The Arizona Department of Transportation announced on March 16 that the eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) off-ramp at Cooper Road in the Southeast Valley will close for about 60 days beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. The closure is part of a ramp reconstruction effort within the ongoing Loop 202 widening project between Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Val Vista Drive. The ramp is expected to reopen in mid-May.
The closure is significant for drivers in Chandler and Gilbert, as it will affect traffic patterns along a major corridor. Motorists are advised to use alternative exits at McQueen or Gilbert roads while the Cooper Road off-ramp remains closed.
The $200 million Loop 202 Improvement Project aims to add lanes and improve interchanges along an eight-mile stretch of freeway. This initiative is funded partly by Proposition 400, a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004, and falls under the Regional Transportation Plan managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments.
Arizona Department of Transportation manages various facilities across the state, including rest areas, snowplow operations with specialized equipment, and highway cameras for monitoring, according to the official website. The department’s efforts extend from projects near Grand Canyon National Airport to southern border ports and involve collaboration with regional, state, local, and tribal partners on corridor studies and traveler information systems according to its official website.
Jennifer Toth serves as director of Arizona Department of Transportation, overseeing planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation systems statewide according to the agency. The department also provides services such as traveler updates via AZ 511 system and supports infrastructure enhancements at airports and ports according to its official website.
Arizona Department of Transportation said it aims to safely connect people while supporting economic growth through its transportation initiatives according to its official website.
