The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced a series of weekend road projects that will affect key Phoenix-area freeways from Friday night, October 23, through Monday morning, October 26. The work is part of ongoing pavement, widening and bridge improvements aimed at keeping the region’s transportation network safe and efficient.
North‑south routes
Northbound SR 51 will be closed between Glendale Avenue and Shea Boulevard from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The northbound on‑ramps at Indian School Road and Northern Avenue will also be shut. Drivers can detour by taking westbound Glendale Avenue, then north on Seventh Street, north on Cave Creek Road and east on Cactus Road to re‑enter SR 51 north of the closure.
Northbound SR 347 will be reduced to a single lane between the city of Maricopa and Casa Blanca Road during three nightly windows: Friday 6 p.m.‑Saturday 8 a.m., Saturday 6 p.m.‑Sunday 8 a.m., and Sunday 6 p.m.‑Monday 4 a.m. Southbound traffic in the same corridor will be narrowed to one lane from Saturday 6 p.m.‑Sunday 8 a.m. and again from Sunday 8 p.m.‑Monday 7 a.m.
East‑west routes
Eastbound Loop 101 will be closed between 75th Avenue and 51st Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for a widening project. The eastbound on‑ramps at Bell Road and Union Hills Drive will also be closed. Motorists can use eastbound Union Hills Drive to connect with Loop 101 at either 51st or 35th Avenue.
Eastbound Loop 202 will be closed between Gilbert Road and Williams Field Road during the same Friday‑Monday window for widening work. The eastbound on‑ramps at Arizona Avenue and Val Vista Drive will be unavailable. Drivers may detour via eastbound Chandler Boulevard/Williams Field Road or eastbound Germann Road to Higley Road, then re‑enter Loop 202 beyond the closure.
Eastbound Loop 303 will be closed between I‑17 and 43rd Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for bridge construction. A viable detour is northbound 43rd Avenue to eastbound Dove Valley Road, which connects back to I‑17.
Off‑ramps and additional closures
The westbound off‑ramp at Price Road will close from 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday; drivers can use the westbound off‑ramp at Dobson Road instead. The westbound off‑ramp at Arizona Avenue will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for bridge work, with alternate access at McQueen Road or Alma School Road.
ADOT cautioned that schedules may shift due to inclement weather or other unforeseen factors, and urged motorists to check the agency’s website or local traffic alerts for real‑time updates.
Tips for commuters
- Allow extra travel time, especially during peak morning and evening commutes.
- Use GPS navigation with live traffic feeds to receive the latest detour recommendations.
- Consider alternative routes such as surface streets or less‑congested freeways when possible.
- Stay alert for posted signage and temporary lane markings at each closure point.
By planning ahead and following ADOT’s suggested detours, drivers can minimize delays and keep the Phoenix metro area moving safely through the weekend construction period.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
