see what the process looks like in action in this video from the work on the Loop 202 to the right.

More than a decade ago, many Phoenix freeways were resurfaced with an inch of smooth rubberized asphalt. Many sections of those rubberized asphalt overlays have been in place longer than a planned service life of 10 years.With that in mind, ADOT and MAG are evaluating decisions over the long-term costs related to pavement wear and replacement. Part of that is considering whether to resurface using rubberized asphalt or using alternative techniques, such as diamond grinding.

The two agencies will continue to study and consider surface pavement alternatives with cost effectiveness, noise limiting benefits and a smooth ride in mind.

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ADOT testing concrete pavement treatment along Loop 202

ADOT testing concrete pavement treatment along Loop 202

ADOT testing concrete pavement treatment along Loop 202

June 19, 2019

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation engineers are exploring another option for smoothing out the ride along Phoenix-area freeways where the asphalt pavement showed its age and was wearing down, especially after last winter’s heavier wet weather.

It’s called diamond grinding – where a specialized grinding machine uses diamond-tipped saw blades to both smooth and add small grooves in a freeway’s concrete-base pavement. Concrete industry contractors developed diamond grinding to improve ride quality, limit noise and provide increased surface friction to enhance stopping on the pavement.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will evaluate a section of eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in Chandler where diamond grinding was done as part of a recent pavement repair and preservation project.

The diamond grind test section is along the eastbound Loop 202’s right two lanes near Dobson Road. Crews last month removed a 1-inch layer of rubberized asphalt that was worn out by time, traffic and Mother Nature.

“This is another tool in our pavement-improvement tool box,” said Randy Everett, senior administrator of ADOT’s Central Construction and Maintenance District serving the Phoenix area. “This is an opportunity to explore options and see how the diamond grind performs in an area where the rubberized asphalt finally wore down well after its expected lifespan of 10 years.”

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The eastbound Loop 202 on-ramp at Alma School Road also was treated with the diamond grind process in May.

Much of the Santan Freeway’s rubberized asphalt surface between the US 60 interchange in Mesa and Loop 101 in Chandler also was given an asphalt-based sealant treatment recently. That fog seal treatment, which has been used on several other Valley freeways, is designed to extend the life of the existing asphalt pavement.

ADOT maintenance crews used weekend closures along the Santan Freeway last month to fix potholes or make repairs to other sections of worn pavement.

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