Arizona freeway crews take Labor Day weekend break, no closures planned

Valley drivers should make plans for safe travel over the Labor Day weekend, but they won’t face any restrictions on freeways due to construction projects, state transportation officials said Monday.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractors will not set any full highway closures from Friday afternoon, Aug. 30, to Tuesday morning, Sept. 3. That includes restrictions for Phoenix-area freeway projects.

Last year, 15 fatal vehicle crashes that claimed 18 lives occurred on all roadways, including local streets, over Labor Day weekend, according to an ADOT release.

Six of the fatalities involved alcohol-related crashes, according to law enforcement reports. A total of 13 people died in crashes over Labor Day weekend in 2022.

Safety steps that motorists can take include checking car tire pressure, engine fluid levels and getting adequate rest before starting out on a trip, transportation officials said. Packing extra drinking water as part of an emergency travel kit is recommended.