Closures, restrictions planned for Phoenix area freeways this weekend: what you need to know to plan ahead

PHOENIX - ADOT officials have announced a number of freeway closures or restrictions this weekend for a number of freeways in the Phoenix area

Here's what you need to know to plan ahead.

I-10

Due to scheduled tunnel inspections, the eastbound lanes of the I-10 will be closed from the I-17 Stack Interchange to 7th Street. The closure will last from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17.

"Eastbound I-10 traffic can detour to southbound I-17 and reconnect with I-10 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Drivers also can consider exiting ahead of the closure and using local routes to access the downtown Phoenix area," read a portion of the statement. "State Fair traffic from the West Valley can exit ahead of the closure and travel north before using eastbound Thomas Road to approach the fairgrounds."

Due to asphalt removal as part of a pavement improvement project, the westbound lanes of the I-10 will be closed between 75th Avenue and 99th Avenue from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18. The westbound Frontage Road in the same area, as well as the westbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 101 will also be closed.

"[Drivers should] consider exiting westbound I-10 ahead of the closure (including the exit at 51st Avenue) and using westbound McDowell Road or Van Buren Street to 107th Avenue to reconnect with I-10 beyond closure," read a portion of the statement released by ADOT.

Due to a widening project, the eastbound and westbound lanes of the I-10 will be narrowed to one lane in between Verrado Way and State Route 85 during different parts of the weekend. Officials say the eastbound lanes will see restrictions from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 to 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. Meanwhile, the westbound lanes will see restrictions from 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 to 5:00 a.m. on Mondy, Oct. 18. Drivers are asked to allow extra travel time, and use caution in all work zones.

Loop 101

The westbound lanes on the Pima Freeway portion of Loop 101 will be closed between Cave Creek Road and 7th Street from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18 for a widening project. In addition, the northbound State Route 51 ramp to westbound Loop 101, as well as the westbound Loop 101 onramp at 56th Street, will also be closed.

"Expect heavy traffic approaching Cave Creek Road. Westbound Loop 101 traffic can detour ahead of the closure by traveling south on SR 51 and using westbound Union Hills Drive to northbound Seventh Street or Seventh Avenue. East Valley drivers also can consider using westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Tempe area to westbound I-10 and northbound I-17 near downtown Phoenix to avoid Loop 101 closure. . Expect heavy traffic. East Valley drivers also can consider using westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Tempe area to westbound I-10 and northbound I-17 in Phoenix to avoid the Loop 101 closure," read a portion of ADOT's statement.

Loop 202

Due to SRP overhead utility work, there will be intermittent closure on the Red Mountain Freeway portion of the Loop 202, in between Gilbert and Greenfield Roads, from 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. The westbound Loop 202 onramp at Val Vista Drive will also be closed at times for the same reason.

"Please allow extra travel time and be prepared for slowing or stopped traffic for up to 15 minutes during any of the intermittent closures," read a portion of ADOT's statement.

Two left westbound lanes on the Red Mountain Freeway portion of the Loop 202 will be closed near Priest Drive from 4:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 16 due to Barrier wall repairs. The eastbound Loop 202 HOV lane will also be closed near Priest Drive during the same time period. Drivers are advised to allow for extra travel time, and use caution in all work zones.

State Route 587

Due to pavement sealing, there will be lane restrictions in areas between Hunt Highway and Casa Blanca Road from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 to 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, and again from 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17.

"Flag crews will direct traffic through the work zones. Please allow extra travel and consider potential alternate routes," read a portion of the statement released by ADOT.