Subject: Weekend freeway restrictions in the Phoenix area (Feb. 24-27); drivers urged to use alternate routes Date: Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:12 PM Weekend freeway restrictions in the Phoenix area (Feb. 24-27); drivers urged to use alternate routes February 23, 2006 Freeway improvement projects will require closures or lane restrictions in some areas over the weekend (Feb. 24-27). The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) encourages you to use alternate routes when possible to avoid traffic delays in the following areas: Westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) closed between Scottsdale Road and Priest Drive from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 27) for work to prepare the freeway for rubberized asphalt paving later this spring. The ramps from north and southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to the westbound Loop 202) (Red Mountain Freeway) also will be closed this weekend. Westbound U.S. 60 (Superstition Freeway) is the recommended alternate route this weekend. Drivers who normally would use the westbound Loop 202 to reach Sky Harbor International Airport can instead use the Loop 101 to westbound U.S. 60 (Superstition Freeway) and westbound I-10 as an alternate route to approach the airport. Traffic on the westbound Loop 202 will exit at Scottsdale Road south to University Drive and connect with the State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway). Eastbound Interstate 10 closed at Washington St. from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights (Feb. 24-25) for overhead sign replacement work. Eastbound I-10 traffic will exit and re-enter the freeway at the Washington Street interchange. Drivers on eastbound I-10 are encouraged to detour around the overnight closures by using southbound I-17 starting at the “Stack” interchange (east of 27th Avenue) and reconnecting with I-10 at the “Split” interchange near Sky Harbor Airport. Eastbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) narrowed to one lane between 51st and 27th avenues from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 25) for overhead sign work. Westbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) will be narrowed to one lane between 51st and 35th avenues 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 27) for overhead sign work. Drivers should be prepared to slow down, merge safely and give themselves extra time to travel through the work zone. Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley narrowed to one lane in each direction between Glendale Avenue and Camelback Road from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 27) for work on the new Maryland Avenue overpass. Drivers should consider using alternate routes, including 99th Avenue, to travel beyond the overnight lane restrictions. Drivers should be prepared to slow down, merge safely and give themselves extra time to travel through the work zone. For a complete list of highway closures and restrictions across Arizona visit www.az511.com or call 511.