3 weekends of closures on tap along Piestewa Freeway
Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 9, 2007 02:48 PM
A major road project on the Piestewa Freeway, Arizona 51, will shut down portions of that road and Loop 101 over the next three weekends.
The project will add carpool lanes to the freeway from Shea Boulevard north to Loop 101, transitioning to the east onto the loop freeway. Altogether, about eight miles of road will be affected.
The closures through the end of the month will allow workers to set up construction zones. Workers will narrow existing lines and cut down on shoulder width.
This weekend's closures will be along Loop 101 between Cave Creek Road and Tatum Boulevard. The following two weekends will bring closures along the 51, one weekend for southbound traffic and another for northbound.
Doug Nintzel, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation, said speed limits will be reduced for the 14-month duration of the $40 million project.
He urged motorists to avoid the closed portions of the freeways as much as possible. He said people using the road ought to consider getting off the freeway before they reach required detours.
Eastbound motorists will be routed south on Cave Creek, east on Union Hills Drive or Bell Road to Tatum, where they can rejoin the highway. Westbound drivers will be forced off at Tatum, where they can go south to Union Hills or Bell. From those roads, they can get on the 51 north, and rejoin 101 west.