Weekend Closure on Southbound I-17 for Pavement Improvements

Southbound I-17 will be closed this weekend from Loop 303 to Happy Valley Road for critical pavement improvements.Photo byImage: Tysonomo Multimedia

PHOENIX - A section of southbound Interstate 17 will be closed this weekend in north Phoenix for pavement improvements, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

The closure will begin at 10 p.m. Friday, July 26, and will continue until 5 a.m. Monday, July 29, between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road.

Drivers should plan for extra travel time, avoid peak hours, and follow the designated detour. Southbound I-17 traffic will be redirected to westbound Loop 303, southbound Lake Pleasant Parkway, and eastbound Happy Valley Road to rejoin I-17.

ADOT offers the following advice:

• Avoid using local streets east of I-17 as alternate routes to prevent longer delays. The posted detour, which will be monitored by off-duty officers and project staff, is the most efficient route during the closure.
• Expect significant traffic backups and plan accordingly. For those traveling southbound I-17 in the north Valley, consider leaving before the closure starts on Friday night. Traffic is expected to be lighter in the early morning and late at night but heavier on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
• Local-only closures will be implemented at neighborhood entrances to direct detour traffic away from local roads. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at key intersections to help manage traffic.
• Follow the posted detour route rather than relying on navigation apps, which may suggest alternate local roads.

ADOT advises motorists to plan ahead and adhere to the detour to minimize disruptions.

Additionally, crews are continuing a significant pavement improvement project on six miles of I-17 from Happy Valley Road to State Route 74.

The project, which began with removing an old asphalt layer, now includes replacing bridge deck joints and smoothing the concrete surface through diamond grinding.

This technique, used recently on several Phoenix-area freeways including I-10, I-17, Loop 101, and Loop 202, aims to create a smoother and more durable road surface, according to ADOT.

For details on that project, visit improvingi17.com.