Yavapai News

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced a weekend closure for a busy stretch of southbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix. The closure, scheduled from May 31 to June 3, is part of ongoing pavement improvement work.

Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and adhere to the designated detour route while southbound I-17 is closed between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The detour will follow Loop 303 west, Lake Pleasant Parkway south, and Happy Valley Road east back to I-17.

ADOT advises against using other local streets as alternate routes, warning that doing so could lead to longer delays and inconvenience. "The posted detour is the most efficient way to move traffic through the area near the closure," stated ADOT officials.

Loop 303 to Interstate 10 in the West Valley remains an option for drivers of large trucks or those traveling toward California, Tucson, and parts of downtown Phoenix. ADOT acknowledges that lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during these closures and recommends planning ahead. Drivers with weekend plans should consider traveling before Friday night’s closure begins or during early morning or late-night hours when traffic is lighter.

Local-only closures at neighborhood entrances on both sides of I-17 will help direct detour traffic away from local roadways. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow. Additionally, ADOT is working to reduce the likelihood that navigation apps will direct drivers onto other local roads.

This closure marks the third of four expected weekends dedicated to this project aimed at improving I-17's surface quality. Crews are removing older asphalt pavement layers before smoothing the remaining concrete surface through diamond grinding—a technique used recently on several Phoenix-area freeways including I-10, I-17, Loop 101, and Loop 202.

An additional weekend closure between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 is anticipated in June. Drivers are encouraged to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects).

The current pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from another ongoing improvement project north of Anthem Way on I-17. For more information about that larger project, visit improvingi17.com. Drivers should note that within that project's work zone, the speed limit is set at 65 mph.

Real-time highway conditions can be accessed via ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, through the az511 app or by calling 511.