Weekend Delays Expected on Northbound I-17 at Jomax Road

Drivers should plan for significant delays on northbound I-17 this weekend due to a pavement improvement project affecting Jomax Road.Photo byBrigitte TohmonUnsplash

PHOENIX — According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), drivers using northbound Interstate 17 in the north Valley this weekend should allow extra travel time due to a pavement improvement project.

Traffic will be diverted off and back onto the freeway at Jomax Road, with lane reductions in place until Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive. The closure at Jomax Road, including off- and on-ramps, will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and end by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12.

Drivers should anticipate delays, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings and early afternoons, and may want to consider traveling through the area at different times.

To help manage traffic flow, Jomax Road will be closed at I-17, except for northbound drivers exiting the freeway to turn right.

Crews are continuing work on a 6-mile stretch of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. The project involves removing old asphalt, replacing bridge deck joints, and smoothing the concrete surface through diamond grinding.

ADOT offers these additional tips:

• Follow the posted detour route rather than relying on navigation apps to avoid delays for yourself and others. Local streets are not designed for heavy traffic and should be avoided for detours.
• Local-only closures will be implemented on several streets near I-17 to direct detour traffic away from residential areas. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections to assist with traffic flow.
• Expect long traffic backups during freeway closures. Drivers with plans to use northbound I-17 through the north Valley should consider traveling before the Friday night closure begins. Northbound I-17 traffic is generally lighter during early morning hours and late at night but will be particularly heavy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The I-17 pavement work between Happy Valley Road and SR 74 is part of an ongoing effort to improve the freeway.

This work is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For updates and traffic alerts, visit improvingi17.com.