Fourth of July street restrictions, bus detours to expect in Tempe

With the expected Independence Day celebrations, the city of Tempe released its list of street restrictions, bus detours and transit information that residents should expect and be aware of for the holiday.

Tempe will offer extended bus and light rail service for Tempe's 4th of July Celebration, according to a city release. The Kiwanis Club of Tempe presents the 73rd Annual Tempe 4th of July Celebration on Thursday, July 4, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Tempe Beach Park.

Tempe is making it easy for residents to get to the Tempe 4th of July Celebration, with extended service hours and more light rail vehicles and buses.

To help people get to and from the festival conveniently, Tempe Orbit service will be extended until 11 p.m.

As a safety note, the release urges people driving on Loop 202 or other freeways to pay attention and not stop vehicles to watch fireworks.

As for the Valley Metro Rail Service, people can park for free at one of the designated Valley Metro Rail park-and-ride locations and ride the train for $2 per trip, per person.

Passengers are encouraged to purchase an all-day pass for $4 at the start of the trip to avoid having to use busy fare vending machines in the downtown area at the end of the event, the release explained. Reduced all-day passes are available for $2 for youth, people age 65 and older and people with disabilities. Rail service will be enhanced beginning at 5 p.m.

Check valleymetro.org or call 602-253-5000 for hours and frequencies.

Park-and-ride locations include:

• Apache Boulevard and Price Road
• Apache Boulevard and McClintock Drive
• Apache Boulevard and Dorsey Lane

As for the enhanced bus and Orbit service, people can park for free at the Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road, and ride the free Orbit Jupiter to downtown Tempe.

Enhanced service will be provided on Orbit Jupiter, which will operate every 15 minutes between the Tempe Public Library and the Tempe Transportation Center from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. on July 4.

Additionally, service will be extended on Orbits Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury and Saturn every 30 minutes until 11 p.m. All other Tempe bus routes will run according to Sunday/Holiday schedules.

The cost of the ride is $2 per trip, per person on local bus routes and Orbit is free. Many downtown Tempe bus routes will drop off and pick up at the Tempe Transportation Center on the northeast corner of Fifth Street and Forest Avenue.

Due to street restrictions, several downtown Tempe bus routes will be detoured and will not serve their normal stops.

Check valleymetro.org or call (602) 253-5000 for fare information, hours and frequencies. There will be no bus service to cities outside of Tempe after the event.

Street closures for July 4 and 5

The following street closures will be in effect:

• Mill Avenue between Curry Road/Washington Street and Rio Salado Parkway closed southbound from 3 until 11 p.m.
• Mill Avenue between Curry Road/Washington Street and Rio Salado Parkway closed northbound from 3 until 11 p.m.
• Rio Salado Parkway between Mill Ave and Ash Ave from 3 until 11 p.m.
• Ash Ave will northbound will be closed at 3rd Street 3 until 11 p.m.
• Rio Salado Parkway between Priest Drive and Mill Avenue closed in both directions from 8:30 until 11 p.m.
• Rio Salado Parkway westbound will be closed at McClintock from 8:30 until 11 p.m.
• Rio Salado Parkway between Priest and Hardy drives closed eastbound from 8:30 until 11 p.m.
• Scottsdale Road southbound between Curry Road and Playa Del Norte Drive will be closed from 9 until 11 p.m.
• 5th Street northbound will be closed on Mill Ave from 9:30 until 11 p.m.
• Access to Center Parkway via the Loop 202 eastbound on-ramp at Priest Drive closed. All traffic will be diverted onto Loop 202 from 7:30 until 11 p.m.
• Loop 202 eastbound and westbound on-ramps at Center Parkway closed from 7:30 until 11 p.m.
• Loop 202 eastbound and westbound off-ramps at Scottsdale Road closed from 7:30 until 11 p.m.

Bus detours effective beginning to end of service on July 4:

• 48 Northbound: Regular route to Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive; south on Priest Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Mill Avenue; north on Mill Avenue to 5th Street; east on 5th Street; resume regular route.
• 48 Southbound: Regular route to McClintock Drive and Rio Salado Parkway; south on McClintock Drive to University Drive; west on University Drive to College Avenue; north on College Avenue to 5th Street; west on 5th Street; resume regular route. Regular route to 5th Street and Ash Avenue; south on Ash Avenue to University Drive; west on University Drive to Priest Drive; north on Priest Drive to Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway; resume regular route.
• 62 Northbound: Regular route to Hardy Drive and University Drive; east on University Drive to Mill Avenue: north on Mill Avenue to 5th Street; east on 5th Street; resume regular route.
• 62 Southbound: Regular route to 5th Street and Ash Avenue; south on Ash Avenue to University Drive; west on University Drive to Hardy Drive; south on Hardy Drive; resume regular route.
• 72 Southbound: Regular route to Scottsdale Road and Curry Road; east on Curry Road to Hayden Road; south on Hayden Road/ McClintock Drive to University Drive; west on University Drive to Rural Road; south on Rural Road; to resume regular route.
• Earth Eastbound: From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th Street/ Veterans Way to 6th Street; northwest on 6th Street to Packard Drive; north on Packard Drive to Rio Salado Parkway; east on Rio Salado Parkway; resume regular route.
• Earth Westbound: Regular route to College Avenue and Curry Road; west on Curry Road/Washington Street to Priest Road; south on Priest Road to 5th Street; east on 5th Street; resume regular route.