Grand Canyon Times

The northbound Loop 101 off-ramp at Raintree Drive in Phoenix will be closed for two months starting February 24, as announced by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). This closure is part of an ongoing freeway widening project in north Scottsdale.

Motorists who typically use this ramp are advised to consider alternative routes. Options include exiting the northbound Loop 101 at Cactus Road and using either northbound Hayden Road or 94th Street to reach Raintree Drive. The off-ramp is expected to reopen by late April.

ADOT advises drivers to allow extra travel time, reduce speed, and provide space for traffic entering the freeway during construction activities related to the widening project.

The Pima Freeway Improvement Project, valued at $108 million, commenced in January 2024 and spans between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road. Over a two-year period, on- and off-ramps within this section are being reconstructed to accommodate a wider freeway. The entire project is slated for completion in early 2026.

Improvements include adding one lane in each direction along a 4.5-mile stretch of the Pima Freeway north of Shea Boulevard. Additional enhancements involve converting the Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard interchange into a diamond configuration and updating signs, traffic signals, and lighting.

Funding for the Loop 101 widening project comes partly from Proposition 400—a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004. This initiative falls under the Regional Transportation Plan managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments, which serves as the metropolitan planning organization for Greater Phoenix.

For real-time highway conditions, travelers can visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, download the az511 app available for Apple or Android devices, or call 511.