Subject: Driver Alert! Use alternate routes to avoid weekend freeway closures and restrictions (Feb. 10-13) Date: Thursday, February 09, 2006 6:00 PM Driver Alert! Use alternate routes to avoid weekend freeway closures and restrictions (Feb. 10-13) Freeway improvement projects will continue this weekend (Feb. 10-13) in the Phoenix area. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes where possible to avoid the following closures or restrictions: * Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) will be closed between Priest Drive and Scottsdale Road in the Tempe area from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 13) for work to prepare the freeway for rubberized asphalt resurfacing in the next few months. Eastbound Loop 202 traffic will exit and go north on Priest Drive, southeast on Van Buren St., east on Curry Rd. and south on Scottsdale Rd. to reconnect with the freeway. Drivers are urged to consider using eastbound I-10 and eastbound US 60 as alternate routes this weekend. To avoid traffic backups on the eastbound Loop 202, drivers also are encouraged to exit onto southbound State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) to eastbound I-10 and US 60. * Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley closed in both directions between Glendale Ave. and Camelback Rd. from 3:30 a.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday. Crews will place the concrete girders for the new Maryland Avenue overpass. Traffic will detour to 99th Avenue to travel beyond the freeway closure. Drivers are encouraged to exit the freeway well ahead of the closure and use alternate routes. * Westbound Interstate 10 (near downtown Phoenix) narrowed to one lane between Washington and 7th streets from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 11) for overhead sign replacement work. Westbound I-10 drivers are encouraged to detour onto northbound I-17 near Sky Harbor Airport and reconnect with I-10 at the Stack interchange north of Van Buren Street. The ramps from westbound Loop 202 and southbound SR 51 to westbound I-10 will remain open but drivers should be prepared for slow traffic in the area. * Westbound Interstate 10 (in the Ahwatukee area) will be closed at Ray Road from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 11) for overhead sign maintenance work. The ramp from westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to westbound I-10 also will be closed. Traffic on westbound I-10 can detour east on the Loop 202 (Santan Freeway), go north on the Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and west on US 60 (Superstition Freeway) to reconnect with westbound I-10. * 99th Avenue (in the Sun City area) will be closed in both directions at Grand Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 13) for paving during an ongoing intersection improvement project. Grand Avenue will remain open, but no turns will be allowed from Grand onto 99th Avenue. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, including 91st and 103rd avenues, while 99th Avenue is closed. For a complete listing of Arizona highway restrictions, visit http://www.az511.comor call 5-1-1.