Phoenix Area Highways

[Roadwarriors79]

Another section of the South Mountain Freeway is scheduled to open in May. Traffic on current Pecos Rd between 32nd St and I-10 will be shifted onto the freeway alignment. 40th St will be closed at Pecos Rd for a few months while the rest of the Loop 202/40th St interchange is constructed.

https://www.azdot.gov/media/News/news-release/2019/04/29/additional-pecos-road-traffic-moving-onto-south-mountain-freeway

[Pink Jazz]

I wonder, do any of the Skyline DMS still have the narrow font issue? I was on I-17 NB and it appears to be using the normal wide font. The ones on L-202 never had this issue, not sure about I-17.

[Roadwarriors79]

Highway construction projects going on around the valley:

-- Loop 101: Two separate widening projects. One from I-17 to Pima Rd/Princess Dr in north Scottsdale. The other from US 60 (Superstition Freeway) to Loop 202 (Santan Freeway). At least one new general purpose lane in each direction.

-- I-17: Bridge replacements at Pinnacle Peak Rd and Happy Valley Rd. The Happy Valley interchange is being redone to remove the roundabouts and replace with a DDI. When it opens, this should be Arizona's first full DDI to open. The other DDIs under construction on the Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) are only going to be half interchanges (at 17th Ave and Desert Foothills Pkwy).

-- I-10: Other than the new interchange with Loop 202, a new interchange at Fairway Dr (or El Mirage Rd alignment).

-- Loop 202: The South Mountain Freeway seems to be progressing well. A video link shows most of the alignment. (Note, the video is real estate related. It just happens to cover most of the construction zone.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LmZWZGf2-8

[Concrete Bob]

You saw the South Mountain Freeway under construction........Now feast your eyes and ears on this 1960s Phoenix classic....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOxxvqTIdMc

[Roadwarriors79]

This video shows a more recent video of Loop 202 (the Salt River and Papago segments). Goes from the Salt River Bridge to the I-10 interchange.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YhKnQqU7o

[The Ghostbuster]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

[Sonic99]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

I know there's plans for an interim phase of SR 24 out towards Apache Junction that will be built fairly soon. Also extending the 303 further south is happening in the next couple of years. I think the next "new" project will be SR 30. Probably see something happening there within the next 5 years or so.

[Zonie]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

An extension of the Northern Parkway is in progress. 

The Central District projects are here: https://www.azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/

[Roadwarriors79]

So signage on existing freeways is slowly being replaced to reflect the Loop 202 extension. Most of the newer signage is on I-10 in west Phoenix, I-10 in the Ahwatukee/Chandler area, and a stretch of the Loop 202 Santan in Chandler.

[Zonie]

Noticed that on the interim stretch of Loop 202 -- the mileage sign is up listing the 40th St., 32nd St. and 24th St. exits.  Whether the 32nd St. exit will be ready in time remains to be seen.

[KeithE4Phx]

Noticed that on the interim stretch of Loop 202 -- the mileage sign is up listing the 40th St., 32nd St. and 24th St. exits.  Whether the 32nd St. exit will be ready in time remains to be seen.

I thought there wasn't going to be an interchange at 32nd St.

[codeGR]

The plans for the project were modified and the interchange ramps will be built after the freeway opens. https://www.azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/loop-202-(south-mountain-freeway)/stay-in-the-loop/media/2018/11/07/plans-advance-for-32nd-street-south-mountain-freeway-interchange

[Sonic99]

Noticed that on the interim stretch of Loop 202 -- the mileage sign is up listing the 40th St., 32nd St. and 24th St. exits.  Whether the 32nd St. exit will be ready in time remains to be seen.

I would love to see some updated pictures or videos. There had been a channel doing full monthly updates on Youtube, but they haven't posted since earlier this spring. There was another channel doing some fantastic drone shots as well, but they also haven't uploaded since April or so. I don't live in the Phoenix area anymore and loved following along with the progress through Youtube.

[Roadwarriors79]

Noticed that on the interim stretch of Loop 202 -- the mileage sign is up listing the 40th St., 32nd St. and 24th St. exits.  Whether the 32nd St. exit will be ready in time remains to be seen.

I would love to see some updated pictures or videos. There had been a channel doing full monthly updates on Youtube, but they haven't posted since earlier this spring. There was another channel doing some fantastic drone shots as well, but they also haven't uploaded since April or so. I don't live in the Phoenix area anymore and loved following along with the progress through Youtube.

I love following the construction process along myself. At least one guy doing the regular Loop 202 drone updates said on Facebook that it was too hot for his equipment. He plans on posting more updates in September.

[DJStephens]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

I know there's plans for an interim phase of SR 24 out towards Apache Junction that will be built fairly soon. Also extending the 303 further south is happening in the next couple of years. I think the next "new" project will be SR 30. Probably see something happening there within the next 5 years or so.

Was under the impression that 24 is going SE into the San Tan valley.  Or is that part of Apache Junction?   

[KeithE4Phx]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

I know there's plans for an interim phase of SR 24 out towards Apache Junction that will be built fairly soon. Also extending the 303 further south is happening in the next couple of years. I think the next "new" project will be SR 30. Probably see something happening there within the next 5 years or so.

Was under the impression that 24 is going SE into the San Tan valley.  Or is that part of Apache Junction?

I think it's going to be extended as a parkway (i.e. freeway ramps that will handle all the traffic, but without overpasses as yet) for three miles between Ellsworth and Meridian Rds.  The latter is the Maricopa/Pinal County line.  All of this extension is within the city limits of Mesa or in unincorporated Maricopa County.  It'll be upgraded to a full freeway later.  How much later, I have no idea, but IIRC, it depends on what Pinal County wants to do with their portion of AZ 24.

[Sonic99]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

I know there's plans for an interim phase of SR 24 out towards Apache Junction that will be built fairly soon. Also extending the 303 further south is happening in the next couple of years. I think the next "new" project will be SR 30. Probably see something happening there within the next 5 years or so.

Was under the impression that 24 is going SE into the San Tan valley.  Or is that part of Apache Junction?

I believe it's going to extend to the east roughtly between Williams Field and Pecos out towards Ironwood. So it will be around the northern edge of San Tan Valley.

[Roadwarriors79]

After Loop 202 is completed, what proposed Phoenix area freeway may be constructed next?

I know there's plans for an interim phase of SR 24 out towards Apache Junction that will be built fairly soon. Also extending the 303 further south is happening in the next couple of years. I think the next "new" project will be SR 30. Probably see something happening there within the next 5 years or so.

Was under the impression that 24 is going SE into the San Tan valley.  Or is that part of Apache Junction?

I believe it's going to extend to the east roughtly between Williams Field and Pecos out towards Ironwood. So it will be around the northern edge of San Tan Valley.

Map of the proposed path of AZ 24 is in the link:

https://www.azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/sr-24-ellsworth-rd-to-ironwood-dr-interim-phase-ii/overview

[Pink Jazz]

Photos of the new South Mountain Freeway interchange signs at I-10 EB are posted on ADOT's Facebook page. They are APL signs and no more girly Clearview.

[codeGR]

I'm visiting from Michigan. Noticed on the South Mountain Freeway that these cantilevered sign structures have been put up. Are these new to AZ? I know AZ has most recently used a tubular design.

[Roadwarriors79]

I'm visiting from Michigan. Noticed on the South Mountain Freeway that these cantilevered sign structures have been put up. Are these new to AZ? I know AZ has most recently used a tubular design.

Are those structures near future entrance/exit ramps?

[Roadwarriors79]

Video of the proposed SR 30 alignment between Loop 303 and Loop 202 in the west valley:

https://www.azdot.gov/planning/transportation-studies/state-route-30/videos


Video of proposed improvements to the Broadway Curve section of I-10:

https://www.azdot.gov/planning/transportation-studies/i-10-broadway-curve-i-17-(split)-to-l202-(santan)

[codeGR]

Yeah, near the ramps. I think some have signs installed already. I'll take another look later today.
They are still using the tubular design gantry for the DMS.

[codeGR]

Here's an example with sign installed.

[Pink Jazz]

As for these new gantries, I wonder if these were a contractor's choice as a cost-saving measure.  The SMF is a design-build-maintain project, and Connect 202 Partners has a 40 year maintenance contract on it.  Based on what I have seen with other DB and P3 projects, they tend to deviate a bit more from normal state DOT standards.