Subject: METRO traffic restrictions update - June 28, 2007 & Weekend freeway restrictions in Phoenix and Tucson areas (June 29-July 2) Date: Thursday, June 28, 2007 8:22 PM Weekend freeway restrictions in Phoenix and Tucson areas (June 29-July 2) The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) says the following freeway restrictions are scheduled in the Phoenix and Tucson areas this weekend (June 29-July 2) and early next week: * US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed in both directions at Higley Road in Mesa from 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday (June 30) for bridge work. Freeway traffic will be detoured around the closure on the exit and entrance ramps at Higley Road. * Southbound Interstate 17 narrowed to one lane between Dixileta Drive and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday (July 3) for bridge construction project. Southbound I-17 drivers should slow down and be prepared to merge safely when approaching the work zone. * TUCSON Travel Alert: The new work zones for the Interstate 10 widening project between Prince Road and 29th Street in Tucson are now in place. I-10 is open to two lanes in each direction for “through traffic only.” On and off-ramps in area are closed. Local traffic is using the I-10 frontage roads to access cross streets. Project information is available at www.i10tucson.com or by 1.877.961.1010. For a complete listing of freeway and highway closures or restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. Don't Trash AZ! _____ Downtown Phoenix Traffic Info to Tune into … from The Traffic Lady The circus is coming to town! The Traffic Lady doesn’t want you to look like a circus clown wearing a frown as you head downtown this weekend. Tight rope walkers, magnificent tigers, dancing elephants and more will provide fun for the whole family at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at US Airways Center Thursday through Sunday. You can dodge traffic and keep a frown off your face with this great inside information from the Traffic Lady – getting you to the circus or game on time. Important Event & Construction Info: • 7th Street Restriction: Beginning Friday, 7th Street will be restricted from Van Buren to south of the bridge. Crews will be paving the intersections at Washington and Jefferson, and replacing deck joints on the bridge. Northbound and southbound travel will be maintained in the east lanes. Most traffic movements will be maintained, however vehicles traveling northbound on 7th St. will not be able to turn left on Washington. This work is expected to last through mid-July. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Fillmore or Lincoln to travel east/west, or 3rd St. to travel south and 1st St. to travel north or south. • Circus: 1st St. between Jefferson and Madison will be closed on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for circus-related activities. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Central to travel north or 3rd St. to travel south. • Building Improvement: On Saturday from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m., Jefferson St. will be closed between 1st and 3rd avenues. Use of a helicopter is necessary to lift A/C equipment to the rooftop of the Luhr’s Building. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Lincoln or Adams to travel eastbound. • Building Improvement: On Saturday from 5 a.m. – 10 a.m., 2nd Ave. will be closed between Monroe and Adams while a crane is used to lift heavy equipment to the rooftop of the AT&T building. Immediately following, Monroe will be closed between 2nd and 3rd avenues for continuation of these activities. All streets will be open by 5 p.m. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Adams or Van Buren to travel east / westbound or 3rd Ave. to travel northbound and 1st Ave. to travel southbound. • Streetscape Improvements: Taylor St. is closed between 2nd and 3rd streets through mid-August. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Fillmore or Monroe streets to travel east or westbound. • ASU Residence Hall: Taylor St. is closed between 1st and 2nd streets for the duration of this project, about 14 months. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Fillmore as an alternate. Best Way to Get Downtown? Take 7th Ave! • 7th Ave. is the best-kept secret. Yes, AVENUE. The Traffic Lady, City of Phoenix, and Diamondbacks all agree – 7th Ave. is the recommended route to beat the crowds and event traffic. Take the I-17, I-10 and SR 51 and Loop 202 (via I-10) to 7th Ave, head to Jefferson and proceed eastbound to access convenient parking. Travel Tips: • If you are entering the Copper Square area from the south, take 7th St. to Lincoln. Head west on Lincoln and north on any of the cross streets for parking. • Due to light rail construction, you may want to avoid Central and 1st avenues. Instead, take 7th Ave. or 1st or 3rd streets. • Usually take Washington into Copper Square? Consider taking 16th or 24th streets to Van Buren and go west into the Copper Square area. Resources: • For complete information on parking, traffic, events and more, check out our website at www.CopperSquare.com or call the Copper Square Ambassadors at 602-495-1500. • For media inquiries only or interviews, call the Traffic Lady directly at 602-320-9100. Have a Great Weekend! Copper Square Traffic Lady Getting you downtown without a frown! _____ METRO traffic restrictions update - June 28, 2007 Phoenix, Ariz. - Light rail vehicle testing is underway. During some testing activities, traffic will be temporarily paused at intersections. Otherwise, traffic will flow normally alongside light rail vehicles. Vehicle testing will continue in this area for the next three to six months. Learn the rules of light rail safety. Visit MetroLightRail.org/safety on the Web. Obey traffic and pedestrian crosswalk signals. Do not walk on the tracks. Use designated cross walks along Washington Street between 44th and 56th streets. Never stop your car on the tracks. Look and listen for trains at intersections because light rail trains are quiet; listen for METRO's train bell and look for the train's flashing headlights. METRO construction will continue through December 2008 when we will begin carrying passengers. Construction crews are working hard to minimize impacts on traffic and to maintain customer access to businesses. Drivers are encouraged to enter the construction zone and to continue to patronize businesses along the light rail route. All restrictions and dates are tentative and are subject to change. For more information visit the METRO Web site at MetroLightRail.org and click on the Traffic Restrictions Update link just below the construction icon. For detailed information on construction in downtown Phoenix, including maps, visit the Archer Western Contractors Web page. PHOENIX LINE SECTION 1 Ongoing restrictions Third Avenue at Camelback Road Preparation for final paving North and southbound traffic cannot cross Camelback Road; business access maintained Thru July 6 13th Avenue at Camelback Road Rail installation Southbound traffic cannot cross Camelback Road; northbound traffic will detour east or west on Camelback Road No end date set 19th Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Camelback Road, and Camelback Road between 19th and Central avenues Utilities and METRO contractor work One lane open in each direction. Left turns at intersections are restricted: pay close attention to signage. Sections of 19th Avenue will occasionally close from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. for utility work through 2008. LINE SECTION 2 New restrictions Central Avenue and Osborn Road Water and sewer pipeline installation North and southbound traffic cannot cross Osborn Road; only right turns allowed onto Osborn; east and westbound traffic cannot turn left onto Central Avenue June 29 thru July 1 Ongoing restrictions Glenrosa Avenue at Central Avenue Excavation East and westbound traffic cannot cross Central Avenue Thru June 2007 Indianola Street and Clarendon Avenue at Central Avenue Excavation for track East and westbound traffic cannot cross Central Avenue; north and southbound traffic OK Thru June 2007 Central Avenue between Camelback and McDowell roads Utility relocation, signal installation and storm drain work One lane open in each direction intermittently Ongoing LINE SECTION 3 Downtown Phoenix New restrictions Seventh Street between Van Buren and Lincoln streets Paving One lane in each direction; no left turns onto Washington Street June 29-July 3 12th Street at Washington and Jefferson streets Utility relocation Traffic on 12th Street cannot cross Washington or Jefferson streets July 5 thru mid-August 2007 Ongoing restrictions Washington Street at 13th and 14th streets Rail installation Traffic cannot cross Washington Street at 13th and 14th streets Thru early August 2007 Central Avenue at Willetta Street Waterline, storm and sewer work Southbound traffic cannot turn left at Willetta Street (intermittently) Thru end of July 2007 Central Avenue at Lynwood Street Waterline, storm and sewer work Northbound traffic cannot turn left at Lynwood Street (intermittently) Thru end of July 2007 Willetta Street at Central Avenue Waterline, storm and sewer work Westbound traffic cannot turn left at Central Avenue Thru end of July 2007 Lynwood Street at Central Avenue Waterline, storm and sewer work Eastbound traffic cannot turn left at Central Avenue Thru end of July 2007 15th Street at Washington Street Track installation North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street Thru end of July 2007 19th and 20th streets at Jefferson Street Major waterline work and guideway construction North and southbound traffic cannot cross Jefferson Street Thru end of August 2007 11th Street at Washington Street Guideway construction North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street Thru end of August 2007 16th Street between Washington and Jefferson streets Rail installation One lane open for south and northbound traffic; northbound traffic may not turn left onto Washington Street Van Buren Street between First and Central avenues Curb and gutter work One lane open to east and westbound traffic Thru summer 2007 McDowell Road approaching Central Avenue Utility relocation East and westbound traffic reduced to one lane Thru December 2007 Central Avenue between Washington and Polk streets Curb and gutter work One lane open northbound on Central Avenue Thru summer 2007 Ninth and Jefferson streets Rail installation Traffic on Jefferson Street cannot turn right onto Ninth Street Thru July 2007 Fillmore Street at Central Avenue Rail installation Traffic cannot turn onto Fillmore Street from Central Avenue Thru July 2007 PHOENIX / TEMPE LINE SECTION 4 Ongoing restrictions 32nd and Washington streets Guideway installation North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street; no left turns in any direction Thru July 2 38th and Washington streets Guideway installation North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street; no left turns in any direction No end date set yet Washington Street between 26th and 28th streets Guideway and special track construction Traffic on 27th and 28th streets cannot cross Washington Street; all north and southbound street turnoffs from 26th to 29th streets closed; one lane open for east and westbound traffic Thru no end date set Washington Street between 26th and 48th streets Guideway construction and intersection replacement One lane open in each direction No end date set Washington Street between 48th Street and Mill Avenue Traffic loop installation Watch for changing restrictions No end date set LINE SECTION 5 (Tempe and Mesa) Ongoing restrictions Veterans Way between Fifth and Sixth streets Curb reconstruction Westbound traffic closed between Fifth and Sixth streets Thru June 30 Phyllis Street at Main Street Storm drain installation Phyllis Street closed at Main Street Thru July 5 Apache Boulevard between Terrace Road and Tempe Canal Road widening One lane open in all directions Thru July 31 First Street between Farmer Road and Ash Street Rail installation Local traffic only Thru July 3