Contact: Doug Nintzel
Phone: (602) 712-7399

Weekend freeway closures in Phoenix area (Oct. 7-10); Drivers  ncouraged to use alternate routes

Freeway improvement projects will require some closures for Phoenix area drivers to watch out for this weekend (Oct. 7-10).  Drivers are asked to use alternate routes while the following freeway closures are in place:

* Northbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) will be closed between Interstate 10 and Glendale Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Oct. 10) while crews replace bridge deck joints along the freeway.  The ramps from I-10 and westbound Loop 202 to northbound SR 51 also will be closed.  Drivers can use 7th, 16th and 24th streets as alternate northbound routes before connecting with SR 51 via Glendale Avenue/Lincoln Drive.  Motorists also should consider using northbound Interstate 17 as an alternate freeway route this weekend.  Southbound SR 51 will remain open to traffic.

* Eastbound Interstate 10 will be closed between 16th and Washington streets from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 8) for work to replace overhead signs along the freeway.  The eastbound I-10 ramps leading to eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and northbound SR 51 also will be closed.  Eastbound I-10 traffic will need to exit at 16th street, travel south to Jefferson Street and go east on Jefferson before reconnecting with I-10.  Drivers on eastbound I-10 also should consider detouring onto southbound I-17 at the Stack interchange (near 27th Ave.) and reconnecting with I-10 near Sky Harbor Airport.

* Southbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley will be closed between Northern Avenue and Indian School Road from 4 a.m. Sunday to    5 a.m. Monday (Oct. 10).  Weather permitting, crews will resurface the freeway with quieter rubberized asphalt.  Traffic will exit southbound Loop 101 at Northern Avenue and detour along southbound 99th Avenue before returning to the Loop 101 on eastbound Indian School Road.

For more information about freeway and highway restrictions across Arizona visit www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. 

-30-