South Mountain Freeway

South Mountain Freeway open house May 22 on potential 32nd Street interchange

South Mountain Freeway open house May 22 on potential 32nd Street interchange

I-17 101 traffic interchange

South Mountain Freeway open house May 22 on potential 32nd Street interchange

South Mountain Freeway open house May 22 on potential 32nd Street interchange

May 16, 2018

PHOENIX – An open house Tuesday, May 22, in Ahwatukee will allow attendees to view renderings and provide feedback on a 32nd Street traffic interchange the Arizona Department of Transportation is considering for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

ADOT and project representatives will be available from 6-8 p.m. in the Desert Vista High School cafeteria at 16440 S. 32nd St., Phoenix.

While there will be no formal presentation, attendees will be able to speak one-on-one with project staff about the 32nd Street interchange environmental study, which began in February. They also can complete a questionnaire.

In addition, representatives of Connect 202 Partners, the developer building the freeway, will be available to answer construction-related questions.

For those unable to attend, there are still plenty of ways to provide feedback through June 4, including:

A similar open house is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, in Laveen regarding a South Mountain Freeway interchange being considered at Ivanhoe Street.

The latest project information is available via the project website at SouthMountainFreeway.com, email and text updates (click “Subscribe for Updates” on the project website), and the project hotline numbers (1.855.763.5202, or para Español, 623.239.4558).

The 22-mile freeway, expected to open by 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, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

Estrella Drive west of 51st Ave. closing for South Mountain Freeway construction

Estrella Drive west of 51st Ave. closing for South Mountain Freeway construction

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Estrella Drive west of 51st Ave. closing for South Mountain Freeway construction

Estrella Drive west of 51st Ave. closing for South Mountain Freeway construction

May 16, 2018

PHOENIX – Estrella Drive west of 51st Avenue in Laveen will close Monday, May 21, for construction of a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange.

The closure, which runs through November, will allow crews to accelerate construction of one of 13 interchanges planned for the South Mountain Freeway.

A similar extended closure enabled crews to complete an Elliot Road overpass in Laveen two months ago.

The Estrella Drive interchange will have an innovative modern roundabout design that minimizes its footprint while moving traffic efficiently and safely. Based on projected traffic volumes and the freeway’s alignment through the area, ADOT determined roundabouts to be a better option than a conventional diamond interchange for this location.

In order to build the Estrella Drive traffic interchange, construction crews will complete the following work:

  • Build 100-foot-long freeway bridge over Estrella Drive
  • Construct two roundabouts to improve access to the freeway
  • Install underground utilities and drainage structures
  • Place foundations for traffic signals and lighting

During the closure, local traffic will be detoured to Elliot Road between 51st Avenue and Barehand Road/67th Avenue.

Crews already have relocated utilities and constructed bridge columns that will support the bridge.

The South Mountain Freeway, which is slated to open 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.

For more information on the South Mountain Freeway, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

ADOT considering two additional interchanges for South Mountain Freeway

ADOT considering two additional interchanges for South Mountain Freeway

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT considering two additional interchanges for South Mountain Freeway

ADOT considering two additional interchanges for South Mountain Freeway

May 2, 2018

PHOENIX – Based on community input since the start of construction, the Arizona Department of Transportation is considering two additional interchanges for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.
Two open houses are scheduled this month as part of the environmental study process on possible interchanges at 32nd Street in Ahwatukee and at Ivanhoe Street, located between the Ahwatukee and Laveen areas

Community members can view renderings and provide feedback by completing a questionnaire in person. Staff from Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, will answer questions regarding construction updates on Pecos and Center segments of the freeway:

  • 32nd Street Traffic Interchange Study/Pecos Segment Construction Update Open House: Tuesday, May 22,  Desert Vista High School, Cafeteria, 16440 S. 32nd St., Phoenix
  • Ivanhoe Street Traffic Interchange Study/Center Segment Construction Update Open House: Wednesday, May 30, Laveen Elementary School District Office, Building A, 5001 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix

 

32nd-street-ti-rendering-050218

Both open houses are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. There is no formal presentation. The public can speak one-on-one with project staff about the studies and learn more about construction progress to date and what to expect for the rest of the year.

Those unable to attend the open houses can provide feedback through June 4 via channels including: 

 

ivanhoe-street-ti-rendering-050218

The latest project information is available via the project website at SouthMountainFreeway.com, email and text updates (click “Subscribe for Updates” on the project website), and the project hotline numbers (1.855.763.5202, or para Español, 623.239.4558). 

The 22-mile freeway, expected to open by 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, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

First I-10 access road to open Wednesday as South Mountain Freeway progresses

First I-10 access road to open Wednesday as South Mountain Freeway progresses

I-17 101 traffic interchange

First I-10 access road to open Wednesday as South Mountain Freeway progresses

First I-10 access road to open Wednesday as South Mountain Freeway progresses

April 30, 2018

PHOENIX – A newly-built roadway adjacent to Interstate 10 in the West Valley will open to traffic this week, restoring 59th Avenue access after Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway construction required a permanent shift in traffic flow.

After the westbound I-10 off-ramp at 59th Avenue was closed and removed last month to make room for connecting ramps leading to and from the new freeway-to-freeway interchange, I-10 westbound motorists looking to access 59th Avenue have been forced to exit the freeway at 51st Avenue and detour to connect with 59th Avenue.

Beginning early Wednesday morning, May 2, westbound I-10 motorists will be able to bypass that detour and instead use the new two-lane access road that runs parallel to I-10 and reestablishes direct freeway access to 59th Avenue.

The first leg of the westbound I-10 access road between 51st and 59th avenues will open May 2. Then, following this weekend’s closure of westbound I-10 between 51st and 67th avenues for bridge construction (May 4-7), the westbound access road between 59th and 67th avenues will open.

wb-i-10-access-road-photo-2
Later this summer, the Arizona Department of Transportation and Connect 202 Partners, the South Mountain Freeway developer, will close the access road between 59th and 67th avenues for an extended period to replace the temporary ramp connector and construct a permanent ramp connector.

As part of this work, which began in late January, several I-10 ramps must be reconstructed to tie into a wider I-10 that will include connecting ramps to and from the South Mountain Freeway when it opens in late 2019.

Long-term and permanent closures of existing on-and-off ramps are necessary between 51st and 67th avenues until all of the new two-mile-long access roads are completed by fall 2018. The eastbound I-10 access roads are currently under construction.

The 22-mile 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.

#FridayFive: Hollywood movie starts, nosy pooches and wrong-way detection

#FridayFive: Hollywood movie starts, nosy pooches and wrong-way detection

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#FridayFive: Hollywood movie starts, nosy pooches and wrong-way detection

#FridayFive: Hollywood movie starts, nosy pooches and wrong-way detection

April 27, 2018
South Mountain Freeway: Salt River Bridges - April 2018

By David Woodfill / ADOT Communications

In this week's Friday Five blog post, transportation officials from other states visited Arizona to witness our strides in developing wrong-way detection technology.

We also stumped you with a new "Where in AZ??" brain teaser and showed some of the latest pictures of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway construction, which can be seen above.

Then Rubble the dog evaluated our work at one of those construction sites. (He approved.)

Finally, we time-traveled to 1978 when Hollywood royalty and high-flying aerobatics converged at the Phoenix Deer Valley Municipal Airport. You'll never guess the movie star who attended that show and included some of the footage in one of his old movies.

Don’t forget to follow the hashtag #FridayFive on social media to see what others are sharing from their week.


Peer Exchange Event

1. Other states are looking to the Arizona Department of Transportation as they consider adopting wrong-way driver detection technology.

This week, we hosted law enforcement and transportation officials from California, Florida and Texas who wanted to learn more about our pilot test of wrong-way vehicle detection and warning system on Interstate 17 in Phoenix. The system is the first in the nation to use thermal detection cameras to identify vehicles that are traveling in the wrong direction.


2018-0427

Where in AZ??

2. A road, a hill and a 10 percent gradient-warning sign were the only clues we gave you in this week's "Where in AZ??" challenge.

Dustin Powers was the first on Facebook to guess the correct location, which was State Route 177 a few miles south of Superior on the road to Ray, Kearny and Winkelman.

Congratulations Dustin! You have a photographic memory that would put Vegas' best card sharks to shame.


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Dog at the SMF construction Site

3. Rubble on the double! A cute member of the PAW Patrol oversaw some of our work on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

A quick-thinking member of ADOT's Traffic Operations Center got a picture of this little pooch showing a weird level of interest in the goings-on at the future L-202 and I-10 interchange near 59th Avenue and Interstate 10 in Phoenix.

Cute as he may be, he still has to apply at the state's official web site for job postings if he wants to be an ADOT employee. We suggest he try for the position of foreman.


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SMF Construction

4. We revisited more construction sites for the South Mountain Freeway and got some impressive pictures, which we shared this week. They included the slideshow presentation featured above. Thumb through it to watch as crews set in place some extremely long girders to create two half-mile bridges that will span the Salt River.

If you don't get your fill, there's plenty more to explore on the South Mountain Freeway Flickr page.


2018-0426

Festival of Flight Airshow

5. For Throwback Thursday, we remembered the 1978 Festival of Flight airshow at the Phoenix Deer Valley Municipal Airport.

One of the silver screen's biggest stars at the time visited the Valley and filmed scenes for a now-obscure 1980 movie. Another actor was so impressed by what he saw that he later earned his pilot’s license.

Eastbound I-10 exit ramp at 59th Avenue to close permanently

Eastbound I-10 exit ramp at 59th Avenue to close permanently

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Eastbound I-10 exit ramp at 59th Avenue to close permanently

Eastbound I-10 exit ramp at 59th Avenue to close permanently

April 26, 2018

PHOENIX – As work progresses on an interchange to connect the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway with Interstate 10 in the West Valley, another I-10 ramp will close to make room for the improvements.

The eastbound I-10 off-ramp at 59th Avenue will close permanently at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 29, as the Arizona Department of Transportation moves forward with replacing the existing I-10/59th Avenue traffic interchange and building new access roads between 51st and 67th avenues.

As an alternative, motorists should consider exiting eastbound I-10 at 67th or 51st avenues until the new I-10 access road between 67th and 59th avenues is completed in mid-May, which will provide future access to 59th Avenue.

This is one of several I-10 ramps that need to be removed permanently or reconstructed to tie into a wider I-10 that will include connecting ramps to and from the South Mountain Freeway when it opens late 2019.

Long-term and permanent closures of existing on-and-off ramps are necessary between 51st and 67th avenues until all of the new access roads are completed by fall 2018. Motorists will be able to access 59th Avenue from these new roadways.

Work schedules and restrictions are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. 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.

Pictures aplenty show our progress on the South Mountain Freeway

Pictures aplenty show our progress on the South Mountain Freeway

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Pictures aplenty show our progress on the South Mountain Freeway

Pictures aplenty show our progress on the South Mountain Freeway

April 23, 2018
South Mountain Freeway: Salt River Bridges - April 2018

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

A project as large as the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway makes for some impressive pictures, including the slideshow above produced as crews set extremely long girders to create two half-mile bridges that will span the Salt River.

There's plenty more to explore on the South Mountain Freeway Flickr page – 31 albums in all, from the start of construction on the 17th Avenue interchange to showcasing colors and designs to be used on interchanges and walls to creating the I-10 interchange in the West Valley.

You'll see some videos there as well, including this one showing one of the long, long Salt River bridge girders arriving at the construction site.

Plan ahead to avoid westbound I-10 weekend closure west of downtown Phoenix

Plan ahead to avoid westbound I-10 weekend closure west of downtown Phoenix

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Plan ahead to avoid westbound I-10 weekend closure west of downtown Phoenix

Plan ahead to avoid westbound I-10 weekend closure west of downtown Phoenix

April 19, 2018

PHOENIX – Motorists traveling to the West Valley this weekend should allow extra travel time and  plan ahead to avoid a closure of westbound Interstate 10 (Papago Freeway) at 51st Avenue due to construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Beginning 10 p.m. Friday, April 20, westbound I-10 between 51st and 59th avenues will be closed until 5 a.m. Monday, April 23. The closure will ensure a 100-foot crane can safely remove temporary structures used to support a concrete structure, also known as a straddle bent, for a future flyover bridge that will connect to the South Mountain Freeway.

With heavy traffic and delays expected, ADOT recommends drivers consider alternate routes, such as the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) west of I-17.

During the closure, westbound I-10 traffic will be able to exit the freeway at 51st Avenue. Westbound traffic will be detoured to McDowell Road and can return to westbound I-10 at 59th Avenue. The westbound I-10 on-ramps at 35th and 43rd avenues will also be closed as well to help reduce backups.

A second weekend closure (May 4-7) will be needed for additional bridge construction.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, expected to open by 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 the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov or call 511.

Rock removal to start on next phase of South Mountain Freeway construction

Rock removal to start on next phase of South Mountain Freeway construction

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Rock removal to start on next phase of South Mountain Freeway construction

Rock removal to start on next phase of South Mountain Freeway construction

April 18, 2018

PHOENIX ‒ Controlled rock blasting for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway west of 32nd Lane is scheduled to begin Thursday, April 19, requiring brief closures of a road leading to a residential development currently under construction.

Periodic closures of Shaughnessey Road are expected to last approximately 30 minutes, as crews need to secure and clear the area before breaking large rock into smaller, more manageable pieces to create a path for the freeway through two ridges at the southwestern edge of South Mountain Park.

All controlled rock blasts will be scheduled during daylight hours through early 2019. Message boards will provide advance notice of any traffic restrictions.

There will be no more than one closure per day, and the work will comply with safety standards established by the city of Phoenix and the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

South Mountain Freeway construction in the Center segment, a 3-mile portion of the freeway between 51st Avenue and 32nd Lane, began in March with work to install right-of-way fencing, salvage trees and cactuses and assess the soil, rock and depth of groundwater along the freeway alignment.

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 at SouthMountainFreeway.com.

Salt River bridges reaching new heights, construction is two-thirds complete

Salt River bridges reaching new heights, construction is two-thirds complete

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Salt River bridges reaching new heights, construction is two-thirds complete

Salt River bridges reaching new heights, construction is two-thirds complete

April 11, 2018

PHOENIX – The longest bridges on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, two half-mile-long spans over the Salt River, are quickly emerging in Laveen. Construction is now two-thirds complete on these bridges, which will serve growing areas of the southwest Valley when the freeway opens by late 2019.

Travelers in this area currently have access to just one all-weather crossing of the Salt River between 35th Avenue and Avondale Boulevard: the city of Phoenix’s 51st Avenue bridge. When the Salt River flows, significant traffic congestion occurs, particularly along 51st Avenue.

smf-salt-river-bridges-girder-placement-photo
Since work began in February 2017, crews have completed all piers and abutments that will support the 2,700-foot-long bridges. Meanwhile, work is progressing on the bridges’ girders, decks and railings.

The concrete girders, which are manufactured locally, are the longest precast girders ever installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Each weighs 169,000 pounds and is 170 feet long.

Once the girders are transported to the construction site, two large cranes work in tandem to hoist and methodically place them, with some girders needing to be lifted more than 50 feet above the riverbank.

smf-salt-river-bridge-side-view-photo

To date, 238 of 292 girders have been set.

By fall 2018, after all the girders are in place and the bridge deck’s surface is finished, construction equipment will be able to travel across the bridges for the first time, aiding earthwork needed to build the freeway mainline. Connect 202 Partners, the developer of the South Mountain Freeway, will then haul more than 700,000 cubic yards of dirt material across the bridge to locations north of the Salt River.

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 information on the project, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.