The Arizona Department of Transportation announced on March 15 that southbound State Route 51 is scheduled to reopen between Cactus Road and Northern Avenue by early Monday morning, March 16. However, some restrictions will remain in place south of 32nd Street as crews continue work on a pavement improvement project.
The reopening follows a weekend closure for asphalt removal. Three left lanes and the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane will be open, but two right lanes south of 32nd Street and the off-ramp at Northern Avenue will stay closed until Tuesday afternoon, March 17. Drivers are advised to use the Glendale Avenue off-ramp and northbound 16th Street to reach Northern Avenue. The southbound on-ramps at 32nd and 26th streets will also be closed, with Shea Boulevard suggested as an alternative entry point.
ADOT said drivers should allow extra time during their Monday commutes due to ongoing work. The contractor has made progress removing worn asphalt between Shea Boulevard and Northern Avenue, but some milling work took longer than expected, requiring continued restrictions beyond Monday morning. The $17.8 million SR 51 pavement improvement project is set for completion this fall and will involve additional weekend closures as well as weeknight lane and ramp restrictions over the coming months.
Initial phases include removing old asphalt along SR 51 from Interstate 10 to Shea Boulevard during several upcoming weekend closures. Crews plan to use diamond grinding—a concrete treatment that removes a thin surface layer while adding grooves—to provide a smoother ride and reduce tire noise.
Arizona Department of Transportation manages various facilities such as rest areas, snowplow operations with specialized equipment, and highway cameras for monitoring according to the official website. The department aims to safely connect people and support economic growth through its transportation initiatives according to the official website. Jennifer Toth serves as director of ADOT, overseeing planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of state transportation systems according to the official website.
ADOT’s efforts extend across Arizona with projects in multiple districts—from Grand Canyon National Airport to southern border ports—according to the official website. The agency works alongside regional, state, local, and tribal partners on corridor studies and traveler information systems according to the official website. Services offered include traveler updates via AZ511 system, motor vehicle support, construction oversight, and infrastructure enhancements at airports and ports according to the official website.
Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or through the AZ511 app for Apple or Android devices.
