Subject: Weekend Closures & Restrictions on Valley Freeways Weekend of September 12 ~ 15 Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008 8:29 PM Weekend Closures & Restrictions on Valley Freeways Weekend of September 12 ~ 15 Several projects to add new lanes and make other improvements along Phoenix area freeways will require closures or lane restrictions this weekend (September 12-15). The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recommends drivers use alternate routes and allow extra travel time while the following restrictions are in place: * Southbound I-17 closed between Thunderbird Road and Dunlap Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (September 15) to prepare for rubberized asphalt paving. DETOUR: Use alternate routes to avoid delays. Traffic will be detoured along freeway frontage roads. Drivers should consider other freeways to avoid the closure, in addition to 19th and 35th avenues. Project benefit: A one-inch layer of rubberized asphalt is installed to provide a quieter and smoother ride for the traveling public. ADOT anticipates most sections of rubberized asphalt will last at least 10 years. * I-17 closed overnight in both directions at Jomax Road from 9 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday (September 13) for work on the interchange bridge. DETOUR: Traffic will detour along the interchange on- and off-ramps during the closure. * Southbound I-17 narrowed to one lane overnight between Dynamite Boulevard and Dixileta Drive from 9 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday (September 13) to set temporary barriers for the freeway widening work. DETOUR: Please slow down and merge safely in the work zone. * Northbound I-17 off-ramp and southbound I-17 on-ramp closed overnight at Carefree Highway (State Route 74) from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (September 13) and again from 10 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday (September 14) for lane striping. Carefree Highway restricted to one lane in both directions at I-17 interchange during these times. DETOUR: North of SR 74, drivers can use the Pioneer Road interchange during ramp closures. I-17 widening project benefit: ADOT is adding new lanes and interchanges along I-17 from Loop 101 to the Carefree Highway to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. The project is expected to be complete in 2009. * Westbound US 60 narrowed to two lanes between Mesa Drive and Dobson Road from 11 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday (September 13) for overhead sign work and lane re-striping. DETOUR: Please slow down and merge safely in the work zone. 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.