Loop 303

Improvements at Loop 303/Grand Avenue interchange start July 29

Improvements at Loop 303/Grand Avenue interchange start July 29

Improvements at Loop 303/Grand Avenue interchange start July 29

July 26, 2024

Work to add lanes, traffic capacity will require restrictions

PHOENIX – Work to add interim improvements at and near the Loop 303 interchange with Grand Avenue (US 60) in Surprise is scheduled to start Monday night, July 29, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Crews will extend a second lane along the northbound Loop 303 off-ramp at Grand Avenue, providing additional room for traffic exiting the freeway. The capacity improvements along the exit ramp will allow for two left-turn lanes to westbound Grand Avenue, a lane allowing turns in either direction and a dedicated right-turn lane for drivers who want to go east on US 60.

The northbound Loop 303 off-ramp at Grand Avenue will be closed overnight from 10 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, while crews are setting temporary barrier walls for a work zone. Drivers can consider exiting northbound Loop 303 to eastbound Bell Road and using northbound Reems Road to reach Grand Avenue.

Following Monday night’s closure, Loop 303 drivers should plan for work zone restrictions along the northbound off-ramp to Grand Avenue over the next several months.

Other interim improvements to be constructed as part of ADOT’s $4.6 million project include providing a third eastbound US 60 lane near 163rd Avenue. A third left-turn lane will be added for southbound 163rd Avenue traffic turning onto eastbound US 60.

The work is scheduled for completion by spring 2025.

For more information about the project visit azdot.gov/us60-303-upgrades.

Loop 303 - US 60 Interim Improvements Map (ADOT July 2024)

ADOT project adding two Loop 303 interchanges wins regional award

ADOT project adding two Loop 303 interchanges wins regional award

ADOT project adding two Loop 303 interchanges wins regional award

July 15, 2024

America’s Transportation Awards cites community development benefits

PHOENIX – A recent Arizona Department of Transportation project that constructed Loop 303 interchanges at 43rd and 51st avenues near Interstate 17 is a winner in the 2024 America’s Transportation Awards competition that includes a focus on community development.

The $70 million Loop 303 project earned a West Region award in the “Quality of Life/Community Development, Medium Project” category in the national competition among state departments of transportation. The competition is sponsored by AASHTO, an association representing highway and transportation departments nationwide, as well as AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

ADOT partnered with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the regional transportation planning agency, and city of Phoenix to accelerate construction of the Loop 303 bridges and ramps to address current and future traffic growth near the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in the north Valley. The interchanges were completed in September 2023, several years sooner than originally planned.

“This project is an example of great teamwork and cooperation among partnering organizations,” said ADOT’s Central District Administrator Randy Everett. “It took a lot of hard work by staff at MAG, city of Phoenix, ADOT and the contractor, Fisher Sand and Gravel, to deliver this project on the accelerated schedule.”

The award was presented this week at the annual meeting of WASHTO, which represents departments of transportation in the West.

Construction of new Loop 303 interchanges at 43rd and 51st avenues was funded through the dedicated Proposition 400 half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004. The project is part of the Phoenix area’s Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan managed by MAG.

The new interchanges were designed to help manage future transportation needs in the area, support the Phoenix area’s growing semiconductor footprint and its supply chain, and allow for community development, including businesses and services.

ADOT manages the construction and maintenance of nearly 7,000 miles of state highways, including Phoenix-area freeways. Project information is available at azdot.gov/projects.

Plan on weekend restrictions, delays along US 60 in the Surprise area

Plan on weekend restrictions, delays along US 60 in the Surprise area

Plan on weekend restrictions, delays along US 60 in the Surprise area

May 3, 2024

Pavement sealing work taking place on Grand Ave west of Loop 303

PHOENIX – If you have travel plans along Grand Avenue (US 60) in the Surprise area this weekend (May 4-5), be sure to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes while pavement sealing work is taking place.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is doing the work to extend the lifespan of the existing US 60 asphalt pavement in the area west of Loop 303.

The following US 60 restrictions are scheduled:

Grand Avenue narrowed to one lane in both directions between 163rd Avenue (west of Loop 303) and Center Street (Wittmann area) from 11 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday (May 4) and from 11 p.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Sunday (May 5) for pavement sealing work. The Deer Valley Road connection to US 60 will be closed. Temporary closures of other cross streets will be needed for work at intersections. Detours: Westbound US 60 drivers can use northbound Loop 303 to northbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and westbound State Route 74. Eastbound US 60 drivers (from Wickenburg) can consider using eastbound SR 74 to southbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and southbound Loop 303 to reach Grand Avenue (US 60). Local drivers near 163rd Avenue can consider alternate routes including eastbound Happy Valley Road to access Loop 303/Happy Valley Parkway.

Similar restrictions are scheduled the weekend of May 11-12 along US 60 between Center Street in Wittmann and SR 74.
Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov and via the AZ511 app (download free for Apple and Android devices). ADOT also provides highway condition updates via its X/Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT.

Loop 303 restricted at night July 17-20 near Northern Ave.

Loop 303 restricted at night July 17-20 near Northern Ave.

Loop 303 restricted at night July 17-20 near Northern Ave.

July 14, 2023

Pavement maintenance will narrow freeway to one lane in each direction

PHOENIX – Loop 303 is scheduled to be narrowed to one lane in both directions near Northern Avenue Monday through Thursday nights, July 17-20, for pavement maintenance, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should allow extra travel time and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when the following restrictions are in place:

Loop 303 narrowed to one lane in each direction in areas near the Northern Avenue and Northern Parkway interchanges from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights, July 17-20. On- and off-ramps in the area will remain open to traffic.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov. ADOT also provides highway condition updates via its Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT.

Public meetings set for May 10-11 about Loop 303 segment south of I-10 in West Valley

Public meetings set for May 10-11 about Loop 303 segment south of I-10 in West Valley

Public meetings set for May 10-11 about Loop 303 segment south of I-10 in West Valley

May 3, 2023

ADOT to host meetings about planned Van Buren Street to MC 85 project

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold two public meetings next week (May 10 and May 11) to provide information, gather comments and answer questions about plans for a new four-mile segment of Loop 303 south of Interstate 10 in the Goodyear area.

The meeting on May 10 will be held at Desert Edge High School while a virtual meeting is scheduled on May 11.

The Loop 303 project, currently in design with construction targeted to start in 2025, would build three lanes in each direction between Van Buren Street and Lower Buckeye Road and two lanes in each direction between Lower Buckeye Road and Maricopa County 85. Other additions, including new or improved interchange connections, also are planned.

The May 10 in-person meeting details are as follows:

When: Wednesday, May 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (presentation at 6 p.m.)
Where: Desert Edge High School Cafeteria, 15778 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear

The May 11 virtual meeting details are as follows:

When: Thursday, May 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Join online (Zoom): tinyurl.com/4vzn6thr (Meeting ID: 873 8781 5425)
Join by phone: For English call 669.900.6833
Join by phone: For Spanish call 866.730.7514 (PIN number 984619#)
Register for the meeting (optional) at https://surveymonkey.com/r/Z96V8XY

For more information visit the project website at azdot.gov/L303-MC85-VanBuren. For those not able to attend the meetings, presentation slides will be posted to the project website prior to the May 10 in-person meeting. Public comments can be submitted through May 25 via an online form at azdot.gov/L303MC85-VanBuren-CommentForm or through other methods, which are listed on the website.

The project is scheduled as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Freeway Plan. Projects are funded in part by Proposition 400, a dedicated sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

Crews are lifting heavy objects along Loop 303 in north Peoria

Crews are lifting heavy objects along Loop 303 in north Peoria

Crews are lifting heavy objects along Loop 303 in north Peoria

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications

June 8, 2021

There are often times when progress on freeway construction takes place without much notice. That’s likely the case along a stretch of Loop 303 in north Peoria, where ADOT is managing a project to widen the freeway.

I’m guessing that many of you aren’t Loop 303 drivers - at least not on a regular basis. So you may not know that the freeway is being widened to three lanes in each direction between Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant parkways. We anticipate that the $20.3 million project will be completed early next year.

In addition to adding the new lanes, however, there is some major bridge construction taking place north of Happy Valley Parkway. Before you know it these bridges will carry Loop 303 traffic over the Beardsley Canal and over a traffic interchange that will provide a connection for the city of Peoria’s future Jomax Parkway.

Crews using large cranes recently lifted the girders into place for the bridges at the Jomax Parkway interchange. That’s no small feat, since each of the 28 girders is approximately 120 feet long and weighs about 90 tons. As our series of photos here shows, the girders are placed in 14 rows and secured with temporary bracing by the bridge builders. More recently, girders have been lifted into place for the freeway bridges over Beardsley Canal.

Since Loop 303 opened to traffic in this area in 2012, drivers in some locations actually have been using temporary lanes to the outside of the corridor (including areas where on- and off-ramps will be located). Plans have called for the current construction project to add the permanent mainline lanes of the freeway in areas like the Jomax Parkway interchange and Beardsley Canal crossing. So that’s why the bridges are being built now.

If you’ve been driving through that area and wondering, “Why are they building that bridge there?,” maybe this helps answer that question. It’s really about the “buildout” of the Loop 303’s lanes and looking ahead to the city of Peoria’s work to connect a new stretch of Jomax Parkway starting at Vistancia Boulevard and traveling down to the freeway.

As always, no matter the location, ADOT asks that you stay alert when approaching and traveling through all work zones. Please take that responsibility seriously. We’re looking out for you and your passengers. We hope you’re doing the same for those who are hard at work on Arizona’s growing transportation system.

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'C' is for new cameras along Loop 303

'C' is for new cameras along Loop 303

'C' is for new cameras along Loop 303

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

February 10, 2021

Being the transportation geeks that we are, we get excited about a lot of things: Box culverts, Bid-Wells, bridge girders, etc. And that's just the Bs!

But if we moved down into the Cs, we find something else that makes us excited that we think you will like too: cameras.

As you are probably aware, ADOT has a network of more than 400 cameras statewide, with the majority being along the major freeways in Phoenix and Tucson. We use these traffic cameras to help manage traffic. When the ADOT Traffic Operations Center is notified of a freeway incident, dispatchers use our camera system to search for the incident. Once it's spotted, appropriate personnel are dispatched. Often Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers will be dispatched for a crash, but you may see a sweeper sent out to clean debris from the freeway or an ADOT Incident Response Unit helping set up traffic control.

Additionally, those feeds are provided to the public through az511.gov, so you can check traffic and/or weather conditons along your chosen route before you go. You can even set up personalized routes with just the cameras that matter to your daily commute.

So being able to see as much as possible along a freeway is a win-win for everyone.

That's why we are excited that az511 is now displaying nearly 20 new cameras along the Loop 303 between Northern and the I-17 junction. Folks wanting to get the skinny on what's happening near Grand Avenue, Happy Valley Road or Lake Pleasant Parkway can now pull up a camera and take a look.

Even if you don't live in the northwest Valley, go ahead and check out the new cameras. And, if you are so inclined, let us know how you like them on Twitter at azdot.gov/ArizonaDOT. If you mostly access information using your mobile device, you can also see our cameras by downloading the AZ 511 app.

Alright, now that we covered cameras, we can move into other "C" things we get excited about, such as curing compounds, climbing lanes, chip seals...

Oh, no longer interested? That's okay; go ahead and enjoy the new cameras!

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Loop 303 is latest freeway to get life-extending pavement treatment

Loop 303 is latest freeway to get life-extending pavement treatment

Loop 303 is latest freeway to get life-extending pavement treatment

September 27, 2018

PHOENIX – A long stretch of Loop 303 is the latest to undergo an oil-based treatment to extend the life of the pavement on Valley freeways.

Completed in less than a day over this past weekend, this work represents the most miles of freeway pavement the Arizona Department of Transportation has ever refreshed in a single fog seal project. In all, 21 miles of Loop 303 from I-10 in Goodyear to Happy Valley Parkway in Peoria were treated.

“This process allows us to keep the existing rubberized asphalt pavement in place while saving valuable state highway funds for other improvements,” said Steve Boschen, who directs ADOT’s Infrastructure Delivery and Operations Division. “Similar to changing the oil in your car at regular intervals, this extends the life of the pavement.”

In the past two years, other stretches of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, Loop 101 and State Route 51, have also been refreshed with the pavement sealant.

These projects have benefited from employee innovations that help limit how long freeways need to be closed for fog sealing.

For example, ADOT maintenance crews fashioned large diamond-shaped metal covers that are lifted into place by workers in trucks to protect HOV-lane pavement markers when the oil-based sealant is being applied along carpool lanes. This “reverse stencil” saves time and avoids the expense of repainting HOV-lane markers at an estimated cost of $310 each.

ADOT focused on advance planning and assigning adequate resources to limit the length of closures needed for the Loop 303 improvement. Working from both ends of the project’s limits, crews finished applying the pavement seal coat in a matter of hours using a fleet of tank trucks equipped with spray nozzles.

The team also quickly picked up barricades as segments of Loop 303 were ready to reopen in stages during the day. The entire freeway reopened two hours ahead of schedule.

“This was a huge team effort with preparations that started months ago,” said Randy Everett, ADOT’s Central District administrator. “We focused on lessening the impacts on drivers. The timing of getting traffic back on the freeway exceeded expectations. That’s a tribute to all employees who had a hand in getting the job done.”

With 155 lane miles now treated along Loop 303, ADOT is looking ahead to additional pavement treatments in coming years.

“We’ve learned a lot about this type of project, especially when it comes to communication,” said Mark Kilian, ADOT project supervisor. “This involved a lot of coordination to get the closure information out to the public as well as key stakeholders so they could plan on using detour routes. Staff inside the ADOT Traffic Operations Center in Phoenix played a key role in tracking our progress and providing status updates.”

Information about ADOT state highway improvement projects is available at azdot.gov/projects.

Keeping you in the loop on Loop 303 plans

Keeping you in the loop on Loop 303 plans

Keeping you in the loop on Loop 303 plans

July 5, 2018

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

We’ve been working to keep the public updated on the latest developments on a Loop 303 extension. We recently hosted an open house public hearing to gather comments on the draft environmental study on plans to extend Loop 303 south between Van Buren Street and the proposed State Route 30. This included sharing the video above.

Those who attended the event were able to review the study’s findings and learn about the preferred alternative for an alignment of Loop 303 south of Van Buren, formally known as Alternative 2C South. ADOT’s project team was on hand to answer questions.

Construction could begin as early as 2020, if the preferred alternative route is formally approved.

The Loop 303 Draft Environmental Assessment and Initial Design Concept Report are available online at azdot.gov/Loop303SouthOfVanBuren. The comment period ends July 15, 2018. Comments can be mailed by July 15 to ADOT Community Relations, ATTN: Loop 303 Study, 1655 W. Jackson Street, MD 126F, Phoenix AZ 85007, or emailed to [email protected].

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Restrictions along Grand Avenue near Loop 303 start Oct. 30

Restrictions along Grand Avenue near Loop 303 start Oct. 30

Restrictions along Grand Avenue near Loop 303 start Oct. 30

October 28, 2017

PHOENIX – A two-week project to resurface areas along eastbound Grand Avenue (US 60) northwest of Loop 303 in Surprise is scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 30, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should plan on lower speed limits, lane restrictions and the closure of some median turning areas in areas between 163rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road during both day and overnight hours.

The following restrictions are scheduled:

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