Subject: Tempe Weekend Road Closures & Weekend Freeway Closures in Valley (May 19-22); Westbound Loop 202 closed in Tempe for rubberized asphalt paving Date: Thursday, May 18, 2006 7:07 PM Weekend Freeway Closures in Valley (May 19-22); Westbound Loop 202 closed in Tempe for rubberized asphalt paving May 18, 2006 Freeway improvement projects will require some closures or lane restrictions on sections of Phoenix freeways this weekend. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) encourages drivers to use alternate routes if possible to avoid the following closures and restrictions: Westbound Loop 202 closed between the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) and Van Buren Street from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (May 22) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers should consider using westbound US 60 as an alternate westbound freeway this weekend. Westbound Loop 202 traffic will be detoured north on the Loop 101, west on McDowell Road and south on State Route 143 to reach westbound Loop 202. The Loop 101 ramps to westbound Loop 202 will be closed this weekend. Westbound Loop 202 interchange ramps between Dobson Rd. and Van Buren Street also will be closed. Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed between Higley and Power roads from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (May 22) for paving and barrier wall placement. The eastbound freeway is scheduled to be narrowed to one lane on Friday and Sunday nights and open to two lanes the rest of the weekend (approximately 6 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday). Drivers are encouraged to give themselves extra travel time and be prepared to slow down and merge approaching the work zone. The eastbound US 60 on ramp and westbound exit ramp at Higley Road will be closed. The eastbound US 60 exit ramp and westbound on ramp at Superstition Springs Boulevard closed (during the next week) from 9 p.m. Friday (May 19) to 5 a.m. Friday (May 26) for concrete paving as part of the freeway widening project in the area. Drivers can use ramps at adjacent interchanges along the freeway while the ramps at Superstition Springs Boulevard are closed. The ramp from eastbound US 60 (Superstition) to southbound Loop 202 (Santan) in East Mesa closed from 5 a.m. Friday (May 19) to 5 a.m. Monday (May 22) for ongoing interchange bridge construction. Drivers who normally use the ramp should instead exit at Power or Ellsworth roads as alternate southbound routes in the area. Westbound I-10 right lane closed between 7th Street and 7th Avenue from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (May 20) for maintenance work in the Deck Park Tunnel. The westbound I-10 entrance ramp at 7th Street also will be closed. Drivers can use the westbound on ramps at 16th St. or 7th Ave. Westbound I-10 drivers are urged to use caution while crews are working in the area. For a complete listing of freeway and highway closures and restrictions across Arizona, visit ADOT's Traveler Information site at www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. _____ On Sunday, May 21, 2006, Tucson Racing Inc. and Triathlon Magazine will present the Tempe International Triathlon at Tempe Town Lake in downtown Tempe. Between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. all Route 1 operators will use the following detours: ROUTE 1 Eastbound: Regular route Washington and Priest Drive South on Priest Drive East on University Drive North on Forest Avenue East on 7th Street North on College Avenue to Bus stop between 7th and 6th Streets ROUTE 1 Westbound: Continue north on College West on 5th Street South on Forest Avenue East on 6th Street South on College Avenue West on University Drive to Mill Avenue Continue west on University Drive North on Priest Drive West on Washington - resume regular route Routes 56, 66, and 76 will also be on detour during this time. For transit information and "Rider Alerts" visit www.valleymetro.org or call 602-253-5000; TTY 602-261-8208.