A section of southbound State Route 51 between Cactus Road and Northern Avenue reopened to traffic early Monday, March 16, following a weekend closure for the start of a pavement improvement project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The reopening marks the completion of initial work to remove worn asphalt along southbound SR 51 south of Shea Boulevard. The department said that anticipated right lane restrictions between 32nd Street and Northern Avenue were not needed, and all on- and off-ramps in this area have reopened, including the southbound exit at Northern Avenue.
The $17.8 million SR 51 pavement improvement project is scheduled for completion this fall. In addition to several weekend closures, weeknight lane and ramp restrictions or closures are expected over the next several months as part of ongoing work. Initial efforts include removing old asphalt between Interstate 10 and Shea Boulevard during weekend closures in March and April. Later stages will use diamond grinding on concrete pavement to provide a smoother ride by removing a thin layer from the surface while adding grooves to help reduce tire noise.
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 agency aims to safely connect people and support economic growth through its transportation initiatives 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 department. The agency works with regional, state, local, and tribal partners on projects such as corridor studies and traveler information systems according to its official website.
Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov and via the AZ511 app. The department also provides updates through its X feed @ArizonaDOT.
