FSubject: Weekend freeway restrictions in the Phoenix area (Feb. 17-20); drivers urged to use alternate routes Date: Thursday, February 16, 2006 10:21 PM Weekend freeway restrictions in the Phoenix area (Feb. 17-20); drivers urged to use alternate routes February 16, 2006 Freeway improvement projects will require closures or lane restrictions in some areas over the weekend (Feb. 17-20). The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) encourages you to use alternate routes when possible to avoid traffic delays in the following areas: Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) closed between the 52nd St./Van Buren St. exit and Scottsdale Rd. from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 20) for work to prepare the freeway for rubberized asphalt resurfacing this spring. Instead of using the eastbound Loop 202, drivers are encouraged to use eastbound I-10 and eastbound US 60 as an alternate route to the East Valley. Drivers on eastbound Loop 202 also can use southbound State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) to eastbound I-10. Traffic on the eastbound Loop 202 will exit at 52nd St. and then go east on Van Buren St., northeast on Curry Rd. and south on Scottsdale Road to reconnect with the Loop 202. Westbound Interstate 10 narrowed to two lanes between Washington and 7th streets (near downtown Phoenix) from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights (Feb. 17-18) for overhead sign replacement work. The ramp from southbound State Route 51 to westbound I-10 will be closed. Westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) will be narrowed to one lane at 24th St. and use the carpool lane ramp to connect with westbound I-10. The westbound I-10 entrance ramps at 16th and 7th streets will be closed. To avoid the traffic restrictions on westbound I-10, drivers can use northbound I-17 starting at the "Split" junction near Sky Harbor Airport and reconnect with I-10 at the Stack interchange north of Van Buren St. Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley narrowed to one lane in each direction between Glendale Ave. and Camelback Rd. from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (Feb. 20) for work on the new Maryland Avenue overpass. Drivers should consider using alternate routes, including 99th Ave., to travel beyond the overnight lane restrictions. Drivers on the freeway should be prepared to slow down, merge safely and give themselves extra time to travel through the work zone Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between Mesa Drive and Alma School Rd. from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 18) for overhead message board maintenance. Drivers should be prepared to slow down, merge safely and give themselves extra time to travel through the work zone For a complete list of highway closures and restrictions across Arizona visit www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. _____