Heads Up For Valley Drivers, I-17 Weekend Closure Set for Light Rail Project 

By on January 10, 2022 0 432Views

A stretch of Interstate 17 between Northern and Peoria avenues in Phoenix will be closed over the weekend of January 14-17 for construction of Valley Metro light rail bridges over the freeway north of Dunlap Avenue.

I-17 will be closed in both directions to allow Valley Metro’s contractors to install girders for the two new light rail bridge structures as part of the agency’s Northwest Extension Phase II project. Due to anticipated travel delays, drivers should consider alternate routes, including State Route 51 and Loop 101, while the following I-17 closure is in place:

I-17 closed in both directions between Northern and Peoria avenues from 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Northbound I-17 on-ramps at Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue and southbound on-ramps at Thunderbird and Cactus roads also closed. Detours: Alternate freeway routes away from the closure include SR 51 and Loop 101. Due to frontage road closures in the area, I-17 traffic will detour to 19th or 35th avenues to travel beyond the closure, but drivers should anticipate delays and allow extra travel time.

Valley Metro’s project team also will work on girder installation during overnight hours next week (Jan. 11-13), requiring lane restrictions along southbound I-17 south of Peoria Avenue. Southbound I-17 is scheduled to be narrowed to two lanes between Peoria and Northern avenues from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 11) and Wednesday nights (Jan. 12). Traffic will be stopped briefly as needed for girder installation during the overnight restrictions. If necessary, similar overnight restrictions will be scheduled on Thursday night, Jan. 13.