The Arizona Department of Transportation announced on March 19 that several freeway closures and lane restrictions will take place in the Phoenix area from March 20 to March 23 due to ongoing improvement projects. Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and consider alternate routes during these periods.
The southbound State Route 51 will be closed between Northern and Highland avenues in Phoenix from Friday night until early Monday morning for asphalt removal as part of a pavement improvement project. On-ramps at 32nd Street and 26th Street will also be closed. Detours include using southbound Interstate 17 as an alternative route to downtown Phoenix and Sky Harbor Airport, with additional local detours via Highland Avenue or Indian School Road.
Additionally, the eastbound Loop 303 ramp to southbound Interstate 17 will be closed on Saturday for work zone setup related to the Loop 303 widening project. Southbound I-17 will also be narrowed to two lanes between Dove Valley Road and Dixileta Drive. Suggested detours involve using northbound 43rd Avenue or the I-17 frontage road to access southbound I-17 via Dove Valley Road.
Schedules for these restrictions may change due to weather or other factors. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) manages various facilities such as rest areas, snowplow operations, and highway cameras for monitoring, according to the official website. ADOT aims to safely connect people and support economic growth through its transportation initiatives, as reported by the official website.
Jennifer Toth serves as director of ADOT, overseeing planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of Arizona’s transportation systems according to the official website. The department extends its efforts statewide, handling highway projects across multiple districts and supporting sites ranging from Grand Canyon National Airport to southern border ports according to the official website. ADOT works with regional, state, local, and tribal partners on corridor studies and traveler information systems according to the official website.
Most current improvement projects are funded by Proposition 400—a dedicated sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004—and Proposition 479 passed in November 2024 which extended this funding source. Real-time highway conditions can be accessed through ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at AZ511.gov or by calling 511. Additional services provided by ADOT include traveler updates via AZ511 system, motor vehicle support, construction oversight, and infrastructure enhancements at airports and ports according to the official website.
