Work is progressing on the Loop 101 widening project we first told you about in August (and then again in September).

As northeast Valley drivers have surely noticed, crews are currently working to widen bridges within the project area and build retaining walls and sound walls.

The $73 million project will widen 11 miles of Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain) with the addition of one new lane in each direction. A second new northbound Loop 101 lane also will be constructed between the Loop 202 interchange and McDowell Road. Other project features include the addition of new merge lanes between interchanges, new lighting and signs, new landscaping (including the use of hundreds of salvaged cacti and other plants), wider freeway bridges and realigned on- and off-ramps and a new layer of rubberized asphalt.

Why we build new lanes when we do

You might be wondering why we’re building the new lanes now, as opposed to years ago when the Loop 101 was first constructed. We get that question a lot from people who say building everything all at once would prevent the restrictions, closures and traffic that can come along with new construction.

You can find a great answer in this blog post from 2011. But in a nutshell, we can tell you that it’s just not feasible to construct freeways for future needs all at one time. The main reason has to do with funding. The money for projects is not available all at one time. As a result, we build and improve freeways in phases, using the funding that is available when the project is scheduled to begin. In Maricopa County, that funding comes from the voter-approved, 20-year extension of the half-cent sales tax (2006-2026). Revenue is programmed for freeway projects identified in the Maricopa Association of Government’s Regional Transportation Plan, a long-term blueprint for transportation improvements across the Valley.

What drivers should know

There will be no closures during the upcoming holiday and any lane restrictions will be limited to overnight hours. Drivers can also rest assured that no construction-related closures are planned during a number of upcoming events in the area (including the Super Bowl and Spring Training). For more on this project’s timeline, check out this blog post.

Finally, and most importantly, drivers need to be aware that they’re driving through a work zone and must obey the lower speed limit that has been posted.

“It’s 55 MPH,” says ADOT Public Information Officer Doug Nintzel in the video above. “It’s there for (driver) safety. It’s there for the safety of our workers.”

A couple of improvement projects happening right now on the Loop 101 and the Loop 202 are seemingly similar, but each has their own distinct timeline...

Work on the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) got started this month and the plans call for a majority of the project (Country Club Drive to Broadway Road) to be finished by summer 2015. The portion of the project that stretches from Loop 101 to Country Club Drive will wrap up in December 2015. Crews will come back the following spring to place rubberized asphalt.

Over on the Loop 101, a widening project that kicked off in August is scheduled for completion by late 2016.

How can that be, you might ask? (Actually, one of our readers did ask, which is what spurred the idea for this post. We get some really great questions here on the ADOT Blog!)

While the projects might sound comparable – they both include lane additions, signage, lighting, etc – they actually have many differences.

One of the major differences has to do with the project delivery methods being used.  

The Loop 101 effort is a “Design-Bid-Build” project, which means that ADOT (or a consulting engineer working for the department) designs the project, solicits bids and then awards a contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to build the project.

The Loop 202 work is a being completed as a “Design-Build” project. We’ve blogged about this method before, but in case you don’t have time to read that post right now, just know that the Design-Build concept involves pairing a design team with a construction team to create one, synergistic entity that delivers a freeway project from beginning to end. While there are advantages to using the Design-Build method (it’s faster), it’s not a great fit for all projects.

Delivery methods aren’t the only differences between the projects on the Loops 101 and 202. Project restrictions also factor into the two timelines.

The Loop 101 is located in a busy corridor in the Phoenix area. In addition to the daily traffic (173,000 cars per day!), the Loop 101 is also the only connection to Scottsdale from the east side of the Valley. That means the Loop 101 project has many restrictions on when the roads can and cannot be closed. The project has 27 restrictions that spell out when the contractor cannot have any closures (some examples include the days leading up to the Super Bowl and Spring Training).

Loop 202 is also used by many motorists, but not as many as the segment being improved on Loop 101. There are also fewer big events in the area. These two conditions allow crews to work on this project more days out of the year.

One more difference between the two projects has to do with how each is being widened.

The Loop 101 project is being widened to the outside, meaning that lanes are being added to the outside edge of the freeway. This is a more time-consuming process than adding lanes to the inside.

It takes longer because the work is impacting the ramps that are used to get people on and off the roadway. Because of this, the project has restrictions on how it can be built so traffic can have access to Loop 101 at all times.

“Anytime we close the cross road to build the bridge, the ramps and the ramps on adjacent streets are utilized as a detours. This means that when we are building a bridge we cannot have any closures on the adjacent roads or ramps,” says Loop 101 Project Manager Dan Haskins. “To build the project we have had to analyze what closures we want to take and make sure that no work is taking place that will cause any restrictions to the cross street or to access the Loop 101.”

If your commute includes the Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain), you’ve probably noticed the start of some construction work…

It’s all part of a project we told you about last month that will add one new lane in each direction. There’s also a new northbound Loop 101 lane that will be constructed between the Loop 202 interchange and McDowell Road to improve freeway-to-freeway traffic flow. Other features, including merge lanes, lighting, signs and rubberized asphalt are a part of the plans too.

Get all the project details in our previous post. You can also check out our latest video (the one at the top of this page!) to see what drivers should expect through the project’s duration.

A major project that will add new lanes in both directions of Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Scottsdale and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community area is scheduled to begin this weekend (August 9-10).

The $72.7 million project will widen 11 miles of Loop 101 south of Shea Boulevard with the addition of one new lane in each direction. A second new northbound Loop 101 lane also will be constructed between the Loop 202 interchange and McDowell Road.

The improvement project is scheduled for completion by late 2016.

Other features of the Loop 101 Improvement Project include:

• The addition of new merge lanes between the interchanges at Indian Bend Road and McDonald Drive.
• New lighting and signs.
• New landscaping, including the use of hundreds of salvaged cacti and other plants that will be kept in temporary nurseries.
• Wider freeway bridges and realigned on- and off-ramps.
• A new layer of smooth rubberized asphalt added across all lanes of the wider freeway.

Initial work requiring Loop 101 closures or lane restrictions will focus on the removal of some older sign structures, the placement of temporary barrier walls for crews to work behind and the relocation of fiber optic cables and other components that will be used for improvements to the freeway management system of traffic cameras, ramp meters, traffic-flow sensors and overhead message boards.

Drivers are urged to plan ahead for restrictions, including overnight and weekend closures, as well as a lower speed limit of 55 mph within the work zone.

The Loop 101 Improvement Project between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 is funded through the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

Stay tuned … we’ll blog more about this project as work progresses.

The wait is over and now the new Loop 101 HOV-lane ramps are open at Maryland Avenue in Glendale...

Not that it was a particularly long wait – work only started about five months ago. This accelerated project was built using the Design-Build method of contracting, which can yield big results in a short amount of time by pairing the design team with the construction team from start to finish.

“We worked very closely with the city of Glendale and the Maricopa Association of Governments in making sure that the funding was lined up,” explains ADOT Public Information Officer Doug Nintzel in the video above. “Then we made sure we were on a fast track with construction because the goal was we were going to complete these ramps in time for the 2014 Cardinals season and certainly in time for Super Bowl 2015”.

What drivers will now experience

The new ramps were designed to improve access in and out of the Westgate Entertainment District and the area's sports facilities (that includes the University of Phoenix Stadium and Jobing.com Arena).

All four ramps connect to the center of the Maryland Avenue bridge via the Loop 101 HOV lanes.

HOV lane refresher

Like all HOV lanes, the new ramps are only open to vehicles carrying two or more people, as well as other approved vehicles during weekday rush hour periods of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The ramps (and all HOV lanes) are open to all vehicles at other times, including weekends.

Remember when we first told you about the Loop 101 freeway ramp project that’s under construction out in the West Valley?

It was just back in November, but already work is now around 80 percent complete. Since this project is moving fast, we thought now would be a good time to share some recent photos from the site.

Of course, Loop 101 drivers in Glendale already know what this project looks like – they’ve got a front-row view of progress being made on the new freeway ramps that will connect with the Maryland Avenue Bridge near University of Phoenix Stadium.

More on the project

In one of the latest milestones, crews have attached all four of the ramps to the bridge. The ramps are connected to the bridge via the freeway's HOV lanes.

The project remains on schedule for completion by spring.

The project, designed to provide additional access points in the Westgate area, will be finished well ahead of the Arizona Cardinals' 2014 season and Super Bowl XLIX early next year. The work started last October.

ADOT is managing the construction of the $11.7 million project, which is supported by the city of Glendale and paid for with regional transportation funds from the Maricopa Association of Governments.

You can learn more about the project on our website or by checking out our previous blog post.

If you’ve driven in the West Valley recently, it’s likely you have noticed the work that’s occurring on Loop 101 near Maryland Avenue…

In particular, you’ve probably seen the columns that have sprouted up in the work zone (if your commute doesn’t take you to Glendale, see the photos above for a look at what it is we’re referring to).

What you’re seeing is construction on a project that got its start just last month.

Once it’s finished, motorists will have a brand new travel option when visiting Westgate City Center, the University of Phoenix Stadium and Jobing.com Arena.

Loop 101 HOV ramps

In partnership with the city of Glendale, ADOT is adding a new Loop 101 HOV lane on- and off-ramps to connect with the existing Maryland Avenue overpass.

The project also includes a new traffic signal where the HOV ramps meet on Maryland Avenue.

Work is scheduled for completion in spring 2014 (click for larger view).

The project is on a fast timeline and is scheduled for completion in spring 2014. Work is on an accelerated track because the design-build method of contracting has been selected as the best alternative for the project.

Overhead Roadway View

HOV lane refresher

Like all HOV lanes, the new ramps (once they're finished) will be restricted to vehicles carrying two or more people, as well as other approved vehicles during weekday rush hour periods of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Once construction is complete, the ramps will be open to all vehicles at other times, including weekends.

What to watch for

You’ll remember from this blog post that the design-build method can yield big results in a relatively small amount of time by pairing the design team with the construction team from start to finish.

During construction, the north and southbound Loop 101 HOV lane between Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue will be closed. Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling in the work zone.

For the latest on the project, including traffic alerts, please visit the project Web page.