PHOENIX – The largest structures on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project are nearly complete, with crews finishing the concrete decks of two half-mile-long bridges that will carry traffic over the Salt River in the growing southwest Valley.

Since the first deck pour in November 2017, crews have put down approximately 11,500 cubic yards of concrete to create the driving surfaces for both bridges. That’s enough concrete to build a sidewalk between downtown Phoenix and the town of Queen Creek.

After pouring the concrete, mostly during overnight hours, crews used a self-propelled concrete leveling machine called a Bid-Well to create smooth, uniform decks for the bridges, which are located midway between Broadway Road and Southern Avenue along the 59th Avenue alignment.

Now that the concrete has cured, construction equipment is able to use the bridges for the first time as Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, moves ever closer to completing work in the 22-mile-long corridor. In addition to aiding construction, using the bridges helps keep trucks off local streets as they carry asphalt and concrete to other areas of the project.

Deck construction is one of the final steps in building a bridge. Construction of the Salt River bridges began in early 2017 with substructure work creating piers and abutments to support the bridge. Crews installed 292 girders that are the largest of their kind ever used for an ADOT project.

The Salt River bridges will provide a much-needed crossing to and from Laveen, especially when the river flows, while also reducing congestion at current crossings. The city of Phoenix’s 51st Avenue bridge is currently the lone all-weather Salt River crossing between 35th Avenue and Avondale Boulevard.

Final bridge construction will include completing lighting and painting, and installing barrier walls.

Scheduled to open as early as late 2019, the South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For information on the project, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – As the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange with Interstate 10 emerges in west Phoenix, construction of the remaining ramps will require several weekend and overnight closures of I-10 during the first half of 2019, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

While there have been many weekend and overnight traffic restrictions on I-10 since major construction began on the South Mountain Freeway in 2017, the frequency of closures will pick up over the next several months as Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the 22-mile freeway, moves toward completion of the state’s largest single highway project ever.

The first such closure of 2019 is scheduled for this weekend, when eastbound I-10 will be closed between 67th and 43rd avenues from 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, to 4 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21.

During these closures, crews will complete flyover ramps for HOV lanes and the connection between westbound I-10 and southbound Loop 202.  Because portions of these structures span the width of I-10, construction can’t occur with traffic underneath.

ADOT has already made significant progress on the interchange that will eventually allow motorists to seamlessly connect between I-10 in the West Valley and a South Mountain Freeway providing a gateway to the East Valley. 

In 2018, crews completed construction of I-10 access roads that run parallel to I-10 between 51st and 67th avenues in both directions and maintain access to 59th Avenue. Last fall, crews poured the concrete deck for a 1,565-foot flyover ramp, the longest of five ramps for the interchange, that will link the South Mountain Freeway with westbound I-10.

During any I-10 closure, motorists should consider alternate routes, including the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) west of Interstate 17 or exiting I-10 sooner and taking local streets before re-entering the freeway beyond the closure points.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is temporarily closing a mile-long portion of 59th Avenue between Van Buren Street and Buckeye Road in west Phoenix to accommodate construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

The closure, which begins 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, and is scheduled to last through March, will allow work to progress on the first section of frontage roads planned for the South Mountain Freeway.

During the extended closure, crews with Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, will install underground utilities, build retaining walls, complete a bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and construct the southbound frontage road.

Once the closure is lifted, 59th Avenue traffic will be temporarily shifted onto the new southbound frontage road with one lane of traffic in each direction.

Motorists should consider alternate routes such as 51st and 67th avenues. While business access will be maintained at all times during freeway and frontage road construction, delays are likely.

The South Mountain Freeway will include 2.5-mile frontage roads to maintain northbound and southbound access to businesses and residences adjacent to the freeway between Roosevelt Street and Lower Buckeye Road. These one-way frontage roads will have two travel lanes in each direction and will have traffic signals at each major intersection.

During construction, motorists should slow down, obey the speed limit and allow extra travel time.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

You can stay informed about the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts at SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX ‒ Nearly two years after major construction began on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, construction on the state’s largest single highway project heads into the home stretch in 2019.

Progress is evident throughout the 22-mile corridor as crews put down asphalt pavement, complete bridges, build artistic sound walls and install message boards above the future travel lanes.

With design and construction of the South Mountain Freeway nearly two-thirds complete, crews have installed 20 miles of drainage pipe, laid 107,000 tons of asphalt pavement, moved 9.9 million cubic yards of dirt and used 10,800 tons of steel rebar for bridges, walls and other structures.

In 2019, construction will ramp up as the Arizona Department of Transportation and Connect 202 Partners, the developer responsible for the design and construction of the South Mountain Freeway, work to complete the freeway, which is slated to open as early as late 2019.

Some of the 2019 construction highlights include:

• Paving the entire eight-lane freeway
• Completing 40 bridges throughout the corridor, including  two half-mile-long spans over the Salt River
• Constructing two flyover HOV ramps in the I-10 median for the I-10/Loop 202 interchange
• Shifting Pecos Road traffic onto portions of the freeway mainline through Ahwatukee
• Moving 59th Avenue traffic onto newly constructed Loop 202 frontage roads between the I-10 Papago Freeway and Lower Buckeye Road
• Completing construction of Arizona’s first two diverging diamond interchanges at Desert Foothills Parkway and 17th Avenue
• Building five multi-use underpasses in the Center segment (51st Avenue to 32nd Lane) providing people and wildlife access to and from South Mountain Park

With so much Loop 202 construction to come in 2019, motorists should be prepared for periodic roadway closures and extended traffic shifts around the work zones. Slow down, obey the speed limit and consider alternate transportation options, including carpooling and public transit.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive Regional Transportation Plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

You can learn more about the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts by visiting SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – Following an extensive environmental study and evaluation, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans to add a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange at Ivanhoe Street, providing improved access to and from the Gila River Indian Community west of the freeway.

In addition, a design modification developed in coordination with those living east of the freeway alignment will provide access to the Dusty Lane community via an underpass at Ray Road, about a third of a mile northwest of Ivanhoe Street. The Ray Road crossing will be accessible from 51st Avenue and Dusty Lane after a new access road is constructed.

The planned configuration, with on- and off-ramps serving areas west of the freeway, responds to requests from members of the Dusty Lane community that an Ivanhoe Street interchange not provide direct access to the east. It also will provide additional freeway access for residents of the Gila River Indian Community while reducing traffic passing through the local roadway network.

Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, will construct the connecting ramps at Ivanhoe Street. The interchange is anticipated to open following the completion of the South Mountain Freeway, which is slated to open as early late 2019.

ADOT, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional planning agency, initiated an environmental study in spring 2018 after receiving public, local and regional stakeholder input to consider adding an Ivanhoe Street interchange. The interchange, located between Laveen and Ahwatukee in the Center Segment, will enhance regional connectivity and provide additional relief for roadways in the south Phoenix area.

In May, ADOT held a public meeting to collect feedback on the proposed interchange. The evaluation, including a record of public comments, is available at azdot.gov/IvanhoeStreetStudy.

Funding for the Ivanhoe Street interchange will come from Maricopa Association of Governments regional transportation funds and from right-of-way savings achieved through the public-private partnership finalized in February 2016 with Connect 202 Partners. The developer was tasked with developing innovative approaches for construction and engineering, including reducing the amount of property that must be acquired for the freeway.

Last month, ADOT announced plans to add a South Mountain Freeway interchange at 32nd Street following another environmental study stemming from stakeholder input. These additional interchanges will bring the total to 15 along the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – As the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway advances, bridge girders are being installed this week at two of the 14 planned traffic interchanges, marking the first time on this Arizona Department of Transportation project that these massive support beams are being set at two interchanges in the same week.

Working overnight, crews with Connect 202 Partners, the developer building the South Mountain Freeway, placed 15 steel-reinforced concrete girders over 32nd Street near Pecos Road in Ahwatukee.

Each of the girders weighs 105,000 pounds and is 116 feet long. Two large cranes carefully hoisted and set these girders atop the abutments and piers. Placing a single concrete girder can take up to one hour.

With the 32nd Street girder placement completed, the same crews will move several miles to the northwest and set an additional 16 girders over three nights at the Broadway Road overpass near 59th Avenue in Laveen. The work will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8, if weather permits.

All of the girders are manufactured locally and hauled to construction sites overnight, when traffic is lighter.

Thus far, more than 600 girders have been installed on 40 bridge structures throughout the South Mountain Freeway corridor.

With girders in place at 32nd Street and Broadway Road, crews will finish pouring concrete decks and add barrier walls on the bridges.

Last month, ADOT announced plans to add a South Mountain Freeway interchange at 32nd Street following an environmental study stemming from stakeholder input. The connecting ramps at the 32nd Street interchange will be completed after the South Mountain Freeway opens.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, which is scheduled to open as early as late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, it will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system.

You can stay informed about the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts at SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – After several months of environmental study and reevaluation, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans to add an interchange at 32nd Street for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. Previous plans had the freeway passing over 32nd Street with no direct access.

Construction of the connecting ramps will occur at a later date following the opening of the South Mountain Freeway. The additional work won’t delay the opening of the South Mountain Freeway, which is set for as early as late 2019.

ADOT, in a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional planning agency, re-initiated an environmental study in spring 2018 after receiving several requests from the public and elected officials since construction started on the South Mountain Freeway in fall 2016.

In May, ADOT hosted a public meeting to collect feedback on the proposed interchange. More than 1,700 comments were received during the study phase. The reevaluation of this interchange, including a record of public comments, is available online at www.azdot.gov/32ndStreetStudy.

At the outset of the environmental study phase of the South Mountain Freeway project in 2001, traffic interchanges were considered at all major arterial crossings, including 32nd Street. At the recommendation of a Citizen Advisory Team and city of Phoenix, the 32nd Street interchange was removed in 2005.

Adding the ramps is projected to cost approximately $10 million. The funding would be available either from right-of-way savings achieved through the public-private partnership finalized in February 2016 with Connect 202 Partners, the builder of the South Mountain Freeway, or through funding allocated by the Maricopa Association of Governments. The developer was tasked with developing innovative approaches for construction and engineering, including reducing the amount of property that must be acquired for the freeway.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – As construction advances on a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange in west Phoenix, motorists traveling through the Interstate 10 work zone will begin using lanes with a temporary concrete surface.

A closure of westbound I-10 between 43rd and 67th avenues, scheduled from 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, will allow crews to shift travel lanes to the outside, or right side, of the freeway so construction can begin in the center median. The same will occur for eastbound I-10 lanes after a closure set for the weekend of Nov. 16-18.

Crews will mill off the top inch of rubberized asphalt in this stretch to ensure a consistent surface when motorists transition between the temporary travel lanes, some of which are newly paved with the concrete surface and others milled to be at the same level. The temporary surface won’t be as smooth as one with rubberized asphalt, and milled stretches will have dark areas where rubberized asphalt has been removed.

The temporary alignment will have new striping as well as raised pavement markings. For safety, motorists should continue leaving themselves plenty of following distance and heed the reduced 55 mph speed limit in this construction zone.

The entire length of the I-10 work zone, a 4.5-mile stretch between 43rd and 75th avenues, is slated to receive a layer of rubberized asphalt in fall 2019.

The next phase of construction in this stretch includes excavation, earthwork and paving in the I-10 median, along with building the bridge structures for the HOV connection flyover ramps for the new I-10/Loop 202 interchange near 59th Avenue.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, expected to open as early as late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511.